UK's Most Breathtaking Theme Park! (Alton Towers (Staffordshire))

Member Name: RedHotChili

Product:	Alton Towers (Staffordshire)
Date:	31/01/04 (2377 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Rides!, Value For Money!, Something For All Ages and People!

Disadvantages: Have To Go Home! (unless staying in the hotel)

Scan down to be able to read the review with capital letters intact.

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*Sorry about the length of this review!*

Located in the heart of the Staffordshire countryside and sweeping valleys lies the UK's No1 theme park, Alton Towers. I've been visiting Alton Towers every year since my childhood, and each year it never fails to provide a cracking day out for all the family. The park has so much to offer, and the diversity of experiences is phenomenal! Alton Towers is home to some of the UK's best thrill rides, if white knuckle experiences are what your after then you won't be disappointed! The great thing about the park is that it also provides a huge number of family rides and shows, great for the less adventurous souls and young children!

Being in the location it is Alton Towers is one of the most beautiful parks around! Upon entering the park it's clear that this park is at one with the surrounding nature, and they have done a very good job of using this nature to make the rides have that edge over their UK competitors. The locals of the village Alton have a very strict rules applied onto the park when they wish to build a new attraction. It must not be too loud, too high, or disrupt any of the trees/wildlife present in and around the park. These rules have led the Alton Towers ride designers to become more creative, which in turn has led to the creation of some top class rides.

++ The Attractions ++

Alton Towers (as with the majority of theme parks) is split into various lands. The first land you will enter is Merrie England. This area of the park is fantastic for a family with younger children, or even if you?re just a big softie when it comes to rides. The key ride in this area is the Log Flume. The Log Flume has been at Alton Towers for a very long time, and its still one of my favourite rides after all the years of visiting. The log flume makes brilliant use of the very high density of tall trees surrounding, and this really gives this ride that little bit m
ore!

The ride only has three small drops so it's a great start for someone looking to build their confidence to take on the big boys later on! Don?t worry about getting wet, it's very rare that you come of this ride soaked (be warned though it can happen)!

Average Queue time (in peak season): 30 minutes
Height Restrictions: 0.9m - 1m must be accompanied by an adult.

The other rides in this area are just as tame as the Log Flume, so no need to worry about conquering any white knuckle rides just yet! The classic Tea Cups makes its home in Merrie England, although this ride is just one of those rides that makes me feel sick as a dog! Don't get me wrong it's a great ride for the younger kids, but I just can't take the spinning round, and round and round and round etc (give me the big thrill rides anyday, I'll leave this to the younger guests!)

Average Queue time: 15 minutes
Height Restrictions: 0.9m - 1.1m must be accompanied by and adult.

The one other ride which can be found here is the brilliantly relaxing Swan Boat Ride. Have you ever wanted to float around in a lake in a boat shaped like a swan, surrounded by nice tall trees? Well here is your ideal opportunity. I have always loved this ride, for me there is nothing better than finishing your hectic day at Alton Towers with a relaxing ride on the Swans! (Well there are better things in life, but I'm just talking about Alton Towers here!)

Average Queue time: 5 - 10 minutes
Height Restrictions: No Restriction, however children under 1.3m must be accompanied by an adult.

After leaving the laid back Merrie England you'll soon find yourself entering Katanga Canyon, home to many wild animals, and beating drums coming from the bushes! This area is another brilliant area for all you families (or softies) out there! Home of the Runaway Mine Train, you'll find this seemingly small, tame roller coaster pac
ks quite a punch! Many of the thrill seekers may miss this ride out, but they don't realise what they are missing out on! This is a fantastic little rollercoaster that surprisingly picks up some fair speed, and pulls a fair few G's! Definitely worth a pop!

Average Queue time: 25 minutes
Height Restrictions: 0.9m - 1.1m must be accompanied by an adult.

One of the greatest rides in the park this next one (well in my opinion anyway). I remember when this ride was initially opened sometime in the 90's (when I was but a young child); it was great the first time and never fails to be great every time. The Congo River Rapids is a little more than your run of the mill UK River Rapids. Take your seat on your six seater dinghy and prepare for a splash or two! I particularly like the bit where the ride takes your through the middle of two waterfalls (guaranteed for the family member?friend who takes the most water on here to get some stick!)

Average Queue time: 30 minutes (particularly when hot and sunny)
Height Restriction: Minimum Height of 0.9m unless accompanied by an adult.

What is that eerie noise your hearing as you leave Katanga Canyon, do you suddenly feel like your being watched? Don?t worry your just entering the Gloomy Woods. Home to only one ride, this thickly tree inhabited area is home to the parks Haunted Mansion! Brilliant themeing makes this area have a truly eerie feel to it (especially if visiting on one of the Halloween nights)! The Haunted Mansion went under some huge changes in 2003, and rather than being your standard haunted house style ride it turned into something quiet different.

Take your seat in the moving train, take your gun from your holster (don't take that the wrong way lads....) and get ready to shoot. Shoot your way through hoards of Zombies and Ghouls before they shoot back, try and score more points than your family! Great fun! A must for all the family,
you?ll have great time shooting them zombies!

Average Queue time: 25 minutes
Height Restrictions: No Restriction 0.9m must be accompanied by an adult.

