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What do we know about THORPE PARK’s THE SWARM?

October 25th, 2011

THORPE PARK are debuting a brand-new rollercoaster in spring 2012, the exact details of the ride are yet-to-be-revealed, but we do know a little bit about what to expect from the new attraction.

The facts:

  • The new ride is codenamed LC12, but we all know it as THE SWARM.
  • THE SWARM will be the UK’s first winged rollercoaster.
  • It will feature a “head first, inverted drop from 127ft”.
  • The theme will be post-apocalyptic. Considering that there’s been an army tank outside of THORPE PARK with ‘WAR IS COMING’ written up the side for ages, it’s likely that the story will be humanity’s last stand against something unpleasant.
  • It will be located next to Stealth.
  • It will be accessible via a wooden bridge.
  • The attraction’s highest point will be 36.8 metres about ground level.
  • Theming will include a “rickety jetty”, a helicopter, a crashed articulated lorry and what seems to be the crashed remains of some sort of aeroplane or rocket.
  • The coaster will be located on its own island

What’s a winged rollercoaster? Does it fly?
Typically, rollercoasters have carriages which keep riders positioned directly above or below the track. If you ignore all the fire and jet engines in the above image, you can clearly see that THE SWARM’s carriages are positioned to either side of the track, leaving nothing but empty air above and below you. In essence, you are sitting on/in the ‘wings’, which should make a nice change from the standard coaster layout. Disappointingly, winged coasters don’t fly.

What are other winged rollercoasters like?
Gardaland’s Raptor looks reasonably similar to plans for THE SWARM and it seems to impressing coaster fans. The main appeal of the winged design seems to be the opportunity for designers to include plenty of near-misses with the scenery. Think of the spinning blades at the bottom of the drop on SAW – The Ride, Raptor features loads of stuff like that, and you can bet that THE SWARM will, too. The interplay between the carriage, riders and scenery appears to be the key to a successful winged coaster.

Just who/what are THE SWARM’s swarm?
Not a clue. Aliens? Bugs? Alien bugs? The word swarm can be applied to pretty much any creature that gathers in large numbers, though the chances of the ride being themed around a destructive swarm of killer penguins is slim. If I had to guess, I’d assume that it’s aliens.

When does THE SWARM open?
Spring 2012. THORPE PARK ticket and hotel package are available from Play-and-Stay.co.uk, book now to be among the first to ride THE SWARM!

New Ride to Open at LEGOLAND!

May 13th, 2011

The wait is nearly over, Atlantis Submarine Voyage is to open at LEGOLAND® Windsor next Friday.

This world first LEGO® themed submarine ride will take passengers on an underwater adventure to explore the ancient ruins of the Atlantis.

To celebrate the exciting addition to LEGOLAND, here are our top 10 interesting facts about the new ride.

1. 2,683 hours were spent creating the underwater LEGO models.

2. The tank holds a whopping 1,000,000 litres of water.

3. The are a total of 8 submarines on the ride.

4. Each submarine holds up to 14 people.

5. There over 2,500 fish in total in the tank for you to spot on your way around.

6. The 2 biggest fish in the tank are the Zebra shark and the Nurse shark.

7. There are over 100 LEGO models to be seen underwater on your Atlantis adventure.

8. The ride lasts approximately 4.5 minutes – giving you plenty of time to spot your favorite sea creatures!

9. Each submarine weighs a massive 11 tones!

10. There are over 50 species of fish to be found on this magical underwater adventure.

Be one of the first to go on this amazing new ride and book a family holiday to LEGOLAND! For those of you who are lucky enough to go on it next weekend, be sure to let us know what you think!

UK’s Attractions Celebrate the Royal Wedding

April 19th, 2011

The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton will take place on Friday 29 April 2011 and is set to be one of the most celebrated events in history.

Thousands of well-wishers are expected to follow the Royal Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and many will watch the ceremony live on a screen in Trafalgar Square.

What’s more, plenty of special events will take place outside of the city on this day and even a selection of the UK’s biggest attractions are joining in the regal celebrations.

