Discussion
Just returned home after taking the kids to Scarborough for a week.
Went to Flamingoland...absolute nightmare!!!! :furious:
After waiting in the entrance queue for half an hour we had a protracted argument with staff who said that Mrs Glocko couldn't have reduced admission despite showing her Blue Badge and explaining that her Multiple Sclerosis meant that she wouldn't be able to go on any of the rides due to dizziness and fatigue (she has to rest after using escalators!!)
The response was....wait for it!!!
I'm sorry but she is not disabled enough!!! :rolleyes:
Ok, so we coughed up the 80 quid and went in.
Absolutely packed, queues everywhere.
After spending 5 hours there me and the kids had gone on just 4 rides.
Even waited an hour and a quarter for the fecking cable car!!!
We worked out that it would be virtually impossible to go on every ride even if you were there from opening to closing time.
So out of our five hours we spent at least 3 and a half hours standing in queues shuffling forwards at a rate that an arthritic slug could laugh at.
Why do we do this?
Oh, and I'm not going to mention the prices at the food kiosks!!!! £2 for a fecking slush!!!! :eek:
Bassstards
Went to Flamingoland...absolute nightmare!!!! :furious:
After waiting in the entrance queue for half an hour we had a protracted argument with staff who said that Mrs Glocko couldn't have reduced admission despite showing her Blue Badge and explaining that her Multiple Sclerosis meant that she wouldn't be able to go on any of the rides due to dizziness and fatigue (she has to rest after using escalators!!)
The response was....wait for it!!!
I'm sorry but she is not disabled enough!!! :rolleyes:
Ok, so we coughed up the 80 quid and went in.
Absolutely packed, queues everywhere.
After spending 5 hours there me and the kids had gone on just 4 rides.
Even waited an hour and a quarter for the fecking cable car!!!
We worked out that it would be virtually impossible to go on every ride even if you were there from opening to closing time.
So out of our five hours we spent at least 3 and a half hours standing in queues shuffling forwards at a rate that an arthritic slug could laugh at.
Why do we do this?
Oh, and I'm not going to mention the prices at the food kiosks!!!! £2 for a fecking slush!!!! :eek:
Bassstards
I'd just like to pull you up on one factual inaccuracy in your otherwise fascinating observational prose.
I regret to have to advise you that it is impossible for slugs to suffer arthritis, due to the fact that they have no joints.
Indeed, they have no bones.
For further information, see www.slugailments.org.uk
and www.onlytossersthinkslugscangetarthritis.com
I regret to have to advise you that it is impossible for slugs to suffer arthritis, due to the fact that they have no joints.
Indeed, they have no bones.
For further information, see www.slugailments.org.uk
and www.onlytossersthinkslugscangetarthritis.com
Quite.....
One of the reasons I point blank refuse to go to Alton towers after the last £120 rip off, and queues stretching round the block.....
I remember Alton towers in the mid sixties, when it was FAR nicer, lovely grounds, a traditional fairground, superb model railway, camera obsucra, cable cars, boating lake, miniture railway, pottery demonstrations......
However, amongst the current theme parks, credit has to be given to "Lightwater Valley" near Ripon, not TOO expensive, plenty to do and see, and well laid out......
>> Edited by Wacky Racer on Monday 29th August 15:08
One of the reasons I point blank refuse to go to Alton towers after the last £120 rip off, and queues stretching round the block.....
I remember Alton towers in the mid sixties, when it was FAR nicer, lovely grounds, a traditional fairground, superb model railway, camera obsucra, cable cars, boating lake, miniture railway, pottery demonstrations......
However, amongst the current theme parks, credit has to be given to "Lightwater Valley" near Ripon, not TOO expensive, plenty to do and see, and well laid out......
>> Edited by Wacky Racer on Monday 29th August 15:08
Flamingo Land aint making many friends ATM.
