Last Sunday it was my first trip to Thorpe Park as an Ambassador!
It was their pre-opening event that was open to Annual Pass holders only and we were very excited it.
I didn't go to Thorpe Park last year for some reason, we just didn't get round to it..... Teen went with friends once or twice (I know, he's THAT old now!) but the rest of us didn't. I think I've only been once since our fantastic time we had there for Teen's birthday two years ago on Fright Night!
For this special event I just had to take Teen (of course) and his lovely girlfriend.
I also took my Daughter, who has just started to appreciate this type of fun! Obviously she wouldn't be going on the big roller coasters but she DID want to experience some of the smaller ones. Her friend came along too.
After picking up our Annual Passes, we ran into the park as fast as we could! Visiting Thorpe Park usually brings the silly, excited kid out in me! If you're an Annual Pass holder, you wouldn't have to queue to get in... you'd be fast tracked!
Teen and Girlfriend left us as they wanted to go in search of some mega ride fun. Stealth was first on their hit list... One of Europe’s fastest roller coasters which propels you from 0-80mph to 205ft in under 2 seconds and experience the same brake horse power of two Formula 1 cars! I've been on this a few times and it's the craziest experience ever. It's so unlike any other roller coaster. It's difficult to describe how it feels... it's so scary! But oh so good!
Myself and the girls decided to head to the hot doughnut hut first. Well, let's get our priorities straight here!
After I'd had my latte and a doughnut, we thought we'd join the queue for our first ride... Storm Surge! This is a gentle, yet high water ride that's suitable for all ages. The queue time was around half an hour which flew by. We donned our essential Thorpe Park water proofs to ensure we stayed dry!
From here, buzzing now that we'd been on a ride and eager to get to the next one, we headed over to the Flying Fish. This is a little roller coaster for the younger guests. But don't let it fool you... it's pretty fast and races round the tracks THREE times. It took me by surprise actually. Some of the riders were very young children so I was expecting an easy, slow (ish) paced ride. But no... this was rather exhilarating!
After this we thought we'd have a walk round to the log flume. We strolled leisurely, checking out some of the other rides. We stood in awe for a while and watched this one...
The Slammer! These photo's don't demonstrate how high this really is. We obviously didn't go on it. Teen and Girlfriend did later in the day but this was just too scary for me! It holds it's position at the top and then slams forward, holding you fully upside down horizontally! It repeats this over and over!
Unfortunately the Loggers Leap is no longer open. It was having a complete refurb and won't be opening any time soon. We were a little disappointed by this as it's one of our faves but hopefully it'll be back!
As well as the new Derren Brown Ghost Train ride which is set to open on 6th May, there's the new Angry Birds area of Thorpe Park. Here you will find the world’s first ANGRY BIRDS 4D Experience. We didn't try this but inside you will be part of the action as rumbling chairs catapult you through a fast-paced adventure as the Angry Birds attempt to get their precious eggs back from the dastardly King Pig. Timed air gusts, water jets, leg ticklers, flashing lights, bubbles and smoke blasts will be sure to get pulses racing from start to finish!
When we met up with Teen and Girlfriend they'd been on a couple of big rides already. There were some technical issues with Stealth and they queued forever, but so determined was he not to miss out, they stayed in the queue until they got to go on it! That's dedication for you!
There were a couple of rides closed actually as it was still so early in the year and the actual park hadn't officially opened for the season yet. Rush, which is another of Teen's favourites.... a massive air powered swing and Colossus which is a favourite of mine.... a fast thrilling roller coaster with lots of loops were the only two though. But it doesn't matter because we'll be back very soon to have our fix of those!
We all stayed together for a while and went on the Rumba Rapids. This is another water ride where you can all sit together in a round 'boat' and experience a bit of water rafting! We all laughed a lot on this.
The kids also went on Depth Charge. A four lane super water slide. Well, except they didn't actually go on it. They queued, but when they reached the top my daughter chickened out, saying it was too high! Teen wasn't best pleased as he had to bring her down and then none of them went on it! Bless her, I think she probably needed me up there with her! She was annoyed with herself afterwards I think. But no time to waste. There was still more rides to fit in and we needed to eat!
As part of my Ambassador role, I was given vouchers to try out the large restaurant FINS Bar and Grill. There was plenty of choice on the menu and the food was delicious. The restaurant was a little more high class than the other fast food establishments throughout the park, and situated at the top near the entrance. This meant it was a little bit out of the way from the hustle and bustle but it had great views out over the park.
After food we separated again and the girls and I wandered around. We decided to take in Mr Monkeys Banana Ride. This is basically a swing but again, it does pack a little punch. Then it was Quantam... a magic carpet style ride.
