So my thoughts on trips to Merlin parks this year

[Crawleyboy01]

Hello everyone, I've looked at these forums for months but never plucked up the courage to post. This has been my first year the family and myself have had map's so I've managed to visit most of the main parks and attractions in the U.K. Here's my thoughts.

Legoland,

This place is magical, my son (4) loves it and I can honestly say we all do. Must have gone at least 40 times , always clean, staff are fantastic. Ride choices are top notch, can't understand why my son can't go on the rapids here tho. We had one bad experience here, long story short a drink vessel wasn't manufactured correctly and a small part from it nearly choked my son. He turned blue, very scary. But got weekly updates as to what was happening, they spoiled my kids rotten. Free Lego, free food and stays in the hotel was fantastic.

Chessington:
I remember this from my childhood, walking up to the big gates, hearing the lions and the sky rider??( I think it was called that) I had high expectations and thought kids would love it..........oh dear. This is the most run down I've ever seen a theme park. Parts of cwoa look like it's just been abandoned. Food is poor. Ride offering is good tho and my 4 year old done his first "coaster" this year on the scorpion . But yet he can't do zufari . Can anyone tell me the point of zufari? I mean it's a half arsed ride or am I missing something?? Managed 6 visits mainly for zoo, wouldn't go out of my way to revisit. Very upset at the cost to enter to see santa even with our passes. Security seems very poorly trained. I was a doorman for 15 years and had to split up 3 fights here, 2 in the car park while security just stood there wondering what to do. Very upsetting for the children and not the best start to the day, but some overpriced ice cream and the bubbleworks soon made them smile again

Thorpe park;
The scary park my son calls it. Lots of loud youngsters. Every loo had drug paraphernalia in. Went 2 times to try and ride dbgt never managed it

Alton towers;
1 visit this year we loved it. Food offering was poor. But rides and sea life centre was excellent. Loved it well worth the 5 hour drive they did seem very short staffed. Ashame hex sub terria etc was closed. Will these reopen??

London attractions

Shrek adventures, excellent this is a must! Only lasts about a hour but was fantastic

Sea life....meh nothing special

London eye see above

Madame Tussaud's, worst place we went to. Kids was nearly trampled very poor experience staff didn't seem to care

All in all a very good year and looking forward to next year

Lots to read sorry lol

 

[Towerslover]

Looks like you had your money's worth out of your map! Will you be renewing it?

 

[Crawleyboy01]

Of course, not a doubt in my mind, just Legoland alone for our family makes it worth it, plus there fireworks display is one of the best I've seen, then all the sea life centres and hopefully I'll finally get on dbgt

 

[Rob]

Hi @Crawleyboy01 and welcome to TowersStreet Talk!

I've just moved your thread to our European Parks and Attractions forum as it is about more than just Alton Towers. Looks like you have had a fun filled year, interesting but not surprising that you and your family were very disappointing with Chessington.

In terms of Towers - Hex should be re-opening next year but it is very unlikely that Sub-Terra will.

 

[Crawleyboy01]

Hey nice to meet you rob, that's a shame about sub terria, was a ride I really wanted to do. If I remember right they had a maze in there one year?? Really really wanted to go