What’s new at Alton Towers in 2012?

Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs – the 4-D Experience
This family-friendly immersive Ice Age experience will open in Cloud Cuckoo Land on 24 March. Fans of the hit Ice Age series will love the amazing combination of 3D footage based on the third Ice Age film and fun physical effects which transport you straight into the super-cool world of Sid and Scrat.

Speaking of Sid and Scrat, be sure to keep an eye open for them, as they’ll be wandering around Alton Towers Resort to meet you and your family.

Nemesis Sub-Terra
Buried deep beneath Alton Towers Resort, a brand-new attraction is waiting patiently for the first brave explorers to step foot inside. The new subterranean scarefest is named Nemesis Sub-Terra and will take visitors on a heart-stopping journey through a network of catacombs. The attraction is based on the back story of the smash-hit Nemesis rollercoaster, which opened in 1994.

The new attraction’s scare factor is being carefully controlled by the Park’s new Director of Fear, death-defying adrenaline junkie Jack Osbourne. Be the first to experience Nemesis Sub Terra, book an Alton Towers ticket and hotel package with Play and Stay.

Coming soon to UK theme parks: Magma, Nemesis Sub-Terra, Ice Ice 4D Experience and The Swarm

What’s New at Thorpe Park in 2012?

The Swarm
Experience The Swarm – the UK’s first Wing Rider rollercoaster – at Thorpe Park in 2012. The new rollercoaster promises a thrilling flight through an apocalyptic wasteland on the wings of an invading swarm of planet-destroying baddies.

You’ll experience heart-stopping near misses and adrenaline-pumping inversions as well as a unique, head-first 127ft drop. War is coming…are you ready?

What’s New at LEGOLAND Windsor in 2012?

The LEGOLAND Windsor hotel
A brand-new hotel is opening on-site at LEGOLAND Windsor in 2012 and it’s certainly shaping up to be an incredible destination for family short breaks.

With child-friendly features including secret whoopee cushions, exploding toy boxes and treasure trails as well as Pirate, Adventurer and Kingdom themed rooms, there’s plenty to keep the family busy at the LEGOLAND Windsor hotel. Play spaces, a splash pool and regular children’s entertainment complete the package.

LEGO Star Wars Miniland Experience
The Force is coming to LEGOLAND Windsor in 2012. Seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-action Star Wars movies and one from the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars have been recreated in 1:20 scale using 1.5 million LEGO bricks.

What’s new at Paultons Park in 2012?

Magma
The mysterious Magma is due to open at Paultons in 2012. Very little is known about it other than its name and the fact that it will be volcano-themed. Some suspect that Magma is more likely to be a thrill ride since Paultons recently added Peppa Pig World for the younger guests, but nothing is confirmed.

Want to try out any of these new attractions for yourself? Book a Play and Stay ticket and hotel package today.

Luckily, an enterprising stay-at-home dad named Scott Wegner has put together an iPhone app and book to keep the kids busy while you wait in line and provide theme park-loving families with handy tips to make the most of your visit.

Scott’s website promises that you’ll find all this inside the book:

 Tips to help you maximise your theme park fun, including advice for: 

• Building excitement

• Hints for happiness

• What-to-carry checklist

• Bring-your-own games

• Avoiding queues

• Conquer coaster fear

• Taking coaster photos

Loads of activities to keep the whole family busy. Categories include:

• Who goes first?

• Front vs back

• Riding techniques

• Practical activities

• Guessing games

• Word/number activities

• Dreamy ideas

• Action activities

• Measuring games

• Sound ideas

• Brain teasing conundrums

• iPhone / mobile internet activities

An impressive collection of roller coaster trivia, includes: 

• Theme park attendance figures

• Rollercoaster records (tallest, fastest, steepest etc)

• Rollercoaster variations (types of: layouts, powers, inversions etc)

• Rollercoaster milestones

It’s unlikely that the new attraction will be a white-knuckle thrill ride; Paultons is, after all, a family park. Perhaps some sort of indoor ride? I have no idea, but any new attraction is alright by me.

No matter what the new attraction is, it won’t be open until 2012. While we wait to find out exactly what Paultons are planning, here are some other rides and attractions that feature volcanoes for theme park fans to seek out.

