OblivionMakesMeSmilier
TS Member
My first ever time going to Alton Towers and the first trip report I have ever written so sorry if it's shockingly bad. 
Me, two of my friends and my friend's mum were visiting, me and F1 using a kitkat voucher and F2 and F2M using Annual Passes. (sorry for the bad abbreviations LOL)
Arrived at the park just after 11am. I was adamant we were going on Air first- as I heard it was gentle and I'd never been on a roller coaster before- I wanted to test the waters!
The queue- according to the boards- was about 40 minutes. When we were about halfway down the queue, it was announced the ride was experiencing temporary delays. Thankfully, Air was up and running again in under 15 minutes! Our patience payed off, as most of the people in front of us had left.
Air was fantastic for a first coaster experience- It really did feel like I was flying and it got me on a high for our next stop- Nemesis.
The queue for Nemesis was around the same as Air, minus the 'temporary delay'. can I just say AMAZING. Completely different experience to Air, way more intense, and I much preferred it. Loved the work put into the theme!
We then visited Nemesis Sub-Terra. My thoughts were that the staff were very, very good at their job and really enhanced the ride with their reactions. I didn't really enjoy this ride as much as Air and Nemesis, because I'm just that sort of person that doesn't really fall for simulations. My friends are, though, and they were thrilled with it!
Then took the Skyride over to Cloud Cuckoo Land then walked to the Dark Forest. The views- oh my goodness, they are unmissable! loved loved loved it!
By this time it was around 1-2, so we decided to grab a bite to eat. had sausage roll from some kind of snack stall, and F1 & F2 had chips; F2M had her own sandwich. We ate in the queue for Rita as it was freaking long! On top of the fact the wait was long enough, Rita also experienced 'temporary delays'. Again this had a similar effect on impatient people in front of us as it did on Air, but a few more stuck to their guns and waited.
They and we were right to wait- the launch was fantastic and a well needed gust of refreshing air on a sweltering hot day.
Bought the photo- I was determined to smile despite the shock of the speed- and I succeeded!
Then used SRQ for Thi3teen. I loved the decor for this one- even in the queuing area, me and my friends were like 'you first' 'no you' 'fine..'. I thought the outdoor bit was too short, and I hated the restrains. did not do much in the way of assuring me I wasn't going to fly out of the cart, and were pretty uncomfortable. Wished it had at least one inversion. The highlight of the ride for me was the **SPOILER** backwards bit **END SPOILER**, because I already knew the drop was coming due to my sneaky-but-not-sneaky-enough friends.
We then took a gentle stroll down to the not-so-gentle X-Sector and went straight for Oblivion. This was the one ride I was really, really dreading. I suffered from borderline acrophobia at the time, which mostly came into effect when looking at a sheer drop, or imagining falling from a sheer drop. So yeah, Oblivion was never that much of an inviting prospect for me.
In the queue, I was freaking out. People were looking at me funny. I was making an idiot of myself. To make matters worse, for the third time today, the ride had a 'temporary delay' and so my agonising wait was further prolonged. When I sat in that seat I was literally shaking and crying and telling myself to grow up. My friends, of course, had big beaming smiles.
Okay, I was like that all the way until we got to the drop. i looked down, saw that big black hole and said to my friend 'Actually, that looks quite cool,'
The drop was AWESOME!!!!
Yeeah, so that was a bit weird. But I really enjoyed it in the end and I say to all you acrophobics, FACE YOUR FEARS! IT IS SOOO WORTH IT!
Now for the almighty SMILER! The queue was reasonably short considering the ride is new and everything, but we still queued longer than we did for everything else. I was exhausted by this point, so I didn't appreciate the work put into the queuing area as much as I should have. Everything there is designed to freak you out- and it is totally awesome. The staff, on one of my acquaintances visits, had apparently done that creepy smile at her when they strapped her in. The staff didn't do that for us, but they were cheerful and their outfits were a great touch. I joked to F1 & F2: 'So THIS is where they make Gru's Minions!' We had seen a woman clutching a plush minion earlier, and we joked that that had been her husband until he was marmalised.
The loading area was also awesomely themed, and had a clinical feel as well as that air of necessary delirious happiness. We decided to have a competition- and try to frown on the Smiler
The ride itself was, for me, the best all day. What can I say- I love being upside down! and the vertical climb was great fun. It lasted longer than the other rides too (or at least it felt like it). I can clearly see why The Smiler has been such a great success- I failed in not frowning on this awesome ride.
By then, I was just going on pure left over adrenaline from rides, as opposed to actual energy. We decided to take one more ride on Oblivion and Air before heading to Towers Street to shop. The climb up to meet the end of the dwindling queue for Oblivion was like hiking up Everest, but again well worth that needed shot of adrenaline.
Then the walk over to Cloud Cuckoo Land to skyride to Forbidden Valley; the queue for Air was still refusing to die and the SRQ was just as bad. But it was well worth the wait for our perfect, gentle, end of day ride.
Then we somehow made it back to the skyride to Towers Street to buy some high-sugar snacks, although they were a tad overpriced- what can you expect, it is a theme park after all!
Overall a brilliant day to visit the Towers. Even in the school holidays, the park was very quiet and the weather was glorious. I went from complete slightly acrophobic non-rollercoasterer, to a rollercoaster freak with no fear in one day. Completely exhiliarating and I look forward to returning very soon
Sorry if this trip report was bad! First timer, any feedback welcome!