So, why not treat yourself to a short break away to one of the following family-friendly places and join in the fun? Make the most of the extended Spring bank holiday weekend and enjoy a trip to remember.

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Warwick Castle — Royal Wedding Garden Party

Come along to Warwick Castle on the weekend of the wedding and experience a wonderful Royal Wedding Garden Party. Enjoy a picnic in the Central Courtyard whilst listening to the sounds of a live band and celebrate the big day in style. Relax in the historic grounds, explore The Castle Dungeon and even climb to the top of the towers. Frequented by Royalty for centuries, Warwick Castle really is the perfect place to spend the long weekend.

Warwick Castle

Buckingham Palace. Image copyright Christine Matthews and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence

LEGOLAND — Royal Wedding Tribute

Book a short break to LEGOLAND® Windsor and venture to Miniland where you will discover a fantastic LEGO® scene of the Royal Wedding. Marvel at the miniature couple as they embrace outside Buckingham Palace, see the adoring crowds and spot the Queen up on the balcony. Meet LEGO corgis, photographers and guardsmen and even keep an eye out for celebrity guests including David and Victoria Beckham. A fantastic tribute to Kate and Will’s big day, the model took over 30 hours to make and is built from 10,000 bricks.

The Royal Wedding Scene at Miniland

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Enjoy a wonderful short break over the long Royal Wedding weekend and celebrate the big day in style. There is so much going on around the special day, so book a great break away and enjoy a fantastic adventure.

Play and Stay Go To Peppa Pig World! 

March 28th, 2011

The wait is nearly over — Peppa Pig World is opening at Paultons Park in a matter of days. 

On Saturday 9th April, hundreds and hundreds of devoted Peppa Pig fans will finally be allowed to enter the magical new world at the Southampton theme park. 

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But us lucky lot here at Play and Stay got a sneaky preview last Friday. We were invited to leave our desks and spend a day in the sunshine at Paultons Park — suffice to say we jumped at the chance. And what fun we had. 

With all of the hype surrounding this brand new attraction, we were worried that it may not live up to its growing reputation. But thankfully, we couldn’t have been more wrong. The bright colours, fun rides, cheerful music and overall feel good factor of Peppa Pig World made sure visitors will not be left disappointed. 

Our favorite ride (and yes, we are aware that we are not the key Peppa Pig demographic!) was the George’s Dinosaur Adventure whereby bouncing green dinosaurs travel around a track to jolly music. Kids giggled and parents looked equally impressed while on the ride. The other six new rides, including Windy Castle, Grandpa Pig’s Little Train and Peppa’s Big Balloon Ride also appeared to be thoroughly enjoyed by the toughest critics of all — young Peppa Pig devotees. 

George and Peppa!

Peppa Pig and her family!

If you want to take a break from the rides, then head inside to George’s Spaceship Playzone. This fantastic soft indoor play area will keep your kids entertained for hours upon end, with big slides, soft balls and climbing frames. 

Although is was an unusually warm March day, it wasn’t quite hot enough for the younger visitors to take full advantage of the Muddy Puddles area. In the summer visitors can let their kids splash around in the water spray and fake muddy puddles, Peppa Pig style! There are also loads of places to sit and enjoy a family picnic (if the weather is kind) in both Peppa Pig World and Paultons Park itself.  

True fans of the show will absolutely love the selection of merchandised goodies in Peppa’s Toy Shop. From soft toys, umbrellas, books and toys, your kids will be in their Peppa element! 

Peppa Pig World is an extension of Paultons Park, so be sure to explore the rest of the park on your visit. There is a delightful garden area which is home to many birds and other wildlife animals for you to see and a beautiful lake which makes a perfect picnic spot. Older visitors of the park (or adrenaline junkies) will enjoy riding The Cobra and The Edge, which are situated at the other side of the park. 

All in all it was a brilliant day and Peppa Pig World is an absolute must-see for fans of the show and kids who just want a fun day out. Oink oink! 

