Review: A Visit to Thorpe Park

I have a small secret to disclose. In my younger years, I was a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Ok... I was a big adrenaline junkie. I used to love going to Theme Parks and riding on the biggest roller coasters I could find. However, I always felt that UK Theme Parks didn't hold a candle to American Theme Parks, as their rollercoasters always paled in comparison. Having a father who lives in California helped, as I was able to visit theme parks like Knottsberry Farm and Magic Mountain, and experience serious thrills I had not found on rides in the UK.

Fast forward a few years, and seven years of being pregnant and having small children have meant that I have not really visited a Theme Park in a while (apart from a jaunt to Magic Mountain in 2007). Yes, since having kids, we have resigned ourselves to getting our thrills on the merry-go-round at the local farm as we didn't really think our kids were old enough yet at six and three to visit a theme park and get anything out of it. Well. I have to say, we were wrong!

Recently, we were invited to review Thorpe Park. As eldest is now aged six, we decided to go along and see what it was like. Armed with sunscreen and rain macs (ah, the good old British weather), we were eager to experience all of what Thorpe park has to offer. Now acknowledged as the nation's "Thrill Capital", there are plenty of rides which are suitable for the whole family including Quantum and the newly refurbished "X" - an illuminated ride through dynamic coloured lighting

Although most popular in the summer, I think Spring is a really good time to visit Thorpe Park as it is not as crowded as visiting in the summer weekends and school holidays. We were able to park really easily, and we were soon into the park as none of the lines to pay or collect tickets were very long.

Once in the park, we headed for the Guest Services located under the dome as you enter. Here, we were able to collect a parent swap pass and get the kids measured and given wristbands to confirm their height.

Then it was off to brave the rides. The rides are divided into two different categories - "Extreme Thrills" and "Thrilling and Fun". The Extreme Thrills are aimed at riders over 1.2 - 1.4 metres. Thrilling and Fun rides are the less extreme rides, suitable for kids over 0.9m. We were happy at the low restriction as it meant that youngest, at one metre tall could also join in the fun.

First we braved "Depth Charge", a super slide which takes you down a forty foot drop in a small inflatable. Armed with a child each, we whizzed down the depth charge at an actually terrifying rate, so much so that I swear at one point we were flying. When we reached the bottom I think hubby and I had our hearts in our mouth, although the kids loved it. 

Next we headed for the "Flying Fish" - a kid-sized adrenaline filled rollercoaster suitable for the little ones. Again I was hesitant with the three year old, but this ride turned out to be a huge winner. It was without a doubt one of the favourite rides of the day. I think we rode it six times in total and the girls screamed with laughter the whole way through - a great family fun filled ride. A little giddy, we left the flying fish and headed over to look at the Tidal Wave - a rather impressive looking tall log flume. We decided to leave that for later in the day as you do get rather wet.

At this point, hubby and I decided that we would go for the Nemesis Inferno. Before we left, hubby and I had decided that we would use a parent swap to go on the rides which were not suitable for the girls, so that one of us could be with them, but we could still enjoy the rides at the same time. I queued up, and hubby stayed with the girls whilst I did. Meanwhile, they were able to go on the giant Carousel which is located close to the exit of the Nemesis Inferno. 

We were impressed that the larger and smaller rides were interspersed, meaning that adults and older kids could go on the bigger rides, whilst the smaller ones went on another ride close by at the same time. Having ridden the Nemesis Inferno a number of years ago, this ride was as good as I had remembered it - it's probably my favourite coaster at the park as it just has such a classic feel with the 360 degree turn and corkscrew turns too. When I exited the ride, I switched with hubby and he went up the exit and rode Nemesis, whilst I took another turn on the Carousel with the kids. 

After a quick lunch, we went on to the Rocky Express - a very fast train ride for the younger ones, whilst hubby attempted to ride Colossus. The girls loved the Rocky Express and it was another favourite as it went so fast and they felt as if they were riding a real 'grown-up' ride. Unfortunately, hubby was not doing so well. As he has a very broad chest, after queueing, he found he was unable to fit into the seat for Colossus, and he was treated rather rudely by the staff member there - a bit of a low to the day. Meanwhile, we were whizzing round and round on the Rocky Express, and having lots of fun. After the Rocky Express, we decided to brave the Loggers Leap. A modified boat for smaller kids meant that we were all able to ride. The girls enjoyed this ride so much that we went on twice - although we were very wet after two turns!

From here, we moved over to one of the newer rides "Saw". I decided to go on this ride. This ride probably had the longest waiting time on the day of about fifteen minutes. I wasn't crazy about the set up as I walked through the queue, but I loved the ride. An extreme thrill, you go through a one hundred foot drop, and then go through sharp rotating blades. After Colossus, Hubby decided not to go on this ride as it also has a chest restriction. 

