Alton Towers has faced sharp criticism from visitors just days after opening for its 2026 season on 16 March. Guests reported 'chaotic' queues, closed attractions, and ride malfunctions, with one long-time fan calling it the park's 'most disastrous opening since 1980'.
Many complaints centred on the monorail, which links the car park and hotels to the park, being out of service. Visitors also noted that several rides in CBeebies Land, aimed at younger children, were closed. One father, Lewis Duggleby, described having to walk over a mile with his young children due to the monorail failure.
App screenshots showed queue times of up to 60 minutes for rides like Oblivion and The Smiler, while Wicker Man exceeded 90 minutes. Galactica, Nemesis, and Th13teen were listed as closed until 11am. Another visitor, Natasha Leaver, claimed rides were 'continuously breaking down' and that empty seats were not being filled.
Long-time fan George, who visited on the first two days, said the second day was even worse despite rides being open and queues short. Theme Park Worldwide, a YouTube channel and Facebook account, posted that 'drastic improvements and investment' are needed to 'save' the park, warning that it risks falling behind as the UK's leading theme park.
An Alton Towers spokesperson said: 'Opening weekend is always one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year at Alton Towers Resort, with strong demand.' The park remains open until early November, with hours listed as 10am to 4pm, subject to change.
