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Help, 5 kids, need a ride plan.....please....11/10/13

cb50

TS Member
:eek:

We all like heavy duty rides, and lots of them - it is a school day and they have inset day so expecting park to be quiet??

What is the best route around ther park and rides to go on. Any parking tips...

We did the same thing last year at Thorpe on an inset day and got in almost 100 rides! Never been to alton towers though so have nothing to go on......

Thanks for any help you give me.....
 
Just get The Smiler in as early as you can just in case, especially if you haven't done it yet.
 
Parking tip: park in the hotel car park, rather than in one of the huge ones where everyone normally goes. The hotel one is closer to the monorail and therefore quicker to walk to/from. To get to it, simply stay in the left lane from when you enter the park, eventually you'll reach a small roundabout near the hotels - take the rightmost exit and you'll be in the hotel car park.
 
I agree with TheMan - Smiler early is the best idea.

Also don't bother with Rita or Spinball - Both have long slow moving queues.

My usual route is
Smiler->Oblivion->Hex->13->Nemesis->Air->NST and then walk down the north side doing everything which leads you to Pizza Pasta about 12:30-1pm for lunch (I think its the best value if you have hungry people).
 
You should be able to ride everything, but don't expect 100's of rides like Thorpe. It takes a long time to walk form area to area.

Make use of ERT if you have it? ( If you booked online, staying in hotel or have an AP. )
With ERT you can get RMT & nemisis x8 before 10pm then head straight to Rita ( via FV & CCL Skyride which opens at 10) as the que builds up rapidly! Whilst in DF do 13. (this is a LONG walk if you don't use the skyride )

As you are then close to Xsector, do oblivion, the smiler, enterprise & submission ( if you like that sort of thing. )

You should then be able to then work your way back round at your leisure.. From xsector, to hex, to mutiny bay, to ketanga kanyon, to gloomy wood, then finishing in forbidden valley to do air, sub-terra, ripsaw & the blade.

Try to do as many of the big 5 6 ASAP ( or late on ) and you shouldn't have a problem quing much. Also, you want to cut the walking as much as possible ( time wasting ) which is why you should plan where areas are and your POA. Map easily found online.

There are shortcuts through the gardens, ( not that much shorter really, ) but don't be tempted unless you are very familiar with the paths. ( The 'map' is very misleading regarding scale.)

Anything with 1hour plus que, avoid if you can and come back later. Make use of SRQ, particularly on the smiler & nemesis. (NOT Rita)

Forgetting all that, the easiest option would be to get a gold or platinum fastrack, but with 5 kids you may need a small mortgage.

EDIT, as you are going on a Friday, don't expect it to be THAT quiet, but will be OK! Have a good time ! :D
 
I presume they are pre-booked so get ERT?

If so: Nemesis for all of ERT, then Air, The Blade, Ripsaw, Sub-Terra, Runaway Mine Train, Marauders Mayhem, Sonic, Oblivion, Enterprise, Hex, *Skyride to Forbidden Valley*, More Nemesis, Duel, *Lunch at Pizza and Pasta*, Rapids (good for a laugh and not too wet), Marauders Mayhem again, More Oblivion/Enterprise/Submission, Smiler queue just before ride close.

HTH
 
Great help from you all - really appreciate it. Not ERT we have Sun tickets?? I assume ERT is if you are staying there?
 
You get ERT if you stay in the Hotel, Book Tickets Online, or have an Annual Pass.

Try to get there at 9:45 anyway. Early & Late on, you can get a good ride-count.
 
One more final point. Keep ridetimes.co.uk open on your phone. Shows you the current queue lengths and is the same numbers that feed the queue boards within the park.
 
cb50 said:
Great help from you all - really appreciate it. Not ERT we have Sun tickets?? I assume ERT is if you are staying there?

No Early Ride Time (ERT) then. So head straight to Air, then do Nemesis, the The Blade etc.
 
Friday 11th October.

Looking at ride queues all week it has been dead! Two rides closed today - all at <15 mins
 
Wind coming....not too bad though.....do rides often close for wind?


Any added advice for where to park? Please
 
cb50 said:
Wind coming....not too bad though.....do rides often close for wind?


Any added advice for where to park? Please

Alastair said:
Parking tip: park in the hotel car park, rather than in one of the huge ones where everyone normally goes. The hotel one is closer to the monorail and therefore quicker to walk to/from. To get to it, simply stay in the left lane from when you enter the park, eventually you'll reach a small roundabout near the hotels - take the rightmost exit and you'll be in the hotel car park.

Some rides will close in gusts above 40mph. That won't happen tomorrow though.
 
Depending on the ages of the kids and heights you'll want to tailor your day around what they can/ cant ride.

Try our handy height guide: Height Guide that will tell you everything you can do.

