40 Years Of Alton Towers - Memories Of The UK's Biggest Theme Park
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- čas přidán 3. 04. 2020
- Happy 40th Birthday Alton Towers! On April 4th 1980, The Corkscrew opened at Alton Towers, marking the beginning of what would become the UK's biggest theme park. In this special video I look back on my favourite memories from Alton Towers since I first started visiting in 1993 through to 2020. This includes talking about my favourite rides and attractions that have come and gone over the years from the park. I also share an insight into my time working at Alton Towers along with talking about why the park will always have a special place in my heart.
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So it was like an RCT mission.
"Turn this castle into a Theme Park"
Basically so!
Been visiting Alton Towers for over 20 years and Toyland Tours will always be be number 1 ride what a classic !!
I’m lucky enough (old enough ssshhhhh!) to have done all the classics at Alton Towers. The Corkscrew, The Thunder looper, The Beast, The Black Hole and The Wild Mouse. Even did the Nemesis in 94. Love Alton Towers then and even more so now, as it’s my kids turn. Keep up the good work.
@pete0027 Me to exactly the same . Great rides xx
I remember riding the thunder looper back in the day.it just seemed to pop up from nowhere with no fanfare and was a brilliant ride.wonder why it was so short lived..from tim in leeds
Same here, fellow oldie 😄
@@amandavictoriaedelson7595 I think it was too tall for the park, above the treeline, so it had to come down sadly.
@@Proman476 should of planted taller trees😃
Was lucky enough to ride the corkscrew coaster. And even after all these years, i still think Nemesis is a great B&M invert, the way they built that into the natural landscape, makes it a very unique riding experience.
Derek Brown me too! I love the way it goes round by the red river as your queuing, it gets you even more excited for it! 😁 👌
Happy 40th birthday Alton Towers! Good luck with the next 40 years! 🎢🎢🎢
Great video and it's so great to hear yours and read other people's memories of Alton Towers
My family has been going to AT since before John Broom. There is so many memories to mention I grew up going to AT during the 80's/90's and 00s. A visit to AT is so painful for me as so much as changed and most of it is negative. It went from being a great fun day out to a world class theme park to then not even being the UK's number 1.
I went every year for nearly my whole life but stopped in 2009, still keeping positive my Top 5 best in no order moments are
1. The journey to the park along the country roads building up the excitement as you get deeper into the middle of the countryside and for this mecca to be hidden within it.
2. The Henry & Henrietta Hound parades and character meets all around the park
3. The Black Hole its legends, stories and reputations and finally getting to ride it. The 1998 station upgrade was stunning and my final bittasweet memory of the final run and that whole day.
4. Thunder/Forbidden Valley The Thunder Looper, the noise, power and speed at being launched like that was really stunning back then. Nemesis a looping Vampire coaster that blew my mind and the classic Beast all in one area was amazing.
5. 1001 Nights what a ride, so much airtime and speed, but the best part was the stop at the top. The views were amazing and it was so high there would be little to no noise, you loved the view but the impending fall made that moment so tense.
Perhaps one day I shall I return...
Thanks for sharing!
Whoever Rode Corkscrew First Before Everyone Else Is A Legend. R. I. P Corkscrew.
Such a classic
The rides i remember space boat, cine 180, the swans, doom and son, flume, The awsome black hole, corkscrew, ripsaw, thunder looper im sure there a lot more been visiting since late 80s and my very 1st coaster was nemesis to which i still love today
A shame it’s shut at the moment, I have had to cancel my trip to Alton Towers.
Good video though. 😀
Sorry to hear that however hopefully we'll all be back in the park later this year!
Funky Fox me to we were going to Alton
With my freinds
Me to
I have a merlin premium pass but I cant use it😭
:(
They keep building new rides at Alton Towers but none surpass Nemesis . It's like a fine wine it gets better with age.
