Alton Towers Day 2

Day 2 at Alton Towers started with a 7am alarm to go to the restaurant for a full English breakfast. This was a pleasant surprise as we didn't realise we had breakfast booked with our accommodation. After that we pretty much headed straight back in to the park with the objective of getting on Rita, Wickerman and Smiler (which were the 3 big thrill rides we didn't make it on yesterday).

The day didn't start off well as we went to Wickerman first and found out they had a delayed opening and wasn't sure when it would be running. Then we checked the App and found out Smiler was closed all weekend. So we dashed back over to Rita (all the way over the other side of the park) and jumped in the queue there. Luckily once they opened the ride we were only 10-15 minutes from the front and it was well worth the wait. Accelerating from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds is pretty amazing.

After Rita we took a punt on Wickerman opening and waited outside the ride. We struck gold again as within 15 mins it opened and we were right at the front of the queue. Fortunately Holly could also ride Wickerman so this was a rare occasion where all 5 of us got to have a ride together. Wickerman was so good as it captured the rustic old wooden coasters but with the thrill of a modern coaster and a Halloween type of theme as well. 

So it was mission accomplished for Day 2 and as they queues for the big rides increased to 90-120 mins we spent the rest of our time on the smaller rides, having some lunch, some souvenir shopping and playing on some of the side stalls. The boys had been nagging all weekend to try one of the basketball side stalls and Holly desperately wanted to win a teddy which we kept delaying her to the end saying we couldn't carry it around all weekend.

So I eventually forked out £10 for 8 basketballs expecting 3 each for the boys and 2 for me. But no, they insisted on 4 each and none for me which was a complete waste of money as they both missed every shot. I then forked out another £5 for 3 balls for me. The first ball was a little off and both boys started taking the mickey saying I was worse than them. But this was just gauging the weight of the ball and the trajectory as the second shot was clean through the ring. So Holly was a happy girl with a giant new dog teddy bear, the boys were both humbled and I had wasted a tenner but had the pleasure of ribbing them for the rest of the day about how useless they were and that I hit it in the second shot!

We didn't stay too late on the Sunday as we had done all the rides and the queues were getting too big. Plus everyone was starting to feel a little tired and jaded. Fortunately we had a much better drive home than on the way there and was soon back home safe and sound after what seemed like a really long weekend away.

7am start as we headed to the restaurant for a full English.

Joshua taking a morning stroll through the enchanted village.

Surprisingly very quiet at 7am.

Brandon trying to escape without being photographed.

Our little garden area in front of our lodge.

Holly and Tina at our lodge (this time in daylight).

Whilst we waited for the park to open, Holly started collecting all the pumpkins which had been put out on display.

And playing in the park areas.

Our little Princess.

Quick Halloween photo stop as we head over to the main entrance.

Halloween characters dotted around everywhere.

Joshua even managed to fit in a spot of fishing.

Holly and Tina in CBeebies whilst me and the boys queue for Rita.

Spot the Holly (with a dog, Tina!).

Holly and Tina on another ride in CBeebies land.

Holly seemed more than happy on some of the smaller rides as she couldn't go on all the thrill rides.

Unfortunately the River Rapids was closed so this was as close as Holly got to a water ride.

No ideas what this is????

Or this, seems I am out of touch with kids programmes.

Sorry still no idea, but Holly is being Sassy as always.

Well she did pass her licence yesterday, so why not let her drive.

Not sure what these do as I was with the boys on Rita at the time.

Holly enjoying more of the smaller rides.

Including the gunpowder barrels.

Gutted that Wickman was initially closed, but our patience paid off.

Soon Holly joined the wait as we realised she was tall enough to ride in Wickerman.

Getting closer to the front of the ride.

Looks old and rickety, but this is a quite new and modern attraction for Alton Towers - not to mention very popular.

Getting out of the rain watching some sharks in the Sealife Centre.

Not often you get to see prehistoric horse shoe crabs.

Not a great picture of the sharks.

Or the rays, but it was no flash photography.

The seahorse on the other hand enjoyed posing for the camera.

Holly and Brandon in the shark tunnel.

Anyone seen the Beluga whale?

Taking shelter for lucnh and Holly met another character at the theme park.

As the kids were already wet they didn't seem to mind going on the Galleon ride and getting completely soaked.

So the kids raced around the castle to board their boat as I got ready at the water guns to soak them.

Here they come, let battle commence.

On the Galleon circling around the castle.

Finally they come around to where I was waiting with a water gun.

Holly wears a poncho but I still gave her a good soaking.

We waited for nearly an hour for Gangster Granny before being kicked out of the line because the ride broke down!

The only positive was that Holly got to meet a very tall London guard.

Holly riding some of the smaller rides which didn't have big queues.

Holly on another ship ride (which luckily she can ride on her own).

Joshua all smiles pretending he won this teddy for Holly, but he was useless at basketball.

