Alton Towers Resort Reviews 

I come 2/3 times a month and spend money on food drinks and merch while in the park and after the announcement I can no longer come as you don’t accommodate for my disabilities I am so so disheartened their no support now for my issues with crowds I will find somewhere else that accepts me for my neurodivergence

As a local family and loyal Annual Pass holders, we used to visit Alton Towers 3-4 times a month. It was a safe haven for us. However, Merlin Entertainments has effectively banned us by changing their Ride Access Pass (RAP) policy to exclude the "Difficulty with Crowds" symbol.

Despite our frequent visits in the past, their new stance now makes it impossible for us to attend. It is unlawful and discriminatory for clear reasons:

Hierarchy of Disability: They are prioritizing physical disabilities (difficulty standing) over neurological ones (difficulty with crowds). The Equality Act protects both equally, yet Merlin has decided one is valid and the other is not.

Refusal of Service: Instead of providing the access we legally require, they are offering refunds. Telling a disabled family "here is your money back, go away" because you don't want to accommodate them is a direct refusal of service based on disability.

We are devastated to lose our local days out. Avoid this company if you have neurodivergent needs.

We have been visiting the Merlin parks with our autistic/ADHD children for 15 years - they buy merch, and food, we stay in the hotels and we have annual passes as a family. They are now adults and still need the same support but AT have decided they are no longer entitled to the reasonable adjustment of having a RAP which enables them to wait away from the queue line so they would not become overwhelmed with noises and jostling from others which would result in sensory overload and ruining theirs, and ours, day. This seems a bizarre way of saying disabled guests are no longer welcome. We were annual pass holders but we will not be renewing as it is clear Merlin Entertainments no longer want us visiting their parks.

Buying a 'sensory pack' or heading to a sensory room when you are 45 minutes into a queue and the person becomes overwhelmed, is not a reasonable adjustment.

Absolutely terrible decision by Merlin.

We have visited Alton towers multiple times over the years. My daughter who is 7 (ASD/ADHD amongst other things) loves theme parks so we try and visit multiple times a year. I find Alton Towers (and all Merlin sites) very unaccomodating when it comes to SEN. For example my daughter will literally only eat plain pasta - I purchased this for her on our recent trip to AT and was charged £7 for a bowl with approx 15 pieces of penne pasta in it. I honestly cannot understand how they can justify charging that for a bowl of plain pasta? I obviously logged a formal complaint upon our return but just continued to receive copy & paste AI responses that just said they will pass on my comments. Now with the recent updates to RAP it means my daughter cannot attend AT anymore (or any other Merlin attraction) as she simply cannot stand in a queue for an hour at a time. As others have said, we visited Disney in October last year and the way they deal with disabilities is incredible! Different queues to get into the theme park itself, passes that allow speedier ride access along with NO time outs. Merlin really are years behind knowing how to deal with disabled gusts when you compare them to the likes of Disney!! We have now cancelled our Merlin annual pass and will attend other theme parks in the UK who do appreciate and respect their disabled guests

Spent most of the day queuing up here. Didn’t meet my expectations. Will probably not go back again

Really surprised how great it was. Clean location, friendly staff. Will definitely be going back next year.

We travelled several hours to get there and were extremely disappointed by the overall experience as unbeknown to us it was a "special day" for a certain sector of society which they can't advertise or warn people about (apparently this sector of society go every Easter weekend and this weekend of Scarefest). Alton Towers know they cause trouble so Police AND security were on patrol but we still had a horrific experience.

The park atmosphere was not family friendly, fun, or safe. We witnessed and experienced multiple issues that made the day deeply unpleasant:
• Queue-jumping happening repeatedly with no staff intervention.
• My 6-year-old was pushed over by a group forcing their way through, and I was also pushed later in the day.
• Shouting, swearing, and aggressive behaviour from the other visitors.
• A fight broke out amongst two groups of these other visitors, creating a threatening environment.
• Smoking and vaping openly in queues, despite the rules.
• Verbal abuse directed at staff, with little visible response even when those guests were climbing barriers and trying to get out of and throw things out of the spinning barrel ride, causing it to stop.

The situation felt so unsafe that my husband and I decided not to take part in the Halloween experiences we had planned, as the behaviour of other guests made it feel too risky, unsafe and unpleasant.

This was the worst theme park experience I have ever had — and I’ve visited many parks around the world, including four in Germany, one in Australia, and five in the USA. I have never encountered such a poor atmosphere or such a lack of control over guest behaviour.
This day was meant to be a special family outing, but instead it was stressful, unsafe, and upsetting for both the children and older members of our group. Given the circumstances, I expected a suitable form of compensation for what was an unacceptable experience and the best they could do after lots of emailing exchanges, was give us half our money back with no reason as to why they couldn't give us a full refund.

The rides were great, hence 4 star review.

Crowd control after the fireworks was scary, they held us whilst they checked the grounds, we had to wait over half an hour in a tight group of people, when they allowed people to move they asked people not to push, but there were idiots who did and it was unsafe.