We went with a large group of friends last weekend for a themepark weekender... Lightwater on Saturday, FL on Sunday.
both days we had vouchers (moneysaving expert is your friend
)
a 'for up to 10 folk get in for £5.50 normal price' with which there was no problem at the gate accepting.
flamingo land however it was a 'buy one get one free' yet if it wasnt in the correct format - on A4, printed portrate, from the website with the graphics and any other detail the pedantic smeggers could think of they wouldnt except the voucher (including ID that matched the name on the voucher, had to be a drivers license or pastport)
LWV was great all day - barely any queues of more than 10 mins, ok ish selection of rides - the ultimate is a great little (long) coaster and sewer rat - great classic coaster with very lavish themeing.
Flamingo - So. crowded.. not normally like that. the one thing that doesnt help is the crap capacity of the rides. bullet and Magnum Force used to travel the German Fair circuit (yep they where packed up into Artics and off to the next City - See the Muich Oktoberfest for an expample of a german fair at its best, 2 HUGE coasters, a 200ft drop tower, 150 big wheel...
Magnum force - that used to run 5 trains when on the fairs, and loading time was about 30secs or so. it was ready to depart when the 1st train left the lift hill. now the park have fitted a 4 point harness, to suppliment the origonal lap bar so it takes 5 mins to load, and to cap it all only runs one train. so a ride that used to have a capacity of 1500 riders an hour now has a capacity of 240 riders an hour.
and bullet because of planning restrictions can only run for 2 or 3 hours a day (was that working for you this weekend? as it had vallyed by the loop at the end of the day (see here [url]www.claydon-heights.com/|www.claydon-heights.com/martyn/Random/P8210033.JPG )
of other parks.. Alton Tower's is really getting bad. the 2 most recent rides Spinball Wizzer and Rita are really not upto much - small supporting rides, but with very low capacity, they've got ride of Black Hole this year, leaving just Nemesis, Air, Rita, Oblivion SpinBall and corkscrew. yet the price is a flat rate of £30 peak or off peak... plus if your willing to spend more money theres a variety of add ons to help you jump part of some of the queues with priority passes., the hotel i believe no longer gives entry to the park as part of the price, but an add on.
oh and add to that the £4 for the car park!!! i mean what other options do you have? train? umm theres only one bus service out there - at 10 - so you get to the part between 11 and 12, and the one bus leaves at 4pm. coach? hmm... again leaves early
Tho we have found the seaon pass for multipul trips os better - £80 each for Adults since we go several times over a year to Thorpe, Chessington and Alton Towers means its paid for by the 3rd trip.
Best park in the UK has to be Blackpool Pleasure beach. for your £30 you can get upto 12-14 hours ride time, a choice of 140 rides half of the country's wooden coasters are here (with 2 of the best here) lemme see. Grand National (2 tracks) Big Dipper, Roller Coaster, Zipper Dipper, Wild Mouse, Revolution - first looping in the UK, Avalance, Big One, Steeplechase.
and the biggest bonus, if one of the party wont be riding, then its free for them to get in, and if they do want to ride something - say the pleasureland train, they can purchse some ride tickets so they can go on that one thing if they wanted.
>> Edited by lord summerisle on Monday 29th August 20:49
We went with a large group of friends last weekend for a themepark weekender... Lightwater on Saturday, FL on Sunday.
both days we had vouchers (moneysaving expert is your friend
) a 'for up to 10 folk get in for £5.50 normal price' with which there was no problem at the gate accepting.
flamingo land however it was a 'buy one get one free' yet if it wasnt in the correct format - on A4, printed portrate, from the website with the graphics and any other detail the pedantic smeggers could think of they wouldnt except the voucher (including ID that matched the name on the voucher, had to be a drivers license or pastport)
LWV was great all day - barely any queues of more than 10 mins, ok ish selection of rides - the ultimate is a great little (long) coaster and sewer rat - great classic coaster with very lavish themeing.
Flamingo - So. crowded.. not normally like that. the one thing that doesnt help is the crap capacity of the rides. bullet and Magnum Force used to travel the German Fair circuit (yep they where packed up into Artics and off to the next City - See the Muich Oktoberfest for an expample of a german fair at its best, 2 HUGE coasters, a 200ft drop tower, 150 big wheel...
