Alton Towers

[Simon Galloway]

Never been, thinking of taking my 7 yr old midweek for a couple of days, 2 days in the park and overnight stay.

Any experts out there on where to stay, and how best to get organised to get the most out of the time?  Staying in an AT hotel seems to be about 280, staying further afield via last minute seems to be more like 180, based on 1 room and park entrance.

TIA!

[TightEnd]

I would stay in the AT hotel if you don't mind spending a bit more

It's at the end of the monorail and is v convenient, saves the queues into and out of car parks each day

The height restriction is 1.40m for most of the v popular rides, so I'd imagine your daughter is well under that

Because of that you can probably avoid getting one of the passes that gets you queue jumping for the big rides

That aside, she'll have a ball.

[pieman]

the splash park is worth a try great fun

[Simon Galloway]

Cheers Tighty/Pieman,
Is doing the waterpark, back to the hotel, theme park, back to the hotel etc easy enough within day?

[TightEnd]

Cheers Tighty/Pieman,
Is doing the waterpark, back to the hotel, theme park, back to the hotel etc easy enough within day?

definitely. Park stays open to quite late, and for 7yos the main sections are on the right as you go in and the other side of the house. So you don't have to trek round the whole thing

of course spending two days there gives you plenty of scope

[Newmanseye]

Yep deffo stay in the park, you get access to the park 1 hour earlier than the general public.

Also one tip I have found ( have taken my kids a few times ) if you phone to book midweek on the day you often get great last minuite deals at the hotels, I got 3 days for 5 of us for £350 that included park tickets, splash landings & brekkie.

Hope you and yours enjoy the place.

[Simon Galloway]

Cheers, will definitely give it a spin.  Can't believe I've never been myself, I'm sure we'll have a blast.

[TheChipPrince]

If you are looking to spend a bit less, we stayed in the travelodge in Stoke for £19 if you book it a few weeks in advance...

[Bongo]

Bank Holiday Monday is meant to be the best day to go, with the day after being the worst.

You want to get there early and get as many of the big rides in as you can in the first hour or so before it gets busy, then get a lot in after 4:30 when the coaches leave.

Can't really comment on places to stay as it's just down the road. I used to have a season ticket and go down after Sunday lunch just for something to do.

[dik9]

Bank Holiday Monday is meant to be the best day to go

WTF?? Last bank holiday I went, spent over 90 minutes queuing for each ride, managed to get on 3 rides between 10am and 4pm  The reason I got there so late was that it took from 8am -10am to get parked 

Midweek just after summer hols FTW!!

[boldie]

Bank Holiday Monday is meant to be the best day to go

WTF?? Last bank holiday I went, spent over 90 minutes queuing for each ride, managed to get on 3 rides between 10am and 4pm  The reason I got there so late was that it took from 8am -10am to get parked 

Midweek just after summer hols FTW!!

Bongo is a pickpocket though.

[KarmaDope]

Never been, thinking of taking my 7 yr old midweek for a couple of days, 2 days in the park and overnight stay.

Any experts out there on where to stay, and how best to get organised to get the most out of the time?  Staying in an AT hotel seems to be about 280, staying further afield via last minute seems to be more like 180, based on 1 room and park entrance.

TIA!

http://www.troughivyhouse.co.uk/

All you need. Walk out the door, go to end of road, turn left, and there's the entrance.

For those who have been, when you drive up to the main entrance, there's a guesthouse in front of you. This is it!

[cambo]

went down a few yrs ago and stayed at the splash park? hotel which was good not the cheapest but well worth the money. you get que jump passes for most of the big rides which was great as i didnt fancy waiting for over an hr for 1 ride. also you got to go through to the main hotel for the entertainment in the evening aswell which was ok , just me and the g/f no kids with us , i think there was stuff for them to do also so the adults could sit and relax.

have fun

[Simon Galloway]

Cheers for all the advice.

Looks like a rain check this week, will roll it into next week, the new found joys of not working and having to plan annual leave

After weighing up all the advice, there does look a lot of interesting places to stay, nearby and further afield.  But laziness ftw, will stay onsite.

[TheChipPrince]

You didnt leave a leg behind then Simon?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/7697240.stm