• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

2021: General Discussion

Status
This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
Thanks all !! I think walking is the best option at the minute, there's 3 of us all under 25 so I'm sure we'll make it! :D

On another point - queue times are looking really good today, the highest is Smiler at 60 minutes. Wicker is only on 40 (but it could have just re-opened) and all the rest are around 15 to 40 ! Considering today is a busy day according to the crowd levels website I have hope for Thursday/Friday being okay!
 
CherryBerry17 said:
Thanks all !! I think walking is the best option at the minute, there's 3 of us all under 25 so I'm sure we'll make it! :D

On another point - queue times are looking really good today, the highest is Smiler at 60 minutes. Wicker is only on 40 (but it could have just re-opened) and all the rest are around 15 to 40 ! Considering today is a busy day according to the crowd levels website I have hope for Thursday/Friday being okay!
Click to expand...
It'll be fine I'm sure. And always bear in mind, the queue times on the app and ride boards may not always be accurate, and with social distancing never judge a queue based on it's physical length and where it ends in the queue path. As an example, we were queueing for Gangsta Granny from by the queue board and I realised that if you didn't have social distancing, the physical queue length would've been quite small and probably not far out into the outside queue. Of course it was slower moving because of the 1 group per car rule but that at the moment can't be helped.
 
Interestingly, it would appear that school trips have returned for 2021:
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https://www.altontowers.com/schools/&h=AT2-z3QsAOZNq-lE-QFygQ24shSBNoerGBjFvJPBBj_eAYaucyISFUosPRapWROOY3wsSoXuJUN1toqc9yLBLwZ6xixSt2pxwMa4oi7rGJkWk7473jCvyPzd36A6TrQ&s=1
I didn’t think school trips would be allowed under COVID regulations, but as the year groups are all bubbled, I guess there’s no reason why they can’t happen provided students are in groups of no bigger than 6 to go around the park.
 
Matt N said:
Interestingly, it would appear that school trips have returned for 2021:
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https://www.altontowers.com/schools/&h=AT2-z3QsAOZNq-lE-QFygQ24shSBNoerGBjFvJPBBj_eAYaucyISFUosPRapWROOY3wsSoXuJUN1toqc9yLBLwZ6xixSt2pxwMa4oi7rGJkWk7473jCvyPzd36A6TrQ&s=1
I didn’t think school trips would be allowed under COVID regulations, but as the year groups are all bubbled, I guess there’s no reason why they can’t happen provided students are in groups of no bigger than 6 to go around the park.
Click to expand...
The problem with this is, they could easily meet up with their friends once out of sight, and it'd be a potential nightmare.
 
Matt N said:
Interestingly, it would appear that school trips have returned for 2021:
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https://www.altontowers.com/schools/&h=AT2-z3QsAOZNq-lE-QFygQ24shSBNoerGBjFvJPBBj_eAYaucyISFUosPRapWROOY3wsSoXuJUN1toqc9yLBLwZ6xixSt2pxwMa4oi7rGJkWk7473jCvyPzd36A6TrQ&s=1
I didn’t think school trips would be allowed under COVID regulations, but as the year groups are all bubbled, I guess there’s no reason why they can’t happen provided students are in groups of no bigger than 6 to go around the park.
Click to expand...

The fact that Alton Towers is willing to welcome them, doesn't mean the schools will come. I would be very surprised if any school risk assesment allows it right now.
 
Excited to be visiting for the first time in about 3 years on Friday! Opening hours look to be until 6pm now but imagine it'll be busier than we anticipated but oh well!

Opening time says 10am but can you get into the park earlier and head to a ride?

Trying to work out a list of where to head to as can see from the Queue Times site that they are getting pretty long throughout the day. For the main coasters I'm thinking: Wicker Man -> The Smiler -> Thirteen -> Rita (maybe) -> Galactica -> Nemesis -> Oblivion

We'd dot through some others (Duel, Mine Train, Spinball etc) if we get the time!

Will report back some time over the weekend on how we get on :)
 
Yes, you can go in earlier than 10am. Turnstiles often open not long after 9am, so you can often be in your first queue by 9:30am.

If I were you, I’d start in Dark Forest. Both coasters in Dark Forest are quite low capacity (at least, they are currently), so get long queues later on in the day. They’re also not what most people are typically rushing towards.

