Merlin Entertainments...£299 a year, park closures, is the money worth it???

Ajouté : 2026-05-23

[00:00:09]Hi guys and girls. Welcome back to my channel. I do hope you're doing well. We have a little special guest today because this is his department. I have had I cannot count the amount of DMs, Instagram messages, and replies back to comments asking, "You don't like roller coasters. Why on earth do you have a Merlin pass?" So amongst them as well was are they worth it? Is the cost warranted? What is on offer? So I am a newbie to the Merlin scene. Dan has had it many a time. So we've actually sat down. I say we Dan's done his research because I would just be showing you guys off a phone. But we are going to sit down and see is a Merlin pass worth it.

[00:00:50]And you guys, as I say, will you go for a Merlin pass? Will you stick to how you go? Because a lot of people who watch me actually do do roller coasters.

[00:00:57]>> They do. And they do.

[00:00:58]>> Oh wow. Okay.

[00:01:00]>> And when we went to um like Thor Park and that, it was like, "You don't like roller coasters? Well done." I'm trying, guys. Okay. I'm trying. There's a few that I'm like, "Yeah, I could do that."

[00:01:10]Don't get me wrong. I still get on them and go.

[00:01:14]Oh no. Like get the jitters. And then there's some that I look at and I'm like, "Not a chance in hell." Aka Hyperia. I don't care how nice the merch is. I'm not doing that. The rule in the house, guys, is if you don't do the ride, you can't get the merch. And as much as Hyperia has lovely merch, no, I think that that would be game over Shane on that. So, we're going to sit down. We're going to run through like the prices, the different levels because there's all different bits and bobs. And yeah, I hope you enjoy the video. Let's get into it. Do you want to start with say cuz Dan has taken charge with this.

[00:01:45]I come down one night.

[00:01:46]>> I haven't.

[00:01:47]>> Well, no. I come down one night and I was like, "What are you doing?" He's like, "I'm doing my notes." I was like, "Good."

[00:01:51]>> It's to help you to make sure that we're giving out the right information. Not because not just babbling away as I always do. It's clearly evident and I'm like well I just babble babble.

[00:02:02]>> Indeed.

[00:02:02]>> So should we start like with the tiers because there's different levels which they have changed recently haven't they?

[00:02:09]>> Yeah. So I think when we looked it there was four tiers which was one which was like a discovery like entry level then you had like a a beginners no or was it a silver >> bronze or silver? I think it was a bronze, then silver, gold, platinum.

[00:02:26]>> So, there was five maybe. Or was it just the metal colors?

[00:02:29]>> I think it was just the metal colors with the platinum.

[00:02:33]>> And then now they've changed it into discovery, haven't they?

[00:02:36]>> Yes. Now they've just changed it down to three colors. Or is it four?

[00:02:40]>> It's discovery, goldy things here.

[00:02:44]>> Gold and platinum.

[00:02:47]>> Yeah. Oh, so your essential pass, your gold plus, and your power.

[00:02:50]>> Platinum. So, your essential is like your basic entry into it. Um, they seem to have restricted it and there's been quite a big thing at the moment with the platinum side of it.

[00:03:03]What is the difference of gold and platinum because they kind of took away well they gave non-platinums more >> and platinums didn't really get anything more. And all they've worked out at the moment is that if you're platinum, you can have one fast pass upon each time you go, but you can't use that fastass if it's 90 minutes or more.

[00:03:23]>> Which what are you going to use a fast pass for? Cuz you don't want to queue for 90 minutes.

[00:03:27]>> Precisely.

[00:03:28]>> So it's we've seen Theme Park Worldwide, Digital Dan, and all the other theme parkers that are on the TV when we have them. And yeah, they're not happy cuz it is quite a jump in pricewise.

[00:03:40]They do vary considerably.

[00:03:41]>> What we got? So for the essential pass for 339 days is £139 a month.

[00:03:49]>> So they restrict it. It's like it's annoying because we looked at it on firework night last year was weren't it?

[00:03:55]And then it was like oh no it's not valid and it was like oh you bugger.

[00:03:59]>> Yeah. So I suppose that's how they get >> people to pay. Yeah.

[00:04:03]>> But you think it is a bit of a cheat.

[00:04:05]You pay for the year and then the time when they know people want to go they'll go oh no. But they have since changed that because they've up the days of the gold people to match the platinum. So now I don't think there is many exclusions >> for gold and platinum. Obviously your discovery um essential sorry 339. So that's what just shy of 30 days. It's probably going to be I would say couple and a half terms >> maybe half or then there's days where there's actual platinum part uh not platinum but it's like passholder days.

[00:04:40]So I don't know if it's excluding them people. So if you was to try to book on a particular Saturday or Sunday >> it might say the pass isn't bad >> or you can't go because of that day. I mean there is a big jump. So from the essentials that's 139.

[00:05:00]>> You got your gold pass which is annually which I think they do annually and monthly which I do think is a good idea.

[00:05:08]I think the >> essential you can only pay out in one hit.

[00:05:11]>> Oh okay.

[00:05:12]>> You can only pay at one uh so it's not a >> you got the uh gold pass at £239 annually. So it's 100 quid more >> or you've got the uh it's 20 a month basically.

[00:05:26]>> Okay.

[00:05:27]>> Oh, so they actually So sometimes when um you do stuff monthly, say like your car insurance, they charge you more.

[00:05:33]>> That actually doesn't work out cuz if it's 240 20 a month. Oh, that's good. So it doesn't then >> hinder you if you can't do it in a lump sum. You're not getting charged anymore for doing it on a monthly. So that's not bad.

[00:05:45]>> So what else you got with it? So that's 361 days if you do it monthly. Oh wow.

[00:05:50]Okay.

[00:05:51]>> Do it annually. It's 364 days. So you get an extra 3 days for paying it all in one which >> I mean are them three days going to be detrimental to your theme park adventures?

[00:06:04]>> No. One. It's like where we want to go on that weekend.

[00:06:08]>> Oh, it's going to be fright night this year, ain't it? Cuz we want to do fright night, guys. And I said to dad, "Oh, no." Cuz it's let us book. Well, when I went on it, it let me look to book for that weekend.

[00:06:18]>> Yeah. So, we should be all right. I'm guessing it's going to be maybe, as you say, maybe a passholder day >> or like a open No, they they won't have because your opening days are your passholders. Maybe like some days within Christmas or >> maybe >> Halloween period >> or your half term. There'll be maybe like August bank holiday you can't go and it's like damn it.

[00:06:39]>> Uh so with that, you get free parking which that is essential, >> guys. Like what is parking now on the theme parks? That's one thing I didn't look at. What's >> I think T is like 12 quid.

[00:06:51]>> I was going to say I think it No, we looked at it and for you're right, it is about£12, but premium parking it was like £25 to park right by the entrance.

[00:07:00]>> So if you can't be bothered to walk basically, >> yeah, >> you can get there, but that's not so I think we just say Merlin and we associate with theme parks, but that's parking like when we went Warick Castle because that's included that I think was about £8. So any parking it is free. So yes, you have £100 more, but if you are someone who's really going to use that pass, I would say weigh up how many car parks you're going to have and because it can all add up. I mean the one that I think wasn't worth the membership. Um we haven't done it. It was one we looked into was the National Trust and it was over £100 per person and I'm thinking there ain't no way we're going to like Fetford Forest.

