Sunday 14 July 2013

Alton Towers A day of queueing

Today was a hot sunny day so we decided to go the place that has you stood around for hours on end. Smart!
The queues started on the M6 motorway.
We could see the matrix signs saying motorway closed after junction 15.
We wanted to come off at 15 anyway, so should be ok, it's only 1 mile to the junction.
1 hour later, we left the motorway and arrived at Alton Towers and walked to the Monorail and queued for that, only maybe 6 or 7 minutes, then we arrived at the ticket booths and queued for about 35 minutes.
First ride we went to was the New one. The Smiler.
The time at the entrance said 150minutes queue from here, but the queue had started at 200 yards before we had even got to that sign.
Halfway around the Smiler's queue was a refreshment stand (Alton Towers are not stupid) When you have a hot thirsty captive audience, who you know are going to stand in the sunshine for 3 hours the best thing you need is overpriced drinks and ice lollies.
Anyway enough about the queues the actual ride was quite scary, daunting and very good.
After this ride we went to the Oblivion ride, which last year I had declined, saying something like 'Not a chance on this earth' but today I went on it and actually couldn't see a thing during the whole thing. Maybe my tightly clenched eyes had something to do with that. After this ride my Biceps are actually hurting I was holding on so hard.
After this, we had our sandwiches, because obviously I'm not paying those prices.
Now it was onto the Hex ride which is a haunted swing with a scary intro where you walk from room to room through the runs of the old Alton Towers (why they don't fix this place up is beyond me what with all the money they are making here.) The actual back story and light effects are quite creepy and caused a few screams, (not mine obviously(honest)).
We went on this ride last year and remember there being more lighting on the tree branch and room, so I guess the millions of people traipsing through the entrance aren't paying enough to afford to replace a few bulbs!
Next it was onto the ride Thirt3en, where we queued for 10 minutes then gave up and went to Nemesis Sub Terra, which was terrific. Enough said.
Then onto Nemesis for the first of 3 times today. This is a very intense ride and you get twisted and looped with your feet dangling. Pretty good.
After the first go around we saw the queue was quite short so decided to go back later and that's when we went on it, twice in succession.
The best ride of the day was Air which is a seated ride that tilts you forward so you are face down in a doggy style position and this is an incredibly comfortable position to ride a rollercoaster in.
It's getting near the end of the day and we are looking to grab a few last minute rides, so we chose Ripsaw which is a large swing which houses about 40 people in to rows in what looks like a large rusty skip. It appears to look very dangerous but we survived. The main fun part about this ride is that there are fountains that squirt you in the face as you are suspended forty feet in the air upside down with the fountains squirt up at you. Many screams and wet trousers!
So onto the photos and videos. All the videos are six second vine videos.



























The last ride we went on was The Edge which is a Pirate ship, and that really made me feel sick and I felt sick all the way home and for about 4 hours into the evening.

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