From here, we also visited Mr Monkeys Banana Ride, Storm in a Teacup and Rumba Rapids, as well as another visit to Nemesis Inferno for Hubby and I, and the Flying Fish for the kids. By this time, it was starting to rain and the girls were starting to get tired, and so to end the day, we visited Swarm - the UK's first winged rollercoaster.

As you approach, it feels a bit like you are walking through a very impressive movie set as you find lots of abandoned vehicles including a full sized jet plane. Since having kids, my bravery seems to have reduced as I wasn't brave enough to "brave it backwards" on Swarm, although I did brave it forwards, and I have to say, I was very impressed with the five inversions and high speeds with up to 4.5GS. This is a great ride, and a great addition to Thorpe Park.

We decided to parent swap on Swarm and so hubby went through the exit to go on the ride. Unfortunately, despite having the parent swap pass all signed, he was told he was unable to ride as the pass had already been used (which it hadn't), and was again treated rudely by a member of staff. This was a disappointing end to the day and so to drown his sorrows, we took one more ride on the Flying Fish to cheer him up., It worked, and the kids weren't complaining!.

We had a fantastic day at Thorpe Park. Here is a summary of what we liked, and what needs work:

Things We Liked

• We loved that there were rides which were suitable for the whole family - from little ones right through to the grownups.

• We loved how the small rides were interspersed between the big ones, so that one of us could go off to a big ride, and the other could take the kids on a small ride whilst we waited.

• Waiting time for the rides was really reasonable. The wait ranged from no wait at all, up to about just fifteen minutes. That's why Spring is a great time to visit as the park is not so busy. We also liked how there was a digitalised board with the waiting times written on, so you knew which rides were busy and which were quiet.

• The staff on the kids rides. It seemed that the staff on the smaller rides were all extremely friendly and helpful. 

Things which need work.

• I have to say it - the Vegetarian food. Apart from the usual veggie burger found in Burger King,  we didn't find anywhere else to get a vegetarian meal. The BBQ shack and the noodle bar didn't have any vegetarian options. I would have liked some choice for a Vegetarian meal.

• Some of the staff. Unfortunately, some of the staff on the busier rides were a little rude and could have benefited from customer service training.

• Parent Swap. For whatever reason, we found that the parent swap didn't work for us. It only worked on Nemesis, but on all of the other rides we both tried to ride, we had problems using it as the staff did not really understand how it worked. 

• Lack of Single Rider Queues. Related to the parent swap: All of the theme parks we have visited in the States operate a single rider queue where if you are on our own, you can go up the exit, or into separate queue and get on the rides when there is space for a single rider. I think that this would work much better than a parent swap, as then it would avoid having to get the pass signed and staff doubting whether you were genuine or not. It would also prevent rides going away half empty. I saw many rides going away half empty, as people wanted to be in groups with their friends. This isn't such an issue when the waiting time is small, but it could be an issue when the waiting time is long, and so a single rider queue reduces the wait for everyone. It also makes it easier for those riding alone to get on  rides as most of the time, single riders are either parents, or those travelling with younger kids who can't go on the ride, or friends who don't go on the ride. I think that introducing a single rider queue would be a big benefit for guests at Thorpe Park as although open to abuse, at Magic Mountain, we didn't find that it was over used. 

Our Conclusions: 

Although once predominantly aimed at older teens and adults, Thorpe Park is now definitely a great day out for the whole family. They cater fabulously for those seeking fantastic, thrill-seeking rides, and fantastically for younger children with equally exciting rides. 

Here's what the kids had to say: 

Eldest (aged 6)

"I loved Thorpe Park. It was fab-u-lous. My favourite rides were the rocky express and the flying fish roller coaster.  I can't wait until I am old enough to go on the bigger rides too. I can't wait to come back again another day "

Youngest (aged 3)
"My favourite ride was the Loggers Leap. It was really fun. Daddy and my sister got really wet but I didn't and neither did mummy. I also loved the Flying Fish - it went really fast and I caught the rain with my tongue! I love Thorpe Park.

I would really recommend a visit to Thorpe Park. I think it would be a great place to take the kids over half term. You can even stay over in their new accommodation. My view of Thorpe Park has definitely changed as I thought it held up to it's American counterparts really well and could impress the biggest thrill seekers in the family, whilst also winning over the small adrenaline seekers too.

Even better, Thorpe Park also have some fantastic deals running at the moment to bring the cost of the visit down.

Thorpe Park Deals!!

• If you buy a bottle of Frijj, you can benefit from 2-for-1 entry at the park! Head over to Frijj on Facebook to find out more.

