Heyyy, I'm Kaycee, I'm 19, and I've just realised this place is BAD FOR YOU if you're skint and have...
Heyyy, I'm Kaycee, I'm 19, and I've just realised this place is BAD FOR YOU if you're skint and have no money! I want to buy all the fab products so well reviewed here! Thanks to you all for your friendly comments!
Member since:29.04.2005
Reviews:31
Members who trust:12
*Prepares self* This could be a long one. ;P
I've been an Alton Towers enthusiast for a long time now. I first went when I was a young child, I had a great time but didn't really remember it. I next went on a school trip when I was 12 in the summer, had a fantastic time, did the same the year after and since then have been going several times a year. For example, Alton Towers opened March 12th and as of May 12th, I've been three times, with six or seven more trips planned taking me through to July. I also spend a lot of time on an Alton Towers forum, so you could say I know my stuff ;).
Alton Towers has a very large Internet fanbase, often establishing itself in the many discussion board communities. The official site is www.alton-towers.co.uk, but this is not the best place to go, type Alton Towers into Google for more information. The very fact that there are fanatics about this place is a tribute to AT. The old tagline 'Where the Magic Never Ends' certainly was true for us.
Prices are now flat rate, after years of off-peak, peak and normal tiering. These are £23 for a child (under 12) and £28 for an adult. Under 3s get in free. If you look around though, there is nearly always an opportunity to get a discount, try the official website for when you book online, lastminute.com, and altontowersmemories.com will give you an £18 voucher to download and print off when you submit a memory. Book online, and either get your tickets delivered to you,or pick them up at the front gate on the day. Or queue up at the admissions booths on the morning you arrive, they generally open at 9:00, with the park opening at 9:30. If you hold an annual pass (Tussauds' annual pass at £80 - 52 visits a year limit to all Tussauds attractions is well worth the money if you go often), or you are a hotel guest, you can enter the park at 9, for XRT (Exclusive Ride Time) on Air and Nemesis.
The park is well signposted from all points of approach, particularly the M1 and M6 (J 14/15). I generally go through Stafford/Uttoxeter, so I'm not sure about the M1 Junctions. As you pass the front gate, you'll follow a long, winding road to the huge car park, where you will be directed by staff where to park. Car parking costs £3 a day and you have to pay for some tokens at machines at the entrance or the monorail stations. The token will be inserted at the end of the day at barriers, or if you have an Annual Pass, parking is free. It's quite a walk from the car park to the entrance gate, so you can either pay £6 for priority parking near to the front gate, walk, or do the best thing and take the monorail. The monorail plays 'In The Hall of the Mountain King' (music of the Alton Towers theme tune) and to add to the mood, the circuit takes you through the park, treating you to preliminary views of Nemesis, Air, Duel:The Haunted House Strikes Back etc etc. The monorail then pulls up outside the admissions booths.
Once inside, you find yourselves on Towers Street. This is a wide street with gift shops and the Towers Street Restaurant, and as of this year they have a music playlist of well-known classics ringing through the Air. I'd still prefer them to play ITHOTMK theme tune, but hey! This place is very atmospheric, the Towers can be seen magnificently looming over the trees and the lake, the creaking of the coasters can be heard and the odd scream. You pass scenery like the infamous fountain frogs and from the bottom of the street, you choose the path you wish to take. I'll take you through the rides I generally like to ride first to avoid large build-ups of queues.
***UGLAND***
Rita: Queen of Speed:- This Intamin manufactured launch coaster is new for 2005 and is situated in UgLand at the back of the park next to the famous Corkscrew. It takes you to a whopping 100km in 2.5seconds and it is AMAZING. Expect large queues as it's new, but get there early and it shouldn't be too bad. The station is small and outdoor, and there is a constan revving sound to really scare the crap out of you. Once you're strapped in tightly, the car lurches forward then pulls back as if on a spring...with the revving sound, the smoke effects (when they're on!), the racing lights going from red to green in front of you, the 'Go Go Go!' as the revving reaches a climax and you're pulled off and it goes faster,
faster, faster until you hit the bend and coaster at high speed over a figure of 8 and some air-time hills (where you fly out your seat). It's a very short ride, but it's exhilerating and worth it for that launch. Expect to come off with tears running down your cheeks. If you wonder why the crests of the two hills are painted dark green when the rest of the ride is red, it's because of the locals of Alton village and planning restrictions. There are complaints if any ride is visible or above tree height, and restrictions ban it anyway. Height restriction: 1.4metres (56inches)
Corkscrew: This Vekoma manufactured coaster was the first ride to be introduced into Alton Towers and is what turned it from towers, gardens and a tea shop, into a theme park in 1980. It's painted yellow (lift hill green to comply with planning) and was rethemed in 1999 as a dinosaur. It's a very, very rough ride, be cautious. Tip: Press your head as far back into the seat as possible and keep it firm...DON'T stick it out as you'll bang your neck. Saying this, it's a great coaster that packs a punch on the first drop and the double corkscrew inversions are fun. It's a long ride, and a great coaster, but complaints of roughness means, perhaps Alton Towers will someday remove their 'First True Thrill Ride'. Worth a ride if there's a 0-15minute queue. Height restriction: 1.2metres.
