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Should I go to Alton Towers or Drayton Manor? (Read opening post for context)

Should I go to Alton Towers or Drayton Manor?


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Matt N

TS Member
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Hi guys. Just started this thread to ask you all your opinions on something. Basically, I do my GCSEs in May/June and go on study leave, so my mum offered to take me to a UK theme park of my choice during my study leave. My nan then piped up and said that she wanted to come with us, so I then became undecided as to which park to go to. The sort of rides she likes include things like Dragon at Legoland Windsor, Flight of the Hippogriff at IOA, Jurassic Park at IOA and the WWoHP rides. She last went to Alton Towers in 1998 when Oblivion opened and has never been to Drayton Manor. Because of her preferences in rides, I decided that Alton Towers and Drayton Manor would likely be the best and most convenient choices. So I'm in a bit of a quandary; should I pick to go to Alton Towers or Drayton Manor? My personal preferences make me lean slightly towards Alton Towers, but I'm not sure which one my nan would prefer. What do you guys think? Or alternatively, if you guys think there are better options within the UK, could you suggest them?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!
 
Hmm difficult question for someone who hasn't met your nan, I'm leaning towards Drayton Manor because Towers doesn't have many family rides outside CBeebies Land. Also of course Towers involves a lot of walking, which may tire her out?
 
If it was just for me, Alton Towers wins anytime.

Taking in consideration that you are taking your NAN, is she into rides? If yes, what type of rides? If she is into big thrilling rides (and yes I'm myself am old enough to be a grandparent, despite currently none of my grown up children have given birth), then I would take her to Alton, you also have the beautiful gardens and grounds which she may like. However if she is into the more gentler rides, then it has to be Drayton Manor which also have the Zoo which she can walk around, especially if she is not into rides at all.
 
I’m leaning towards Alton Towers as well. Having done both parks, I’d say Towers is a much more pleasant park to be in, with a much better atmosphere, and that has to count for something if you’re not doing all the bigger thrill rides. Having said that, Drayton have a very good selection of family and kids rides, as well as the zoo like RoyJess pointed out. Then at Towers there’s a lot of walking. But on the flip side they have the gardens and Towers (so long as they aren’t closed for Scarefest prep).

In honestly, I think you’ll enjoy whatever you pick, it’s just about personal preference really. :)
 
Taking in consideration that you are taking your NAN, is she into rides? If yes, what type of rides? If she is into big thrilling rides (and yes I'm myself am old enough to be a grandparent, despite currently none of my grown up children have given birth), then I would take her to Alton, you also have the beautiful gardens and grounds which she may like. However if she is into the more gentler rides, then it has to be Drayton Manor which also have the Zoo which she can walk around, especially if she is not into rides at all.
She does like rides, yes. Her criteria is essentially nothing that inverts, nothing that spins and nothing that's too high. After speaking to my mum, she reckons that my nan would ride quite a bit at Alton Towers, with the biggest things she'd ride likely being Thirteen and Wicker Man.
 
Try Blackpool Pleasure Beach instead. Hardly any walking, good variety of rides and less queuing. Get speedy passes (from £15) on the day if it's busy. Sorry but I think you'll have a much better day at BPB than AT or DM at the moment.
 
Now Blackpool sounds like a great idea, you can't go wrong with Blackpool. Not only do you have the pleasure beach, but you also have the Tower, Sealife, Waxworks, a stroll along the beach and piers, the zoo, model village, sandcastle etc...so much to do, you may need a week there.....

....even better, ask if you can go after the summer holidays as you have the illuminations too....

....or if you ask nicely, do either Alton/Drayton May/June time and see if you can both go to Blackpool at the end of the season when the illuminations are on ;)
 
I too suggested Blackpool Pleasure Beach, but it was unfortunately vetoed due to distance (it's a good 3.5 to 4 hour drive from where I live), which is fair enough.
 
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so my mum offered to take me to a UK theme park of my choice during my study leave.

Don't forget that your mum has offered to take you to a UK themepark of your choice. Your choice means your choice, as lovey as you seem, you sometimes need to make a decisive decision based on what you would like to do.

My nan then piped up and said that she wanted to come with us, so I then became undecided as to which park to go to.

Don't forget that your Nan has invited herself here, so it sounds like she is happy to tag along wherever you go. I'm sure she will be happy to spend some time keeping your mum company while you go on the rides.

Jess always comes to themepark to support me, she is not allowed on the rides, but she is there supporting me, and I'm sure which ever themepark you choose, your Nan will also be there supporting you, which ever park that you choose to visit.
 