The biggest thing for a new visitor to Alton Towers to emphasise is the size of the park, its blinking huge! The areas are really spread out, most extreme would be x-sector to forbidden valley, its a good 20-30min walk.

Also the walk from forbidden valley to dark forrest is a trek through the gardens, as lovely as they are if you are going for a rideathon hop on the skyride.

Basically just plan as well as you can.
 
Alastair said:
cb50 said:
Wind coming....not too bad though.....do rides often close for wind?


Any added advice for where to park? Please

Alastair said:
Parking tip: park in the hotel car park, rather than in one of the huge ones where everyone normally goes. The hotel one is closer to the monorail and therefore quicker to walk to/from. To get to it, simply stay in the left lane from when you enter the park, eventually you'll reach a small roundabout near the hotels - take the rightmost exit and you'll be in the hotel car park.


Thanks but can i park there if i am not staying at the hotel?

Some rides will close in gusts above 40mph. That won't happen tomorrow though.
 
Thanks again for all the help.

They have allbeen told to bring food and a rucksack, warm clothes etc....so i am now wondering rather than hire a locker if i park VIP parking is that close enough to leave the bags and come out to eat as it is the same price as a large locker plus parking??

all this planning is driving me crazy but with 5 kids i want to make it smooth as i can!!
 
cb50 said:
Alastair said:
cb50 said:
Wind coming....not too bad though.....do rides often close for wind?


Any added advice for where to park? Please

Alastair said:
Parking tip: park in the hotel car park, rather than in one of the huge ones where everyone normally goes. The hotel one is closer to the monorail and therefore quicker to walk to/from. To get to it, simply stay in the left lane from when you enter the park, eventually you'll reach a small roundabout near the hotels - take the rightmost exit and you'll be in the hotel car park.

Some rides will close in gusts above 40mph. That won't happen tomorrow though.

Thanks but can i park there if i am not staying at the hotel?

Yes, anyone can park there. That's why it's a good tip!
 
cb50 said:
They have allbeen told to bring food and a rucksack, warm clothes etc....so i am now wondering rather than hire a locker if i park VIP parking is that close enough to leave the bags and come out to eat as it is the same price as a large locker plus parking??

all this planning is driving me crazy but with 5 kids i want to make it smooth as i can!!

As I said the park is huge, so it might be worth the VIP parking if you are going to be near the front of the park. But yeah the VIP car park is just out of the gates (next to guest services) where your locker would be.

If you park at the hotels as others have suggested take I wouldnt plan on returning, its a long round trip. The monorail is a 5-10 min ride, plus waiting time and getting from the park/ to the park. You'll waste alot of time.

Maybe suggest some waterproofs if you plan on doing water rides, its cold now its october! But you can buy ponchos for a couple of quid.

I know youve said food, but I really would suggest eating at the park if you can afford it. Its not especially cheap (when is a theme park?!) but some places have good quality food and with it being cold and windy you'll probably appreciate being indoors for abit.

Id suggest Woodcutters do the best food in the nicest venue on park (for pub style burgers, platters etc), or the Chicken Co in X-Sector, or the Pizza Pasta buffet in Katanga Kanyon.
Avoid any of the burger kitchens though.

Menus for some of the Park food venues are here on the AT website.

I know we are all throwing tips at you but my other recommendation is chill out, let the day flow and just enjoy it.
 
Ben said:
cb50 said:
They have allbeen told to bring food and a rucksack, warm clothes etc....so i am now wondering rather than hire a locker if i park VIP parking is that close enough to leave the bags and come out to eat as it is the same price as a large locker plus parking??

all this planning is driving me crazy but with 5 kids i want to make it smooth as i can!!

As I said the park is huge, so it might be worth the VIP parking if you are going to be near the front of the park. But yeah the VIP car park is just out of the gates (next to guest services) where your locker would be.

If you park at the hotels as others have suggested take I wouldnt plan on returning, its a long round trip. The monorail is a 5-10 min ride, plus waiting time and getting from the park/ to the park. You'll waste alot of time.

Maybe suggest some waterproofs if you plan on doing water rides, its cold now its october! But you can buy ponchos for a couple of quid.

I know youve said food, but I really would suggest eating at the park if you can afford it. Its not especially cheap (when is a theme park?!) but some places have good quality food and with it being cold and windy you'll probably appreciate being indoors for abit.

Id suggest Woodcutters do the best food in the nicest venue on park (for pub style burgers, platters etc), or the Chicken Co in X-Sector, or the Pizza Pasta buffet in Katanga Kanyon.
Avoid any of the burger kitchens though.

Menus for some of the Park food venues are here on the AT website.

I know we are all throwing tips at you but my other recommendation is chill out, let the day flow and just enjoy it.

Thanks - all really helpful and I will once i get there......looking forward to it
 
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