Top Five Ways To Spend Valentine’s Day

January 25th, 2011

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so why not plan a surprise for the one you love?

Whether you think Valentine’s is wonderfully romantic or disgustingly soppy, it is always nice to treat someone special, so here are five top ideas to help make your Valentine’s one to remember.

Cook a Romantic Meal

You don’t have to blow lots of money at a fancy restaurant to enjoy your evening. Send the kids off to the grandparents for a few hours, light the candles and serve your loved one’s favourite meal in the comfort of your own home.

If you are nervous about cooking, dig out an easy and simple recipe the week before and get all the ingredients before the big day arrives  — this should help you relax on the night. Decorate the table with roses, play the background music and enjoy a romantic evening together.

Enjoy a Movie Night

The cinema has always been seen as a great place for a date, so why not head out for a few hours and watch something on the big screen? You could even go out for a romantic meal and reminisce over the year’s gone by.

Valentine’s is on a Monday this year, so if you don’t fancy heading out after a busy day at work, you could always watch your favourite movie at home. Rent some films, buy some popcorn and chill out in front of the TV with a hearty take away meal.

Go Shopping

The weekend before Valentine’s, why not treat your lover to a shopping trip? Tell them you will buy an outfit of their choice and watch their delight as they pick something extra special off the rails.

Ok, so this may seem like one for the girls, but if your husband or boyfriend wants a new suit or the latest rugby shirt then this is the ultimate treat.

With goodies in toe, why not slip away for a romantic lunch together and make a day of it? Head to the nearest confectionary store to buy some chocolates for later and enjoy a rather indulgent weekend.

Explore the Great Outdoors

Turn your Valentine’s Day into a Valentine’s weekend and plan a host of fun activities. Enjoy a long walk, or a bike ride and spend quality time in the great outdoors. Find a country pub and enjoy a quiet drink or grab some lunch in a hidden brasserie. If the mood takes you, why not even put the slow cooker on in the morning of one of your outings and return to a fantastic casserole or a delicious stew? Wrap up warm and enjoy a wonderful few days together. 

Take a Short Break

This Valentine’s, treat your loved one to a short break away and spend some quality time together. Book a trip to the Eden Project for a few days and admire the beauty of this wonderful attraction, or pre-book a break to one of the country’s fantastic theme parks, which open later in the year.

Give your loved one something to look forward to by arranging a break to THORPE PARK, or Chessington World of Adventures Resort and if you really can’t wait why not go along to one of the themed weekends at the Alton Towers Resort, taking place until March.

Enjoy a romantic Valentine’s this year and spoil the one you love.

Snow Day – Fun or Problematic?

December 7th, 2010

Schools were closed, roads were treacherous and England once again ground to a halt last week. So how do you go about keeping the kids entertained when you’re confined to the parameter of your house? Don’t you worry, Play and Stay once again have all the answers to keep children and parents sane in the snow.

1. Embrace the Snow
Although for us grown up the snow can be a pain, let’s not forget that children love it. Let them embrace the novelty and have some outdoor fun. Have a snowman competition, make snow angels or get really creative and build an igloo! There’s lots of fun to be had in the snow, just be sure to wrap up warm. Why not tweet us your pictures of your snowmen to @playandstay or upload to our Facebook page so we can see your work.

2. Get Crafty for Christmas
If it’s too cold for you to venture out, then make your own fun inside by getting ready for Christmas. Dig out the card, felt tip pens, glitter and make some homemade Christmas cards or tree decorations. Teach the kids how to make their very own snowflakes – fold a piece of paper up and then carefully cut random shapes out, unfold and TA-DA- your very own snowflakes!

3. DVD time
Yep, you’ve guessed it, when there’s nowhere to go, the next best thing is to settle down into front of the television. Grab yourself a pile of the kids fave films, a blanket, hot chocolate and snacks, and you’re ready for a cosy afternoon. And who said being snowed in was a bad thing?!

Whatever you choose to do with your children in these freeeeezing conditions, remember to stay safe, keep warm and most importantly have fun!