Hi the first time i visited Alton towers was Easter 1985 my youngest daughter was 2 and my eldest daughter was 7 she rode the corkscrew thought it was fantastic she is now 43 and still loves Alton towers love Carol x
Nemesis is still my favourite ride at the park and I don't see that changing anytime soon!
They set the bar too high with Nemesis, it will be hard to beat.
@@tom-ch5ii it will be topped IF they build an RMC!!!!!!
@@kylebicker8179 likely, not always tho ;)
I have a fond memory of a man and his kid convincing me onto nemesis during summer 2019 one of the nicest people I ever met. I was gonna ride it no matter what but they made that ride much better
Happy times coming to Alton Towers. I first went there back in 2009. Happy 40th birthday to the park.
I have only been to alton towers one and that was September 2019 with school and I have wanted to go back since with my family but we was going to go on my birthday but I don't know if I am going to be able to go:(
Harrison when the virus clears up you will
I wanted to go with my school but my school trips will probably be cancels this year.
I remember the Smiler having 5 minute queues in 2016 and 17, I would just re ride and re ride, one time I got 6 re rides on Smiler in a day, it was great.
Daniel Topping how did it have 5 minute queues because of the accident
@@jamal202z2 Im not sure but it did for most of the 2 years after the crash, then in 2018 and 19 there was a big rise in queue times for it.
Daniel Topping cool I’ve never ridden it before because I’ve never been to Alton Towers but now I’m almost 17 I’ll probably go with my mates after this virus has blown over and we’ll ride the Smiler
Thx for the info
Thanks Shaun and happy birthday to my families happy place 🥳🥳. I was 12 when in 1980 and we went to experience the uks first corkscrew coaster , it was such a big deal . I remember my first ride like it was yesterday, I was petrified too . What a ride though . I remember parking next to spinball wizzer on the original car park . So many vivid special memories like the Taboggan run which went from Oblivion down to the Smiler , the sea lions in their enclosure on the lawns near where the sky ride station is , the parades , black hole , the beast , thunder looper , watching Nemesis being built , right through to joining you following Wicker mans construction. I’m lucky only being 90 odd minutes away so went with my parents a few times then on coach trips then as soon as I could drive probably twice a year . Then with my girlfriend then wife Chris then as soon as our kids were old enough with them . Our oldest Sarah is now 27 and still loves to visit and Alex my son is 20 and we went last year . We decided National Roller Coaster day was more important than work . It was an awsome day . We had a photo with you ( I had the retro orange poncho on) then we met John Wardley, a really special moment for me . We’ve. Stayed at the beautiful hotel dozens of times and don’t think we will ever tire of this magical , special place. I could go on and on , thanks Shaun , thoroughly enjoyed this video from Steve , Chris, Sarah and Alex Kennedy 😍😍💙💙💙💙🏰🎢🎠
Thank you for sharing these!
Theme Park Worldwide 🧱👍🏽
Best memory had to be The Smiler's opening year. I went to the park with my parents and my mom took me on all the big rides that I was finally tall enough for before eventually getting to smiler.
I remember standing outside of it and flat out refusing to go on it (too scared) until my mom convinced me to go on it. A queue of 3 hours so we decided to go single riders. I walked through the entire queue line and straight onto a train in the station.
Without the smiler, I highly doubt I would ever have been an enthusiast. Thank goodness my mom made me go on it :)
Good vlog. I first went in 85 i was 8 and the first coaster my dad made me go on was Black Hole. Omg, it was amazing! The 6 hour coach trip from Exmouth was totally worth it. Every year through his work we went, every year we would hit Black hole, corkscrew, 101 nights, enterprise, pirate ship, gravitron, log flume. Inbetween because the old man couldnt take the non stop excitement, we would see the model railway, the dolls, doom and sons the pipe organ fountain and of course the beautiful gardens. The 80' and early 90' we're special in such a way. I see them as very black and grey times, AT was a huge splash of colour. It made our year and I have fond memories about it till I last went in 94. That year Nemesis opened and I thought It doesnt get better than this. I met my husband and never went again sadly. But through your vlogs I get to do that. Thanks Sean for them. Awsome channel x
Thanks for sharing your memories!