Me, two of my friends and my friend's mum were visiting, me and F1 using a kitkat voucher and F2 and F2M using Annual Passes. (sorry for the bad abbreviations LOL)
Arrived at the park just after 11am. I was adamant we were going on Air first- as I heard it was gentle and I'd never been on a roller coaster before- I wanted to test the waters!
The queue- according to the boards- was about 40 minutes. When we were about halfway down the queue, it was announced the ride was experiencing temporary delays. Thankfully, Air was up and running again in under 15 minutes! Our patience payed off, as most of the people in front of us had left.
Air was fantastic for a first coaster experience- It really did feel like I was flying and it got me on a high for our next stop- Nemesis.
The queue for Nemesis was around the same as Air, minus the 'temporary delay'. can I just say AMAZING. Completely different experience to Air, way more intense, and I much preferred it. Loved the work put into the theme!
We then visited Nemesis Sub-Terra. My thoughts were that the staff were very, very good at their job and really enhanced the ride with their reactions. I didn't really enjoy this ride as much as Air and Nemesis, because I'm just that sort of person that doesn't really fall for simulations. My friends are, though, and they were thrilled with it!
Then took the Skyride over to Cloud Cuckoo Land then walked to the Dark Forest. The views- oh my goodness, they are unmissable! loved loved loved it!
By this time it was around 1-2, so we decided to grab a bite to eat. had sausage roll from some kind of snack stall, and F1 & F2 had chips; F2M had her own sandwich. We ate in the queue for Rita as it was freaking long! On top of the fact the wait was long enough, Rita also experienced 'temporary delays'. Again this had a similar effect on impatient people in front of us as it did on Air, but a few more stuck to their guns and waited.
They and we were right to wait- the launch was fantastic and a well needed gust of refreshing air on a sweltering hot day.
Bought the photo- I was determined to smile despite the shock of the speed- and I succeeded!
Then used SRQ for Thi3teen. I loved the decor for this one- even in the queuing area, me and my friends were like 'you first' 'no you' 'fine..'. I thought the outdoor bit was too short, and I hated the restrains. did not do much in the way of assuring me I wasn't going to fly out of the cart, and were pretty uncomfortable. Wished it had at least one inversion. The highlight of the ride for me was the **SPOILER** backwards bit **END SPOILER**, because I already knew the drop was coming due to my sneaky-but-not-sneaky-enough friends.
We then took a gentle stroll down to the not-so-gentle X-Sector and went straight for Oblivion. This was the one ride I was really, really dreading. I suffered from borderline acrophobia at the time, which mostly came into effect when looking at a sheer drop, or imagining falling from a sheer drop. So yeah, Oblivion was never that much of an inviting prospect for me.
In the queue, I was freaking out. People were looking at me funny. I was making an idiot of myself. To make matters worse, for the third time today, the ride had a 'temporary delay' and so my agonising wait was further prolonged. When I sat in that seat I was literally shaking and crying and telling myself to grow up. My friends, of course, had big beaming smiles.
Okay, I was like that all the way until we got to the drop. i looked down, saw that big black hole and said to my friend 'Actually, that looks quite cool,'
The drop was AWESOME!!!!
Yeeah, so that was a bit weird. But I really enjoyed it in the end and I say to all you acrophobics, FACE YOUR FEARS! IT IS SOOO WORTH IT!
Now for the almighty SMILER! The queue was reasonably short considering the ride is new and everything, but we still queued longer than we did for everything else. I was exhausted by this point, so I didn't appreciate the work put into the queuing area as much as I should have. Everything there is designed to freak you out- and it is totally awesome. The staff, on one of my acquaintances visits, had apparently done that creepy smile at her when they strapped her in. The staff didn't do that for us, but they were cheerful and their outfits were a great touch. I joked to F1 & F2: 'So THIS is where they make Gru's Minions!' We had seen a woman clutching a plush minion earlier, and we joked that that had been her husband until he was marmalised.
The loading area was also awesomely themed, and had a clinical feel as well as that air of necessary delirious happiness. We decided to have a competition- and try to frown on the Smiler
The ride itself was, for me, the best all day. What can I say- I love being upside down! and the vertical climb was great fun. It lasted longer than the other rides too (or at least it felt like it). I can clearly see why The Smiler has been such a great success- I failed in not frowning on this awesome ride.
By then, I was just going on pure left over adrenaline from rides, as opposed to actual energy. We decided to take one more ride on Oblivion and Air before heading to Towers Street to shop. The climb up to meet the end of the dwindling queue for Oblivion was like hiking up Everest, but again well worth that needed shot of adrenaline.
Then the walk over to Cloud Cuckoo Land to skyride to Forbidden Valley; the queue for Air was still refusing to die and the SRQ was just as bad. But it was well worth the wait for our perfect, gentle, end of day ride.
Then we somehow made it back to the skyride to Towers Street to buy some high-sugar snacks, although they were a tad overpriced- what can you expect, it is a theme park after all!
Overall a brilliant day to visit the Towers. Even in the school holidays, the park was very quiet and the weather was glorious. I went from complete slightly acrophobic non-rollercoasterer, to a rollercoaster freak with no fear in one day. Completely exhiliarating and I look forward to returning very soon
Sorry if this trip report was bad! First timer, any feedback welcome!