Our Day At Scarefest

October 19th, 2010

This weekend the PAS team took a road trip up to Alton Towers for the opening day of Scarefest. And what fun we had.

Alton had the balance just right. Both families and thrill seekers were kept thoroughly spooked all day long. The park was themed throughout with pumpkin displays and other tricks and treats. 

We stared off the day with the brand new ride, TH13TEEN. We only queued for an hour and it was worth it. If you haven’t been on it already, you’re in for a real surprise! Although the park was busy, we managed to get on all of the ‘big’ rides; Nemesis, Rita, Air and Oblivion. Another highlight of the day was looking around the Sharkbait Reef. With so many tropical fish, sharks and other sea life creatures, it’s well worth a look around while you’re there.

After a long day at the park, by about 7pm we were all hungry and needed a rest. The Woodcutter’s Bar and Grill was the perfect place to stop and they managed to fit us all in (we were a large table of 10) straight away. The food was great and inexpensive.

A little tip for you if you’re planning on staying at the park late: make sure you take extra clothes to wear. It gets freezing in the evening, especially waiting around in the queues. There are lockers available to hire for the day in Guest Services. For £3 a day, it is a good way to keep your extra scarves and jumpers safe until you need them later on in the day. Another tip to prevent frostbite while queuing, is to buy a hot chocolate before you join the queue.  It keeps your body warm and tastes delicious. Happy days! 

If you want the ultimate frightening experience, there are four maze attractions, one for children and three most definitely for adults! The Terror of the Towers maze is actually in the towers themselves and the other two mazes, Carnival of Screams and The Boiler House sit by the onsite Hotels and are open until midnight. You have to book tickets for these mazes, but if you really want the ultimate Scarefest experience and you’re not afraid of clowns, blood or the dark, then this will be right up your street! I can safely say I was a wimp and stayed well away from these and stuck to the rides. 

But don’t worry if you’re taking the little ones, there’s still lots of things for them to enjoy. With live shows and characters entertaining the guests, families wont be disappointed. The real scary stuff doesn’t start until the evening when the sun has gone down, by which time they will be tried and ready for bed. 

After a long day at the park, we went back to our hotel. We stayed at the Hilton East midlands, which is about a 30-45 minute drive away. It was clean, comfortable and had everything you needed. If you want to stay at the on site hotels, you’ll be in for a real treat. Throughout Scarefest they host a range of evening entertainment for the kids and you can even book to stay in a special Halloween themed room.

All in all it was a brilliant day out and highly recommended. The queues weren’t horrendously long and the rides didn’t disappoint (Nemesis is still my favourite). Scarefest runs until 31st October, so if you want a fright, be sure to head to Alton. 

Top 5 Halloween Party Games for Kids

October 14th, 2010

Stuck for ideas to keep the children entertained for less this Halloween? Why not throw your little terrors a spooky party this Halloween. Here’s 5 suggestions of fun party games on a budget…

1. Apple Bobbing
Let’s kick off with an old favorite. Apple bobbing has been played at Halloween for many years, because it’s simple, cheap and loads of fun! All you need is a bucket of water filed with apples. Then take it in turns to try and get the apples out, only using your teeth – no hands allowed! To make it even more Halloweeny, add some red food colouring and milk to the water to turn it a nice shade of red.

2. Pin the Tail on the Black Cat
Pin the tail on the donkey might be the perfect birthday party game, but for Halloween you need to turn the donkey into a black cat! Black cats are said to be unlucky, so they are the ideal Halloween animal. You know the rules with this one, just be careful you don’t stick the tail onto one of your guests by mistake –  that wouldn’t be very hospitable!

3. Pass the Spooky Parcel
A children’s party wouldn’t be a children’s party without a game of pass the parcel. Under each layer of wrapping paper give away spooky prizes such as fake eye balls, a plastic bat or some edible false teeth. Keep it simple and the kids will love it!  

