Height and other restrictions apply to each attraction, full details of these can be found at the entry point of the attractions, here's a summary of some key categories:

• Minimum Height 1.4m - The Walking Dead: The Ride, Ghost Train, SAW - The Ride, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, Samurai, Stealth, Vortex, The Swarm
• Minimum Height 1.3m - Detonator: Bombs Away, Rush
  
• Minimum Height 1.2m - Tidal Wave, Quantum
• Minimum Height 1.1m - Rumba Rapids, Zodiac, Storm Surge, King Pig's Wild Hog Dodgems, Dobble Tea Party
• Minimum Height 0.9m - Flying Fish, Depth Charge, Mr Monkey's Banana Ride, High Striker

• Timing - Generally it's best to do the biggest rides in the first hour that the park is open, at lunchtime, or in the last hour that the park is open, as the queues tend to be the shortest at these times. Plus, you can often beat the crowds by starting at the back of the park and working your way towards the front.
• Electronic Boards - These are located in various places around the park and display the latest queue times for many of the rides in the park, make sure you check these out to help you plan when to visit each ride.
• Parent Swap - On busy days parents with small children can get a special pass which allows just one of the parents to queue, when the first parent has been on the ride the second can go on without having to queue again.
• Single Rider Queue -  If you're at the park alone or don't mind who you ride with, you might find that joining the Single Rider Queue reduces your waiting time. Available on Vortex, Samurai and Flying Fish. 
• Fastrack Tickets - These provide reduced waiting times for an extra charge:
  • Exhilarate £40 (6 Fastracks, on Storm Surge, Rumba Rapids, Tidal Wave, Samurai, Vortex and Rush)
  • Adrenaline £50 (6 Fastracks, on SAW - The Ride, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, Stealth, The Swarm and The Walking Dead: The Ride)
  • Island Unlimited £100 (Unlimited Fastracks on all Exhilarate and Adrenaline rides)

• Save yourself some money by booking your tickets online in advance, as well as being cheaper you will also save time by not having to queue at the park entrance - Thorpe Park Tickets
• There are a limited number of Wheelchairs and Pushchairs available for hire, these are available on a first come first served basis and a charge applies, speak to a member of staff when you enter the park.
• The weather can be an important factor, try to dress accordingly to avoid getting too hot, too cold or too wet! It can also be pretty unpredictable, if it ends up being a wet day there are ponchos available to help you stay dry.
• Wear sensible footwear to avoid feeling uncomfortable after a long day, it's also important to make sure shoes are fastened securely when going on some of the more intense rides to make sure that they don't fall off!
• Guest Services can be found on the lower level of Port & Basecamp (the dome), they can help with lots of things including lost property and issuing wristbands, a Medical Centre is next door.
• Children can be given a wristband which you add your name and mobile number to, if a member of staff finds them unaccompanied you will be contacted so that they can be reunited with you.
• If you're visiting with a group of friends it's a good idea to agree on a place to meet up just in case you get separated and have trouble finding each other.
• There's plenty of great gifts available from shops all over the park, the largest selections can be found at the Colossus Shop (Lost City), Nemesis Inferno Shop (The Jungle) and The Megastore (Amity).
• It's best to avoid doing the wettest rides at the end of the day otherwise you might not be able to dry out before the journey home.
• Ride photos are nice souvenir of your day so look out for the cameras and don't forget to smile, if you decide to buy any ask for them to be taken to the collection point near the exit to save you carrying them around all day.
• It might be a good idea to make use of the lockers around the park to avoid carrying too many things, the locations of these are shown on the Park Map.
• Thorpe Park accepts all major credit/debit cards, there are also ATMs located around the park, although some of these do apply a charge to each transaction.
• You can join a ride's queue right up until it's closing time, it is the queue that closes then and not the ride.

The possibility of a wooden roller coaster at Alton Towers is one step closer as the popular theme park reveals plans for a new ride in Forbidden Valley.

In a document submitted to the local planning authority various details are given, including that the proposed ride would be of timber truss construction set within a wooden backdrop and foreground.

Previous plans for a wooden roller coaster at the park have included a cross-valley ride between Dark Forest and Forbidden Valley.

Dive into CBeebies Land in 2015 and join Captain Barnacles and crew as The Octonauts head to Alton Towers with a brand new attraction. The Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure opens on March 21st and will see little thrill seekers board the convoy of GUPs for a rescue mission with some of their favourite characters.

Through interactive elements children will be able to discover some fascinating sea creatures and learn about some of the Octonauts most exciting missions as they take a tour of the Octopod.

Learn about the Octonauts mission to explore new underwater worlds, rescue amazing sea creatures and protect the ocean before heading to the launch bay to join the GUP convoy with Captain Barnacles in the driving seat.

Alton Towers is launching a brand new attraction for 2015, with the opening of the Enchanted Forest Tree Top Quest. A fantastical high ropes course set within the captivating woodland of the brand new Enchanted Village; the Tree Top Quest will feature both an adult and junior course.

With 19 challenging elements on the adult course, guests can swing from the trees as they navigate their way through the forest. Starting from the tower turret, transverse nets, swing tyres and stepping stones await before hurtling back down to earth on a zipwire. Those with a head for heights can tackle the series of obstacles and even zipwire through an enclosed tunnel.

Britain’s most iconic theme park has opened the doors of its new Enchanted Village. The new accommodation is themed around a quirky village hideaway and located in woodland next to the Alton Towers Hotel. The Enchanted Village offers a distinctive short break for guests to stay in woodland lodges and luxury treehouses.

Set in amongst the woodland, the luxury treehouses sleep groups of 8 and all have four separate bedrooms with their own plasma TV. Each treehouse has its own unique style, with luxury furnishings, self-catering facilities and a relaxing lounge area with 50” plasma TV and games console. The outdoor decking area, with private hot tub offers a great place to unwind, with beautiful views over the enchanting woodland. 

Visit the Alton Towers Resort for February Half Term 2015 for a selection of rides and attractions open for the whole family to enjoy including Ice Age: The 4D Experience, Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE and CBeebies Land.

Rides and attractions available during this period include Cbeebies Land, Nemesis, Air, Blade, Sonic Spinball, Duel, Marauder’s Mayhem, Ice Age: The 4D Experience, Frog Hopper, Driving School, Runaway Mine Train, Heave Ho, Wobble World, Hex and Sharkbait Reef.

New for 2015 at Thorpe Park, Island Beats brings the best in UK music together with world-class rides. The Vamps, Ella Eyre, Rizzle Kicks, Professor Green and Conor Maynard will headline the music event from Monday 6 July - Sunday 30 August.

Thorpe Park in partnership with Universal Music Global and Showcase Live present Island Beats over 8 weeks.

Thorpe Park is to launch the world’s first I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Maze inspired by the hit TV show. Opening on Friday 27 March 2015 in partnership with ITV Studios, the new family attraction will be home to creepy ‘critters’ and jungle trials.

In rainforest temperature mist, camp mates who enter the Maze will be greeted by Ant and Dec who will give them a recorded briefing. They will then have to navigate through tunnels, crawly corridors and dark caves that will make you squawk! Campers should keep their eyes peeled for Bush Tucker Trials where they will unearth the prized gold stars.