Alton Towers — Attraction in Staffordshire Moorlands

We attend scarefest each year, but this year we felt there were small disappointments.

We stayed in the Main hotel. Breakfast was included and buffet style so could can eat what you like. It's only a short walk to the park and they have evening entertainment.

The hotel advertises early park entry for hotel guests on selected rides however we waited 45mins to an hour for anything to be running. It was also noticed that alot of the rides started from 10:30 onwards. (Scarefest dates due to weather conditions which were out of their control).

Alot of the rides both the day before scarefest and on the event day itself were late opening if open at all.

We purchased the platinum fast track tickets in advance as we were aware they sell out quickly. Compared to the usual price of £130 we noted that it had risen to £150 for the event. Regardless we paid this. (Still an expensive ticket to purchase. It was the first time buying them but we were aware how long queues were in previous years.

Having the fast track was definitely worth it as our wait times were no more than 10mins in any queue, we would buy these again.

After paying £150 per person (on top of park entry), you would assume that platinum, would Include fast track to each ride however it did not. Sub terror was not included (as was pointed out my the man on the gate) yet there appeared to be a fast track entrance??? A money making tatic for Alton Towers. At £150 I wouldn't expect to have to pay for additional fast track rides.

The day we attended, Hex was reopen. Again there were delays with this as there were problems. I personally didn't notice any major changes ( a few extra lighting effects) still a fun ride.

Worth noting that dispite Hex not being on the Platinum fast track, we were allowed to use it. (Seemed selective of Alton towers to decide which rides you could and couldn't use). Another money money making gimic?

Wicker man is an amazing ride regardless if how many times you ride it. We noticed this year that crowd control in the queue was non existent. We entered through fast track entrance and observed the regular queue line was not attended too. People could freely (as space allowed) walk into the bag drop with no control from staff which just meant overcrowding. We waited to be told to join at moments when there was very little space. Staff could have managed this better and this was disappointing.

We felt this year that live actors around the park had reduced. Tower street was amazing (they always do well with this) but compared to other years, we felt that there were less people interacting with guests. Regular shows were scheduled throughout the day but we definitely noticed cut backs.

If you hold a merlin annual pass it is advertised you get a % off food and drinks within the park, however Alton towers also hold alot of external food vendors which are not included in this. It is not always clear which stalls these are and I feel this could be better communicated / visualised.

The majority of staff around the park are extremely helpful but we managed to find a few who's attitudes left much to be desired which again was a dissapointment.

The scare mazes this year were good as always, the attic and Tiny's mine remained the same as recent years (time for a change up but always fun)

Daz games is a good concept, we found that it could be better if less people went in at the same time. When we attended roughly 30+ people went in together which meant over crowding and not being able to search the room to find your symbols without crashing into other guests and staff.

The new maze this year was compound. This was my favourite. You find yourself being split from your group and using different routes. Lots of fun and would like to do this again.

We noticed that the first day of scarefest (and Hex reopening) didn't feel as busy as it usually does. Perhaps because this fell on a Friday and kids were still at school?

Overall Scarefest is always fun to attend and we will book again for next year. I just hope that Alton Towers...

I recently spent two full days at Alton Towers Resort and it was nothing short of an outstanding experience from start to finish. Everything about the park, from the rides to the cleanliness to the staff, exceeded my expectations and I left feeling that it was easily one of the best theme parks in the world.

The park itself is kept in immaculate condition. Everywhere we went was spotless, with staff regularly cleaning, emptying bins and making sure everything looked pristine. The grounds and gardens are stunning which makes walking around just as enjoyable as the rides themselves. I was genuinely impressed that even after two days in the park I never once saw an area that looked neglected.

The rides are where Alton Towers really shines and each one felt unique, thrilling and beautifully themed. Nemesis Reborn was the standout of the trip. The refurbishment has completely revitalised the ride and it feels sharper, smoother and more intense than ever. The theming around the pit and the overall atmosphere created around the coaster makes it an experience from the moment you step into the queue. It is a ride with character and history and the new version has more than done justice to its legendary reputation.

Another major highlight was The Smiler. The sheer number of inversions is unbelievable and it is unlike any other coaster I have ever been on. The twisted theme, the soundtrack and the unnerving atmosphere in the station made it a complete sensory experience from start to finish. Oblivion was also unforgettable, despite its short duration. The anticipation during the climb, the moment you dangle over the edge, and then the plummet into the misty tunnel is one of the most adrenaline-fuelled experiences you can have. Wicker Man also deserves a special mention because it manages to combine traditional wooden coaster thrills with fire effects, storytelling and theming that is truly spectacular. It is one of those rides that you want to experience multiple times because every ride feels slightly different.