Ugland itself used to be known as Festival Park - a tacky fairground kind of theme, until it was rethemed in 1999 to UgLand, the prehistoric dinosaur land. It's very much a children's area, it has the UgSwings (a swing ride), arcades, eating outlets, and it DID have the UgBugs (removed this year) and it's brightly coloured. Rita doesn't seem to fit in with this prehistoric theme as it's a racer, but nonetheless, UgLand is a great place to be in with Rita's musical playlist (including Elvis, Queen, etc) blasting out at loud volume.
Skyride: To get from UgLand to Forbidden Valley, you could either take a long, scenic walk through the Gardens (a good thing to do, as they get forgotten), or you could take the Skyride. The Skyride was opened in 1986 and was sponsored by Kodak. It's a great transport system to transfer you round this 500 acre park. It's gondolas suspended on a wire, but it's a smooth ride and it's quick. The skyride has stations in UgLand, Merrie England and Forbidden Valley.
***FORBIDDEN VALLEY***
Either head to Nemesis or Air first, as these queues will grow quickly. The Nemesis queue usually remains in control depending on the day, Air still spirals up and up. But it's up to you.
Nemesis: Opened in 1994, manufactured by the SwissB&M and designed by the genius that is John Wardley. This is an inverted coaster, which means the trains are suspended underneath the track. Due to planning restrictions I have already mentioned, the ride is built underground, meaning there are many tight turns and near misses. The queue line wraps round the ride to give you a taster of what you are about to experience. If you start queuing from the entrance to the queue line (without going all up the hill), you have about 20mins to wait ;) The whole area is very atmospheric, with daunting music blasting out, the river of blood waterfalls streaming, and on a hot day, the McDonalds Regenerator smell wafts over, which is surprisingly nice. The screams ring out as the car zips round the track, taking 4 inversions and it hits 3.5Gs. It's very intense (tears), and will have you laughing. The theming is top-notch, being themed round a monster pinned down by steel after discovery and there's even a legend based around it. The station is well themed as a monster, and even bits of track have been distorted and twisted and it looks very scary. This coaster regularly hits the top 10 of coasters in the WORLD, and it's easy to see why. Height restriction: 1.4metres
Air: New for 2002 by the same manufacturers and designers, this was a world first for its kind. The coaster is very innovative and uses brand-new technology by Consign AG and as a result has been very temperamental and breaks down frequently, but bear with it, it is improving. The cars are 'flying', which means you board them similarly to Nemesis, the restraints are bigger but very comfortable, then in a flash of turquoise light (also the colour of the track), the cars lift up from behind, holding you in the horizontal position. And off you go. The ride is designed not to be scary, but more exhilerating, revelling you in the freedom of flight. Top speed is only 43.5mph, but it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Theming is disappointing, and doesn't really fit in with the rest of Forbidden Valley, but it's supposed to be an oasis of calm in the apocalyptic chaos of FV. There's some gorgeous music playing and lots of greenery, and it's a nice area to be in. One note to AT...THEME THAT TUNNEL! Height restriction: 1.4metres.
Ripsaw: A Huss Top Spin opened in 1997 in place of the Thunder Looper, this is themed as a piece of shrapnel from the fight against Nemesis' emergence years ago. It's well themed, rarely attracts a large queue and is great fun. You can get wet when the fountains are working, but they haven't been since the beginning of this season. There has been a dryer installed at the side of it now, so perhaps they will be working soon. The ride is a gondola that seats two rows of 20 people and it basically flips you over and throws you about a lot. It's great fun, although is very scary to watch. Height restriction: 1.4metres.
Blade: This is a Huss Pirate Ship opened in 1980, seating 54 people. It used to exist in Fantasy World (now X-Sector), but was relocated in the absence of ThunderLooper for the 1997 season. Here it sits, themed as another piece of shrapnel from the Nemesis carnage. This is a great family ride, essential to this area where the average height restriction is 1.4metres. I personally find it a little tame now and don't ride, but it's well worth a go for less-hardened theme park-goers, sit at the back seat for stomach-jerking Gs, sit at the middle for a more leisurely ride. Height restriction: 0.9metres-1.1metres accompanied by an adult, 1.1metres and over.