I am mad because I live by cedar point and that won't open so this is why I watch ur videos
Which is more intense, maverick or top thrill dragster?
Hopefully you'll be back in Cedar Point again soon!
@@gamesmaster1060 what 😂
@@danielstanley3313 I think dragster is by a hair because the launch is a little more intense
Another great vid! Really missing going to themeparks so far... 😭😭😭 Was gonna go thorpe park for the first time this year, and the first time buying a merlin pass and OF course something has to ruin it 😭😂
Thanks for watching! Let's hope we're back in the parks soon!
I think I have no theme parkitis
It's my favorite UK park and one of my favorite parks in the world. I had a great time when I went last year. My night ride on nemesis at scarefest was awesome.
Fantastic. Your enthusiasm is, and always has been infectious! Remember the Corkscrew well. My first time was back in 1992. That was when they had the Black Hole too. I'm sure I remember a round the world in 80 days boat ride?? Will never forget my first time on Oblivion, in early 2000s. In my 40s now, and still go to Alton Towers every other year with my besties, for Scarefest, and stay in the hotel for the weekend. We always dress up in costumes. Smiler is currently my favourite. Was very impressed with Wicker Man. I love Mutiny Bay too. We'll be back again this year, and very much looking forward to seeing a brick we had laid.
Thanks for sharing!
My best memory was meeting you in 2017 and then meeting you at 2019 fright nights and being in your vlog then seeing you but not meeting you (sadly) happy 40th Alton towers and thank you Shawn for making me smile when I’m said 🙂
It was great to meet you!
I’ve been going to Alton Towers since 1994. My earliest memory was watching how excited my parents were to ride Nemesis but I was too young so I just stuck with the Mini Apple Coaster. The 2 biggest memories that stand out for me are being terrified of the spider scene (still am!) in The Haunted House and riding Oblivion for the first time. I was 9 years old and just tall enough. Going through that queue line with the video of the man panicking about not coming out from the other side etc petrified me but I ended up loving the ride so much, we went on it 6 times in a row! I now go to Alton Towers pretty much every year and still love it til this day! My thankful that my parents were theme park enthusiasts because it’s certainly rubbed off on me!
Hi theme park worldwide. Thanks for keeping everyone's spirits up. Your doing a great job dont stop what your doing. Me and the family love watching your videos and have started going back to older videos to rewatch. Keep going you will get us all through this. These videos bring people together. Thanks
Thank you for your support!
Yes to a what’s next video for Alton towers
Also best Alton towers memory so far was a ride on the wicker man with Shawn during scarefest last year!
A good memory for me was my first time going on Th13teen. It was only 2018 I think but I was absolutely terrified. I'm autistic so we go in the disabled entrance. I started crying when we got on the ride and I was screaming before it even left the station! I remember when I got off the ride I had lost my voice for a bit due to all the screaming and adrenaline but now Th13teen is one of my favourite rides in the world, all thanks to my mum for being a thrill seeker.
Thanks for sharing!
@@ThemeParkWorldwide :)
The first time that I went to Alton towers when I was about 3 or 4, I loved the runaway mine train as it was one of the only rides that I could go on. I loved it as you would do more than one circuit and it was fast( in my 4 year old opinion). That was in 2008
I was lucky enough to ride Corkscrew the year it opened and also was there on that final day of operation. I’ve always loved towers having loved locally in leek. And still go regularly living even closer now in Rocester. There are many rides I miss but love the way it has evolved and will hopefully keep evolving
A vivid memory for me is going to Towers was walking past oblivion and being scared of it since it looked like a death machine and then exploring old McDonald farm yard. Squirrel nutty the ride was amazing.