Magnum force - that used to run 5 trains when on the fairs, and loading time was about 30secs or so. it was ready to depart when the 1st train left the lift hill. now the park have fitted a 4 point harness, to suppliment the origonal lap bar so it takes 5 mins to load, and to cap it all only runs one train. so a ride that used to have a capacity of 1500 riders an hour now has a capacity of 240 riders an hour.
and bullet because of planning restrictions can only run for 2 or 3 hours a day (was that working for you this weekend? as it had vallyed by the loop at the end of the day (see here [url]www.claydon-heights.com/|www.claydon-heights.com/martyn/Random/P8210033.JPG )
of other parks.. Alton Tower's is really getting bad. the 2 most recent rides Spinball Wizzer and Rita are really not upto much - small supporting rides, but with very low capacity, they've got ride of Black Hole this year, leaving just Nemesis, Air, Rita, Oblivion SpinBall and corkscrew. yet the price is a flat rate of £30 peak or off peak... plus if your willing to spend more money theres a variety of add ons to help you jump part of some of the queues with priority passes., the hotel i believe no longer gives entry to the park as part of the price, but an add on.
oh and add to that the £4 for the car park!!! i mean what other options do you have? train? umm theres only one bus service out there - at 10 - so you get to the part between 11 and 12, and the one bus leaves at 4pm. coach? hmm... again leaves early
Tho we have found the seaon pass for multipul trips os better - £80 each for Adults since we go several times over a year to Thorpe, Chessington and Alton Towers means its paid for by the 3rd trip.
Best park in the UK has to be Blackpool Pleasure beach. for your £30 you can get upto 12-14 hours ride time, a choice of 140 rides half of the country's wooden coasters are here (with 2 of the best here) lemme see. Grand National (2 tracks) Big Dipper, Roller Coaster, Zipper Dipper, Wild Mouse, Revolution - first looping in the UK, Avalance, Big One, Steeplechase.
and the biggest bonus, if one of the party wont be riding, then its free for them to get in, and if they do want to ride something - say the pleasureland train, they can purchse some ride tickets so they can go on that one thing if they wanted.
>> Edited by lord summerisle on Monday 29th August 20:49
please PLEASE dont get me started on the 'National Space Centre' in Leceister tenner each and it was one of the shittest things ive ever been to. i was anticpating it in the car there thinking it would be really good and interesting.
the place is built for kids, and even for kids its not very good
STAY AWAY!
the place is built for kids, and even for kids its not very good
STAY AWAY!
godda disagree on that one Andy.
Blackpool far outstrips Alton for value for money.
plus ride capacity are far higher as they are still operating as a riders through the turnstiles is good - since the ride tickets are there, while Alton have been continuing ot put in low capacity rides and having huge problems with queues, yet the price rises ever higher.
in the time it takes to queue and ride nemesis (the only real decent ride at AT - not bad for a ride 11 years old) on the average day i can have ridden Grand National a couple of times, and the other major woodies, got a ride on the 3 steelies.. and be wondering what flat ride to take in...
plus give it a 2 or 3 years and project 2007/8 will come to blackpool... possibly taking the world height record from Cedar Point, a ride that'll rival the Tower in height.
Blackpool far outstrips Alton for value for money.
plus ride capacity are far higher as they are still operating as a riders through the turnstiles is good - since the ride tickets are there, while Alton have been continuing ot put in low capacity rides and having huge problems with queues, yet the price rises ever higher.
in the time it takes to queue and ride nemesis (the only real decent ride at AT - not bad for a ride 11 years old) on the average day i can have ridden Grand National a couple of times, and the other major woodies, got a ride on the 3 steelies.. and be wondering what flat ride to take in...
plus give it a 2 or 3 years and project 2007/8 will come to blackpool... possibly taking the world height record from Cedar Point, a ride that'll rival the Tower in height.
Another vote for Blackpool pleasure beach here.
Saying that I have been to Alton towers 17 times
Best time to go is october during term time, 10 min was the longest queue, and that was for air!