The food at the Butcher’s Block was inedible and really expensive! Just a bap full of pig fat, zero pork meat. Give it a miss!

The coffee stand charged £20 for 4 hot chocolates that were not fit to drink, watered down with no milk…

The noodle bar was good food and the donut place, worth the money paid. Get your hot chocolate from Costa!

It is massively expensive to go to Alton Towers as a family, as you need a fast pass to get on rides as wait times are ridiculous. Being ripped off with food on top is really frustrating.

I won’t be rushing back.

No complaints about the rides, staff or food for fireworks weekend. Really enjoyed it. However, the lack of crowd control for the fireworks on the Saturday was shockingly dangerous. No clear pathways were maintained at the back near the beer bus. People trying to get past and could barely move. Not a good sign when babies, cigarettes and beer are all being being held above people's heads and those lower down with buggies or mobility scooters were almost disappearing. Absolutley needs to be improved next time for health and safety.

Alton Towers has always had a special place for me but as I watched prices rise, and budgets begin to cut for the park, something seemed to shift.
it is not what it used to be.Although queues are obviously expected so this is not accounted for in my review

Went to alton towers on Saturday 8th November. We went for my daughter's birthday which was the day before and for the fireworks. I understand you have to que and so we didn't get many rides in. But alot of queuing is because of ride access passes so this doesn't seem fair there should be some kind of fair system with it. And then we had an awful experience with the fire works. We got caught up in a crowd I was pushed from everywhere, physically moved by some man scared of being separated from my family, it was so scary and I feared a crush incident happening. There was no staff security whatsoever there. We managed to get out of it and walked off a bit and there was 2 lines of security guards doing nothing! I spoke to the 1 to tell him to get someone down there and that I had 4 asthmatics with me and my eldest daughters and little boy are both on the adhd autism spectrum. My youngest daughters asthma was affected and she had to have her blue inhaler which she hasn't had in ages. As we were speaking to the security guard another man came and said they better get someone down there as people were getting crushed. Also the security guard said that the thing was there's nothing on the other side of crowd, just no one wants to let anyone through, now what does this tell you? That it's happened before! How else would he know. Surely this is a health and safety issue and should be investigated? Ruined our day and night.

Fire works were amazing but I wouldn’t even recommend parking or if you can park get there early parking not on the grass verge they make you walk all the way around the park all the way down to the bottom car parks so you can walk back up to the grass, ridiculous they said it’s for safety there’s nothing safe about making someone asthmatic walk that far around to then walk back to the car. The organisation was ridiculous, staff are no help, incompetent with awful attitudes towards us doing the access walking. Making a path way across to the grass field would have made less congestion of people not packed like sardines. 20,000 people one day for fire works is pure greed not safe for people at all

Whilst trying to leave the area of the firework display to egress the park, It became evident that you had zero duty of care towards the general public! Trying to navigate towards the exit was near on impossible with no sign of any stewards or organization to assist in moving people safely. Those with young families and disabilities must have found the situation extremely frightening to say the least. Once we arrived at the car (parking D) it became very clear we'd entered another chaotic and disorganized shambles with zero traffic marshals to assist in the flow of traffic. Shame on you and all the team for creating a disastrous and disorganized family event.

We visited Alton towers for the firework spectacular. Rides not open on time and No fast pass to purchase not enough sign posts around the park. We failed to book RAP(ride accses pass) booking system is terrible. We spoke to someone on the phone several times and emailed and the staff on the phone were so unhelpful. The staff around the park looked miserable and not helpful. Went on 6 rides and had to queue for all of them this is not good for someone that owns a (RAP) Alton towers you need to sort this out. Fire works were good but very crowded, dangerous and security could not care about the public poorly organised. This is so unfortunate as this was my very first visit to Alton towers
Alton towers shape your act up.

Do not attend if you are disabled!