Dino Safari – LEGOLAND Windsor

Dinosaur – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

George’s Dinosaur Ride – Peppa Pig World

Jurassic Park River Adventure – Universal Studios

Dinosaur Adventure Park – Norfolk

Ticket and hotel packages for Paultons Park and LEGOLAND Windsor are available from Play-and-Stay.co.uk

Combination safe

Everyone has their little cache of precious things, their personal treasures. No matter if your treasures are interestingly-shaped rocks and weird feathers, diamonds and designer stuff or 1980s Star Wars figures in original packaging, you need somewhere safe to store them.

What could be safer than an actual working combination safe? Maybe the lair of a covetous dragon, but apart from that, nothing, that’s what.

Desktop computer

It saddens me to say it, but the vast majority of desktop computers are hideous things. Boxy, dull-looking monoliths without the slightest thought given to aesthetics, computers are perhaps the most depressing purchase for the trendy and design-conscious.

To brighten up your PC, reach for your LEGO stash. The case in the video above may look like the lair of a tiny, plastic supervillain but the beauty of LEGO is that you can take a design and make it your own. Depending on what bricks you’ve got laying around you can re-case your PC in whatever colour or combination of colours you fancy. The really ambitious could even modify existing LEGO sets to house a computer…

3D printer

A LEGO model that can build LEGO models? Welcome to the future!

Sure, the process is slow, requires very specific software and the only models that ‘Makerbot’ can currently put together are very simple, but it’s nevertheless impressive. It’s can’t be long until some clever clogs improves on the design and makes a machine capable of putting together far more complex models or perhaps even replicating itself…

Hamster elevator

Everyone loves to spoil their pets, that’s why diamond collars and those bags you can carry little dogs in exist. The market for luxury products designed for hamsters is a little limited, but with a handful of LEGO and a bit of patience you can install a private elevator in your hamster’s home, allowing him/her to enjoy levels of luxury usually reserved for the super-wealthy.

Toilet-flushing robot

The age of the service robot is finally here!

Why flush your own toilet when you can have a robot do it for you? After years of waiting, we’ve finally taken a step towards having Jetsons-style domestic robots. A loo-flushing robot made out of LEGO may only be a small step, more of a tiptoe in the right direction, but it’s a step. Best bit? the flushbot will thank you for allowing it to flush for you, ensuring you don’t feel bad for leaving him in the bathroom all the time.

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!

The hotel facilities include an outside play-area, a video games room and a Thomas & Friends Theatre, and with 11 magical Thomas & Friends-themed bedrooms, kids won’t be able to wait for bed-time!

Drayton Manor hotel is one of the few hotels worldwide to offer these captivating Thomas & Friends themed family rooms. On arrival, young guests will receive special Thomas & Friends welcome packs, before following the train tracks on the carpet to their bedrooms, complete with Thomas & Friends-themed bunk beds complete with built-in DVD players, as well as a comfortable double bed for Mum and Dad. Young guests are also invited to the Fat Controller’s story time in the Thomas & Friends Theatre, and afterwards can choose from the library of books and DVDs available from reception.

And why not top off the ultimate Thomas & Friends experience with a visit to Thomas Land, situated just moments away from the new resort. The Island of Sodor is brought to life in this exciting attraction, which includes 12 themed rides and a spectacular indoor play area. Kids can take a jaunt full-steam-ahead on Thomas, Percy or Rosie, followed by a wild ride on the Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster.

Thomas Land is part of Drayton Manor Theme Park, which caters for thrill-seekers of all ages, from the very young to the young-at-heart. Fans of the white-knuckle thrill-ride can enjoy Shockwave – Europe’s first stand-up rollercoaster or Apocalypse – named Britain’s scariest ride by Channel 5’s The Gadget Show – among other electrifying attractions. Also, new for 2011 is the Ben 10 Ultimate Mission, perfect for fans of the hit TV cartoon.

Drayton Manor Theme Park also includes the 15-acre open-plan Drayton Manor Zoo, which boasts over 100 species including big cats, reptiles, owls, monkeys and parrots, as well as a children’s farm and 12 endangered species – a must-see day out for any animal lover.

With so much to enjoy for all the family, one day simply isn’t enough to experience all the excitement Drayton Manor Theme Park has to offer. Drayton Manor Hotel offers you the opportunity to make the most of all the family fun available, giving kids a chance to continue their adventures during their overnight stay while parents can relax and unwind in comfort and style.