Lethal Vlogger same! Lol
The farmyard was brilliant
@@pooey AGREED
@@twitchyllama8094 ive had a similar experience but then I showed my parents that I could handle massive big Adrenalin fuelled rides.
Really good video Shawn as always. The picture of you on the entrance is cool! 👍
this has defo got to be one of my favourite videos- making me miss AT more (my local park) great vid Sean! :)
Really nice video shawn. Seeing your love for the park throughout your life, very heartwarming.
Happy 40th Birthday Alton Towers.
1980 - 2020. 40 Years. X
First ride at AT was the Black Hole in '93 as everyone used to go left first towards Katanga Canyon so we went right to Fantasy World and got straight on with no queue. Awesome ride. Then onto the legendary Corkscrew and got the front row, ended up riding it 13 times at the end of the day with no queue running round with the same riders over and over, we all loved it! Then 1001 nights, awesome views over the countryside from the magic carpet. I was too intimidated by the Thunder Looper but rode it the next year and it became my favourite ride until it left in '96. Gutted it left, Rita replaced the thrill of the launch but nothing compared to the awesome loop and near vertical tower drop backwards. Beautiful park and still love the place.
Shawn my Sister and I went the opening week of Alton Towers back in 1980. Didn’t know anyone else at the time that had been or heard of it. Remember the pirate ship, bob sleigh, corkscrew, cine 2000, log flume and others well. Very happy memories, been may times since but can’t ever remember going on thunderlooper bizarrely enough.
I have only been to Alton towers once, even though it’s my home park (ironically I’ve been to WDW twice), but my I did enjoy my first ride on Nemesis even though I had a grey-out
What a great video - you have really captured and celebrated the last 40 years of such a magical place. Thank you Shawn!!
Thank you!
My favorite time I went to Alton towers was my 1st ever scarfest which was in 2015
1st comment
Same but in 2017!
Great video, as always, Shawn!
Usually go once or twice a year because its 3 and half hours away from me but it's something I look forward to every year love alton towers
I've only been to the park once with my high school but now that I'm studying travel and tourism at college, I hope that I can visit Alton Towers again
I only went to Alton Towers for the first time last year. I’d been watching your channel for a while by then so it was amazing to get on all the rides I’d heard you enthuse about! In particular, me and my friends chanting ‘hashtag feed the flames’ on Wickerman is a fond memory ❤️ thanks for amazing videos!
Very interesting, thank you Shawn.
I only really go to Towers once a year since I live closer to Thorpe Park and due to money issues. But even though I only go once a year it's one of the best times ever.
I was meant to go this week, but my favourite memory was when they reopened the smiler and I literally rode it 7 times in a row😅
Us too my friend was worried but I told her after the accident this was prob the safest ride in the park now as it will be tested tested and tested again and watched like a hawk for problems. We walked straight on several times. Such a good ride.
Amazing video shaun really enjoyed it and Yes I would love to see a video of alton towers future!
Let's pray this virus is over and done with soon..so the fun at the parks can all start again with a Big Bang
Fantastic tribute to amazing park!
I will never forget my first trip to Alton towers, I remember like it was yesterday, a beautiful sunny day, arriving at the park exited for my first ever coaster the corkscrew and it was amazing 😊
Only ever been to alton Towers once and it was when ugland was there my favourite ride was probably dynamo and nemesis
I remember seeing the Thunder Looper for the first time when I was about 10 years old and to this day it is the only ride that made me feel intimidated. Luckily I braved it & loved it
Hello Shawn, It's good to hear that you have got a lot good memories from the park, thank you for sharing them with us, keep up the good work! Cheers Peter :)
Love these videos Shawn! Makes me feel very nostalgic hearing you talk about your memories! Great behind the scene photos of when you worked there too! Apologies for the massive comment coming your way haha...
We used to visit the park yearly as children as a family trip/holiday as we live down south.