I have an access card as I am registered disabled. I called ahead to explain that I would not be able to book as I am never sure how I will feel day to day and as I live over four hours away it’s a long way to go to not be able to get into the park. I was reassured by the Merlin team and told that I would need to speak to someone in guest relations as soon as I arrived I the park.
We arrive at around 4pm and I ask to speak to guest services. I was then told on the gate that I would need to purchase a ticket to discuss with guest services. I tried to explain that I wanted a two day ticket but was u sure about whether it was worth purchasing any at all until I was assured my access pass could be used. Eventually, after going around in unhelpful circles, I eventually purchased a one day ticket to allow me to speak to guest services.
When I finally get inside and explain my circumstances, the lady behind the counter gets me a Merlin pass card printed and refunds my initial ticket if one park day and gets me to pay for a two day ticket instead (after I explained we intended to stay overnight and return the following day). Relieved we set off into the park.
Until we get the first ride, oblivion, I show my access card to the lady at the gate and she waves me in, however at the rope barrier I’m told I wouldn’t be able to use my access pass without a “time card” and I need to go back to reception to get this.
This is already incredible frustrating. I try to explain that as a disabled person I have enough energy to do one loop of the park which I’ve already walked around half of it. No sympathy given at all, I begin the long walk back to guest services.
When I get there I am told that even though I have an access card, I wouldn’t be able to use any of the access lines until I have a time card. When I said that wasn’t explained to me earlier, and if it had been I wouldn’t have bought a ticket, let alone upgraded to TWO DAY ticket for a park I cannot use, I was met with a shrug.
I then asked to speak to a manager, the lady behind the desk disappeared and brought back “Sam”.
Sam was rude, unhelpful and frankly should not be in any customer facing role ever. He gave me a “feedback card” told me to scan the QR code and submit a feedback form and then lied and said he wasn’t able to give any refunds. When I pointed out this wasn’t true as one had been processed earlier two desks down, he just repeated “the policy is to submit a feedback form. We aren’t able to provide any refunds”. When my friend asked him if it was just that he didn’t have the authority to do so he said “no. I have the authority.” When I asked if he thought he was being fair, given that the tickets were obviously missold knowing I wouldn’t be able to use anything in the park for two days he continually repeated his “unable to provide refunds policy”. When I asked to speak to someone higher he refused and told me “he was the most senior member of staff and he wasn’t willing to get anyone else” I asked his last name, he refused to provide it. I asked his line managers name. Once again refused.
Eventually, frustrated I left in tears and as I was standing I was approached by another member of the public who said she had overheard our interaction, and was disgusted as she had just been provided a refund as her son had decided he was uncomfortable going in the scare maze alone! Apparently changing your mind is a good enough reason to provide a refund, but being disabled and unable to use the tickets you have been missold isn’t?!
We did not attend the second day (as there is no point without the access pass) and instead all we salvaged from our 9 hour round trip was some overpriced fish and chips and a horrendous, frankly discriminating interaction with Alton towers staff.
I have of course submitted a “feedback form” and was fobbed off. I have replied and have now been totally ignored. I am now in the process of discussions with a disabled legal representative for the discrimination I have faced at this frankly shameful company.
Alton Towers, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

It was half term so it was going to be busy. £40 per person, we got 3 rides in 9 hours. Only time we stopped was while waiting in a queue. The rides kept closing all morning as there was a breeze, after 2.5hours in one queue the ride broke down and we just got told join another queue, all were 2 hours+. Basically you need to by the silver pass or higher costing £65+ to have any meaningful experience (that's £105 per person in total). To try and salvage the day after 16:00 and 2 rides I tried to buy a single fast track ticket (£12) but everyone else had already thought of that. Had to queue 30mins just to complain only to be told there is nothing they can do please fill out a form. 4 days later I have an email saying there were no problems on the day. Its in their interest to shut the rides down, if forces those with money to buy the fast track tickets making them more money on the day. Never taking the family back there. If you go in term time and when its cold you might have a better experience but check the weather! The slightest breeze and the rides will close.

Deserve 0 stars. It's guest customer services are uncaring,unwilling and cowboyish. They failed to offer a rainy day return ticket despite it raining and multiple rides closed. Avoid and go somewhere else or just save your money.

My family and I have loved Alton Towers for years. It has been part of our happiest memories the laughter, the excitement, and wide-eyed moments that make the long drives and early starts worth it. There’s something special about the park that keeps us coming back, year after year.

In more recently years, it’s been harder to enjoy it quite the same way. The costs have really climbed, tickets, parking, food and a day out now feels closer to the price of a quick weekend away in Europe. We appreciate that running such a huge park can’t be cheap, but it’s getting tougher for families to justify.

This time the big challenge was the queuing. I accept there will always be an element of this but waiting up to two hours for a ride that lasts just over a minute can test anyone’s patience, especially when fast-track guests breeze past. We understand the appeal of Fast Track, but it does make things feel unequal and two tier. That’s a shame, because once those gates open, everyone should share the same sense of excitement and opportunity especially the younger ones.

Is fast track not just capitalising on queue jumping? There are signs all around about what the definition of a queue jumper is. It’s just a bit of a slap in face reading the signs all the way around the snaking queue and have another 30/40 people bowl past you just when you are in touching distance. As long as they pay a bit more, no problem though? It doesn’t sit well with me.

Some families just can’t justify the extra expense, the tickets, as mentioned additional extras, the petrol… it’s a long way for us..

The rides themselves are still amazing — that’s never changed. It’s just that the balance between the magic and the waiting has shifted a bit too far toward endurance lately.

We’ll always have a soft spot for Alton Towers, and we’ll still visit — but we really hope you can find a way to make it feel fairer and more accessible again. Because when you get it right, there’s no place quite like it.

With appreciation and a bit of frustration,
A loyal but slightly weary fan

Not recommended. £300+ to basically queue. 30 min traffic queue to get it, queued for parking, queued for bag check, wife queued for toilets, queued for the cable car to get around. Worst of all 1:15 - 2 hour queue for each ride. Only got 3 rides in before we all lost the will to live. Went and queued for some food in a filthy ‘coffee corner’, sat amongst litter on tables and on the floor.

Can’t believe anyone ever goes back to this place. In total I reckon we queued for about 7 hours for 4 minutes of actual fun!!!