• Book tickets 7 days or more in advance to save 30% - adults from £30.24, children from £23.52 (under 12)
• If travelling by train, head to South West Trains to get online discounts on entry: 

Other tips would be:

• Sun Screen and Rain Macs.
• A change of clothes for the water rides.
• The smallest wait times were soon after opening and close to closing time.
• A fold-up buggy might be useful for smaller ones as both girls were tired after a while.
• If there is no wait, try and stay on a ride more than once if you can to get the most out of it.
• Look up restrictions on the website before you go.

Disclosure: we were offered tickets in consideration for review. 

Featured Post: Walkers Hoops and Crosses

Recently we were sent some Walkers Hoops and Crosses to review. Our crisps arrived with a cute monkey, which the girls loved.

Hoops and Crosses are made from 56% wholegrains per packet, which can help contribute to a healthy, balanced diet. They contain no artificial colours or preservatives, and each pack is only 85 calories.

The crisps are available in three flavours: Beef, Salt and Vinegar, and Prawn Cocktail.

Although suitable for Vegetarians, personally, most vegetarians I know don't eat meat or fish because they don't like the taste and so making meat and fish flavoured crisps, which are suitable for vegetarians, is a little confusing in my book, as most Vegetarians I know wouldn't buy them.

Ironically, we were sent the beef flavour (I'm vegetarian in case you haven't read my other blog) and so as I didn't feel that I could promote meat and fish flavoured crisps on a vegetarian website, I decided to let the non-veggie kids loose on them and write about them here.

Available in multi-packs from most major supermarkets, these crisps are predominantly targeted at kids -although the crisps contain 30% less fat, so they are also ideal for those looking for a less calorie-filled savoury snack, or perhaps watching their weight. These snacks are marketed on the Walkers Hoops and Crosses website as a "lunchbox winner" and I think that they are to a certain extent, and they compare well with other crisps targeted at kids, with the added bonus of being made from wholegrains. The kids really liked the shapes of the crisps and they are fun in that they could theoretically play hoops and crosses with them (although should we be teaching kids it's ok to play with your food?). They also loved the design of the packaging.

In all honesty, I would probably not buy these for my kids, purely only because of the flavours of the crisps which are currently available. I really like the concept of wholegrain crisps, and healthier crisps marketed at kids are a great idea. However, I felt that salt and vinegar, beef and prawn cocktail were odd flavours to market for kids. Perhaps it's because I have girls rather than boys that the flavours didn't suit them. Youngest was happy to eat a couple of the beef ones, before handing the bowl back to me, but eldest didn't like them. She said that she felt that the beef flavour was too strong and would have preferred something cheese and onion, or plain related. I tasted one and my hunch was confirmed - beef flavoured crisps are not vegetarian friendly!

We hope that Walkers Hoops and Crosses will become available in different flavours, in which case we would be happy to purchase them.

Disclosure: We received payment for this post and a sample to review.

Featured Post: Top Five Bedroom Accessories for Busy Families

Image Credit: Bettaliving

Does it feel like you are on your feet from the moment you wake until the minute your head hits the pillow? I know I certainly feel like this sometimes. It can be tough, being part of a busy household, but it can be even harder if your home isn’t adequately set up to support so much activity. 

Busy Mums and Dads who are juggling work, the kids and everything else, should have a home that’s designed around their busy lifestyles. Unfortunately however, some areas get overlooked. The bedroom is the perfect example. As somewhere that should provide a safe haven away from the hustle and bustle, getting this design right is more important than you might realise.

If your bedroom isn’t working for you at the moment but you don’t have the time to completely redecorate, then perhaps some of these top five accessories will be the perfect addition to help your busy family home.

1. Alarm clock
A good alarm clock could change the way you start the day. Technology has advanced now and alarm clocks have ‘smart’ settings that wake you at the most appropriate time which means you wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to start the day.

If you find the traditional bell sounds a little too disruptive then opt for something gentler. There are even some units which use soft artificial light to wake you up gradually for the best start to the day possible.

2. Trouser press
For busy families, it’s likely to still be dark outside when they wake, especially in the winter. The first thing to do is probably get the kids up, cleaned and dressed, but how can you make sure everyone’s clothes are neatly pressed or ironed? Well, now you can sidestep the need to iron work suits by having a trouser press to keep those creases at bay. Quick and easy to use, it’s a convenient solution for those without the time to iron in the morning.

3. Seating
We have changed the way we use our bedrooms in recent years. No longer simply a place to sleep, bedrooms are becoming our sanctuary. Allow yourself ten minutes out of the busy day to just relax. Whether it’s a chaise lounge, beanbag or chair, bedroom seating will provide all the comfort and serenity you need.

4. Room fragrance
As a busy parent, there’s no doubt that cleaning and tidying is always near the top of your agenda, but kitchens, bathrooms and communal areas are probably your main focus, which often leaves bedrooms neglected. Keep your bedroom smelling fresh with some beautiful room fragrance. You can get ones which release a burst of fragrance whenever motion is detected and even have some which operate on a timer. Whatever you decide, this will keep your bedroom sweet-smelling so that you can relax as soon as you step through the door.

