r/altontowers

I’m going on Tuesday with my college as a final trip before I leave college but I have no idea how much I will need when I’m there tbh

I went to AT today and there was this smell kind of like chlorine but deeper/stronger around the entrance and near the nemesis rides. My sister also noticed these smells, even saying it persisted near Smiler. Anyone know what could this be?

(I am aware of the smell design or whatever for certain rides, but i cant fathom why they would want to make people smell that unless for a feeling of disgust i guess lol.)

I’m staying for one night at Alton towers on Thursday 9 July but I’m autistic and I’m really worried about being on a ride (specifically galactica) and it breaks down on the lift hill. I specifically mentioned galactica because the position youre in isn’t particularly comfortable. I was wondering whats the change of it happening on 9 July as I know heat can play a big part

I've just measured her height, and shes about 94cm. Thinking of going on a weekday so it'll be cheaper and less busy

Just had an impromptu visit to Alton Towers. the last time I went was opening day 2025 with intoxicator shutting because of the sewage issues 🤢. I remember going on 3 rides all day.

But today, I was pleasantly shocked. Single rider on oblivion and smiler was so quick, I was on my own and got there at 11. I waited no more than 30 minutes per ride and managed to do all the big coasters apart from galactica.

The park was clean and tidy, monorail and sky ride all working.

However… Rita ride ops were terrible. half an hour queue turned into 1hr 5 minutes. loading batching was terribly slow, Thorpe park are so quick with stealth. I get maybe they were short staffed because smiler operatives were helping out at rita?? but come on… Disappointing.

Also, I bought some merch in the smiler gift shop and despite having a gold Merlin pass, they didn’t apply the correct discount and I had to ask twice which is rather naughty and embarrassing.

A lot of breakdowns around the park too but nowhere near as many as usual. And me worrying about all the school coaches. I needn’t have worried, the park wasn’t too busy at all.

so overall a good day, the best I’ve had since 2022.

So I went on it for the first time today (or yesterday actually as it's quarter to one in the morning) and wanted to share my thoughts.

Firstly, what a coaster! Probably the best I've been on (granted, I haven't been on much, but still). Those 14 inversions felt brilliant, especially the first one in the dark with the strobe light. And it really wasn't as rough as I've read (I was dreading that). At least for me it wasn't. I'm so glad the second lift bill TV screens and speakers were working, because from some past POVs I've watched they weren't turned on. And the bag storage was convenient as well. And that exit hallway when you think it's all over. Wrong! That was fun. I also liked the inside bit of the queue line with the projection mapped walls and Strobe.

However, this is more things that annoyed me or that I couldn't help but notice. Firstly, the Marmaliser Wrap Around screen. Tons of stuck pixels and dead LED modules. I think it slightly took away from the whole storyline of getting 'corrected'. Same for the smaller LED screen in the queue line, not as much dead pixels but still pretty broken. The music did it's job of getting stuck in my head. I'm not saying it's bad, I think it fit the theme well. But I can still hear it 😅. The sound system in the queue line didn't help. The overhead speakers mounted to the track were alright, but those wall mounted column ones were so loud and distorted from my experience. They ought to upgrade or at least properly EQ.

Overall, a great ride. One I would definitely do again!

ha ha ha

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Hi all, i'm just wondering if anyone knows a way to contact the online shop support that actually works and is monitored?

I placed an order about 3 weeks ago, 3 tiny things, and only 2 of them were in the package. I tried emailing the address on the website's support section, and in typical merlin fashion, that address isn't monitored any more. The bounce-back email did provide a new email, which i resent to and a ticket was created. It's been about 2 weeks now, no replies.

The item i want is literally just the shoe charms for WM, smiler & rita. i have the other ones but want to complete the set. I have paid for them but they either forgot them, or they're out of stock and haven't updated the site?

I can't get to the park to buy them myself, as i'm just giving merlin parks a break for a few years and going elsewhere. (Hoping they make some improvements in this time, as alton's future isn't looking great lately)

I'm considering re-placing the order of just the thing i need and then asking for a refund of it+shipping as it's only a couple quid.

Thanks for any help/advice!

I was there today and believe I've left my card holder on one of the rocks in Towers Street (All my cards are frozen and I can easily get new ones so I'm not too stressed).

