THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS THOMAS LAND DESTINATIONS training InLooking for a theme park experience gentle enough for a toddler? Try Thomas Land, writes Joanna Booth

’m driving the train, at the heart of Staordshire Many of the rides are branded acters. At the park, Jeremy Jet “IMummy!” Happily for theme park Drayton Manor, it’s a versions of old favourites. Dexter and Harold Helicopter rides lift everyone in the vicinity, my son dream come true for young fans, loved spinning around on Diesel’s little ones gently into the air, and Dexter is mistaken. We’re really with rides, play areas and live Locomotive Mayhem, a take on there’s the long, winding track of just sitting in the front seat of shows dedicated to Thomas and a teacup ride, and the rather Sodor Classic Cars. This was an- Skarloey, the red engine, and his many friends. pedestrian but charming Lady’s other favourite with Dexter, where pretending to steer as this gentle . For a bit more of a thrill, he felt even more like a real-life roundabout ride revolves. But EXPRESS SERVICE there’s Rocky Bulstrode, a version driver while turning the wheel of in this two-year-old’s delighted We should really have started at of the classic swinging . a Model T Ford-style vintage car. imagination, he’s a train driver. Winston’s Whistlestop Tours – You’ll find planes and automo- Kids really can steer themselves Blue Mountain Engines was this slow circuit on a raised track biles here as well as trains, not to on the diminutive tractors at the first ride we tried at Thomas is a great opportunity to earmark mention fire engines and boats. Terence’s Driving School, and at Land, the park dedicated to a the other rides you want to try, As Thomas fans will know, stories Flynn’s Fire Rescue they can get certain blue tank engine. Sitting and to get a sense of the layout. include a range of vehicle char- involved by squirting water

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from a hose into a ‘burning’ a fantastic way of linking up building. Thomas Land with the other Stay chez Thomas My son was at the younger toddler-friendly elements at end of the age spectrum for Drayton Manor. Thomas, Percy Just outside the gates of the park, the park, and too short for and Emily make appearances Drayton Manor Hotel is not only some of the more thrilling rides, on this route, though not every the most convenient place to stay including Cranky’s Tower Drop engine seems to run every day, before or after your Thomas Land and the Troublesome Trucks so it’s best not to make promises adventure – it also allows you to Runaway Rollercoaster. These if a child has a favourite. keep the magic alive that bit longer. were also the rides with the At the other end of the line, Dexter was enchanted by the longest queues, and considering we whiled away an hour on the Thomas diorama at the entrance, a toddler’s attention span, it was climbing frames, slides, tunnels and ran over to hug the plastic actually a bit of a relief to take and bridges of the rail-themed passengers standing around in anticipation of the character them out of the equation. Spencer’s Outdoor Adventure the lobby. There are branded breakfast we’d booked, where he Play, and – to my dinosaur- elements all over the hotel – right got to meet the Fat Controller. UP IN THE AIR obsessed son’s delight – also down to themed rooms with Book it: A night in a Family Room, Happily, the queue wasn’t too discovered the park’s Dino Trail. bunk beds. Our Family Room including one-day tickets to the long at James & the Red Balloon, had a sofa bed and blackout park for a family of four, starts at one of the newest rides, where ANIMAL ATTRACTION curtains – although even those £224 with Super Break. Dexter loved spinning up in the This station is also near Drayton couldn’t stop Dexter waking early superbreak.com/agents air in the baskets. After multiple Manor Zoo. With more than 100 goes, the only way to persuade animals, it’s brilliant for kids, and him to move on was the promise provides a quieter environment of a live show, where he would when you need to calm down into to wait out a shower. In the models from the first TV series. get to see the ‘real’ Fat Controller. after the thrills of Thomas Land. main Thomas Land park, Emily’s With no rain on our visit, we We watched the singing and There’s an imposing Sumatran Adventure Play is a soft-play rode back – behind Percy this time dancing, and then waited for the tiger, playful gibbons, lemurs and area with slides and a ball pit, – to Knapford Station for a last go next engine tour, climbing into a macaques, cute red pandas, and and at Tidmouth Hault, you’ll find on James & the Red Balloon be- carriage behind Thomas himself crowd-pleasing meerkats. the Discover Thomas & Friends fore waving goodbye to Thomas to be chugged slowly across the Rain is always an unwelcome Exhibition. Die-hard Thomas Land. If Dexter has anything to park to Tidmouth Hault station. visitor at a theme park, but there fans young and old will love this do with it, we’ll be choo-choo- For the littlest legs, this is are a couple of options to duck miniature railway featuring original choosing to visit again soon.

ABOVE: Thomas the Tank Engine

LEFT: Ben 10 Ultimate Mission rollercoaster

RIGHT: A red panda in Drayton Manor Zoo

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Heart-racing, stomach-churning rollercoasters might hit the spot for terror-loving teens, but where can you take toddlers Fun for seeking a gentler slice of the action? Katie McGonagle under-fives rounds up a handful of attractions ideal for under-fives

GET EGG-CITED FOR EASTER SESAME TREAT in the New Forest, Hampshire, has a series of Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando, which had its grand Easter activities running daily from April 5-23. Peppa Pig World opening this week, is a great spot for tots to play with Elmo, and Jurassic-themed area the Lost Kingdom will be adorned the Cookie Monster and friends. Expect wet and dry play areas, with giant, colourful rides, an interactive eggs, and Bobtail neighbourhood, and Bunny and friends a fun-packed parade. will be out in force to Sister parks Aquatica greet guests. Tickets Orlando and Discovery start at £30.50, with Cove have also become children shorter than certified autism centres, a metre allowed in with specially trained for free. sta and quiet areas. paultonspark.co.uk seaworld.com

DINO DUO SWAN LAKE Head to theme Dutch theme park will park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, add an attraction to its famous this Easter so little ones can meet Fairytale Forest this autumn. the park’s new dinosaur mascots, Based on the Brothers Grimm Jester and Jasmine. Easter story The Six Swans, it will feature activities run from April 6-28, with six boat-shaped swans that a pirate-themed treasure hunt for young visitors can ride. The 30th eggs over the Easter weekend. attraction in the forest – and the Attraction World o ers entrance with queue jump from first ‘mini’ ride – will join a host of £22.50 (visitors taller than 1.3m) and £16.50 (1m-1.3m). fairy tale-themed scenes. attractionworld.com efteling.com

LAA-LAA LAND DARK SIDE has added a PortAventura World is opening a Teletubbies Big Band Live in SésamoAventura, the area Show at CBeebies Land, aimed at children aged one and above. The featuring interactive music 15-minute interactive ride will encourage guests and dance performances. to look out for clues along the way. The park’s first The twice-daily show, which carbon-neutral hotel, the four-star Wild West-themed starts next month, will be Colorado Creek, is also due to open on June 1. followed by a meet-and-greet portaventuraworld.com/en session with Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po. Super Break offers one-day Alton Towers tickets plus a night at the Holiday Inn Express Stoke-on-Trent from £174 for a family of four. superbreak.com/ agents PICTURE: REIN KOPPENHAGEN VAN

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