5. Storage
Last, but certainly not least, is storage. Everyone needs suitable bedroom storage – otherwise your bedroom will become something of a dumping ground. If you’re struggling for places to store your belongings, try utilising the room more effectively. By having your bedroom storage designed around your life and your home you will always have a place for everything; allowing you to keep everything in its place!

The Year One Phonics Screening Check

This week we received a letter home about the Year One Phonic Screening Check, which eldest will be undertaking the week commencing 17th June 2013. 

The Year One Phonics Screening Check, a statutory test which was adopted into the national curriculum last year, checks whether children can decode words to an expected standard, and aims to identify children who need support from school to improve their reading standard. The phonics check features forty test words, which are a mix of real and alien (nonsense) words between one and two syllables. Children have to read them and sound them out, and blend the unknown words. They are marked on whether they can sound out the word using the correct phonemes and graphemes.

The test, which lasts between five and ten minutes, takes place with a known teacher (typically their class teacher) and asks children to sound or blend the word, or say the word using the correct phonetical sound. The success threshold is thirty two words correctly sounded or blended out of forty.

There has been a bit of a buzz in the playground this week as the kids prepare to be tested for the phonics screening and also for the year two SATs. Opinions amongst parents seem to be quite divided. Some parents believe that kids should not be tested so young, and others suggest that testing on one day does not give an accurate indication of a child's progress in literacy. Some parents worry that a more able child may try to make sense of the nonsense words included in the phonics screening and end up failing the test, and others believe that the screening check will give an accurate indication of their child's progress as the child should be able to take the word at face value and differentiate between a real and alien word if they have been taught effectively.

Last year, official figures report that 58% of children reached the expected standard through testing. The year before when a pilot was held, only 32% of children reached the expected standard, which caused some concern amongst critics of the test.

Whatever the opinions, the phonics screening check is quite a new introduction into the curriculum, and so with only one years worth of published results to go on, it is perhaps not yet an accepted tried and tested method of defining a child's progress or ability. Additionally, as it is so new, it is only natural for some parents to be dubious or confused about the testing, or indeed, wonder why they had no prior knowledge of the test at all.

Most, if not all parents want their kids to do well at school and want to help them in any way they can. To this end, I have been reading on some parenting forums about parents who are hoping to "coach" their child for the test to ensure that they pass. Hopefully, if your child's school are worth their salt, they will have been preparing the children for the test all year, and so your child should have a good grasp of phonemes and graphemes (although they may not call them these) and the real and alien words, and so they don't need to be enrolled in a crash course in phonics with an outside tutor.

Hopefully, if your child's school is also worth their salt, through ongoing assessments of your child reading individually to a teacher, TA, or parent helper and regularly in a guided reading group, they will already have a pretty good understanding of your child's needs and reading ability, and won't need to rely on a forty word test as stipulated by the Department for Education, to tell them what they already know. I am a parent helper in my daughter's class and I listen to children read most weeks. I can see, without kids even having taken the test yet, that reading levels have improved week-on-week amongst those who may be identified as "needing extra help" when the test results are published - and that's just from a parents point of view, so I'm sure the teachers have an even better grasp of a child's ability in reading without kids necessarily needing to take a test to identify "nonsense words"  such as "splok", when in fact, in my daughter's case, she would rather be off reading the kids version of Romeo and Juliet and fostering a love of literature.

However, having said all of this (and I guess, also completely back tracking in the interests of balance) parents taking an extra interest in phonics over the next couple of weeks, or offering a little extra help in the lead up to phonics screening week may not necessarily be a bad thing, and so there are some great resources online which can help parents to understand how the testing works, and help to prepare their child for the test.

This very comprehensive teacher's presentation on the phonics screening check explains how the test works in a simple, easy to understand way, and answers some frequently asked questions for parents.

There is a downloadable PDF of practice words for the phonics check on the "teach, educate share" website (requires free registration).

I also came across an interesting article on nonsense words - some of their pronunciations certainly challenged me and made me wonder whether us adults would pass the phonics test!

Websites such as the phonics play website and Family Learning can help kids to practice their phonics, as can testing them on the practice words.

For a visual view of the test, here is a training video produced by the Department of Education for teachers, which gives some indication of testing, and helps parents to understand how the testing works.




For those interested in the validity of the year one phonics screening check, author and childrens laureate Michael Rosen has some intriguing insights into children being screened on their knowledge of phonics on his personal blog:

Phonics Screening Check - what we learned
Phonics crap hits fan
Gibbs vs Rosen on Phonics
Rose vs Rosen on Phonics

What do you think of the year one phonics screening check? Are you worried about it? Did your child take the test last year?

I would love to hear from you on your thoughts about the test, and if your child is taking the test, try not to let them get too worried about it.