[00:07:42]>> Yeah.

[00:07:42]>> To warrant that much. £100 >> in car park >> each. So that's like 400 quid cuz I don't think they did a subsidies on kids.

[00:07:52]>> Wow.

[00:07:53]>> And that's just walk around nature. I understand like the money is to go for conservation and like to protect it >> but I think that's a bit steep. But see stuff like that I think it puts people off because you go oh wow where if it was say like50 for the year >> oh >> 100 pound even >> even£100 for four >> like if they done a group ticket >> you'd sit there I think you'd be more enticed to be like well okay it was for the year >> I don't even think the trust one what's the red circle the English English heritage I don't even think that's that expensive I think that might be 70 or 80 when it was an adult when I last looked and that you're going to castles and like stuff history. Yeah.

[00:08:32]>> You're not just walking around looking at trees and nature. So yeah, that was one that put us off. But I mean, even when we go Rendlesham, if we park in the main one, >> you get stung on a car park there. But yet, if you park in all your little laybys behind and just detour into the forest, >> it's win-win.

[00:08:48]But >> we may partake. We We do find a little layby with other pigs, didn't we? We don't go to the main entrance.

[00:08:53]>> Yeah, but it's Sometimes you go over there and it's really busy. Sometimes you can't get a parking space. So, I get that.

[00:09:00]>> I probably say like maybe every one in three, we'll go and do the pay one cuz it does help the conservation, but it gets expensive if you wish to go every weekend and pay that every time >> if we've got a certain two people with us because obviously there's parks as they go around. So, >> you're closer to the main bit where >> too much walking and you start getting your ears >> you just have to say, oh, there's a room on the broom tour and then it's fine because that was the latest one down there, weren't it? We've done the UFO trail. So if anyone's in the Rendles area which I think they recently updated the longer one >> we like the discovery path. It was like I don't even think two mile was it was just a little one around the parks and then there's like the room on the broom one at the moment. So yeah if you're in that area it is a good little place to go down. But if you do park in, it's before you go in the main entrance. It's the last one on the left hand side and you see if you go past because it has all of the pig stars and that's actually a really nice little walk around.

[00:09:58]>> So yeah, you just detour >> right back on that gold pass with the also with that you get 10% off of fast tracks if you want to go into that area and 20% off of retail. So if you like your merch, but that also covers food.

[00:10:13]>> Yes. Um, your drinks if you're going to get any, your snacks, >> even your Fanta frozen, guys.

[00:10:19]>> Yeah, your photos. I believe it gets it off of there. But then you've got the photo pass with that, which is a different kettle of fish.

[00:10:25]>> As soon as you go in, you will always have the people with the cards to be like, "Do you want to buy a pass? Do you want to buy a pass?" Dan's got the annual pass. So, >> it was a bit of a kathuffle to figure it out at first, was it? But >> things easy. You would think you would have the annual pass QR, you'd scan it and be done and then everything gets uploaded. No. What you have to do is after your first ride where there's a photo at whatever park or place you go to, >> you show the pass, they scan it, they then put it onto a QR coded ticket, which then you give in at every ride and then you scan at the end and you download off that. It's not like that one QR will have everything from your thing, which I think would be a better idea because you would have all pictures together. I do think that I bought it the first year it's come out though. So I think it precisely which 100% go for it >> but yeah I think it's a little bit rusty at the minute >> and I would say I think what was it £100 for an angle?

[00:11:23]>> Yes it was >> guys it's £25 each time you go >> for the photo pass. So if you go I don't know four times in 2 months that's your 100 quid.

[00:11:36]>> Yeah.

[00:11:36]>> And then if you want to go again it's like I think before the annual pass we were spending a fortune because every time we went we was getting the pictures and I dread to think how much we spent getting the pictures. But that's a definitely a little perk that you can get as well.

[00:11:48]>> I do like that. Um but also with this I know you can get um discount off of shops. So, such as >> Yes.

[00:11:58]>> Toby Carvery.

[00:12:00]>> You've been looking into that side, ain't you?

[00:12:02]>> Uh, the Harvester, that type of um eery.

[00:12:07]>> I can't lie. I think it's just a case of do you take that?

[00:12:11]>> Just Dan's going to Dan said he's going to be getting his card out every place he goes.

[00:12:15]>> Oh, yeah. Sorry, I've got that. Sorry, we don't take that. Okay, no problem.

[00:12:18]But then there might be ones where they actually Oh, yeah. No problem. Scan it.

[00:12:21]>> Well, you never know. I didn't think the guy would take it on the fan at Frozen's.

[00:12:24]>> Yeah, of course. Like I was just going to buy the drink and then he was like, "Oh, do you have a Merlin?" I was like, "Yeah." And he was like, "Oh, what one?"

[00:12:32]And so I showed the old and he was like, "Oh, okay."

[00:12:34]>> And I was like, "Oh my god, I didn't real I thought it was just like the main eeries. I didn't realize it was like the little Yeah, definitely.

[00:12:42]>> But >> I would say guys, we noticed at Orin Towers.

[00:12:46]>> The price of the buffet was there. No wonder theme Theme Park Worldwide aren't doing the taste test this year because the prices are extortionate. It was like, what did you say? £64 >> for >> at Th Park for four.

[00:13:00]>> Yeah. For all of us to go and eat. Where was Where was it? It >> was the pizza pasta place, isn't it?

[00:13:05]There's a pizza pasta place at every single >> Oh, um, Legoland.

[00:13:10]>> Oh, okay. It would have been pizza pasta cuz that's their main thing in the resorts, was it?

[00:13:19]It wouldn't have been the fish and chip place.

[00:13:21]>> No, >> I'm sure it was cuz you'll always you'll see the big blue boards and it will normally have donuts, fries, a big slice of pizza, and then mini donuts that you can get. But it's like £16 per person.

[00:13:33]>> That is that is 100%.

[00:13:35]>> So, we always take like a big snack bag with us.

[00:13:38]>> Yeah. But I think it's Yeah, it's definitely the right way to go. rather treat oursel with a little faint of frozen at the end of the day as opposed to like everything. I think the first time we went we had food like we got chicken tenders and that and I was like >> how freaking expensive like >> I could buy chicken for this and roast it and do it and honestly >> put the prices up since then. So, >> theme park worldwide. He said that him and Charlotte aren't doing it, which you can't blame him because >> when you see people and they'll have like the hot dog or the children will have like the popcorn and then they got the candy floss and they got chocolate and pick a mix and you think, >> "Oh my god, like it's if you don't have the passes, it's expensive enough to get in." If you do on the door, guys, never please do on the door. Always book your tickets online because it's I think Alton Towers was over £60 for an on the door entry and you're just like >> I think it's almost half price online.

[00:14:30]It's like 36 or 38 I want to say roughly >> 32 I believe. was that one that you looked in.

