A first-time visit to CBeebies Land at Alton Towers during peak summer found the new £7 Fastrack upgrade "worth every penny", despite criticism that it is a cash grab.
The CBeebies Land queue-jump package is new for 2026, priced at £7 for two rides or £10 for three. It covers Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies, the Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure, Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride, In The Night Garden Magical Boat Ride and the Get Set Go Tree Top Adventure.
Visitors select a time slot when booking and can use it on the rides of their choice within a two-hour window. The passes divided opinion when introduced in March, with some welcoming the time saved and critics calling it a cash grab unfair to those who cannot afford it.
Queues and the Bluey ride
On arrival, there was already a 45-minute queue at 10:10am, just 10 minutes after rides opened. The Fastrack Pass allowed direct access to the front. The writer noted the Bluey queue was smaller towards the end of the day, with just a 30-minute wait by 3pm.
The Bluey ride itself was a huge hit with the writer's daughter and her first experience of a 'proper' rollercoaster. Though it only reaches speeds of 24mph, it felt much faster as they hurtled down dips and twisted around turns.
Information boards display the sensory level of each ride using a traffic light system, ranking stimulation from low (green) to mid (orange) and high (red) across categories including touch, smells, strobe lighting, loud sound, dark and scares. This is helpful for neurodivergent and disabled visitors, as well as all families.
Gentler rides and other attractions
On the gentler end of the spectrum, the In The Night Garden Magical Boat Ride is suitable for most, including the very smallest visitors. The boat trip sails through landscaped gardens where children can look out for Iggle Piggle, Upsy Daisy, the Tombliboos and other favourites.
Equally low-octane and with no height restrictions (except that children under 1.1m must be accompanied by an adult) is the Get Set Go Tree Top Adventure, a slow, scenic circuit of CBeebies Land. The Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop ride, a gently bouncing drop tower, was enjoyed so much the writer's daughter went on it three times in a row.
Beyond the rides, there are character meet-and-greets and shows featuring Bluey, Bing and the Teletubbies, plus attractions such as Bluey's veranda, Gran Gran's house from JoJo & Gran Gran, and the Hey Duggee playground with clubhouse.
Halloween and end of season
For half term, the CBeebies Land Monster Ball show is available for families. Two interactive walkthroughs recommended for children aged six and up are Amigos in the Afterlife, a Day of the Dead-inspired experience, and Trick O'Treat Town, a trail from Spooky Avenue through to the Witchy Woods.
For visitors aged 12 and over, Scarefest runs until November 1, with new scare maze Final Exhibit joining favourites including Edge of the Forest, Compound and Altonville Mine Tours: Tiny's Revenge. There are also Dark Hollow and Burial Grounds scare zones, and rides in the dark with late opening until 9pm.
The 2026 season ends with the Ultimate Fireworks Night Spectacular events from November 6 to 8, themed Across the Altonverse. Alton Towers tickets start from £32 per person when booked online, including entry to CBeebies Land, Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE and The Gardens. Children under 90cm tall go free with a paying adult. Annual passes are available for £64, while Merlin annual passes start from £139, offering entry to over 20 UK attractions including Alton Towers, Legoland and Sea Life sites.