1. Nature walks
Embark on a countryside expedition at your local park or woodland and captivate your kids with the magic of wildlife. Hunt for ‘treasure’ such as pine cones, acorns and wildflowers or investigate what insects you can spot. Take a magnifying glass for seeking out animal footprints, or go foraging for blackberries in the hedgerows.

2. Kite flying
Make a kite with recycled materials and watch it soar through the sky! All you need are some sticks, tape, string, scissors and plenty of fabric or paper. Be creative with diamond or box shapes and crazy colourful designs.

3. Get active!
There are hundreds of sports activities that will keep your family fit this summer. Why not try rounders, back garden bowling, frisbee or hide and seek? Splash about with water fights and bubble chasing, or build your own obstacle course in the garden.

4. Make the most of your garden
Kids love the excitement of waiting for a seed to sprout, and gardening is a great way for them to learn about plants. Herbs, vegetables and sunflowers are perfect for first-time growers, and if you don’t have a garden, try a window box.

5. Get creative in the kitchen
Have some culinary fun making summer foods, like homemade ice-cream, fruit juice lollies or fresh fruit salad. Then enjoy your picnic feast in the sunshine!

6. Catch your own dinner
Take a net down to your local riverbank or harbour to see what’s biting. Don’t forget to take a picture of your first big catch! Or for a truly British seaside pastime, try crabbing – all you need is string and some bait, but watch out for nasty nips!

7. Summer sledging
Why wait for winter? All you need is a flattened cardboard box and a hillside and you’re all set for some summer tobogganing. Budding adrenaline-junkies will go crazy for the thrills, and it’ll channel some of that endless energy into a fun-focused activity.

8. Build a den
Have a holiday in your own backyard by pitching a tent in your garden, or simply hang sheets over the washing line to create your very own teepee. Have a barbecue, tell stories, play games and have a campfire sing-along – it’s the perfect way to spend some quality time together as a family.

9. Beach-combing
Scour the seashore for some littoral loot such as seaweed, shells, interesting pebbles, driftwood or sea-smoothed glass and then use your treasures to make a sea-themed collage. Or have a sandcastle-building competition to see who can sculpt the finest fortress.

10. Fossil-hunting
Find your local sedimentary rock spot and search for ancient dinosaur relics! Coasts, quarries and farmland are the best places to look, and all you need is a keen pair of eyes.

Here are 10 ideas suitable for every dad, of every age and covering every budget. So spoil him rotten and show your dad just how special he is this Sunday.

1. Get Personal
There is nothing nicer than a gift which has had time and thought put into it and a perosnailsed gift is a great way to do that. Do some research online, there are loads of sites which will add a personal photograph onto a mug or engrave a message into a photo frame. Prices vary so shop around for the best deal.

2. Photo Frame
Even though we are living in an age of the digital camera, there’s something special about finding an old photo which brings back happy memories. Dig out one of your kids and put it in a nice frame. You can spend as little or as much as you like on a frame and it can take pride of place on his desk at work or on his bedside table.

3. Breakfast in Bed
Really spoil him and treat him to his favorite breakfast in bed. Cereal, toast and pancakes all washed down with a coffee will make sure he has a great start to the day. Why not take him up a few of the Sunday newspapers too so he can really enjoy a lazy morning.

4. Make a Homemade Card
This is a great idea if you have young children. Sit them down with a selection of coloured card and felt tip pens and let them create their very own father’s day card. It is sure to be a winner when he opens it on Sunday!

5. Take a Break
If you really want to splash out, book a break away for the whole family this weekend. Warwick Castle have a special father’s day event, ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ so why not treat him to a day exploring this exciting event at the castle and spend a night in a nearby hotel?

6. Bake a Cake
We all know that the way to a mans heart is through his tummy, so bake him something extra special this weekend. Get the kids to help bake something chocolately and yummy for their dad. He will love the effort put it!

7. DVD-a-Thon
Grab a selection of his favorite DVD’s, a blanket, snacks and settle down for the afternoon. Apollo 13, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Back to the Future are all classic films he’s sure to love chilling out to.

8. Play a Round of Golf
Many of you out there will have dads who are golf fanatics. Take him for a quick round of golf or an hour on the driving range this Sunday.

9. Make a Splash
If you want something a little more energetic, pack up your towels and swimming costumes and have a family trip to your local pool. Splash, swim and dive the afternoon away for some fun family time together.