As this event was Annual Pass holders only, the park was a lot quieter than usual which is a real bonus. Queue times were relatively short, the longest being 40 minutes which were for the big rides like Stealth and Saw. This is unheard of on a normal day. There are a few days like this throughout the year so it's worth having an Annual Pass just for that privilege, but you do need to book up early for these days. You can also get 20% off in most of the parks food establishments 🙂
At this point, I felt like I needed to go on something bigger, so Teen suggested Detonator. I haven't been on this before because the pausing at the top while you wait for the drop always seems so scary! But there was no queue so without even thinking, the girls waited for us at the bottom whilst myself, Teen and Girlfriend jumped on it!
This is definitely a ride not to be underestimated. As we ascended I wanted to get off. Teen was laughing at me but I was seriously scared and questioning my sanity! It's so much higher than it looks and seems to take forever to reach the top. There's a pause and a countdown before it drops with such force I could hardly breathe! Of course it was over in seconds but wow! Top thrill and much scarier than it looks!
Teen and Girlfriend donned the water proofs and headed off to Tidal Wave. This is one ride where you need to be prepared to get VERY wet! There's no escaping it. It's a massive long flume that certainly packs a punch!
As the park was coming to a close, we were obviously still there making the most of our day. We finished off with a stroll around the stalls to try our luck at winning a giant cuddly toy!
No such luck though! Ah well, maybe next visit!
We had a great day at Thorpe Park, as usual. It was a beautiful day too, the sun was shining and we couldn't have asked for better weather really. I'm looking forward to my next visit already! I can't believe we have Annual Passes, it will be amazing to use these during the summer holidays as many times as we like!
If this post has whet your appetite to visit Thorpe Park then why not enter my AMAZING competition where you can win a Family Ticket for four! The competition will run for a month which means you could have your tickets ready for the grand opening of the Derren Brown Ghost Train ride!
To enter, simply complete the Gleam widget below. It's very easy!
Mummy Endeavours - Win a Family Ticket to Thorpe Park
Do read the below terms and conditions and on behalf of myself and Thorpe Park, we'd like to wish you the very best of luck!
The THORPE PARK RESORT competition with MUMMY ENDEAVOURS requires that you are deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions of use. The winner must be in accordance with the regulations of THORPE PARK Resort, a copy of which is displayed at the attraction or can be obtained online at www.thorpepark.com. Please ensure that you agree to be bound by the regulations before redeeming your prize.
MUMMY ENDEAVOURS will pick the winner who will receive 4 tickets. MUMMY ENDEAVOURS will forward the competition winner’s details to THORPE PARK Resort.
The prize promotion is open to all UK residents aged 18 years or over except: Any employees of the Merlin Entertainments Group or members of their immediate families; Any employees or representatives of any agencies, suppliers or third parties associated with any attractions in the Merlin Entertainments Group; or If you are not over 18 and win please ensure your parent or guardian get in touch with us to claim the prize.
The winner will receive 4 THORPE PARK RESORT tickets to THORPE PARK Resort which can be used from: 17th March 2016-3rd October 2016 . Tickets allow entry into the resort on any normal operating day excluding special events. Terms and conditions apply please visit www.thorpepark.co.uk.
The winner will be announced by MUMMY ENDEAVOURS on their date of choice.
Reasonable efforts by MUMMY ENDEAVOURS will be made to contact the winner. If the winner cannot be contacted, or is unable to comply with these terms and conditions, MUMMY ENDEAVOURS reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant drawn at random.
The prize is not transferable to another individual and no cash or other alternatives will be offered, unless specifically agreed by THORPE PARK Resort. The prize is not valid in conjunction with any other offer, concession or online/call centre booking. THORPE PARK Resort reserves the right to substitute the prize for one of the same or greater value at any time.
THORPE PARK Resort and MUMMY ENDEAVOURS will not use the winner’s details for marketing purposes unless they have opted in to receive such information.
THORPE PARK Resort and MUMMY ENDEAVOURS may contact the competition winner post-visit for feedback purposes.
THORPE PARK Resort and MUMMY ENDEAVOURS cannot accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by the winner or as a result of accepting the prize.
The winner is responsible for any expenses and arrangements not specifically included in the prize, including any necessary travel arrangements, costs, travel documentation or meals.
The winner agrees to the use of their name, photograph and disclosure of county of residence and they will co-operate with any other reasonable request by THORPE PARK Resort relating to any post-winning publicity including all social channels.
THORPE PARK Resort’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
Merlin reserves the right to alter theses terms and conditions at any time and for any reason.
