Good time to visit theme parks?

[Hub]

Anyone know what sort of capacity theme parks are running at since they've reopened? They require advance booking so you're at the mercy of the great British summer weather, but I'm wondering if going somewhere like Legoland might actually be a more tolerable experience than usual with reduced capacity and fewer tourists!

Anyone been/going, or know about capacities and social distancing measures in theme parks I'd be interested to know, as now we aren't going away I'm looking at some summer holiday day trips for the kids! Not so bothered if it will be as miserable as usual though, and queuing the same as usual as ride capacity is also reduced etc.

[Chester draws]

We did Chessington a couple of weeks back on a Monday.

No rides open, just the animals.

Was pretty well organised and quiet. Just had to queue for the valley of the kings. (Lions gorillas etc)

They've just sent through free revisit tickets, so we're going to have another visit on Saturday.

If it's too busy, we'll just leave and come back home!

[towser44]

Hub said:

Anyone know what sort of capacity theme parks are running at since they've reopened? They require advance booking so you're at the mercy of the great British summer weather, but I'm wondering if going somewhere like Legoland might actually be a more tolerable experience than usual with reduced capacity and fewer tourists!

Anyone been/going, or know about capacities and social distancing measures in theme parks I'd be interested to know, as now we aren't going away I'm looking at some summer holiday day trips for the kids! Not so bothered if it will be as miserable as usual though, and queuing the same as usual as ride capacity is also reduced etc.

Someone on here said the other day that Alton Towers was fully booked up well into August (they were season pass holders I think)

[hyphen]

Chester draws said:

We did Chessington a couple of weeks back on a Monday.

No rides open, just the animals.

Was pretty well organised and quiet. Just had to queue for the valley of the kings. (Lions gorillas etc)

They've just sent through free revisit tickets, so we're going to have another visit on Saturday.

If it's too busy, we'll just leave and come back home!

Did you enjoy it? Last time I went I thought it waa a bit small and not enough to do (was of peak so some sections were shut though), compared to say Paultons Park.

[stuartmmcfc]

My son and wife went to Alton towers on Tuesday.
Only open 10am to 4pm, only half the rides open with 1.5- 2 hour queues. Very few places you could get a drink or eat. Same price as normal.
Apparently they cleaned carriages after every ride.
Rain didn’t help but they didn’t have a great time.

[Chester draws]

hyphen said:

Chester draws said:

We did Chessington a couple of weeks back on a Monday.

[...]

Did you enjoy it? Last time I went I thought it waa a bit small and not enough to do (was of peak so some sections were shut though), compared to say Paultons Park.

For what it was, yes we enjoyed it. First trip to a public place since lockdown pretty much. (£12 / ticket so quarter of the normal gate fee).

Saw the animals, felt we were "doing our bit" to support re-opening, etc.

There was definitely more things closed than there were open, and undoubtedly Marwell or similar would have had more to do.

We only wanted a half day out so it fit the bill nicely. Be interesting to see how full park re-opening compares.

[JQ]

stuartmmcfc said:

My son and wife went to Alton towers on Tuesday.
Only open 10am to 4pm, only half the rides open with 1.5- 2 hour queues. Very few places you could get a drink or eat. Same price as normal.
Apparently they cleaned carriages after every ride.
Rain didn’t help but they didn’t have a great time.

Wow, that's terrible. I shall be scratching that one off this summer's to do list.

[Chester draws]

Chessington today.. (Saturday).

Most of the big rides not open till 12midday.

We got there for 10, got tomb blaster and Scorpion express done quickly. 20 minute queue for vampire which was run pretty much as normal except we had to wear masks. (£10 for 5 on sale at the entrance!!!)

Stop for picnic lunch, then got Tiger rocks done bang on 12 o'clock with 30 minute queue.

Zufari said 70 minute wait. Because they were spraying the trucks down every half hour, then sending them round empty to dry. Queue was painfully slow. Took over 90 mins to get done.

Went for the dodgems next, again masks compulsory, but had to wait 5 mins while some muppet decided to argue they were only recommended!

That was the final straw and we left about half three.

Overall 7/10 given we got in for free.

3/10 if we'd paid the £30 gate price.

[98elise]

JQ said:

stuartmmcfc said:

My son and wife went to Alton towers on Tuesday.
Only open 10am to 4pm, only half the rides open with 1.5- 2 hour queues. Very few places you could get a drink or eat. Same price as normal.
Apparently they cleaned carriages after every ride.
Rain didn’t help but they didn’t have a great time.

Wow, that's terrible. I shall be scratching that one off this summer's to do list.

Same here. We have a list of things to do this summer rather than a holiday. Alton Towers was high on the list.

[stuartmmcfc]

98elise said:

JQ said:

stuartmmcfc said:

My son and wife went to Alton towers on Tuesday.
Only open 10am to 4pm, only half the rides open with 1.5- 2 hour queues. Very few places you could get a drink or eat. Same price as normal.
Apparently they cleaned carriages after every ride.
Rain didn’t help but they didn’t have a great time.

Wow, that's terrible. I shall be scratching that one off this summer's to do list.

Same here. We have a list of things to do this summer rather than a holiday. Alton Towers was high on the list.

To be fair though that was the first week that opened so maybe things improved as they got the hang of it?

[98elise]

stuartmmcfc said:

98elise said:

JQ said:

stuartmmcfc said:

My son and wife went to Alton towers on Tuesday.
Only open 10am to 4pm, only half the rides open with 1.5- 2 hour queues. Very few places you could get a drink or eat. Same price as normal.
Apparently they cleaned carriages after every ride.
Rain didn’t help but they didn’t have a great time.

Wow, that's terrible. I shall be scratching that one off this summer's to do list.

Same here. We have a list of things to do this summer rather than a holiday. Alton Towers was high on the list.

To be fair though that was the first week that opened so maybe things improved as they got the hang of it?

Maybe, but on the flip side lots of people will be missing a foreign holiday this year so UK attractions are going to be in demand.

[jrock78]

Went to West Midlands Safari park on Saturday. Had a great time, full safari was open and kids could feed the animals out the car. The zoo and all but two of the rides (where they couldnt social distance) were fully open as well. Hardly any queuing and they sat you in bubbles on the rides with plenty of space between the next group. The sealion show theatre was good too and they sat people every other row but you all managed to fit in as they restricted ticked sales as you must book in advance. It felt clean and safe and the staff were great, Overall 9/10 from me.

[silobass]

Going to Alton Towers this weekend, Sat, Sun and apparently Monday in the park - not sure why we need this long, a day would do me, but I just do as I'm told. Will report back.