I remember my first time on Corkscrew too and Nemesis - I also remember my parents riding it and my brother and I waiting with them in the queue line - felt like such an intimidating ride with the roar and the theming (RIP the ribena blood waterfall haha!), as well as other coasters back in the 90s/early 2000s when I wasn't old enough/tall enough/brave enough back then. I have fond memories of the rapids, mine train and haunted house - I'm also a 92 baby like them! I like Duel for the memory factor and I always have a good laugh on it. I remember the Peter Rabbit on Ice show - there are photos of that somewhere as well as the other lovely rides in Storybook Land. I also stayed at the Hotel back when it opened and Splash Landings more recently where I visited the water park too. Can't forget the newer coasters, The Smiler is a firm favourite and I have a soft spot for Thirteen, Rita & Air - I haven't been to the park since 2017 sadly and so have yet to go on Wickerman but I saw it being built at Scarefest!
Been looking forward to the history video for a while now, can’t wait to see it!
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO MY HAPPY PLACE *ALTON TOWERS* I first went down in 1995 with my school and it was all new to me, I had never been on a rollercoaster.. and still to this day i look back on that experience as being the best day of my childhood! My parents didn't have the money to take us to places like this as we live up in Scotland but as i got older and had my son in 2002 I made my own way down to Alton towers twice a year.. once in the summertime for the beautiful sunshine as this park is definitely a summer park with the river Rapids and my old fave the log flume which are missed.. and second time is for SCAREFEST and seen as my son was born on Halloween it has become a tradition for us and we love what you do for us at Halloween time.. I really loved the black hole back in 95 which was my first coaster. Nemesis was always my fave coaster until the smiler came along and now wicker man has my adrenaline going :) my son is now 17 and I've sickened him off Alton towers lol but he says it's not the park.. it's the travelling down at 1am to get there for the oppening. Hex is by far my fave dark ride but like you Sean I would love to see them bring back toyland tours as this was the most amazing family ride.. I remember being soo excited on this and when I think back to my first time at the park this one stands out by far for me. I can't wait to visit Alton towers again as like I say.. it's my happy place.. when my mum sadly passed away in 2017 I brought my kids down and for us walking through them gates is like saying bye to all your worries and sadness and you just become a kid again :) so I want to thank you ALTON TOWERS for entertaining us over the years and helping us get through tough times.. keep up the good work! Hope everyone stays in and stays safe.. and my condolences to anyone who has lost someone dear to them at this tough time. Please stay in and stay safe uk.. together we will beat this :) p.s I bumped into lee the last time I was down and he said he would get you to do a shoutout to my little girl emillyrose as she is a huge fan of your channel and when this lockdown started she said " mum, we'll just watch Sean every day and that will make us happy and we can pretend were at alton towers" bless her :) lol so sending love from Scotland to you and Charlotte and the gang.. we love your videos. 💜👍
Thanks for sharing!
Loving all the Alton Towers chat - revisiting the memories helps me to really appreciate the park, because as travel both virtual and real, means more people can see theme parks across the world, with increasingly diverse tech, Alton Towers and many uk parks look inferior in their content and presentation. So, particular memories for me:
1. There were a series of UK guidebooks by ‘Sunflower’ that included an Alton Towers one, and it described the big rides, with cool articles - the Black Hole pages had a ride elevation and the Corkscrew pages a ride layout, and after my first visit I got this book and combined a love of books with a love of rollercoasters. 2. The Corkscrew catchphrase, made even better by the wonderful local accent - ‘Right hand side out please’. 3. My first ride on the Weber 1001 Nacht magic carpet style ride. Having been obsessed with the Huss Rainbow ride as a kid that I was scared to go on at Woburn Safari Park, an 85ft high ride was a big deal and the tallest thing at the park apart from ... 4. Thunder Looper! Always a lottery as to whether it was running or not, but when it did, it was the most euphoric ride there. We used to watch the fly wheel weight mechanics with utter bewilderment. Think how tech has moved on since! 