Toxicator was a very pleasant surprise. The maze was intense, immersive and creatively themed. It added another layer to the park that went beyond just rides, pulling you into a completely different world. The atmosphere inside made it genuinely thrilling and it was a fantastic addition to the overall line-up of experiences.

What really tied everything together was the staff. Every single member of staff we encountered was polite, professional and welcoming. From the ride operators to the cleaners to the team members at the food stalls, everyone carried themselves with a positive attitude and a genuine desire to make guests feel looked after. That level of friendliness and professionalism elevated the experience even more and made the park feel warm and inviting despite the size and scale.

We stayed for two days which I highly recommend because the park has so much to offer that one day is simply not enough. The second day gave us the chance to repeat our favourites, enjoy the park at a relaxed pace and explore areas we might have missed if we had tried to do everything in one go.

The Platinum Fastrack was, without doubt, the best decision we made. Queue times for rides like The Smiler, Wicker Man and Oblivion can be long but with the Fastrack we walked on in minutes. It allowed us to ride multiple times, keep our energy high and make the absolute most out of our visit. It transformed the trip into something smooth and stress-free.

Overall I cannot praise Alton Towers highly enough. The rides are consistently world class, the theming is immersive and creative, the park is stunningly clean, the staff are exceptionally polite and the overall experience was simply unforgettable. Nemesis Reborn, The Smiler, Oblivion, Wicker Man and Toxicator gave us some of the most thrilling experiences we have ever had in a theme park, and the way the park is managed made everything feel seamless. Alton Towers deserves every bit of its reputation and I am already looking forward to going back.

Five stars...

I remember the first time going to Alton Towers and the main ride was the Corkscrew. The log flume wasn’t even there as it was being built. For Lunch nearly everyone walked back to their cars for sandwiches, we always brought a gas stove and had sausages, bacon and beans, I lost count how many times families would come over and say if you’ve got any spare. Which we shared with whoever asked first if we had any left. I think I’ve been over 20 Times But the last two times have left A sour taste with the amount of queue Jumping.This time it was way worse, I think around 15 people pushed in front of us on the Galactica by just jumping over the fence and they were saying my families up there but being very aggressive with it. Nobody said anything I was too far back to say anything but everyone was very angry. Some of the people said it happened to them earlier as well. It was the way they were behaving. I think they were about 16 to 20 Year old. But there was too many of them. Then when we got on the runaway train, the same thing happened again but this time it was five guys and three girls the three girls were saying excuse me and carrying a glass Tupperware with food in it, and the boys were behind them.They were just saying, I’ve got to give this to my Nan. When they got to me, I was boiling and ready. I said I can tell you now, I can guarantee not one person is going to get past me in this queue. If your Nan wants it, I will pass it to her, but then I said it’s a bit silly eating just before you’re going on a ride. Then the boys started playing up and being loud and aggressive Saying ‘You Think you’re gonna stop all of us’ I just looked him in the eye and didn’t say anything because I had my 11-year-old twin daughters who were getting scared’ because of the way they were shouting and behaving. Luckily it turned into a scene like Spartacus where a big guy behind me said well you’re not going to get past me and then somebody else said you’re not going to get past me either, and then they realised it wasn’t worth it. I definitely needed that Ride after that because I was shaking in anger. When I came off the ride my head was fine. We did book for two days at Alton Towers, but my girls were so upset they didn’t want to go back and I can understand why. Both times when it happened there was no staff around to help so we did feel isolated and not properly looked after. I’m just glad that some of the other people said something when they did because there was too many of them and they definitely would not have gone back because of one person. There are signs everywhere in the queue explaining about what queue Jumping is so I’m sure they’ve had things like this happen in the past. Management definitely need to do something about it because if something does happen like this again, everyone is trapped in the same place and children will be hurt. It could be very easily fixed by putting taller fences where the queues cross Each other where some people have been queuing for 50 minutes. Also cameras would be a good deterrent as well. The price that we pay for the ticket as well as photos, food and drinks and £45 for a panda toy? I know I didn’t have to buy it but you don’t have to charge that much for it either. So it isn't a cheap day out but it is a special day and something that we all look forward to. Alton Towers is a great day out. It’s just a shame that the way a few people behaved ruined the day. I know I’m probably being harsh with this review with one star but We paid for an extra day, But unfortunately, my daughters didn’t want to , after speaking to some of the staff that was by the ride just before we got on I did explain it’s not their fault but it was not a nice situation. They did say we’ve had this issue before, but they will mention it again in the next meeting after work. so clearly they do know that things like this has happened before but nothing done about it apart from...