[00:14:39]>> But the 20% off retail is a good um perk because as I say, >> but you have to check if you've got something in the sale, pay for that separately because if you do it all on one, they can't take it off of it and we've been done a few times on that. So, if you get S, do that separate and then do your full price to get your 20% off.

[00:14:58]>> So, it it is uh £32 to go in >> online. uh online but then how much is your parking? Oh yeah. £13 for your parking £25 to park outside. Yeah, >> it is a bit of a walk guys. But they have like a mon 20 closer. It's ridiculous.

[00:15:26]>> The fact that they even have a category to park closer to charge is just like come on guys. Like it's just I know you want to make your money but there's ways and means.

[00:15:37]>> I would say if you go to places that aren't the theme parks. So the main theme parks we have in here is Legoland, Chestington, Autumn Towers and Thor Park. They're your main ones because they did take all of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach stuff off.

[00:15:51]>> Yeah.

[00:15:51]>> You've got Gulivvers. That's not a part of it. Pton's Park. They're independent.

[00:15:56]Um where's the other one?

[00:16:00]Uh, is it Fantasy Island, >> Pleasurewood Hills, was it? That's not on it. That's independent. So, you have your theme park side of it and then you have like your London attractions, which is your Madame Two Swords, your London Eye, your aquarium, your dungeons. Now, I don't think they're too bad.

[00:16:16]>> You can keep Madame Two Swords.

[00:16:18]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:16:19]>> That I think's useless. If you're going to get rid of anything, get rid of that.

[00:16:24]Uh, the London Eye, I think that's a nice little touch.

[00:16:26]>> Yeah, >> the Shrek Adventures. Once you've done it, once you've done it. Um, but I do love the fact that they keep hold of them sea life aquariums.

[00:16:35]>> Yes, because there's actually quite a few of them around you.

[00:16:38]>> They're going around the country. Great Yarmouth.

[00:16:41]>> Yeah.

[00:16:41]>> And they are absolutely brilliant. Nice just to get in there and have a little wander.

[00:16:47]>> It's chill. It's a very nice d-stress going around an aquarium. You will always find like if Dan's at Alton Towers and they go on the big rides and little man don't. We're like, we're going to the aquarium. And honestly, we can just sit there and watch the fish all day. It's so relaxing. And sometimes when it's all full on with the rides, it's nice to just take a step back and relax and chill. Like you're not rushing to get on the next ride. You're not running to the other side of the park.

[00:17:09]You can literally just sit with the stingrays >> and chill.

[00:17:12]>> Chestington and Alton Towers both have a Sea Life onsite park. It's the only one that doesn't.

[00:17:20]>> Yeah. Um, but yeah, I do love a little >> Chestington has the safari as well.

[00:17:27]>> Yes, >> that's really good. That's the only one who has the zoo.

[00:17:30]>> Yes.

[00:17:31]>> Oh, >> sorry.

[00:17:32]>> That's okay. Oh, it's just to tell us the air fryer done. But honestly, I think that and sea life. There's like Blackpool. Oh, no. Cuz that come off, didn't it?

[00:17:43]>> I think there's way Sea Life >> that So, they are dotted around. I know that there's uh Skgness. I think there's one in Skgness. Uh Brighton.

[00:17:55]>> Brighton. Yes.

[00:17:56]>> Birmingham. I think there might be one in there.

[00:17:57]>> Feel like there's York in Edinburgh because they have the Edinburgh and York dungeons. See, I think the dungeons are good things to have on.

[00:18:04]>> Yes.

[00:18:04]>> Something different. The only thing that wasn't included, if you go to attractions like we done more castle, the dungeon inside was an added extra because it had been put in I think by Merlin and it wasn't the people who they bought or rent castle off.

[00:18:21]>> But I don't think that's fair >> cuz it was another I think it was six quid a ticket for me.

[00:18:26]>> I think once you if you've got the pass >> there was a lot in War Castle that was extra. So if you do go to that >> you can see the shows for free but you had the archery that was an upcharge >> the axe throwing >> the dungeons >> and there was like a little jousting thing over in the back corner that was payable as well.

[00:18:47]>> Was it really then?

[00:18:48]>> Yeah. So they do free tours inside War Castle. Um the meeting point is like in the big green uh square. So you can have that for free. You get the Birds of Prey show for free which honestly >> amazing. Um you had the catapult for free.

[00:19:03]>> Yeah.

[00:19:04]>> Um so yeah, just check just don't go in there and think, oh, and then they say to you, it's £8, please. And you're like, oh, okay. Um dungeons I think are a really good one. We done the London dungeons. There's York and Edinburgh to do >> and then there's also what was we had Beatrix Potter I think has been removed.

[00:19:27]There was a Beatrix Potter thing, I'm sure. Peter Rabbit. Yes, that was up in uh Blackpool. That's right.

[00:19:33]>> But they have Cadbury World. That's on the list to do this year, isn't it?

[00:19:36]>> Yeah, that's the only thing that I haven't done or done any research about to be fair.

[00:19:40]>> But Cadbury's we can do because I don't think it's Far from War at Castle when we was up there. It's maybe 20 minutes if that.

[00:19:48]>> So I think that that is definitely Oh, I don't have any trips as of yet there. So you have your Alton Towers and your Cadbury. Cadbury. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

[00:20:00]>> Okay.

[00:20:01]>> Then you have Chestington.

[00:20:02]>> You have right Legoland Discovery Centers, which I saw one of them and you said they're not like actual Windsor, are they?

[00:20:09]>> I don't No, they're not. Um I reckon they're cuz I think I watched Theme Park Worldwide. Go to the Is it Manchester?

[00:20:18]>> Is it like inside a shopping arena? I feel like >> Yes, I think we did. And I think it's like where they've built Lego.

[00:20:26]Oh, okay.

[00:20:26]>> So, you it's like Lego cities within >> if anyone's done a Legoland discovery.

[00:20:33]Let us know what it's like for Manchester or Birmingham. Then you have obviously Windsor and Madam Toss. So, the Sea Life Blackpool has stayed on here.

[00:20:41]>> Ah, >> but they've took all the Pleasure Beach.

[00:20:43]Is it Pleasure Beach?

[00:20:45]>> Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Yeah.

[00:20:46]>> I don't know if that was actually on it, but I do know that the Blackpool Tower was on it. Oh, a lot of people say that Blackpool, like from what I've had said to me, they're like, "Don't >> judge a book by its cover. It might not be the nicest of areas to go to, but the actual amusement side of it, like you can't knock it." So, that's on the list.

[00:21:05]It's just quite a bit of a drive for us.

[00:21:07]I didn't realize how far up it was.

[00:21:10]>> It's well up there.

[00:21:11]>> I didn't actually realize there's 2 4 6 8 10 sea lice.

[00:21:17]>> Okay. We have Birmingham which I think is very nearby the discovery center. I feel like it's all in that surrounding Blackpool, Brighton, Great Yarmouth, Weedon, Huntington.

[00:21:29]>> Never heard >> Llmond.

[00:21:31]>> Okay. Yeah.

[00:21:32]>> London, Manchester, Scarra and Waymouth.