5. The year Alton Beast and Alton Mouse opened. Even though Black Hope was similar, seeing the Alton Beast in the the flesh, with all that winding bending track, was amazing. We didn’t know rollercoasters could be so curvy! 6. Riding Nemesis in opening year 1994 ... I drove there the day after passing my driving test (!) with my mate Stacey were blown away by the insanity of ride that blew all other uk coasters, Big One and Shockwave (both 1994 rides too) out of the water. Riding Nemesis in rain is not a fun experience though. 7. The walkthrough Doom and Sons ... bring this back along with Toyland Tours, I say. And the Mississippi Steamboat funhouse, if you don’t mind! Always loved the corridor with the squishy floor! 8. The original Haunted House with the wonderful graveyard queue. Duel ruined the ride completely. And I always remember thinking they needed to theme the warehouse housing the ride, as you could peek through the giant gates to the left of the house frontage and see the ride building looking like an industrial estate. 9. Leapfrog Fountains on Towers St ... still there in some form I think, but not the interactive feature they once were. They were the first and last bit of fun on a long fun day at the park. And finally, 10. The gardens. If you go to the park for a couple of days, especially in summer, take a walk around the gardens. They are awesome and an oasis of calm when you’re needing a breather from the masses. And the gardens kind of started it all ...
Thank you for sharing!
22:58 i felt that when watching your videos of Alton during that time period, i used to compare your enthusiasm to your 2013 and 2014 videos of Alton, it's good to see you appreciate it a lot more again now!
Definitely! I've enjoyed visiting very much these past couple of years!
Thirteen’s opening day in 2010 was my favourite Alton towers memory. My parents booked the trip and didn’t even realise that a new coaster was supposed to open that day. They took me down to dark forest (“UG Land, as they were still calling it) to check out the construction and go on Rita, I’ll never forget their faces when they saw the queue for thirteen 😂😂
I also went on submission for the first time that day, I remember crying a lot, and my dad taking me on Enterprise (my favourite ride at the time - I was 10) to calm down
Great video! Really enjoyed hearing you talk about your time working there
Thank you!
Takes me back this! i still remember the beast and also the opening of oblivion. Those television sets playing all the effects and warnings scared the hell out of me
40 years of magic. I’ve only been able to go 3 times but they were all very memorable and this park is my favourite *by far*
Another great video Shawn 👍🏻
I remember watching the smiler construction and watching scarefest with the sanctuary. Keep up what your doing
Great video! It was nice to get more intel about the you and the park! super interesting!!
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Happy 40th birthday Alton towers I remember going to Alton towers
Miss alton so much and remember my first time not knowing all of the rides and reading how intense they were.
Crazy to think I visited Alton towers with my mum dad and sister back in 1988 and I didn't return until the opening of nemesis in 1994.....after a two hour wait to get onto the ride our minds were completely blown away by the engineering that went into the whole ride and theme around the ride it self.....we've lost some fantastic rides there over the years but only to make way for the future that makes alton towers what it is today....my son turned 10 in November and he has been every year since he was born.....once he got to 1.2m he has just got more and more enthusiastic about rides themselves.....this year he hit 1.4m in height and the closure of the park has devastated him but he totally understands why....we got to meet Shaun Charlotte and Alex last year and we continue to be massive fans of your CZcams channel and this video has just made us both really excited for the Alton Towers re-opening at some point later this year.....keep up the good work! Stay safe and thank you
Love these memories!
I have great memories of the park I have only been once on a school trip but it was quiet that day so I got on the 7 big rides and can’t say there wasn’t one I didn’t like it’s a brilliant park.
My first ride on nemesis was the most memorable for me. Before that I've been to alton towers to many times to count but I went on my first ever proper ride there (that being nemesis). To put it simply I was petrified but thanks to that ride I've been able to experience different types of rides both in and out of the country.
Keep up the good work and stay safe.
Alton Towers is such a magical park! Can not wait to get back to the park!