Forbidden Valley was an area unused until 1990...it was often wondered why the skyride had a station there. ThunderLooper, the legendary launched looper set up camp there in that year, only to depart in 1996 leaving a trail of mourning fans. Thunder Valley was renamed Forbidden Valley in 1994 with the arrival of codename 'Secret Weapon4' Nemesis. The area itself is themed as a post-apocolayptic war-zone and little bits of steaming, mechanical theming lie everywhere. Eat at the Ripsaw Cafe, Regenerator McDonalds or Nemesis Nosh.
***Gloomy Wood***
Duel: The Haunted House Strikes Back: This is the old Haunted House that was revamped in 2003 to bring an interactive element to the ride. Whereas before you just sat and watched the scary effects, these are now practically ignored as you blast green spots on the walls and the monsters with blaster guns. There are even zombies that 'shoot back' at you. The ride essentially remains the same, except for a change of music (nooooo, even though it is good), some more theming outside in the shape of a rather disturbing looking zombie climbing out of a tomb, which can turn its head (John Wardley genius). This is a great family ride and one which can be enjoyed by everybody. The original Haunted House opened in 1992 and is situated in a hige warehouse the size of the football pitch with the HH facade on the front. High fences and a dense coverage of trees that characterise the spookiness of Gloomy Wood prevent you from seeing it. The outside queueline (rarely used) goes through a wood, and some clever theming with gravestones with clever rhymes on really add to the atmosphere. This shows the attention to detail Alton Towers used to pay, now it has somewhat waned a bit.
Eat at Zombie Bites (formerly Witches' Kitchen), they do fish and chips, sausages, soft drinks, coffee etc.
***Katanga Canyon***
Runaway Mine Train: John Wardley designed this gem and added it in 1992 along with the Haunted House. It's a steel powered mine train (it doesn't actually 'coast', it doesn't have a lift hill), but it's been themed to look like wood in another brilliantly stylised ride. This is predominantly a family ride, but the fact its powered along means that the ride experience can fluctuate depending on the ride operator/time of year. That helix into the tunnel can sometimes be taken at breath-taking speed! The great thing about this ride is that it takes two laps, even three sometimes, although I've heard the record is 6 laps! This is a great family ride and it is a great kick for those who like the more intense ones! Great fun.
The Congo River Rapids: These were installed in 1986 on an old car park, making use of a huge reservoir. The ride consists of a long circuit, a turntable for a station and 9 seater, yellow boats. It's themed alongside the RMT in Katanga Canyon as an African village and shares a tunnel with the RMT meaning lots of screaming and waving as the two rides often meet. The rapids can get you moderately wet if you're sat in the right/wrong place (depending on how you look at it!!) - just enough to cool you down on a hot day, but not enough to completely soak you on a cold day. If you're lucky, the parting of the red sea might be working (the actual name for the 6 water fountains all together in a very scary, very fun part) and you'll get a few splashes. Every ride is different and it's a must!
In Katanga Canyon, you can eat at Pizza Hut or KFC, which are situated together in a lovely wooden, atmospheric restaurant.
***Merrie England***
The Flume: Formerly known as the Log Flume, which was opened in the 80s and which used traditional Logs. It actually held the world record for the longest flume ride going, at over 1km a ride, and there used to be dinosaurs in the trees for that extra entertainment. Now revamped, there are revolutionary bathtubs you ride in, the dinosaurs have been removed and replaced with bathtime ducks and bubbles. The turntable station has been coloured red with bubbles on top and some lovely lantern lights lacing the circumference. The ride remains the same with 3 drops, including one in the dark, where you are then greeted with a quacking duck, and the biggie at the end, where you are then greeted with power showers just for that final soaking. You will get wet on this ride! :P Nice touches in the queueline with water-related questions to answer :)
Other rides in Merrie England include the Teacups, and plenty of arcades. It's also a major eatery atrea, with dougnuts, Eastern Express for oriental food, Jester's Court McDonalds and the Courtyard Tavern. The tavern is a licensed bar, selling alcopops in plastic bottles - Smirnoff Ice and VK Blue, as well as beer and wine. There's a limit to five drinks per person, but this is very hard to regulate. Alcohol is not allowed to be taken out of the Tavern or the Courtyard.
***The Towers***
Hex: This dark ride set in the towers works round an old local legend that has been slightly modified for commerical purposes ;) But the actual tree in chains (for those who've been on) does exist, because I've been to visit it in its secret location on a couple of occasions ;). The ride queue line is set inside with TV screens telling of Towers restoration and findings and covered statues of the old Earls that used to own the Towers. There are three rooms, one telling the legend in a dark room, with the use of a very effective movie and the fantastic ride music. The second room lets you experience some of the hauntedness for yourself, and the third, the ride room, a Villa Volta (haunted swing) is well themed and decorated and involves the room spinning, thus you thinking the swing is going upside down. I won't go into it too much or I'll risk spoiling it for any new riders, but this is one of my favourite rides on park simply for its atmospherical setting, it's brilliant use of the history and the towers and the bloody brilliant ride music.