[00:21:35]Then we have Shrek. Then we've got the Edinburgh Dungeons and the London Dungeons and the York Dungeons. Then you have Thor Park, Borick Castle, and London Eye. I would actually like to see another castle on there. You know what would be really really good to put in there? An add-on, but it would never happen.

[00:21:52]>> Go on.

[00:21:52]>> Tara London.

[00:21:54]>> Oh, okay.

[00:21:55]>> But that would never ever cuz that's like royal. They're not going to sell or do anything with Merlin, are they?

[00:22:02]>> Did we go through the platinum?

[00:22:04]>> No. So guys, we've got 139 essential.

[00:22:08]>> Yeah.

[00:22:08]>> 239 if paid in one go for gold. If not, 20 quid a month. Same thing. You just gain three days. And then platinum. What have we got?

[00:22:16]>> Platum is annual is £299.

[00:22:19]>> Oo.

[00:22:21]>> And it is 20 £23.99. £24.

[00:22:25]>> Yeah.

[00:22:25]>> For a month. And that gets you 364 days of the year. Free parking, 10% off fast tracks.

[00:22:33]>> Uh it had money off, but it didn't say how much.

[00:22:37]>> Yeah.

[00:22:38]>> Uh which I'm sure last time I looked it was the same.

[00:22:41]>> You said 25, weren't it?

[00:22:43]>> Yeah, that's what I'm sure it was. and uh your cups. So, you get a cup with two refills, I believe.

[00:22:50]>> And then every time after that, it's £8, I think, to fill >> to have the day filling up.

[00:22:56]>> Yeah.

[00:22:56]>> Which >> that I think for platinum they could because isn't it with the cups you can choose which theme park you want the cup for?

[00:23:04]>> Yes.

[00:23:05]>> Because your cousin and her boys, they all had the ones for the set ones.

[00:23:10]>> But I I I think that's a limit. Like if you're paying Well, that's another 60 quid on top of that.

[00:23:16]>> Mhm.

[00:23:17]>> You're not getting any extra off of cuz I think the thing is, wasn't that the argument that they bought the merch down to 20 to match gold?

[00:23:26]>> Yeah.

[00:23:27]>> So, you're not getting anything extra off the merch. So, they reduced your discount by 5%. But then they gave you the cup with the two refills cuz the refills I don't think used to be in with it. I think it was just the cup. What they also have done with this is if I'm sure you can get into Alton Towers early, but you need to go >> Oh, okay.

[00:23:51]>> You need to go to the >> hotel entrance.

[00:23:54]>> That's right. And they let you in a little bit earlier >> cuz when we stayed at the hotel with your cousin and his boy, >> we got in early cuz we was at the hotel.

[00:24:05]I think it was like instead of 10:00, you got in at 9:00 or something.

[00:24:08]>> Yeah, you get that anyway.

[00:24:09]>> Oh, okay. So if you stay on site, you get the >> regardless of your pass or Oh, okay guys. So if you stay at the hotel, >> that's >> you get the entry.

[00:24:20]>> Uh with the Orton Towers, they do have the splash park as well, which that's really really good. Really good.

[00:24:26]>> I've not ventured into the splash park or front side of it. And they have Cabbies at all towers for the Lands like younger Litlands, don't they? CB's Land.

[00:24:36]>> Yeah.

[00:24:36]>> And they have a hotel CBS.

[00:24:38]>> Yes, they do. And then they had pods.

[00:24:42]>> Your cousin stayed in the pod and said it was very good.

[00:24:44]>> Yes.

[00:24:44]>> And lodges. So I went, we haven't actually seen whereabouts the pods are cuz when you went to the main hotel, you walk past like a splash that was on the entrance and then CBB's was kind of you looked out of the hotel and could see it across the river.

[00:25:00]>> But the pods must be >> back >> out out.

[00:25:03]>> If anyone again has done them or stayed at the thing, we had a polar bear themed room. Four of us in this room with a giant polar bear. Was a very eventful evening. But the entrance bit was quite quirky, wasn't it? We went down for a drink and you can get um delivery there, guys. We had deliver come to us. I mean, >> well, I think we went down to the the bar and they was really backed up with dinners. There was no dinner reservation. So, we was like, "No problem."

[00:25:32]>> Couldn't even get in with the roller coaster restaurant, would it? We tried and it was like no. We just sat up in the foyer, ordered a pizza from a local pizza joint and then um I stood outside to collect and as I've come walking in there was a chap then went where did you get them from? I was like well you ordered them in from uh Uber Eats >> and he went can you do that? I said well I was going to take it off mate which he was like fair enough >> and then we all just went back and chilled at the room and ate our pizza.

[00:26:02]>> We did and it was bloody lovely. That was actually a very good weekend, guys.

[00:26:05]As well, if you want to see the chained oak tree, it's literally 10 15 minutes if that.

[00:26:11]>> Yeah, >> we parked in like a little pub car park and walked across and it was literally a straight road down because the first place took us god knows where it took us.

[00:26:19]>> Then we had to find another one and that was just from reading people's recommendations where to stop, where to go. Went through there and we saw the deers, weren't it? The deers were opposite.

[00:26:29]>> It was lovely. And it is definitely like they show you in Hex with the reenactment of it.

[00:26:34]>> Yes. It's almost as if it's like an actual part of they almost brings it to life like it's actually really happened.

[00:26:42]Obviously, it's happened to a part.

[00:26:45]>> See what part do you think is where it goes a little bit?

[00:26:48]>> They've just changed the tree up.

[00:26:54]>> Do you really think Do you think there's no truth behind Hex?

[00:26:57]>> You'll never know. So, I'm not going to be sitting.

[00:27:00]>> Oh, 100%.

[00:27:01]>> I mean, because I didn't see what you'd gain out of just wrapping a tree, >> but it could be a case of it could be the oldest tree here. So, they put chains around it to keep it together and then all of a sudden, no.

[00:27:12]>> It's just >> Guys, do you believe the story of Hex if you've been there? Do you believe? I believe.

[00:27:17]>> Why not? But I would say looking at it all in all, if you are someone who goes and say not necessarily to the theme parks, if you go into London and you want a day out or a weekend out, them attractions themselves can be expensive.

[00:27:32]Shrek, Madam to Swords, you're easily looking into 30, 40 quid for a ticket.

[00:27:35]So if you've got four of them, you're looking almost like 160, 200 quid.

[00:27:40]>> Yeah, some are worth it, some are not.

[00:27:42]>> As I would agree with Dan that Madam Swords, I don't think it's worth it. We done it once very chaotically and I think I didn't really recognize hardly anyone that was around it.

[00:27:51]>> Yeah.

[00:27:51]>> I can't wait to do the madam swords and crack off.

[00:27:54]>> Oh my god. And no, it doesn't give you any uh any privileges there. But I do believe it gives you money off.

[00:28:02]So you can't go over there with passholders and get in. But I do think that you might be able to get money off.

[00:28:09]>> Oh, okay. So, I think like if you was to use um the pass over in um I can't think of a Legoland uh >> Lego. Is there one in China?

[00:28:22]>> Right. Try that. Say that. I think if you was to show that or have a like a discount, you might get a discount >> to it. Okay. My breath.