I'll never forget a school trip back in 2013. Went to theme parks prior to this but I never rode anything thrilling or with inversions. And then I heard they recently built this brand new 14 looping coaster a few months prior to my visit what we know as the fantastic "The Smiler". My mates peer pressured me into riding it even though I said "no" about 100 times. Anyway they got me on and I loved every second of it. I went on them all, Oblivion, Nemesis, Air. Since then I have loved theme parks and in 2018 me and my best mate got season passes and have been plenty of times. Another great memory was my first ever scarefest trip in 2017. I'll never forget the spooky atmosphere of the park and the fact we was still there until 9pm in the pitch black was a new thing for me, it felt fantastic. The first time I tried Sub Species and the fact we didn't expect what was to happen was brilliant. I'll never forget me and my mate was talking when we were lined up and before you know it half way through the conversation I was dragged into another room and my mate was perplexed as to where I went. We laughed so hard and then straight away we rode the Smiler front row in the pitch black. Man it made an awesome ride 10x better. Plus the fireworks shows as well. Alton towers has been a god send for me. I never got chance to thank my mates back I'm 2013 because it's their peer pressuring that got me into loving Alton Towers!!!
Another good memory was meeting you at Fireworks last November. Man it was nice to speak to you all and get an insight into your Theme Park lifestyles. Thanks for the photo by the way, it's still my profile picture on Facebook 😂
Happy birthday Alton towers if I remember we lwent early nineties when I first ride the thunder looped which shares me at first but it soon got me hooked
Alton Towers is a great day out, always remember seeing you there, it was a brilliant day
I remember riding the pirate ship 16 times in an hour in the mid 80's. Great video about a very special place
My favourite memories are, the ice skating shows and we used to go to the firework/laser shows every year. Haven't been in a long time but hopefully will make it there some point this year or next.
Great video as always Shawn :D
Cheers James
Alton Towers has definitely had an interesting history and great to hear your perspectives on this.
I have had so many special memories at Alton towers. I’d have to say my favourite memory is when I did my first few big coasters with my dad after being TERRIFIED to go on them. But every day I’m there is an amazing memory.
Quality video Shawn great memories!
Cheers Phil!
My first visit to alton was in 2018 and my first major ride was wicker man, it was so cool. I'm hopefully gonna go back later in 2021.
My first trip to Alton Towers was a bit strange. My mum had entered a competition in a magazine and won 2 free tickets. She then bought another 2 tickets on eBay for £20 for my dad and sister. After we had got the tickets, the smiler had its worst accident in history. We didn’t know whether we would get to go on the original date we were supposed to. We were reading the news all week to see if it would be open or not. Then we got the news that it was opening the day our tickets were for. I was so excited and couldn’t believe that I was getting to go to Alton Towers for the first time (especially after the awful accident). X-sector was closed on the day but I still managed quite a few rides. It was so so so quiet and I regret not going on the more intense rides even though I was only 11. I remember going on 13 three times, the flume twice, Congo river rapids and other rides. It was incredible experiencing 13 for the first time after walking straight into the station with no queue at all. I will never forget that day.
Thanks for sharing your memories!
Wow I was 10 when it opened. 1st time I went i was 13 went with the school. Loved it from then . Only had about 4 rides log flume, viking ship and 3D cinema and of course the Corkscrew. I've visited a few times over the years I loved it . Great memories with my friends. Thanks for sharing this shawn . Happy birthday Alton towers 🎢🎉🎡x
The first time I went to Alton Towers was back in 1991 I was about 6 years old on a school trip even though it's my local park. I remember walking under corkscrew thinking what the hell is this in amazement also the black hole where the smiler is now was always breaking down lol thank you Shaun for the trip down memory lane 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing!
My first time of going to Alton towers was for seeing the 2017 fireworks.... amazing times
I can't believe they were open long enough for me to go there for my birthday
Another fab video on a place that even today lifts my heart and puts a smile on my face as I enter the park, what a fantastic place. I was lucky enough to be there when it really took off with the new Corkscrew Coaster, so with my school mates we were there when it opened. Incredible. I expect I'll be like that 70 year old man on Rita you spoke to, still riding Roller Coasters lol. But it must have been fantastic actually working at a Theme Park. Long live Alton Towers!