The thing is @RoyJess, my mum was actually a bit angry with me for asking you guys on here, as she said to me "as useful as the advice of your forum is, it will ultimately be me who decides where to go; I'm driving and I'm paying for the tickets!"

Also, I'm not sure if "a UK theme park of my choice" was the best choice of wording to use, as there are certain theme parks that my mum has refused on the grounds of them not being suitable for my nan and there are certain theme parks that my mum herself doesn't like and refuses to take me to. For example:
  • My mum has said that Thorpe Park is unsuitable for my nan.
  • My mum refuses to go to Chessington.
  • My mum refuses to go to Legoland.
  • My mum refuses to go to Oakwood.
All of those are for very fair reasons, and I forgot to mention that the furthest away she's willing to drive is about 2.5 hours, so about the distance to Alton Towers from where I live.

For some context in terms of distance:
  • Alton Towers is about 2h 30m from where I live.
  • Drayton Manor is about 1h 45m from where I live.
My personal preference would probably be Alton, but I'm just grateful for my mum offering to take me, so I'd accept anywhere!

By the way, thank you all for your suggestions, but it sounds like we're now heavily leaning towards Alton! That also seems to be the popular opinion both on here and on CoasterForce!
 
You must be so excited about learning to drive :p
I don't mind; it's not that long away, and besides, I'm very grateful that my parents even take me to theme parks full stop! It would be very demanding of me to pick and choose what theme parks; there are children out there who aren't fortunate enough to even go to theme parks!
 
I don't mind; it's not that long away, and besides, I'm very grateful that my parents even take me to theme parks full stop! It would be very demanding of me to pick and choose what theme parks; there are children out there who aren't fortunate enough to even go to theme parks!
Exactly. I would be tempted to ask for both but maybe that's too much?

Reading your post here reminds me how I felt a few years ago. My parents weren't fussed about theme parks but we've visited quite a few over the years. Now, I offer to go hiking with them and they ask to go to Ocean Park instead! :D
 
The thing is @RoyJess, my mum was actually a bit angry with me for asking you guys on here, as she said to me "as useful as the advice of your forum is, it will ultimately be me who decides where to go; I'm driving and I'm paying for the tickets!"

I think your mum is right and is exactly what I was trying to say in my last post ;)


Also, I'm not sure if "a UK theme park of my choice" was the best choice of wording to use, as there are certain theme parks that my mum has refused on the grounds of them not being suitable for my nan and there are certain theme parks that my mum herself doesn't like and refuses to take me to. For example:
  • My mum has said that Thorpe Park is unsuitable for my nan.
  • My mum refuses to go to Chessington.
  • My mum refuses to go to Legoland.
  • My mum refuses to go to Oakwood.
All of those are for very fair reasons, and I forgot to mention that the furthest away she's willing to drive is about 2.5 hours, so about the distance to Alton Towers from where I live.

For some context in terms of distance:
  • Alton Towers is about 2h 30m from where I live.
  • Drayton Manor is about 1h 45m from where I live.

It's a bit like Henry Ford saying "Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants, as long as it is black." ;)

It does sound like the underlining reason behind the excuse is the distance as the other parks are no worse or have more extreme rides than Alton

My personal preference would probably be Alton,

That is your answer :)
 
Exactly. I would be tempted to ask for both but maybe that's too much?

Reading your post here reminds me how I felt a few years ago. My parents weren't fussed about theme parks but we've visited quite a few over the years. Now, I offer to go hiking with them and they ask to go to Ocean Park instead! :D
The thing is, I'd probably accept a couple of theme park visits a year at this stage, and I never like asking my parents to take me places as I often worry that I'm dragging them places against their will. At this stage of the game, anywhere is good, so I never like to be too fussy.

Sounds like you've got two enthusiasts in the making there! ;)
 
When I was your age @Matt N , I've never visited a themepark. You are very lucky.

The only places that I've been as a child was Gt. Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Joyland, Southend (Peter Pan' land) and Walton on the Naze pier.

1986 (I was 16 then) my parents took me and my sisters to Margate Bembom Brothers Dreamland where I first went on my first steel and upside down rollercoater. Before then the only rollercoaster I went on were woodies.

1987, I took some return trips to Margate Bembom Brothers Dreamland via BR train from Broxborne Herts
And then again later on that year I decided to visit Alton Towers on my own again via BR train from Broxborne Herts with bus transfer.

I then soon after that I pass my driving test and never look back since. Freedom! :)
 
See, that's the exact reason why I said that I'm grateful to visit theme parks full stop!
 
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