[00:28:32]>> Okay. Thank you. Oh, okay. I didn't realize that.

[00:28:35]>> Yeah. I would say if you're so looking at that it's 20 pound a month or 24 even if you went to one thing a month you're making your money >> yes >> like in tenfold that's without your perks of your parking your money off your retail your food everything like that >> and I think there is a good mixture >> with the theme park with the sea life you've got a castle dungeons I would as I say I would love to see a few more castles in there because everything seems to have >> a roller coaster or scare factor >> and the only ones that seem to be walking around is like Legoland in the sculpture bit.

[00:29:17]>> Yeah.

[00:29:18]>> But you still have the roller coasters and then your sea life is like your calming bit. The castle I think was very very good just for like the history, the location, what they had on offer.

[00:29:27]>> Yeah.

[00:29:28]>> Very very nice. I think in May half term maybe beginning or end one of them they said they was having the live jousting.

[00:29:36]Do you remember on the back four call there was the posters.

[00:29:38]>> But if you had to say I mean Danny's a Merlin expert here. What would you say is your favorite attraction out of all of them on offer?

[00:29:48]>> Um see I have two.

[00:29:54]>> Two?

[00:29:55]>> Yeah. personal preference. If I was to go, so if you've got a day off of work, >> Yeah.

[00:30:01]>> and it's just you.

[00:30:04]>> Yeah.

[00:30:05]>> I've got one that I'd go to by myself and I've got one that I'd go to with the family.

[00:30:09]>> Okay.

[00:30:10]>> Which by myself for park cuz I could go ride that then I would go on and I wouldn't stop. But going with the family would be um Alton Towers cuz there's rides that you like. rides that >> both like they like their own individual rides. So >> nothing being left out cuz Little Man's still got his hype up a little for the big >> just over 1.3. So >> but he did do a few at Thor Park which we didn't think they would do.

[00:30:40]>> He did um what did he done? Flying fish.

[00:30:43]>> Lovely fish.

[00:30:44]>> There was some spinning little cups.

[00:30:46]>> Oh god, guys.

[00:30:47]>> The banana boat.

[00:30:48]>> Dogbles tea party.

[00:30:50]>> Traumatized. I was absolutely traumatized. It was only me and little man in it on first and he said, "I won't spin it much." And I just had flashbacks of Guliver's Land when we was in the Flying Monkeys. I won't press the button and flip us. And then next thing we know, we're doing the flipping all in the air. We're the only ones going around because we didn't realize if you press the handle, you just started going both ways. And then our teacup looked like it was on steroids going around cuz everyone was just doing it as it was.

[00:31:18]And yeah, we were spinning around.

[00:31:20]dodge. Enjoy. We did. We always have fun on the dodges. I like the more zooped up dodges. The ones in the theme park seem to be quite relaxed. If you go to like the firework shows, then dodge on steroids. And that's the ones that are like like head on bumping. Yes, please.

[00:31:37]But and if there is one that you want to do, >> want to do them all, but um I would do Cadbury World. That's the >> say that would be on my list. Cadbury.

[00:31:49]What about you with your uh what would you >> if you had a day off of day off of work where you going?

[00:31:58]>> Just you >> just me. I'd probably say Auton, >> but Thor Park is closer and I do like a few at Thor Park. Like I could just ride Swarm over and over again. I try and conquer my fears for like some of them to like I've got vendettas against some of them cuz I'm like no, we're not we're not we're not leaving it the way it got left. I've got to go back on that. It's like personal. Um, but I do think Cadbury World would be a good one to try. But if not, saying that, if we had like one year here, you'd find me a sea life.

[00:32:29]>> Yeah, I hear it.

[00:32:30]>> I'd just go off and do a sea life >> or the dungeons.

[00:32:34]>> Um, would you tell them which ones that we pay for?

[00:32:38]>> So, we have the gold.

[00:32:39]>> We do have the gold.

[00:32:41]>> We've never gone platinum even on our first one.

[00:32:43]>> No.

[00:32:43]>> So, this is our second year. First year we had it done annually and then this year we've gone monthly. As I say, there's no cost. You're not like penalized if you want to pay it monthly.

[00:32:56]They don't charge you anything extra, which I think is actually really good because it is a big lot for four people to whack out at first.

[00:33:03]>> Yeah.

[00:33:03]>> It is a big chunk.

[00:33:04]>> Mhm.

[00:33:05]>> But by doing it monthly, it's you just think of it like a phone bill really.

[00:33:09]Average phone bill is about 40 quid. So couple month. Something that you got to bear in mind is for half the year you don't use your passes because they shut down from >> or the parks do.

[00:33:23]>> Yes.

[00:33:24]>> But not the sea lives.

[00:33:25]>> Yeah.

[00:33:26]>> Castles or dungeons or London.

[00:33:28]>> Granted, but what's the So take Madam Two Swords out the way.

[00:33:33]>> Yeah.

[00:33:34]>> You ain't going to do that. So that leaves Shrek, >> uh, London Eye London Eye, >> Sea Life, >> Sea Life, and London Dungeons. So that leaves that that's what we'll be doing.

[00:33:48]Like that's what you can do. Obviously, there's different >> Yeah, but I wouldn't mind jumping in a car doing road trips of the different sea life.

[00:33:55]>> It's a long way to go, Lman just for a bloody sea life.

[00:33:58]>> We do that with Broley of intent. I'll be like, we got to get that little boat over to Lman to go up there. But like if you're in like neighboring areas like if we was up north in York or nearby it's like I think with the great y of one we didn't even have it booked. We literally just went off of whim after a vineyard actually >> funny enough >> went down to the pier >> and then was like oh there's a sea life.

[00:34:22]>> Oh that's on our pass. Okay let's see if we can book and got in there.

[00:34:28]>> Yeah. So I think sometimes it does help because you can make the most of a day without even realizing it and then it'll open your eyes to some other bits i.e. Cadbury world the war castle cuz I don't think if that wasn't on there I don't feel that would be somewhere we would have gone.

[00:34:43]>> Yes.

[00:34:44]>> So it also gives an eye opener to see what else is out there to do. But I would like to see a few more castles or something on there. Or even like Heaver Castle I think would be a lovely one to put on there.

[00:34:55]>> He that was a good one. I like to leave a parcel going into the old wheat sheath pub after and having a sharing Sunday platter. Oh, my mouth is watering.

[00:35:06]>> But guys, if you have them, what one have you got? What one would you go for?

[00:35:12]Have you had platinum and demoted down to the gold because you think that the perk is actually not worth it at the moment? I do think they got a lot of backlash about that fast track stuff.

[00:35:22]>> Yeah, even with the essential pass. Um, no, it wasn't the essential pass, the um the access.

[00:35:31]>> Yeah.

[00:35:32]>> Um, they got a lot of sh with that.

[00:35:35]>> What do you think they could do to improve their circumstances, >> whether it be just around? I mean, you got I understand that they are updating and they're working their backsides off because obviously Universal's coming over 2030.

[00:35:49]>> Oh, yeah. You think that's going to be a big hit to them, don't you? I don't think it'd be a big hit to them, but I think it's going to be a wakeup call.