But Holly was a very happy girl, regardless of who won it for her.

At the entrance on a wet day as we head to the monorail to go for a round of crazy golf before heading home.

Farewell Alton Towers - it has been good.

Nemisis was the first hole on the crazy golf (which I got a hole in 1).

The Alton Towers theme park is very impressive.

As always Holly has to rush to be first at each hole (which really annoys the boys).

Josh and Brandon contemplating the best option for this monster.

Brandon about to T-off.

As always this one was far more difficult than it looked.

You can take the easy route if you like, but no, our egos all want to try the loop.

Galactica themed hole.

Joshua in action, about to ditch his ball.

Trying to find a hole through this large stump.

A very tired little girl sleeping on the way home next to her new teddy. Good job I didn't want to see out of the rear view mirror really!

Alton Towers Day 1

After a bit of a rough nights sleep in our AirBnB (courtesy of Joshua's snoring) we were up relatively early for the short drive to Alton Towers. I have been really excited about going here as the kids have never been before and the last time I went was probably some 15+ years ago. I just hoped it was as good as I remembered. Part of the reason we haven't taken the kids is because it is so far to travel and we really wanted to make sure they were all old enough and tall enough to get the most out of the big thrill rides.

As we were staying on site in the Enchanted Village we managed to get early entry in to the park and therefore jumped straight in the queue for Nemesis, then the runaway train and then just as we finished on that Galactica opened up so we dashed over there. Galactica was pretty amazing as I think it is the first roller coaster I have been on where you lie down. 

We really blitzed the first day and walked over 25,000 steps as we tried to make the most of Day 1 and get as many of the thrill rides covered as we could. I think the longest queue we had was about an hour which wasn't bad as some of the rides hit 90-120 min queues during the day. As with Cadbury World the whole of Alton Towers was themed for the Halloween Scarefest which was pretty cool.

Joshua started to get tired as the day went on, but Brandon was a trooper and just jumped from one ride to the next. Me and him finished Day 1 the same we we started on Nemesis and Galactica but in the dark instead of the daylight. Talk about throw your senses completely out the window!!! From Day 1 I think our favourite rides were Galactica, Oblivion and Thirteen. Holly was hilarious on Thirteen and didn't stop screaming, we all had no idea that the ride came to a stop in the dark, then gave you a vertical drop before speeding off backwards in the pitch black.

After a very long day we headed back to our lodge for some snacks and drinks before hitting the sack ready for Day 2 on the Sunday. The lodge was pretty amazing and fortunately Joshua was in a different room to us, so we didn't have to put up with yet more snoring!!!!

Loved this fountain outside the Alton Towers hotel.

Tina had the joy of going on the Mary Rose with Holly (these rides make you far more sicker than the thrill coasters!).

With 5 of us, someone always has to ride solo. On the runaway train it was Joshua's turn.

Brandon had the pleasure of my company.

A rare photo from on a ride as I sneaked my camera out.

Holly and Tina on the SkyRide.

Not sure the two girls liked the height and the cable car swinging around.

But we had great views of the gardens below.

Which seemed to go on for miles.

Brandon testing out the seat for Rita. Unfortunately we didn't get to go on Rita on Day 1 as the queues were just so big.

Holly got to take her driving licence (similar to a ride they have at Lego Land which the boys did years ago).

Not a great start as she is facing against the arrows in the road.

At least she is going the right way around the round-a-bout.

More driving for Holly.

Coming out of the car wash.

The Tower at Alton Towers.

More of Alton Towers.

They have the most amazing monkey puzzle trees in front of the Tower.

Halloween themed decorations all around the theme park for their Scarefest event.

Coffee and hot chocolate in souvenir Alton Towers cups as we wait in the queue for the spinning coaster.

Trying our luck for £1,000 prize if you can hole in one the little island in the lake. Josh failed.

And Brandon failed. I was marginally better as I at least got close to the island.

Some of the scary dance crew outside the Tower.

Loads of Pumpkins at the entrance to the theme park.

Mr Pumpkin head.

We didn't even realise that last weekend was the Scarefest.

Showing my age as a recognised this as an old Ford Granada.

Holly and Tina on one of the smaller rides whilst me and the boys tried our hand at some golf.

Holly with her arms aloft and having a blast.

We 5 Kings at the Scarefest.

Amazingly they are not winding each other up for once and have a photo together.

Holly with some more Pumpkins.

And more... scary Holly.

A rare picture of me as I am usually the one with the camera.

Brandon's neck on the block.

Then Holly's turn.

The red blur is me, Josh and Brandon vanishing in a misty hole in the round on the awesome Oblivion.

On the walk back the vintage car fountain looked equally as good in the dark.

Couldn't really see to much of the outside of our Enchanted Lodge as it was dark when we eventually got back.

But inside the rooms were very nice indeed.

Tina settling in and finding the bathroom.

Which looks like this.

And then there was a little side bedroom for the kids to sleep in.