I'd like some opinions please, me and my partner would like to take our kids there at Easter (16, 15 and 9). Trouble is, my son is only 1.32m so not tall enough to go on the main rides (Nemesis, Rita, Galactica, The Smiler, Oblivion). We are looking at a 1 day pass, staying at Splash Landings Hotel and then doing the waterpark the next day.
Anyone done similar? Good or bad experiences? It doesn't seem too bad for the price, I'm just worried that my son will be dissapointed not going on the bigger rides, and also will the waterpark be too young for him (he's 9 going on 15)?
Thanks,
There are plenty of rides, I wouldn't worry too much about the big ones unless he is a *real* rollercoaster freak. He still has Thirteen and Wickerman which are great fun. The other coasters are both massive and terrifying - aimed at adult thrill seekers.
For a fun lunch, book the rollercoaster restaurant or if it isn't taking bookings have an early lunch - get there as it opens at about 11:30 rather than expecting to be able to get in at 13:00 - plus queue times will drop as people start to have lunch from 12:30 onwards. The queues for the big coasters can get *big*. It's worth using the app and looking at queue times. The gondola ride that links the dark forest to the main entrance doesn't open when the park does, so if you are relatively fit it's worth heading for dark forest and hitting Thirteen as it is likely to be the quietest at the start of the day - OR heading straight to Wicker Man. Similarly at the end of the day some of the queues will start to drop.
Some rides usually have no or small queues (duel and Hex for example, blade is often not too bad) You will get soaked on battle galleons so plan accordingly. Bystanders have access to high powered water cannon. Congo river rapids on the other hand you have about a 1 in 8 chance of staying fairly dry.
Hotel guests get to enter at X-Sector, so you could grab a quick go on the Blade (pirate ship) and then hit runaway mine train and wicker man, but I'd be tempted to head for Rita and Thirteen through the gardens personally.
As far as the Waterpark goes, he is about the right age. Again, the tube rides can get very busy so being early pays dividends. Some areas may not open (like the outdoor area) until later on. The waterpark is probably good for the morning but you might be getting bored by the afternoon. There is a mini golf course but it was pretty desperate for maintenance when we went last summer.
Food wise I'd recommend booking the Secret Garden in the main hotel -
book early so you have a reservation. It is common to see people wandering around looking depressed that they can only get take out. Flambo's Jambo is a bit rubbish although we did get a good laugh about the veggie cauliflower steak - they just tried to roast a whole cauliflower.