Thanks for sharing!
My memory was going on Air in 2012 at the age of 9, it was my first thrill ride and definitely wasn't my last! And although Air/Galactica has received criticism, it'll always be one of my favourite rides ever!
I remember having to visit 3 times before being able to ride a working black hole.
My first memory of Alton towers was amazing I think I must of only been about 8/9 years old. But it my first time going on a big rollercoaster and my first coaster was oblivion !!! It’s still one of my favourite rides of all time. Corkscrew was definitely very ruff but fun ! Glad I got to ride it before it went. My fave ride ever to date though is ( controversially) smiler !! Love all types of rides though !!!!
My best memory is riding the smiler for the first time and being so scared in the queue watching it roar over my head, but as soon as I got on it I loved it and went on another 3 times :)
We'd love to see you do a 5 (or 10) year plan for each park in the UK (or popular non UK parks). Talk about what investments are needed at each park and how smaller parks could potentially bring more success to their parks or talk about what things you things certain parks need to get better at doing. Be interesting to hear your take 👍
I'm so happy! I knew you would do this shawn! 😁
Of course!
Great video. Happy 40th Alton Towers! I am old enough to have been there before all those rides, and have some memories of a seal or sealion or two in a pool opposite the Towers , the side where its just lawn now below the entrance. I used to go with my parents, then later I took my children. We used to love the Toyland ride and I have a few photos on it. I agree that the Willy Wonka ride wasnt as good though I did love the lift scene part at the end. I used to love the corkscrew and the log flume. When my kids were pre teens and teens we sent to the Scarfests have loved riding rides in the dark. Oh one old memory, they used to have the Thunderbirds puppets on display in the Towers, I used to love that too. I love it all, last time I went we went on Smiler. I havent been on 13 yet, or Wicker Man but when it opens again I must go! I am going off to search for any old photos online now of a seal or sealion pool! Great place! I also love Disney but only been to Disneyworld Orlando once. Stay safe and be well everyone. x x
OMG they were there until 1990?! Thats terrible! I went in the 60's maybe 70's? A disgrace really, that they were kept in such a small pool.
Thanks for sharing!
Was great to hear your memories Shawn. Such a shame you couldn’t film a vlog for this occasion, but we know you’ll do something as soon as you can.
I miss the flume - but I love Wicker Man- and I’ll never forget riding The Black Hole.
Please do make a park projections vlog; I’d love to know what direction you think AT should or might take.
I will indeed! Thanks for your suggestions!
Great video Shawn. I couldn’t agree with you more about Toyland Tours and the ice shows - they are the two things that I miss so so much about the park. I wish my children could experience them like I did. I have been visiting the park since 1994 when I was a toddler and it has changed so much, but it has always been my favourite UK park as it is so big with such a a variety of things to do for all ages. Sad to not be there to celebrate but hopefully later in the year. And yes to a video on your predictions for the future of Alton Towers - let’s hope them bringing back Toyland Tours is part of their future plans! Hehe 😄
Thank you for sharing your memories!
Happy Birthday Alton Towers! I can't wait to visit the park as soon as they reopen. It truly is an amazing and magical place.
It sure is!
I remember going to Alton towers with my boyfriend and family I enjoyed the rides and rollercoaster like wickerman run away minning train the hunted house heve ho and other rides it was awesome for days experience I would love to go again
I was supposed to be there this weekend for 3 days. Can't wait until it opens again
I miss it so much.
Great video Shawn
Neither can we, thanks for watching!
I completely agree with you about duel. I loved the original haunted house
Always been my dream to go to Alton Towers but never got round to it, gonna have to go later this year, thanks for the great vlogs.. Subbed 🙂👍🏻