2025 Trip Plans

[Matt N]

Hi guys. With it being the last day of the Alton Towers season today, 2024 is swiftly coming to a close. So I thought it was about time to start looking forward to 2025 and think about theme park trip plans. With this in mind, I’d be interested to know; what are your trip plans for next year, at present?

In terms of my own, I’m at a point currently where I can’t commit to doing anything too big too far in advance. I’m on an MSc degree until September, and I don’t really know what my employment situation will be after that.

With that being said, I do have a few provisional thoughts of things I might do in 2025…

• One thing I can guarantee with almost iron clad certainty is that I will go to Alton Towers at least once in 2025. I can also say the same about Thorpe Park. They’re my two favourite UK parks, and they’re within a reasonable enough distance that they can most probably be done within a day trip. Unless something catastrophic happens, these two will almost definitely be on the agenda at some point.
• I’m keen to tick off some more of the local cred cuisine nearer home next year and visit Barry Island Pleasure Park in Wales for the first time. I only live an hour or so away from Barry, but I’ve never been before. There’s a non-kiddie credit to grab there, as well as one of the tallest rides in the UK, and while I’m studying in Cardiff University, I feel like it’s quite low hanging fruit, only being a 30 minute train ride from my daily commute station Cardiff Central!
• Ever since Megafobia was retracked in 2023, I’ve been on about going back to Oakwood Theme Park to give the newly retracked ride a go. Whether I go down on public transport or possibly even brave driving there (I’m not convinced I’m brave enough to drive the 2h 15m to Oakwood, but never say never, I guess!), I would definitely like to give the new Megafobia a go, particularly seeing as I’m honestly never certain of how long Oakwood has left based on recent reports…
• I’d like to try another solo UK overnighter next year. I’ve been on about doing a Blackpool Pleasure Beach overnight train trip for a few years, and I haven’t been to that park since 2019. Maybe this year will be the year I finally do it?
• I’m unsure of whether or not we’ll end up being able to do this, but me and my parents have been on about continuing our quest to visit new mainland European parks in 2025 and go to France, doing a double bill of Parc Asterix and Disneyland Paris. My parents liked the look of Asterix, and big hitters like Toutatis and OzIris do look appealing to me there! And while I’ve been to DLP before, my last visit was in 2011 when I was not quite 8 years old, so going back next year will almost be like visiting for the first time all over again with just how long it’s been! At very least, I want to avenge my 8 year old self and finally go on Rock’n’Rollercoaster… take that, person from primary school who told me it would give me tummy ache!

Nothing is ever guaranteed, though, particularly at this stage. In both 2023 and 2024, surprises cropped up that I wasn’t expecting at the start of the year, and who knows if I’ll follow through on all of what I’ve written here…

But I’d be interested to know; what’s on the cards for you theme park-wise in 2025?

 

[Matt.GC]

I would normally say with certainty that Alton Towers would be on the cards like it has been for almost every year since the late 80's. But I've missed my first Scarefest since 2008 this year. After 2 years of disappointing visits where I feel I've wasted my time and money, I just never know when it's safe to visit to avoid feeling like I've wasted my efforts in going. It's just getting worse and worse. A single Topspin opening won't be worth that effort.

I may end up caving in and going anyway, purely in the basis of never knowing when it's the last year you may end up riding something before they close it. That and nagging from the kids. But it's almost becoming a chore to go up there, a stressful and exhausting day out in a grotty and barren park where you hike around chasing breakdowns and long queues for rides you've ridden hundreds of times before.

Thorpe will be on the cards. Probably an off peak visit to get more rides in on Brake Run. Thorpe was actually the most enjoyable trip I had last year.

Blackpool will be in the agenda. Didn't get time to do the joint Drayton and Flamingoland trip this year and unlikely to this year coming as it's quite a journey for us.