Of course, it’s up to you, but I’ve gone to Dark Forest first on my last two Towers visits and it’s worked brilliantly, with two of the big 7 being nailed within the first 30 minutes or so of entering the park!
 
Matt N said:
Yes, you can go in earlier than 10am. Turnstiles often open not long after 9am, so you can often be in your first queue by 9:30am.

If I were you, I’d start in Dark Forest. Both coasters in Dark Forest are quite low capacity (at least, they are currently), so get long queues later on in the day. They’re also not what most people are typically rushing towards.

Of course, it’s up to you, but I’ve gone to Dark Forest first on my last two Towers visits and it’s worked brilliantly, with two of the big 7 being nailed within the first 30 minutes or so of entering the park!
Click to expand...

If Smiler was a must, would you recommend jumping in the queue as close to 9:30 as you could, or just going to the Dark Forest and chancing Smiler later in the day?

I've noticed that Spinball has been a lot quieter the last week than I've ever seen it before. Which seems unusual as it's personally a favourite of mine!
 
Matt N said:
Interestingly, it would appear that school trips have returned for 2021:
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https://www.altontowers.com/schools/&h=AT2-z3QsAOZNq-lE-QFygQ24shSBNoerGBjFvJPBBj_eAYaucyISFUosPRapWROOY3wsSoXuJUN1toqc9yLBLwZ6xixSt2pxwMa4oi7rGJkWk7473jCvyPzd36A6TrQ&s=1
I didn’t think school trips would be allowed under COVID regulations, but as the year groups are all bubbled, I guess there’s no reason why they can’t happen provided students are in groups of no bigger than 6 to go around the park.
Click to expand...

Outdoor limit is 30 now. Indoor is still 6 or 2 households.
 
CherryBerry17 said:
If Smiler was a must, would you recommend jumping in the queue as close to 9:30 as you could, or just going to the Dark Forest and chancing Smiler later in the day?

I've noticed that Spinball has been a lot quieter the last week than I've ever seen it before. Which seems unusual as it's personally a favourite of mine!
Click to expand...
The Smiler, Thirteen and Rita can all be done by 10:40 if you get to The Smiler early enough. Did it the other week! Galactica and Nemesis and even The Blade were then done by 11:30!
 
Matt N said:
Yes, you can go in earlier than 10am. Turnstiles often open not long after 9am, so you can often be in your first queue by 9:30am.

If I were you, I’d start in Dark Forest. Both coasters in Dark Forest are quite low capacity (at least, they are currently), so get long queues later on in the day. They’re also not what most people are typically rushing towards.

Of course, it’s up to you, but I’ve gone to Dark Forest first on my last two Towers visits and it’s worked brilliantly, with two of the big 7 being nailed within the first 30 minutes or so of entering the park!
Click to expand...

Could be a great shout thanks! :) Looking forward to it especially with the current weather forecast!
 
Ah right; apologies about that! It would seem I don’t know the COVID guidance…
 
jon81uk said:
The fact that Alton Towers is willing to welcome them, doesn't mean the schools will come. I would be very surprised if any school risk assesment allows it right now.
Click to expand...

There does seem to be demand for schools bookings so I would expect so see lots of trips in the coming weeks, even if it isn’t as high as pre covid. (As long as Towers get their act together and answer the queries they are getting that is!)





 
Steve74 said:
You shouldn't be able to walk around the scaremaze. The door at the top of the stairs in TPWW's vlog is bolted shut but on Saturday someone had forced it open and it wasn't able to be shut (I think the door had shifted slightly on it's hinges). I was tempted to try and force it shut but didn't want to in case someone was wondering around in there!
Click to expand...

Aah right i didn't notice a door had been forced open tbh..i did find it odd we could walk around it
 
It's bad enough in a normal season when schools rock up, I dread to think what it will be like with all the restrictions in place at the moment.

Besides, I thought all these kids were struggling and behind in their studies due to the pandemic?! Keep them in the classroom where they belong! :p
 
MaxPower said:
It's bad enough in a normal season when schools rock up, I dread to think what it will be like with all the restrictions in place at the moment.

Besides, I thought all these kids were struggling and behind in their studies due to the pandemic?! Keep them in the classroom where they belong! :p
Click to expand...

I dunno, it's been a pretty miserable year for most school pupils, I don't really begrudge them a day out with friends at Towers.

As long as they're not there when I am.
 
Status
This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
Top