The ride will bring you out to the Towers entrance, where you can explore the Towers, however, these shut at 4.
***X-Sector***
Oblivion: Opened in 1998 by B&M and designed by the most prestigious America designer Werner Stengel, Oblivion was built in top-secret and was finally unveiled as a surprise - the world's first vertical drop coaster. This Dive Machine is one of only now 3 in the world and at 200ft high and 4.5 Gs, it's a force to be reckoned with. This is probably the scariest ride on park especially as the ride, it's queueline and the theming is geared to psychologically terrify you. Televisions throughout remind you you are about to plummet into your death - 'Oblivion', the steaming black hole in the ground. The track is huge, the ride is short, the cars are wide (2x8) and it's incredibly exhilerating. The car will take you agonisingly slow up the lift hill, round the corner and will pause and hold you over the top for a painful 4 seconds. The brakes click, and you freefall into the hole so fast you can't scream for the wind. You emerge from the other side at 110kmph truly excited. It's amazing. :D Height restriction: 1.4metres.
Enterprise: This is a Huss Enterprise ride installed in 1984. It's been relocated from Festival Park, when Fantasy World was rethemed into X-Sector in 1998 in time for Oblivion. It's a basic ride, no restraints as the spinning of the wheel creates centripetal and centrifugal forces that keep you put, and there's no chance of those failing!
Submission: Installed in 2001, this is a Chance Double Inverter. I use the word 'double' loosely. There are two gondolas, but they are rarely both ever working at the same time. It's not a hugely popular ride, but I think it's OK. The restraints do come down tightly, but that's because it dangles you upside down for up to 10 seconds. A thrilling ride, and doesn't get the credit it deserves.
The Black Hole is still situated in X-Sector, however this is SBNO (standing but not operating). It's last season was 2004 and it closed to enthusiasts and hotel guests on 5th March 2005. It is now awaiting sale. A great Schwazkopf Jet Star 2 (modified) that was opened in 1984 and was THE scary ride of the time.
In X-Sector, you can eat at KFC.
***Adventure Land***
Spinball Whizzer: Adventure Land is a kiddies land, but with the installation of Spinball Whizzer in 2004, many more flock. This red and turquoise family coaster packs a massive punch and is great fun. It's fundamentally waltzers on a track and each ride is different. Depending on the weight of your car, you will spin a variable amount of times, depending on where you're sitting (two pairs back-to-back) and you can sometimes take high drops backwards, or to the side, which is fantastic fun. It's broken up by 3 brake runs, which can be annoying, but the fantastic near-vertical Immelman makes up for it. A great family addition.
Other rides include the Beastie (a junior coaster), the Squirrel Nutty Ride and a children's playground.
Eat here at Refresh@Spinball.
***Cred Street***
Cred Street is another children's area, but one ride which really deserves a mention is Toyland Tours. This kiddy indoor boat ride has been around for ages, and is unfortunately falling into disrepair amid rumours this may be its last season. This is truly a magical ride and for many kids epitomises the magic of Alton Towers through the music and the bright, colourful images everywhere.
Other areas in Alton Towers include Storybook Land, a kiddy area which has the Ribena Berry Bish Bash, a big funhouse with purple foam balls, installed in 2003.
Alton Towers deservedly is number one theme park. It has been dogged with criticisms in recent years of sloppinness and high prices and a messy, untidy park, all of which were true to some extent. However, a change of management last year means that important reforms have been made and things are looking up. The history of the place, the Towers looming over the lake and the Grade 1 listed Gardens are what AT has that no other theme park can compete with; its unique location amongst the stunning Staffordshire moorlands provides fantastic viewing when on the top of the highest coasters. It has a hard time from the locals and the planning permissioners, and in particular, the Ropers, a couple down the road who claim to be able to hear Oblivion from 3 miles away and moan about the fireworks and want them banned. Despite this, millions of people come here every year, stay at the two hotelsSplash Landings (2003) and the Alton Towers Hotel (1996), buying the merchandise from the shops (Tower Trading Co in Towers Street especially and all the major rides).
The fact that AT has such a huge fanbase is a tribute to its quality, and so many people have been touched by the magic and the mystery of the place. It truly is a fantastic day out, well worth the money (if you ignore the vending machines and overpriced merchandise :P).
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Excellent review, i was supposed to go last week but didn't :( I think i would love Nemesis :)
Pmshack99 24.05.2005 13:23
fabulous detailed review, i love alton towers but havent been for longer than i realised, judging by all the new rides you mention. when i last went, oblivion had just appeared but was too scared to go on it (the big plunge put me off - i generally like rollercoasters!). i really enjoyed reading that, informative and interesting, well worth an "E"! paula x
Jem_123 22.05.2005 22:41
Absalutly Amazing! Can't wait till i go in 9 Days!!!!
Jadex
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May 12th, 2005
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