[00:35:59]>> Now, do you think Merlin would collaborate and put Universal on the pass or do you think that's or you think this will be different?

[00:36:05]>> Yeah, I think you'll have people that will go along and they'll be like Bedford to Alton Towers is say an hour or two hours maybe, >> right? that they will create a pass where you can get into Universal and you can get into >> um >> Towers Towers.

[00:36:26]>> Oh, I didn't think of that.

[00:36:29]What's that? That's 5 years away though, Amy.

[00:36:31]>> Yeah, I mean there's loads of stuff that will happen that we've not even thought of since then. Um but yeah, I do think there'll be something along the lines of that.

[00:36:43]>> But they're going to be big eyes.

[00:36:44]That scares me cuz that's a whole new level. I'm like, "No." It's like America coming to the UK and I'm like, >> but I don't um I don't listen to hearay about or or any of the rumors or anything like that cuz >> Okay.

[00:36:58]>> I think sometimes you get invested in it and you're like, "No." And it doesn't happen and it's almost disappointing. But >> the only thing I've heard there's supposed to be a Back to the Future section.

[00:37:10]>> That's not doing a Harry Potter world.

[00:37:12]>> That's That's facts. That's >> okay.

[00:37:14]>> But I was I was hearing that they actually might look at selling Alton Towers >> and uh concentrate more on down south cuz obviously >> Well, you have that in the north.

[00:37:29]>> Exactly. Which >> what would happen if they sold Mr. Orton Towers?

[00:37:35]>> It'd go to an independent like Pleasurewood Hills.

[00:37:37]>> Oh, okay. So you'd have a familyowned >> Alton Towers, but it's just just rumors.

[00:37:45]So >> guys, I've been creating and putting it in motion for a '90s roller coaster to come about. I've been giving my feedback and little man's doing it on his iPad.

[00:37:57]Like I said, we're going to put this to Merlin and we're going to create a '9s throwback roller coasters where we're going to have like Tweenies, Teletubbies, Clifford the Big Red Dog.

[00:38:07]I'm telling you that would be the music on Bluey. I'm sorry. I felt like I was back in the 90s.

[00:38:14]>> Like I thought like DJ Boon in the mix was gonna come on. So yeah, who knows if um Alton House is going up for sale. I mean I don't think I'd get much leverage if I traded me house in for it. But you never know. You might get like a constituency of people and we'll all come together and buy >> imagine that. I would like to keep the upkeep.

[00:38:35]>> Oh god. play up people with that.

[00:38:37]Christ.

[00:38:38]>> Mom, do you want to do a bit of gardening?

[00:38:41]>> Set of scissors over by the gardens.

[00:38:44]>> Mom, I showed her the um video of Storm actually the other day and I was like, oh, this is what we done. And she was like, oh no. And I was like, no way. As soon as it turned, she went, why is the camera gone upside down? I said, cuz that's you. She went, no, no. I was like, I'll take I said, cuz I've got extra days holiday now. I'll take one and I'll take you to the theme park. She was like, I won't come back. I said, "What do you mean you won't come back?"

[00:39:05]I was like, "You're very dramatic." I said, "There's dodge." She was like, "Don't think I'll be able to get in a dodge room now." She said, "Let alone get out of it." And I was like, "I got to take you to a feed park, Mom." We went on um the dragon at Legoland, weren't it? And I'm sitting there thinking, "Mom could do this." And we've done the first drop and I was like, >> "Oh." And then all I heard was the second drop's even bigger. And I was like, "Oh yeah, there's no way mom could do that." That's actually quite fast for a little. Bear in mind like a cart behind the poor little lab was so sorry for him.

[00:39:36]>> He was only about three or four.

[00:39:37]>> Oh yeah. He was a baby.

[00:39:39]>> And all you can hear is you'll like it.

[00:39:41]You'll like it. This kid is not liking it.

[00:39:43]>> He is screaming he is not liking it.

[00:39:46]>> Yeah.

[00:39:46]>> Cuz mom said, "Oh well can you just tell him like when you get to a point I'll get off now." And I'm like >> imagine getting halfway up the lift you'll [ __ ] here and being like oh no I'm done now. I'd like to get off.

[00:39:56]>> The views are lovely but this ain't a bit of me. Cuz I said with the dragon, mom would do the bit before it got to the lifter. Be like, "Driver, I'd like to get off now. I've seen the nice Lego pieces." No, madam, you got to stay on for the ride. And she was like, "Oh, you can't just get off." I'm like, "No, mom, you can't just get off."

[00:40:12]>> Imagine that.

[00:40:13]>> I just keep having the thing of um the theme park in Ireland with the nan and they didn't tell her it was a fast ride and it went backwards and she was mortified. Bless her. Absolutely mortified. But yes, if you guys have them or as a Dan said, what do you think they could do to maybe try and entice the people back in? Because they took the Blackpool off but haven't put anything into a place. And I think that's >> kept the money the same though.

[00:40:38]>> Yeah. Like you've decreased the amount of attraction. So there's got to be something give and take. And don't say a fast track, but actually you can't use it over 90 minutes. You've got to queue with everyone else. I think that's a P take.

[00:40:48]>> Definitely. Before that they they had um the Bear Grills Adventure Place at >> Oh yeah. Was it Le or Manchester?

[00:40:57]>> It was the Birmingham SC SSE >> Arena.

[00:41:02]>> Yeah, >> we didn't do that.

[00:41:04]>> Yeah. And it was like we bought it uh in say the >> June I think we bought >> and then the next month they got rid of it. I was like damn >> yay. But >> I think, as I say, it's not for everyone. Before meeting Dan, I you never would have caught me with a Merlin P. You probably would have caught me at a castle or the dungeons with mom. You'd never have caught me in a theme park because that just wasn't Dan got brought up with theme parks. I got brought up with zoos and museums. Like, it was very >> a different thing. But >> as much as I've tried to embrace it, as I say, there's still bits where I'm like, "No, thank you." Like, that scares me. I'd like to still keep my life for a few more years. Thank you. But this little thrillseker here has no fear of anything.

[00:41:50]>> Sorry.

[00:41:52]>> I'll be like everyone's going around and Dan's like there with his hands up and I'm like crazy. Absolute crazy.

[00:41:57]>> I was just watching the shits and gigs thing jumping off like the 10 meters. I think they done 5 m and and I s >> Well, you did cuz you done it in Mexico, darling. I kept running around the coast. Remember?

[00:42:11]>> I don't know how high it was.

[00:42:15]height of a house.

[00:42:19]>> Maybe >> double of this. Maybe to the top of our house.

[00:42:28]>> So, yes, he is the thrillseker. I'm the thrillseker in me books. I like to read about stuff and everything and watch the videos of it. But actually, no, my thrill seeking is ziplining.

[00:42:36]>> You know, >> that's my little buzz. I like my zipline. Dan's just like someone like when Mr. beans on a roller coaster and he's just everyone's screaming around and Dan's just like, "Yeah, okay. I get a buzz."

[00:42:49]I'm like, "Okay." I still get the jitters for it. Even though I've done the rides, I still get the jitters of them.