Id love to try the tidal wave never been before but looks such fun
i love the detonator, but my husband refuses to go on it lol
Saw ride and Stealth are amazing rides
My sons really want to try the salmmer again
X looks good.
Colossus x
the gleam widget is not working x
I want to try the Derren Brown train ride, though haven’t been to Thorpe Park so want to try as many as possible!
Look like a great day for it!!! Hope u had fun 🙂
Looks like such fun! Would love to take my boys there, such an enjoyable day for all by the looks of it!
I love Nemesis
Stelth is our favourite
What an amazing prize – looks like you had a fantastic day out. Would love to go with my family ❤️
My son says he would like to get lost in the I’m A Celebrity maze!
I’ve never been to Thorpe Park but i’ve heard so much about it! I think i’d absolutely love to try Derren Brown’s Ghost Train!
I’ve never been but I would love to try the Tidal Wave
I’ve never been to Thorpe Park but I’d most like to try the Colossus ride.
Tidal Wave
The Tidal Wave looks fun. Kids would love that. x
Darren Brown train ride
Love water rides so it has to be Tidal Waves
Detonator is definitely my type of fun!
my daughter would love the death slide but i would prefer to watch
I loved Colossus 🙂
Loggers leap was my favourite, that was years ago though 🙂
I haven’t been to Thorpe park for years, I now have two children, the eldest would love to go and he’s a thrill seeker at only 8 years old, so would go on everything if he was tall enough. I would love to go on Colossus, even if I have to go on my own I would.
We love SAW! Not only is the ride so much fun, we also had such a laugh in the queue, yes you read that right! There was many moments that things popped out and scared us, made us laugh and the time went quicker! Would love to take the kids again this summer.
I love Thorpe Park. It would be great to win to take the family for a fun day out
We have never been normally end up at alton towers, but I have always wanted to go on stealth it looks amazing, the scarier the better.
would love to go on Loggers leap
We all love going on splash canyon! Great family fun
I like Saw because it feels quite smooth
Never been – love the sound of Rumba Rapid though, something we can all enjoy as a family.
I would like to try the Tidal Wave!
I haven’t been since 2007! Gonna go in June when Derren brown’s ride is open 🙂
Depth Charge for me
wow this is such a great prize ive never been to thorpe park so i cant comment on my favourite ride.. as a single mummy i know i would never be able to afford a family ticket myself so fingers crossed to win 🙂 xx
Tidal Wave is my fave
I like the Saw roller coaster
not gone before so would like to go on them all but looking forward to the nemesis more
My daughter and son-in-law love thorpe park but I’ve never been
Never been to Thorpe Park , would love to try all the rides , especially the new Derren Brown ghost train !
I’ve never been before but really want to go on the slammer it looks proper scary
I have never been before so glad to try them all x
The Rumba Rapids sound fab – I would love to give them a try x
my favourite ride has to be saw:the ride i can’t get enough of it. The almost 90 degree drop gets me every time
Colossus
Rumba Rapid sounds like fun and would be an easy way to ease into things whilst plucking up the courage to try the scarier rides. I have never been to Thorpe park but would love to treat my Grandsons to a day out as a special treat
I’ve never been, but I’ve always wanted to go. I’d love to try the Tidal Wave – it looks great fun !
The Tidal Wave looks fun.
I haven’t been for years, I think I would love to try stealth though! Sounds fast!!!
I love that one where you slide down the waterslide on a dinghy.
swarm is amazing and we have nothing like it up north!!
Saw ride and Stealth
I haven’t been to Thorpe Park since I was at school! So I’d love to take my family!
I haven’t been for a long time but would like to try the new Derren Brown ride.
I remember really enjoying Samurai.
ive never been but would love to try stealth
I have never been but Detonator looks good!
We’ve never been before but Tidal Wave looks like a great ride!
Saw is the best!
Angry birds my son would like to ride on
never been but a mine train?
Tidal wave and rocky express and I would love to try the new ghost train
Want to try the Derren Brown Train
Love saw the fide
The ghost train looks awesome!
My favourite is nemesis
Colossus looks fab. I haven’t been to Thorpe park yet but my family are big rollercoaster addicts so it won’t be long!
The Detonator looks good!
Stealth is my favourite!
Tidal Wave, i just love rides that include water and getting wet
Never been but would love to try Saw
I would love to ride on tidal wave. We haven’t been before but it sounds fab from your review.
I’ve not been in years but dying to try the Derren Brown Ghost Train when it opens!
love tidal wave x
love to go on Loggers leap it looks fun
Tidal Wave looks ace!
