wheeeeeeee

While on holiday last week we went as a family to Alton Towers. Sally enjoyed a more sedate time than the rest of us, but she was happy ‘pootling’ around, holding bags and not being thrown around, turned upside down and facing near death experiences.

Thomas, Hannah and I enjoyed the range of rollercoasters. We started off on 13 (that’s a ride, not the number of rides we started on). At least, they queued for ages for 13. I waited outside with Sally for a while and then I got bored. I noticed that there were two entrances: one for the regular queue and one for people who had paid a premium to be fast tracked or who were single riders. These were people who were on their own and would fill gaps in the cars as they appeared when groups sat together.

I thought I would give this a try and wandered along the path, waiting to meet the end of the queue. I arrived unhindered at the place where bags are looked after and then queued for about 15 minutes while the single riders ahead of me filled the empty seats. It was not long before I was on the ride and it was good. I won’t spoil it for anyone who has not been on it yet, but there’s a surprise ending!

After the ride I strolled along the exit route and saw Thomas in the main queue. He looked surprised to see me and I gestured non-committally at him, not sure he would be chuffed to know I had already been on the ride. I got back to where Sally was perched on a rock and received a text message from Thomas, asking if I was joining the back of the queue (it winds around a LOT). I replied truthfully, if incompletely, that I was not in the queue and was going to wait with Sally.

A while later Thomas and Hannah emerged grinning from the ride, adrenaline pumping. They had enjoyed the ride and were excited to tell us about the surprise ending. I held back from telling them that I had been on until they had told us all about it. I confess to a small element of schadenfreude as I told them I had already been on the ride!

I was pleased to discover that this did not upset them, and from then on we used the single rider queue as often as possible. We chatted while in the queue and then split up at the last minute to enjoy the ride.

I am interested at the concept of the single rider queue. Why does it work? It works because most people want to sit next to their friends or family members during the rides. This is clearly not so they can talk to each other, but presumably so they can hear each other scream.

I am not sure what spiritual lesson I learnt. It may be something to do with the strength of bond of friendship / family that means that someone is willing to wait longer to be with those people. It may be something to do with the value of sharing experiences together. It may be that sometimes we wait unnecessarily when the way forward is staring us in our face because that way forward may take us out of our comfort zone.

Or it may be just that I had a great day out with the family, and that’s a GOOD thing.

One postscript. Thomas and Hannah queued for an hour for one ride that I did not want to go on. Just as they reached the front of the queue an announcement came over the speakers that there was a problem and that the ride would stop for a while. It did restart (would you want to be in the first car around?) and they went on it soon afterwards. Later we went on Oblivion (has to be encountered to be understood). The queue was miniscule so Thomas and Hannah decided to go around again. Just as they got on a car, there was an announcement that came over the speakers that there was a problem and that the ride would stop for a while. (I felt sorry for the people in the car half-way up the slope to the top!). Coincidence?

Theme park humour:
Theme parks are mis-named. They should be called “Wait In Line” parks.

I love theme parks. It’s the only place you can lose your kids and make it look like an accident.

They say last year 2 million people went to Alton Towers. That must have been the day I was there.

I love all the water rides where everybody gets soaking wet. On a hot day it’s fun to walk around and try to figure out which folks got splashed and which ones just buy cheap anti-perspirant.

I like the water rides for two reasons: (1) they’re refreshing; and (2) nobody will notice if I get scared and wet my pants.

Isn’t it strange that when you’re finally tall enough to ride all the rides at the amusement park, you have enough sense to not want to?

Rollercoasters are like haunted houses. People always scream, then pretend they weren’t scared.

What adults like most about rollercoasters is being able to sit down after standing in line for two hours.

One thing you have to say about theme parks – they’re not cheap thrills.