[00:42:54]>> The only ride that has actually made me not scared, not scared at all, but you know that the butter feeling and the >> apprehension.

[00:43:07]>> Yeah. Is um Hyperia.

[00:43:11]>> Okay. Like when when you're in the queue for that, it's like, "Okay, okay." And then when you're sitting down, you're like, "Okay." And then you get to the top, you're like, "Okay, >> we're at the top now. We got to get down."

[00:43:24]>> No, that's not You can't You can't hold on.

[00:43:28]>> I don't like Hyperia seating. Even when we sat in it at the weekend, I was like, "No, cuz I there's nothing here for me.

[00:43:35]I need to be supported."

[00:43:36]>> Thrill.

[00:43:39]I don't I see that as death.

[00:43:41]>> You You ain't going to die on it.

[00:43:43]>> Well, you never know. There's always a first. Look at the new place in Universal that opened up, the Epic World, and they had deaths on that.

[00:43:51]>> And why?

[00:43:52]>> Because people had health conditions.

[00:43:54]>> If you got a health condition, why are you going on that?

[00:43:56]>> Well, I don't know if I've got a dodgy heart, but it'll probably I'd find out when it was too late.

[00:44:02]>> Okay. I've got some advice for you once this is off.

[00:44:06]>> No, I I'd like a strap, please. I'd go there with my own seat belt if I could.

[00:44:09]Just Madam, what are you doing? I'm just securing myself even more. I'm putting I've got like a life vest on. I'm like I'm safe. Madam, are you okay? Armbands the lot. I I need to be safe, mate.

[00:44:21]>> Imagine that. Grabbing yourself out a ratchet strap. Just >> madam. No, it's all right. I'm not damaging it. Putting it across between my legs anywhere. Yeah, that that just scares me. If it had seats like Swarm, I think yes, I would be scared shitless, but I would be more inclined to give it a go. The fact I like something to hold on to.

[00:44:42]>> You got the >> It's there. It's not here. I feel safe here. So safe that for the saw, I wedged my hands in between the bars to try and keep my glasses on.

[00:44:51]>> Yeah. But see, we we've >> we've conquered that one.

[00:44:55]>> Dan gets me glasses strap.

[00:44:57]>> Yes. I look like such a little twon walking around with that cuz I just have this little flappy bit hanging out and then you get in the queue and I have to do it tighten it up but I have to give it a few minutes because then when I breathe it mists up so I can't see anything so I have to give it like a cooling down period.

[00:45:15]>> Yeah.

[00:45:16]>> But >> what would you rather not being able to see or >> Oh no I much prefer being Well do I prefer being able to see sometimes that that's the scary thing. Before it was just blurry and I felt sick. Then I went to the stage of just feeling sick. Um I'm not at the stage where I can have hands off. The only time you'll actually probably see me with hands off in a ride is for the picture.

[00:45:36]>> So I will judge where the pictures are and when it comes around I'll be like woo then it goes back on like smiler.

[00:45:43]You just see the hands like yeah and then that's straight back on through the thing. The only one actually I don't mind I can't do it all the way. The drop still gets me on swarm, but once I'm down, then I will either be like like I do like my little hand signs and I do still scream all the way around. I am that annoy that annoying person and I normally say to the people behind her in front, sorry, I'm going to scream.

[00:46:07]They're like, "No worries." And then on Galactica, I got put in with um I went single rider and I was with um a set of people that had never done it before and they was like, "What's it like?" And I was like, "It's okay." Hey, like you feel like you're flying. And the minute the chair went forward, THEY WAS LIKE, "AH." AND I was like, "No, no, no. It's fine. Like, it's meant to do this." And they're like, "What do you mean?" I was like, "No, you're meant to do this." And as we're going up, they're like, "Oh my god. Oh my god." And then when it turned, they was like, "Why is it turning?" I was like, "It's okay. It's fine. It's fine." And then I was like, "Right, the picture's coming now." And as we went down, they all done their pose and I had the picture with the lady and I was like, "How did you find that?"

[00:46:42]And they was like, "Oh my god." Because Galactica, there's nothing like that in the UK bar to Towers. And I think that would be a real shame if they got rid of I'd actually be really upset if they got rid of that one cuz there was talks.

[00:46:53]>> I think it was rumors more to the point that um >> maybe rebrand it >> like an April Fool's type of >> I thought it's the one bloody ride that I actually really do like and they want to get rid of it. Maybe rebrand it just for the area. But I think the purpose is >> I think they uh >> I love that.

[00:47:12]>> Try and pull it in with the the Nemesis theme.

[00:47:16]>> Okay. Out of all four parks, what is your favorite ride >> out of all of them?

[00:47:22]>> Uh, I've give him a tough one and now I'm thinking, Jesus, what's mine? Um, >> I think Hyperior for the Thrill Factor >> over everything. Even over Wickerman.

[00:47:37]>> See, that was that was my other one. If >> Cuz you never done that.

[00:47:41]>> Yeah.

[00:47:42]>> And he still does the same pose as he goes down. He's like, "Yeah. Yeah.

[00:47:47]>> Yeah. Up in the air. I can't lie.

[00:47:50]>> Oh, out of all of them, that's that one.

[00:47:51]>> Mhm. You have to do it.

[00:47:53]>> What would you say is your worst ride?

[00:47:56]>> Whether it be worse, like you just don't get a thrill or like you don't like it.

[00:48:00]Uh, I tell you I'll tell you the not that I don't like it or anything was um the choo choo train at um >> Alton Towers cuz when I when I Yeah. When I got stuck.

[00:48:17]>> So me and Sham, we've sat next to each other. We don't normally have a problem, but I was sitting with my legs straight and the ladies come around and she's forced the bar down and it's not clicking.

[00:48:32]>> So, if I twist my legs a little bit, we're still absolutely perfect in perfect. And >> it clicks down a few times, >> but >> she didn't give me a chance to move my legs. So, as I've gone, let me move me legs, she's gone, click. So, I'm like, great. and it only clicked once. Well, as we've gone round, it's like, okay, no problem. But then it comes to getting out. So, now my feet are uh flat and my knees are under the bar, but I can't push it down to release the pin to be able to get us out. And I actually had bruises across the top of my legs because of that. I had to try and like maneuver myself and slide up out so that you could turn your legs for them to get the because we come back and it was like I'm not going again because they was loading the people back in for it and it was like we're not out yet and I'd managed to squiggle and I think I'd just got me bum on the top of the carriage and then Dan managed to put his things and the man come with the thing and >> but that see with that like >> you was agitated. Yeah, I was I was fuming cuz at the end of the day, you start building um you start getting agitated.

[00:49:43]>> Yeah.

[00:49:44]>> You got the people that are waiting to get onto your train and you're sitting there like, "Look, I'm trying to get out." They're like, >> "Come on." Um Yeah. I I couldn't go nowhere. But >> don't think we'd be able to do anyway runway mind race together for a while.

[00:50:00]>> Oh, I don't mind. No, we can. As long as I move my legs. Yeah. If I move my legs, I'm fine. But >> yeah, that was I could have flipped my [ __ ] there.