10. Get Walking
When was the last time you went for a walk in the park with your partner and kids? Put on your wellies or walking boots, brave the great British weather and go for a walk. Best of all, it wont cost you a penny!

Enjoy a selection of delicious foods al fresco and make the most of the good weather this summer. Why not take your picnic on your next theme park outing if the weather is nice? Here are ten top tips to help make your picnic perfect.

1. Picnic Blanket
If you don’t already have one, it would be a great idea to purchase a good quality picnic blanket to take with you on your adventures. You never know if there will be tables or benches at your chosen spot and the last thing you want to do is sit directly on the grass. Maybe opt for a lovely red and white checkered design or select something a little less extravagant — the choice is yours. What’s more, you might even want to buy a piece of plastic tarp to protect your blanket from damp or dirty ground.

2. Cool Box
Cool boxes are ideal for picnic lovers everywhere and are great to use during the warmer months. Designed to keep your food and drinks cold and fresh throughout the day, the cool box really is the perfect way to stop your picnic turning to mush. They are also easy to carry around, come in all different shapes and sizes and will fit nicely in the back of your car. Perfect.

3. Keep it Simple
Picnics should be hassle free, so whatever you do, keep it simple. Avoid packing too much food — as anything you don’t eat you will have to bring back with you — and avoid unnecessary packaging. You really don’t need to wrap your fruit in half a roll of silver foil, when just a thin covering will do. What’s more, don’t worry about buying 50 different types of snack, but instead knock together a few sandwiches and choose five to six extra goodies that everyone will enjoy.

4. Food to Share
The best part of a picnic is laying it all out on your blanket and letting everyone help themselves, so make sure you buy plenty of things you can share. Try to select foods you know your family will like and maybe throw in a few surprises they will love. Crisps are an excellent option as well as breadsticks and dip, sliced fruit and even a selection of nuts. Why not also bake a few goodies such as scones or cheese straws, as these tend to travel well and let your family enjoy your home baking?

5. Food to Avoid
Enjoying a selection of tasty goodies outdoors is the charm of a picnic, however, some foods should be avoided. Don’t pack family sized chocolate bars or cakes, when you know only one or two people are likely to eat them. If left out uneaten for too long, they will melt, turn sticky and attract a host of nasty beasties including wasps and bees. Wrap sweet treats individually in silver foil, so you can throw the wrappers in the bin straight away, or leave them at home to eat later.

6. Drinks
What to drink is highly important as it is essential to keep rehydrated, especially on a hot summers day. Avoid fizzy drinks as these may get shaken up en route and go all over you and instead opt for still drinks like bottled water. Drinks with lids are perfect as you won’t have to worry about them falling over and cheeky creepy crawlies won’t be able to crawl in the top without you knowing.

7. Wet Wipes
If you choose to enjoy a relaxing afternoon somewhere rural, the chances are there will be few places around to wash your hands, so why not take along a pack of wet wipes… just in case? Eating outdoors can often be very messy, especially with little ones and the last thing you want is to be covered head to toe in jam with no way of getting it off. Wet wipes are light and take up very little room in any bag, so make sure you carry some with you to avoid sticky situations.

8. Plastic Cutlery
Leave your posh dinner sets at home and bring out the paper plates, plastic cups and plastic cutlery which are simply ideal for a picnic. Highly convenient for outdoor dining, they are inexpensive to buy, won’t weigh you down and can be thrown in the nearest recycling bin as soon as you are finished with them. What’s more, they won’t break if dropped and are perfect to give to the kids while outside. They might not look glamorous, but they will perfectly compliment your cool box and picnic blanket.

9. Choose a Spot in the Shade
Sitting in the sun may seem like a good idea, however, overheating while eating is not at all pleasant. Finding a nice, relaxing spot in the shade is a much better idea, as your food will stay colder for longer and you won’t have to squint constantly to see if you are picking up a scotch egg or a bit of ham. You can always go in the sun after you have eaten, but until then, staying in the shade is a good plan.

10. Sun Cream
Even if it doesn’t look sunny before you set off it is always a good idea to throw some sun cream into the car. The weather can be very changeable and the sun might put its hat on later in the afternoon. You can even burn if it is windy or cloudy, so make sure you protect your skin and cover up where possible — especially if you are planning to be outside for most of the day.

So, there you have it, ten tips to make your picnic super awesome this summer.

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!