Stealth is our favourite!
I loved The Slammer – my husband was wary, like you, of going on it but it was fantastic, really smooth and fun :o)
I’ve never been but I’d love to go on tridal wave.
I’ve never been…but my daughter says Swarm!
It’s been years since I went last… But I used to really enjoy X:\No Way Out 🙂
We have never been before but all really fancy Stealth
Stelth is my favourite
Saw ride and Stealth are good
Looks like a fab day out.
There’s just something about theme parks that joins young and old in something exhilarating! I love ’em!
Have never been. Ehm something little!
My kids love tidal wave – I’m scared of all of them
like to try detonator
Detonator
I’d like to try the Derren Brown Ghost ride – as long as the queue was less than half hour!
Tidal Wave
Rush is mine lol
I’ve never been so I’d like to try tidal wave
I would love to win this 🙂
Derren Brown Ghost Train ride!
not been before and properly would chicken out of going on a few but the Depth Charge water slide looks fun
Detonator sounds awesome!
Mr Monkeys Banana Ride – love a good pirate ship!
The new Derren Brown Ghost Train!
Congratulations on being a Thorne Park ambassador! I wish I was so i can take my girls there or free 🙂
I have to confess, I’ve never been to Thorpe Park before. Reading your post though I’m wondering why I’ve missed out for so long!
i would love to try the Tidal wave but they all look great
We love the Tidal Wave!
I want to try the ghost train
Yes please great prize
We have never been before, but would love to go on the ghost train. I think it must be much better than the ones we have been on recently which are pretty lame!
I’ve never been but would love to try stealth and detonator
trying all the rides, would be amazing
never been but would love to ride stealth!
We’ve never been but I’d love to go on Nemesis Inferno – love Nemesis at Alton Towers 🙂
I haven’t been for years but I would love to try Tidal Wave
None of my family like rides we all suffer from motion sickness. We used to visit when kids were little nad do the baby rides only.
The Deren brown train ride looks fun
Love Thorpe park x
I love Stealth
I haven’t been to Thorpe Park since I was about your daughter’s age! But would love to go and take my own daughters. They’re probably a bit young for it but I’d like to try the Derren Brown Ghost Train.
Saw and Stealth!
Haven’t been for many years but liked Nemesis Inferno.
Swarm looks freakin’ amazing!! I love rollercoasters.
loggers leap
I love Nemesis, Saw and Stealth
The Saw ride! I’m scared of heights and hate rollercoasters but decided to challenge myself so Saw Ride it was lol it was awesome!
Never been, would love to visit angry birds land.
Haven’t been for years but loved detonator!
We have not been for years but always loved all the water rides. Rumba Rapids looks like a lot of fun.
I’ve not been to Thorpe Park yet, but I’d love to try Stealth
Yep, the hot doughnut hut would be our first port of call as well!
I really wished we lived closer as my boys LOVE Thorpe park
would love to go with the family – sounds good fun
I haven’t been for years but I have a very happy memory of a school trip there and now my son is old enough to enjoy it too!
I would LOVE to try the new Derren Brown Ghost Train as he is the master manipulator. I bet you are guaranteed to get chills!
i love the detonator it gets your heart rate up a bit but its fun
I used to go all the time when i was younger and loved loggers leap, I’d love to take my kids on that
Tidal Wave
wOULD LIKE TO TRY THE Tidal Wave
We’ve been without the kids and loved stealth, but would love to take the kids next time.
My favourite ride is tidal wave especially when the sun is out and get soaked
I have never been to Thorpe Park before but it looks fantastic and like a brilliant day out, although I have to say that now i’m in my old age some of those rides look very scary 😉
I loved Colossus
Tidal wave
Like stealth
I’ve never been, so I’d happily go on every ride. I’m almost 43, but when I get to a theme park, my mental age drops 30 years! The rides that catch my eye are Stealth, Swarm, Colossus, Saw & Nemesis Inferno.
stealth – love it
This looks fantastic, can’t wait till the kids are old enough to take them on all of the roller coasters!
Never been but Rumba Rapids looks great fun for all ages
We love water rides so the Tidal Wave would be great.
I’ve never been but love the sound of Tidal Wave
Loads of fun to be had at Thorpe Park, I grew up going there regularly. Mich x
We like Thorpe Park, we enjoyed the ANGRY BIRDS 4D Experience and do it each time, but I would like to coax the boys on the water slide rides x
Ahh what a brilliant time you all had! Kicking myself for getting here too late to enter – fool!! Thorpe Park is not that far away from us and we’re still yet to visit. We really must now POD is big enough 🙂