Well worth the entry
The problem with Alton towers, is all the rides are just samey, at least there is some variety at Blackpool pleasure beach. However the roads around Alton towers are fooking ace
Saying that I have been to Alton towers 17 times
Best time to go is october during term time, 10 min was the longest queue, and that was for air!
Well worth the entry
The problem with Alton towers, is all the rides are just samey, at least there is some variety at Blackpool pleasure beach. However the roads around Alton towers are fooking ace
Tried a bit of tactical thinking when I went to Alton Towers last week.
Picked a day where the weather was shitty to start, but the weatherman promised would get clearer and it did, scorching day after 11a.m.
Picked a day through the week, avioding the weekend crowds but not a lot I could do about the kids holidays.
Got in the park at 10am, hardly anyone in the park, nice and empty. Small q at the spinner one so thought we'd try it. Q went down quick but still took about 30mins, then the ride broke down. Engineer fixed it quite quick, then it broke again. Gave up waiting.
Had lunch.
Waited in Q for Rita. After 2 hours, finally got near the front of the Q. Ride broke down. Waited a bit longer then gave up on that aswell.
At around 14:30 realised we still hadn't been on a ride so just went on anything we could. Didn't help that the park got busier when the sun came out.
Picked a day where the weather was shitty to start, but the weatherman promised would get clearer and it did, scorching day after 11a.m.
Picked a day through the week, avioding the weekend crowds but not a lot I could do about the kids holidays.
Got in the park at 10am, hardly anyone in the park, nice and empty. Small q at the spinner one so thought we'd try it. Q went down quick but still took about 30mins, then the ride broke down. Engineer fixed it quite quick, then it broke again. Gave up waiting.
Had lunch.
Waited in Q for Rita. After 2 hours, finally got near the front of the Q. Ride broke down. Waited a bit longer then gave up on that aswell.
At around 14:30 realised we still hadn't been on a ride so just went on anything we could. Didn't help that the park got busier when the sun came out.
pwig said:Well me and my lady friend like Alton Towers, but hate the queues. She said once, when we left 'That was rubbish, none of the rides were scary', my reply 'Did you want to be scared?'.
The problem with Alton towers, is all the rides are just samey, at least there is some variety at Blackpool pleasure beach. However the roads around Alton towers are fooking ace
I duly gave it some over those roads in the Integrale, she didn't stop giggling for about an hour. She may have shrieked once or twice, but loved it
Had a similarly shite Alton Towers experience a couple of weeks ago.
Got in at 10, left at 5.30. thats 7.5 hours.
total ride time worked out at.........5 minutes 30 seconds!!!!
Rita - 2 hours to get to front, ride breaks, have to wait another hour for it to get fixed, ride lasts 20 seconds.
Oblvivion - 1 hour, lasts 2 minutes.
Air - 1 hour in single rider qeue, get to front and it breaks down, gave up on it.
Memesis - 25mins, qeue didn't move, gave up.
Ripsaw - straight on, lasts 2 minutes (ish)
Spinball - 1 hour, lasts 90 seconds.
Misses is a teacher so we can only go out of term time
To be fair we'd blagged some free tickets so no loss there. I would have been pissed off beyond comprehension If I'd have had to pay full wack and had kids to fund as well.
Well worth taking the sprogs out of school for a day if your gonna go I reckon.
Got in at 10, left at 5.30. thats 7.5 hours.
total ride time worked out at.........5 minutes 30 seconds!!!!
Rita - 2 hours to get to front, ride breaks, have to wait another hour for it to get fixed, ride lasts 20 seconds.
Oblvivion - 1 hour, lasts 2 minutes.
Air - 1 hour in single rider qeue, get to front and it breaks down, gave up on it.
Memesis - 25mins, qeue didn't move, gave up.
Ripsaw - straight on, lasts 2 minutes (ish)
Spinball - 1 hour, lasts 90 seconds.
Misses is a teacher so we can only go out of term time
To be fair we'd blagged some free tickets so no loss there. I would have been pissed off beyond comprehension If I'd have had to pay full wack and had kids to fund as well.
Well worth taking the sprogs out of school for a day if your gonna go I reckon.
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