Obviously it's not going to be open now, but is there a specific number I have to ring just in case someone handed it in? Or shall I just call customer service?

Thanks! Great day out btw, I completed my life goal of going on The Smiler!

Hello,

Just looking at the app to get a sense of queue times for my visit tomorrow and I see:

• The Smiler
• Thirteen
• Galactica
• Rita
• Spinball
• hex
• Curse at Alton Manor

Are all closed... And it's 10:45

Is this common for these rides or unusual? That's quite a large chunk of the parks main attractions..

If they remain closed, is there any refund scheme? It would be quite disappointing to spend a large chunk of money on a short stay and half the park is closed.

So I’m planning on getting my bf tickets for his birthday. We are 3 hours away so we’d have to get a hotel. I’m planning on booking for 3 nights. So we could go there and go straight to the hotel, then spend 2 days at Alton towers, then home the next morning. With the hotels in the park the prices are £600 plus. Although I’d love to get him this and it would be really ideal to stay there, I just can’t fathom paying this when the Travelodges are like £30 a night😂🤭

Can anyone recommend hotels nearby that are really close distance, not sure any are walking distance? I don’t mind getting an uber to and from the hotel to the park but don’t want to be spending a lot on it.

Or am I best just spending out and getting a hotel in the park?

The title speaks for itself.

I'm well aware that the majority of fans prefer Alton Manor to Duel by a long shot, and I'm in the minority preferring the former, but Curse feels like it's lacking a lot of magic and quirkiness Duel and The Haunted House shared, as both shared pretty much the same scenes and props up until they were taken out during the retheme to Alton Manor.

So yeah, was there anything from Duel you wish Towers kept and reused for Curse? Personally, I miss the old Trommel Scene with the Mouth Of Hell and the stone brick walls. The current scene just looks so flat and bland compared to what it replaced, that and the Flying Demons in the Dining Hall.

I'm going tomorrow (Tuesday) with 2 friends and we're aiming to get as many of the big rides as possible, and multiple if possible - could any of you who've been recently advise the best ride order with this in mind?

Was thinking of starting Forbidden Valley but thats just based on reading reddit and no experience doing so, none of us have been in many years

Appreciate it! We'll get to the parking lot around 09:20-30

In the queue for Galatica (current time is estimated 60 minutes) I have a gold fast track and I’ve been waiting for 30 minutes, I’m still not even at the front of the queue or the boarding station. I’ve been watching the carts go round past and it’s like 3-4 minutes between when I see one again. I’m wondering if they only have one cart on today. Anyone know? I feel like they wouldn’t do that unless they had to especially given the school trip season and the queue times

anyone know how to get to alton towers there and back from liverpool

Hi! I'm a new thoosie who lives in the south. I haven't been to Alton yet, but i'm planning to go in the summer. And I have a LOT of questions before I go.

I'm going for 2 days and staying overnight as we live far, but I don't know if i'm able to get all the big rides in. Am I overthinking? I really want to ride all the major rides and possibly even re ride, but I don't know if that's possible because of the summer queues.

What's the best order to do the coasters in? I don't want to waste time at all and i'd like to try get as many rides in as possible. I've had a look on tiktok but they all say different things.

Also, i've heard that the park is huge. What are the best entrances and routes around the park? I don't want to waste time by going all the way around the park.

Where are the best places to eat? Aswell as cheapest and lowest queues because at Thorpe I usually wait 30m for my food at KFC.

Thanks a lot for getting so far!

Going to Alton Towers in September for the 6th time in 7 years ,does anyone else thinks it absolutely trumps Florida

Hi all,

Is there normally any real difference in crowd level between Friday and Saturday for the November fireworks?

Would obviously expect both days to be busy, but trying to decide which day to go on.

Cheers.

Hello,

How does breakfast / dinner work when staying for a short stay?

I've booked a short stay at the enchanted village, but never got a booking email for breakfast, and after some searching it seems like it's all too common so I went to do it manually, however the crooked spoon has zero availability on the days I'm going for breakfast or dinner...

I booked at the secret garden instead, but does booking actually matter?

Could I just show up to any for breakfast / dinner, as id prefer the restaurant closer to where im actually staying

Thanks