On a cloudy Saturday morning, we ventured back to Alton Towers Theme Park and Resort after being cordially invited to the official launch of new family-friendly attraction, Gangsta Granny: The Ride.
New for 2021, guests can step into The World of David Walliams and enjoy not just the main Gangsta Granny attraction, but a ride on the Royal Carousel, as well as a trip on Flavio's Fabulous Fandango and even the experience of Raj’s Bouncy Bottom Burp. All of these rides are suitable for little ones over 0.9m in height, making it a must-visit area of the park for families.
So, what did we think of Ben and Granny’s adventure and attempted capture of the Crown Jewels?
You kick things off in a stunningly-decorated hallway, with portraits of characters from The World of David Walliams adorning the walls in golden frames, including one of Dame Davina Wallibums inspired by none other than the comedian and children’s author himself.
It’s a great waiting area that will keep the kids entertained and looking for more references to their favourite books and characters; a good chunk of the queue is also inside, so if the weather’s not great, you can count on being kept warm and dry!
When you reach the front of the queue, your family jump into the Royal Carousel before taking a five-minute immersive adventure with Ben and Granny, complete with 360-degrees movement, special effects and magical moments that will capture the imagination of everybody on board.
There’s even a face-to-face meeting with the Queen herself!
With smoke machines, bubbles, explosions and more, the senses are heightened throughout the journey as you're drawn right into the heist alongside Ben and Granny themselves. Expect thrills with every moment.
Coming out of the ride, you’ll arrive in Raj’s shop, where you can pick up some stellar bargains such as ‘buy one get none free’ on all practical joke packs and even ‘buy one half of a chocolate bar, get the other half for free’!
It’s designed as a newsagents and looks absolutely brilliant. You’ll feel fully-enveloped within Walliams’ weird and wonderful world, adding yet another enchanting layer to the whole event.
Plus, if you're a fan of Walliams' books, they're all available for purchase so you can continue adding to your collection.
Those who want to stay overnight at the Alton Towers Resort can now do so in Gangsta Granny-themeed rooms, which feature characters from the book as well as hidden clues that, once found, allow you to crack the code to the vault which has a special surprise inside. Each room also includes one copy of Gangsta Granny for each attending child.
This past weekend also marked the launch of Alton Towers' first month-long Mardi Gras takeover, which includes live entertainment and colourful carnival chaos.
The event takes place every day until June 20th, 2021, where the flamboyant 'Krewe' take to the streets with their own static parade float, searching for a carnival King and Queen amongst the guests. Those selected will be at the centre of a lavish masquerade ceremony on Towers Street, before being treated like VIPs for the entire day.
A trio of retro rides have also been unveiled, making up The Retro Squad and taking visitors back to the glorious 1980s. Mixtape, Roller Disco and Funk'n'Fly give guests some memorable experiences, bouncing, blasting and flying them through the air with one thrill after the next.
Gangsta Granny: The Ride and the entire World of David Walliams is now open to the public at Alton Towers Theme Park, which is operating at a reduced capacity on pre-booked tickets only, so that social distancing across the Resort can remain in place.
For more information on restrictions and guidelines, as well as booking, you can head to www.altontowers.com.
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