It was in 1999 that this next area was born! The park spent large amounts of money on re-themeing this area into the Prehistorical playground it stands to be today. UG Land is one of the more child orientated areas of the park, but it's still a great laugh for all you adults too! The main ride here is the Corkscrew. This ride has been at Alton Towers for as long as I can remember! A word of warning, this ride is pretty rough going, so watch you don't bang your ears on the shoulder harness if you?re a shorter person! Ear bashing aside, a good little ride, well worth ago!

Average Queue time: 25 minutes
Height Restrictions: 1.2m minimum

Also included in UG land is UG bugs (a small car ride for the kids), UG Swinger (a traditional chair swing ride, a firm favourite amongst families) and the Bone Shaker (formerly known as Energizer). All these rides are brilliant for the young ones, bound to bring plenty of smiles to both yours and their faces!

(Watch out for the rather wacky UG Fire Brigade!)

A great thing about Alton Towers is the fact that amongst the rides they have still managed to preserve all the beauty of the Alton Towers grounds. Previously owned by the Earl of Shrewsbury the grounds around the original home have been turned into beautiful gardens! If you find yourself with spare time take a walk through!

The original house was restored into 2002 and partly converted into a ride called Hex - Legend of the Towers. This ride is your run of the mill 'spooky' house ride. It had so much hype surrounding its opening, and I find the ride terribly disappointing. If you have never been on the ride be sure to give it ago, but you probably won't want to a second time!

Average Queue time: 10 minutes
Height Res
trictions: 0.9m - 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult.

Cred Street, Old MacDonald's Farm and Adventure Land are areas of the park entirely for the kids! These areas have so many rides it would be pointless to list them all. Let me just say, they are all great for the kids, so be sure to stop by if you have young ones in the group!

The final two areas I'm going to talk about (as there are no more areas anyway..) are where the thrills are to be found! Any of you going to Alton Towers looking for some white knuckle rides; these will be the places to be. First the Forbidden Valley!

Both Nemesis and Air make their homes here in Forbidden Valley. Nemesis was the world's first roller coaster to have the train under the track. Be sure to hang on tight as this ride puts you upside down five times, at 50mph, experiencing G forces of +4G's, all whilst having nothing below your feet except from the ground, oh, and of course the trees, rocks, an water that you may at some point feel like your heading straight for! Not for the faint of heart, what a fantastic experience.

Average Queue time: 30 - 45 minutes
Height Restrictions: 1.4m minimum.

Air is also a world first and was opened at the begging of 2003! Air is the first roller coaster in the world where you go round the track lying face down (in a flying position)! Much the same as Nemesis be sure to hold on as this ride is not for the feint hearted! Underground tunnels, upside down moments, sudden drops, and an entire section on your back (facing the sky), this ride is not to be missed! As they say on the adverts, assume the position! You to can feel like Superman/Woman!

Average Queue time: 45 minutes
Height Restrictions: 1.4 minimum.

Also in Forbidden Valley you will find Ripsaw (a ride that will turn you 360 degrees, and guarantees you a soaking), Dynamo (a spinning ride for those with a strong stomach) and Blade (a pirate ship
)!

This brings me to the final area of Alton Towers, The X Sector. Home to the UK's greatest thrill ride, Oblivion! The world?s first (what a shock) vertical drop roller coaster. That's literally all this ride is, but to any of you who have seen this ride if you don?t build it up to much, then it?s a great ride. As you stare down a 180ft vertical drop (half of which is underground) the nerves will be jangling! Get ready for the feeling of a lifetime as you descend into Oblivion!

Average Queue time: 20 minutes
Height Restriction: 1.4m minimum

Also in the X Sector lives the Black Hole! One of oldest rides in the park, this ride is a roller coaster ride in the dark! Don't miss it! Submission, one of the parks newer rides is pretty disappointing; it's just a pirate ship that goes upside down, nothing all that impressive!

++ The Food ++

Great choice of food, everything from Mc Donalds (littered around the park), to family restaurants, there's so much to choose from at Alton Towers. Whether you're after fish and chips, steak and chips, or big mac and fries, Alton Towers can supply the goods at great value for money!

++ The Staff ++

Not much can be said about the staff working at Alton Towers apart from they have always been friendly, polite and always willing to help you when you ask a question! No problems here!

++ Accommodation ++

Alton Towers has two hotels within its grounds! The original Alton Towers hotel, located in the middle of the beautiful surrounding gardens and forests, and the brand new multi million pound themed hotel, Splash Landings. Splash Landings is a huge hotel/water park in one, (and apart from its disaster of an opening), has since received some great reviews! Both hotels are great value for money and offer a whole range of benefits such as discounts on merchandise, food, and best of all early entry to the park!

++ Fin
al Points ++

If your travelling with a disabled person, and/or a babies in your party then be sure to ask Alton Towers staff for assistance at the rides. All rides have disabled access and Alton Towers also runs a parent swap system as well. One parent rides the ride whilst one stays with the baby, then straight after the parents simply switch (with no waiting in line).

Worried about long queues ruining the day? Alton Towers have it covered! They have a fantastic 'Virtual Queue System' (much like Disney's Fast Pass), where you simply place your park admission ticket into a machine, and it prints out a ticket with a time on it. When this time arrives you simply go to the front of the queue (via a seperate line, no waiting in lines for you!) This gives you plenty of time to do whatever else you want, whilst waiting for the popular rides!

Virtual Queue runs of Nemesis, Oblivion and Air on most days! You may only have one virtual ticket at a time! Use them wisely! Plan ahead!

Thanks for reading, and sorry about the length, got a bit carried away there!

Chili