[00:50:11]>> Um, my worst ride is Colossus cuz it's the only ride that's made me cry. I think it's very rackety. I don't think the seating is comfortable getting into the seat. The seat itself, the side panels, if you hit your head like I was like a little pinball. I didn't like that at all. My favorite ride.

[00:50:33]So I say favorite in terms of so I have one that I would say is a favorite but then I have another that is a favorite because I probably get more of a through on it.

[00:50:47]>> Okay.

[00:50:48]>> So my favorite is Nemesis Reborn.

[00:50:51]>> Okay.

[00:50:51]>> Like I could do that was the one when you was with your cousins toxicator. I was like I'm going Nemesis by and the two of them was just like she doesn't do rides and she's going single rider. Like I was off. I was gone. And that's when you know I like a ride.

[00:51:03]>> But the one that gives me the most thrill I would say Oh.

[00:51:12]>> Oh, that's actually hard cuz I just bought two now.

[00:51:15]>> So both.

[00:51:16]>> Swarm gives me the thrill after that first drop.

[00:51:18]>> Yeah.

[00:51:19]>> But believe it or not, I actually really like Smiler.

[00:51:22]>> Yeah.

[00:51:22]>> And that was the one I hadn't done many at Alton Towers previously. And then when we went with Dan's cousin and his boy, I was like, I can't be that person who says, "No, I'm not gonna do that."

[00:51:36]So to be polite, they'd be like, "Do you want to go on this ride?" I'm like, "Yeah, sure." And we got to that part of Smiler and Oblivion and they was like, "We're going on Oblivion." And I was like, "Yeah, sure." And my thing in Rise, put me upside down, I don't care.

[00:51:50]I don't like sudden drops like detonators and drop towers. I can't do my belly like.

[00:51:56]So the fact of oblivion where you're like drop I was kind of in the queue like okay and then it was like right and we're back row and I'm like great okay make sure that glasses are on freaking tie and that photo the very first photo Dan's like smiling. I'm just like like I that scared me. Would I do it again? Maybe because it's so quick.

[00:52:26]That's the thing.

[00:52:26]>> I tell you what, >> but Oh, [ __ ] is just thinking about that drop into the black hole.

[00:52:32]>> This part here, would you insert some photos?

[00:52:36]>> I can do.

[00:52:40]>> We'll have a look.

[00:52:40]>> I should be able to. I don't want to get other people in there or anything who don't want to be present. I'll see if I can crop or anything.

[00:52:46]>> Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

[00:52:47]>> If not, I'll do some YouTube shorts on it cuz I might be able to condense down.

[00:52:52]I did do um I don't know if it's on the shorts already on TikTok, but I did do us on Swarm.

[00:52:57]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:52:58]>> Where I'm like >> getting away the first one.

[00:53:01]>> But yeah, Smiler. I was I know it's a long time that it had its accident, but that's when someone says the Smiler for me that's the first thing you think of is the accident, >> not the ride itself.

[00:53:12]>> I believe that was 2005, 2015. I know it was a long time, but >> like for me that was if someone said to me the smiler I just think of the newspaper and the articles and the crash and people lost legs and that and I was like >> but when we was queuing up it's like the and I can't lie by the end of it I thought oh my god I feel like I'm in like an asylum just listening to this noise >> the whole thing >> concept of it >> and then when we got in we was in the queue and Dan said you'll be okay cuz the cushioning he was trying to tell me that like there's cuz I said my head's going to go like colossus and I didn't want that. And he said, "No, it's got padding la." So when we sat in, I think we was front rowing the very first carriage we went on.

[00:53:53]>> And he was like, "Look." And I could see like if my head was going to go, they actually did have some padding, so it wasn't too bad. And I got to the halfway point and was like, "Oh, that's done."

[00:54:04]And Dan was like, "Read the sign." And it's something that says like halfway or something in it. And I was like, "Oh, oh, we've got to go a bit more." And a very good advice from you darling was just look at the track because I think if you look around you get so disorientated and your eyes can't keep up with what's happening to what you're seeing then I get eye pains, headaches and it's just not a great thing. I come off wanting to be sick and it's just not enjoyable. So look just look at the track and it's like you're looking at it and I'm thinking what the hell am I doing? I think at one point I was shouting what am I doing? What am I doing? Like oh my god. But I would definitely say the smiler the last 20% on the second half is where it can get a bit >> the second half up and over the ver well up over the drop. That's it goes >> you do get thrown about a little bit and that's the bit that scares me because >> I don't know I do get very worried about like your head rattling because I just think your skull's only you're whacking that at 100 mph or however fast it is like it feels horrendous.

[00:55:08]>> Yeah. You'll go >> in a car.

[00:55:11]>> Oh, put me in a drifting rally and all that like and zipline and but it's like when they say with um Rita and Stealth, oh naugh to 80.

[00:55:20]>> Yeah.

[00:55:20]>> And it's so funny because it's like well you go faster in a car or you go to that speed whatever. But >> my little feet 500 can't do it in 2 seconds. As much as I will try, she cannot do that. And I think like I don't like launch rides like that. I don't like the No, I just like I don't know. I don't like drops and I don't like instant launches. Put me upside down or whatever. I don't mind. But then I've had rides where we've gone on like Smiler. I was fine the first few times and then the last time I went on I come off and I don't know what happened but I felt really shaky and like almost on the verge of tears and I was like I don't know what's happening and I don't know if that was adrenaline or I had eaten but it was just like even Walking Dead I'm fine with Walking Dead normally the last time I done it I come off and I was like I'm going to be sick.

[00:56:09]>> Yes.

[00:56:09]>> So it does all vary. I think we were speaking about this with the lens, weren't it? Like the day, the weather, what you've eaten, drunk, like it all plays a part in how you feel on the rides on the day. But >> who knows? I mean, would you ever catch me in America on rides? I hate to disappoint. I don't think, guys. James and Ben would be very, very disappointed in me saying that. I'm sorry, guys. You guys love Orlando and all of the Disney and that. I I don't think I could do that. I'm too scared. I don't think I could even do Universal.

[00:56:40]Okay, >> this will be where it'll be like, oh, in 5 years later, Dan's putting me in universal bed for cheer like strapping me in. You're in there. Let's go. And I'm like, no. But we have actually really detailed, guys. We've sat here.

[00:56:54]Damn, we've been talking for almost an hour.

[00:56:59]>> We only thought it's going to be like a 20 minute video.

[00:57:01]>> Do apologize.

[00:57:03]>> Better make sure me dinner ain't burn.

[00:57:04]Oh, that would be a good thing, wouldn't it? Guys, if you did enjoy the video, you know what to do. Hit that thumbs up and subscribe down below. And I say, leave us a comment, anything. Are you a thrill seeker? Have you been America?

[00:57:13]Have you been into parks in Europe? Are you like how I was a few years ago?

[00:57:17]Like, hell no. We're we're staying to the ground. And if you have Merlin, let us know what you have. Or do you have any other passes? English Heritage, National Trust. I think that's all we really have in the UK. But yes, take care, stay safe as always, and we'll see you in the next one. Bye.