Not sure I'll be able to fit in a European trip due to time constraints. But we are talking about one after the house move. I was thinking of a Disney and Asterix trip. But I can't stay away from my 2 favourite European parks for too long. I absolutely adore both Europa and Phantasialand. I kind of want to go back pretty badly. Europa is well known for being awesome, but there's something about Phantasialand that just absolutely love and I haven't stopped thinking about it since 2022.

 

[John_P]

Usual trips to Pleasure Beach and Alton Towers. Though may try and got in another trip to Thorpe for a few more laps on Hyperia.

Heading over to America in June for Six Flags Great Adventure, Moreys Piers, SF America, King's Dominion, Busch Gardens, Dorney Park, Hershey Park, and Knobels. Only done Great Adventure before of those so should be great. Planning on doing a few more parks before them (Canadas Wonderland the only definite) but not fully worked it all out yet.

In Europe it seems like 2025 is a quieter year compared to the major openings of 2023 and 2024. However I'd like to do Walibi Holland again once YoY opens, and Danse Macabre at Efteling. Quite a few smaller Dutch parks I've not visited to string a trip together as well.

Would like to get back to Denmark as I've not done the 4 parks close to Billund. Neither Hansa and Heide Parks in Germany.

Plus Margate for the Scenic Railway, had everything planned out this summer only for it to have its incident.

 

[rob666]

Back to the Beach with the old gits, missed the place, even if it is a half closed shadow etc...
Then the dekayed proper thoosie cruiser tour, mainly solo probably, crashing in the volvo mega shed...
Mingo and a first time down the east coast to Ingoldmells probably.

 

[Bowser]

- Thorpe Park for first time with my son. I was going to wait till he’s 1.4m but I think there’s enough for him at 1.3m to enjoy, especially as it’s our nearest park and I highly doubt we will go to AT.

- Disneyland Paris. Again first time with my son (and me in 25 years), have this booked for March.

- Europa and Rulantica. This is the big bucket list one. Waiting for my work schedule but hopefully in the summer.

Will probably do Plopsa and Efteling at some point too and the usual MAP visits.

 

[Benzin]

Some of us still have a trip this year.

Next year doing Europa as the "big" trip and my first time driving there so that'll be fun.

Will do Towers and Lego for Merlin (plus couple of Sea-Life and Discovery Centre visits no doubt).

Might venture to Blackpool. Depends on the little one's height.

If they've hit the magical 0.9m (should do, they were 0.88m last month) then will be cred running Gullivers. And probably a few other kiddie parks.

 

[Danny]

- Europa at New Year to kick off 2025.
- Faro for the new Mack coaster.
- Netherlands / Belgium for the new Walibi creds.
- Spain next September for a post-IAAPA cred grab.
- Orlando next November for this year's new creds and EU.

 

[Itgoeshowhigh]

Aiming for quality over quantity next year. Less wasting money on uk overnights, gonna save up the pennies for some European parks.

I have my sights set on Phantasialand and Parc Asterix. Will probably drop into Plopsaland again at some point. Also really fancy Toverland.

Then the usual day trips to Thorpe and maybe one Alton visit next year.

 

[owenstreet7]

Nothing fully finalised yet for me however PortAventura is high up on my list.

I have seen CoasterBreaks do some fantastic tours around central Europe so could sign up to one of those - possibly the Belgium, Netherlands and Germany one to try out the likes of Untamed, Ride to Happiness, Kondaa etc.

If anyone has experienced a trip with CoasterBreaks and has any tips or recommendations, please let me know.

There does seem to be some parks that may be doable for a weekend (or even a long one) such as Emerald Park, Parc Asterix and possibly Liseberg. Even going back to Phantasialand seems doable for a weekend.

UK wise, I will certainly do Thorpe Park and Chessington being day trip distance from me.

I am hoping to make it to Alton Towers at some point but this year's issues put me off plus working out the best way of getting there by train is mind boggling.

I'd like to try out some more UK parks I haven't been to yet - the most doable is Adventure Island at Southend.