4. Fancy Dress Competition
Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without fancy dress. Get your guests to dress up as anything they want – the scarier the better – and award a prize to the best dressed. Get them to use their imagination and go all out with their outfits. 

5. Spooky Treasure Hunt 
Divide the kids into small groups and set them off on a spooky treasure hunt around the house. Plant plastic spiders around the party, with clues that will eventually lead the winning team to the prize. Make your clues cryptic (but not too cryptic, it is a kids party after all) and the prizes scary. 

Happy Halloween! 

Are You Brave Enough?

August 11th, 2010

So, Friday 13th is nearly upon us. Will you be brave enough to take a ride on a roller coaster, or will you be staying at home to avoid any bad luck?

There are many reasons and beliefs as to why Friday 13th is seen as so unlucky. The most logical reasoning seem to root back to the fact that Friday was seen as the unlucky day of the week and the number 13 was also considered unlucky. Fear of the day is still just as prominent now; even those who will happily walk under ladders or put new shoes on a table even seem to believe that something bad will happen on Friday 13th.

Alton Towers have caused speculation on their Facebook and Twitter pages by posting announcements that their newest ride, TH13TEEN, will be closed this Friday. The Facebook post resulted in a massive 373 people leaving comments, trying to clear up whether or not it was true.

A lot of people are under the impression it’s just a clever bit of Facebook marketing to create a buzz around the ride and that it WILL be open on Friday. There are even those who actually want to ride TH13TEEN on the day of bad luck. We can’t wait to see what Alton actually decides.

But those of you with Paraskevidekatriaphobia (yes, there actually is a word for people with a phobia of Friday 13th), you may want to stick to the Tea Cup ride.

Splash Out at UK Theme Parks

July 8th, 2010

Make the most of the hot weather and visit one of Britain’s theme parks for a great day out.

There are so many unmissable water rides, but don’t worry if you get soaked, it’ll take no time at all to dry off in this heat. Here’s a list of the UK’s very best water rides for you to enjoy this summer. See how wet are you likely to get with our very own SOAK-O-METER! Whether you want to get absolutely soaked or you want to try to stay mostly dry, there’s something everyone will enjoy.

Tidal Wave

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1. Tidal Wave at THORPE PARK
The Tidal Wave flume at THORPE PARK is not for the faint hearted! Not only will you plummet at a massive 85ft, you will get VERY, VERY wet. If you really need cooling down, stand on the bridge by the ride and get soaked by the enormous wave without having to go on the ride. The thrill seekers among you will want to go on again and again. It’s the perfect ride on a very hot day.

SOAK-O-METER rating: 5/5 Absolutely soaked!

2. Rameses Revenge at Chessington World of Adventures
Prepare to get very wet on the Rameses Revenge at Chessington. You will be turned upside down and round and round, while being drenched by the giant water fountains that will be spraying into your screaming faces! Definitely one for the adults, you will love this iconic ride.

SOAK-O-METER rating: 4/5 Very wet!

3. Congo River Rapids, Alton Towers
Most of the theme parks have a rapid river. In this one the giant inflatable rings float around a giant river while you get sprayed with waterfalls, shoots and other surprising features. Staying completely dry is near enough impossible unless you protect yourself in a waterproof poncho. It may not be the most stylish accessory, but it’s a theme park necessity!

SOAK-O-METER rating: 3/5 Take your waterproof!

4. Depth Charge, THORPE PARK
Have a race with your mates on this giant water slide. Shoot down the slide on a yellow inflatable boat and see who gets to the bottom first. You don’t get THAT wet on here, it’s all about who reaches the bottom first! Don’t worry, this is nothing compared to the Tidal Wave.

SOAK-O-METER rating: 2/5 Just enough!

5. Monkey Swinger, Chessington World of Adventures
This is a great ride that the whole family can enjoy. The monkey swinger is basically a giant carousel with swings and water shoots that soak you as you go round and round. This is great fun on a summer’s day, and even the faint hearted among you will enjoy this gentle swing.

SOAK-O-METER rating: 1/5 A light spraying!

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