A lot of it is fitting it in with annual leave and weekends as I work full time Monday to Friday. Some of this can tie into events i.e. Attraction Source, Your Experience Guide, RCCGB etc.

I am looking at signing up to RCCGB and European Coaster Club when the time comes to sign up.

Having done Phantasialand and Europa Park for the first time, I am rearing to go with more theme park trips overseas.

 

[karenstreet]

Your 2025 plans sound awesome. I'm also looking at potentially hitting some Disney parks next year - thinking of doing Paris Disneyland in the summer and then hopefully making it out to Tokyo Disneyland later in the year if budget and time allow.

 

[John_P]

There does seem to be some parks that may be doable for a weekend (or even a long one) such as Emerald Park

I am looking at signing up to RCCGB and European Coaster Club when the time comes to sign up.

If you live close enough to a major UK airport you could probably day trip Emerald Park, did that from Liverpool (and my friends from Manchester) back in June.

Regarding the clubs the RCCGB is an annual membership so I'd imagine 2025 ones will be on sale soon.

The European Coaster Club is different though as your membership length is 6 issues of First Drop magazine (you get your first issue posted out when you join), when I started it advised this would cover roughly 18 months. However I joined spring 2019 and have only renewed once since then currently. Great magazine as well.

 

[owenstreet7]

If you live close enough to a major UK airport you could probably day trip Emerald Park, did that from Liverpool (and my friends from Manchester) back in June.

Regarding the clubs the RCCGB is an annual membership so I'd imagine 2025 ones will be on sale soon.

The European Coaster Club is different though as your membership length is 6 issues of First Drop magazine (you get your first issue posted out when you join), when I started it advised this would cover roughly 18 months. However I joined spring 2019 and have only renewed once since then currently. Great magazine as well.

I've had a look at possibly day tripping Emerald Park. I live closest to Heathrow (45 minute RailAir coach) and Gatwick is a 90 minute train journey away from me.

I'm from Reading so very convenient for Gatwick and Heathrow, not so much Stansted where a lot of people day trip Emerald Park from.

I did look up journeys from both for a day trip and Heathrow is more on the pricey side with BA with the flight being 6.30am and Gatwick's Ryanair flight doesn't get you to Ireland until 11.30am and takes you back at about 6.30pm so leaves you a few hours for Emerald.

I'm thinking I may combine a long weekend in Dublin with a day at Emerald Park at some point.

Most likely, I'd do Friday to Sunday/Monday if I was to do a weekend trip to a theme park so I can spend one or two full days at the park. For parks like Liseberg or Parc Asterix, it'd be quite helpful to have at least a full day or two there with queues and operations to account for.

I did do Phantasialand for 2 days and Europa Park for 5 days including one at Rulantica in between probably expecting Merlin level queues and operations along with downtime on rides so was pleasantly surprised it worked out well for both with there being efficient queues.

Thank you for the tips for RCCGB and ECC, I will look at these as soon as the 2025 memberships for RCCGB go on sale. I will do ECC at the same time.

I definitely think it'll be great to do some of the events as they offer a wide range of parks both domestically and overseas. I did some of the Attraction Source ones earlier this year which were fun and ended up behind the scenes of both Gold Rush and Deadbeat.

 

[Leigh]

The big trip (still in very early stages of planning) is a possible Midwest adventure - from Chicago to Pittsburgh via some small American FECs. I heard this one called “Cedar Point” is meant to be alright?

Beyond that, I’m looking at Hamburg for a trip to do Heide, Hansa, Hamburg Dom and Miniatur Wunderland, and maybe Stockholm for Gröna Lund and Kolmården. I’m also considering Copenhagen for Tivoli Gardens and Bakken because it’s relatively easy to do from where I am (SAS do a twice weekly flight from Newquay in the summer months).

It’s also likely I’ll head over to Dublin to do Emerald Park again. Did it once this year on the preview day for Fianna Force but I didn’t get to see the whole park.