Groups Expand We have volunteers that facilitate groups to go round the park together. Joining a group is optional but it is a great way to meet others and make new friends! Over the years, we have had a lot of feedback from attendees who were really pleased to have joined a group and felt they got more out of their day because of it. However some people choose to go round the park in their own family/friendship groups, either for all or part of the day (we set up WhatsApp groups so that people can find each other if you choose to leave/join a group at any point). It is up to the individuals attending as to what they prefer. We just want everyone to enjoy their day and have fun! Note that the following groups may change on the day, either combining with another group or breaking into smaller groups. It depends on uptake and attendee numbers. 1a/b - aimed at younger ones (that don't like anything at all scary and/or those under 0.9 metres) Morning Route: CBeebies Land - Octonauts Rollercoaster, Vroomster Zoom Ride, Justin's House Pie-o-matic, Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop, Bugbie Go Round, In the Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, Postman Pat Parcel Afternoon Route: Gangsta Granny Ride, Royal Carousel, Skyride to Mutiny Bay, Hex, Battle Galleons, Haunted Hollow, Duel, Heave Ho, Congo River Rapids, Runaway Mine Train Groups 1a and 1b may split into two groups depending on how many attend. 2a & 2b - aimed at those that prefer 'medium' rides or aren't tall enough for group 3 (the 1.4-metre rides) 2a - Children (minimum height 1.2 metres) 2b - Teens/Adults (minimum height 1.2 metres) Morning Route: Wicker Man, Th13teen, Enterprise, Spinball Whizzer (Did previously include Roller Disco & Mixtape - now closed)Afternoon Route: Hex, Battle Galleons, Haunted Hollow, The Curse at Alton Manor (was previously Duel), Funk 'n' Fly Congo River Rapids, Runaway Mine Train 3a, 3b & 3c - aimed at those wanting the big rides (minimum height 1.4 metres) 3a - Children (typically aged 8 to 12/13) 3b – Teens/Young Adults (typically aged 13/14 to 21/22) 3c – Adults (typically those aged 23/24 and over) Morning Route: Oblivion, The Smiler, Rita, Th13teen Afternoon Route: Wicker Man, Galactica, Congo River Rapids, Runaway Mine Train While taking the same route 3a, 3b and 3c will go around independently. This means that a group can move on to the next ride without having to wait for everyone to come through as the groups are usually quite large. Please note: The group volunteers will be advised to follow the routes listed however they are for guidance only. The groups will aim to include the above rides but this is subject to queue times and ride closures on the day. The groups may also be able to fit more rides in that are not listed. It all depends on what happens on the day and how busy the park is. The groups have been designed based on feedback and suggestions from previous years. We're hoping that there is a group to suit all those who wish to join one. If you would like to take part in a group (whether for some or all of the day) you can make your decision based on: • The type of rides you/your child would like to go on • Height of you/your child We hope that you will all find someone in your group that you/your child would like to meet. Be advised that things can change on the day with groups splitting or joining depending on uptake and attendee numbers. We do not expect to be able to keep over 300 people together but we do want to give people the option to go around together as a big part of this is having the opportunity to meet others with alopecia which we know can be really beneficial. And there can be a lot of time waiting in queues for rides so it is nice to have people to chat to! As the day goes on, people might break into smaller groups, which is absolutely fine. We want the day to be easy-going and for everyone to just enjoy themselves and have a good time!
Merchandise for sale on the day Expand We will have the following on sale between 9:15 and 10am and then again 12:30-2:30 in the Hospitality Suite: AUK Wristbands Badges Alopecia UK t-shirts Alopecia UK Hoodies Alopecia UK Beanies Please note, we will only have a very limited amount of each of these merchandise options on the day so we strongly advise purchasing yours when you purchase your tickets.
Timings Expand 9:15 – 10am – Collect your packs from AUK Volunteers (wearing yellow high vis vests) and join a group if you wish. (NB: Arriving AFTER 10am will not have the same ‘buzz’ as arriving before 10am as the groups will have gone through). See here for more information on ticket collection: https://www.alopecia.org.uk/faqs/arrival-information-and-ticket-collection 10am - Organised groups go through to the park with their volunteer. See more about organised groups here: - https://www.alopecia.org.uk/faqs/groups 1:30pm – 2:25pm - Lunchtime meet up. Will take place in the Hospitality Suite which is next to Spinball Whizzer (and will be circled on your AUK map). See more about the lunchtime meet up here: https://www.alopecia.org.uk/faqs/lunchtime-meet-up 2:30pm - Big group photo near the Hospitality Suite. We'll all walk out together, please stand between the markers. We like to try and show how the group grows each year so it's great if people can get along for this! 2:45pm - We’ll send groups off round the park again. 4:55pm - Final Group Photo Opportunity. The park ride queues shut at 5pm. We aim to get the last rides of the day on Runaway Mine Train and fill the train with people wearing blue tops (at our last Alton Towers event we filled it six times over as there were so many of us!). 5pm – Ride queues close.
Arrival Information and Ticket Collection Expand Arrival Please allow yourself plenty of time to get to Alton Towers and plan your route beforehand (see Alton Towers website). Setting off earlier than the Sat Nav suggests the journey will take will hopefully reduce the risk of you arriving late. Please note Alton Towers is a big place and you need to park up and allow time to get to the Entrance Plaza (where we will be). The Monorail takes visitors from the car park to the Theme Park entrance. The Monorail opens from 9am (Subject to operational restrictions) each day and closes one hour after the advertised ride close. Alternatively, you can walk from the car park to the theme park entrance. It takes between 10 and 30 minutes, depending where you have parked your car. Car Park walking times to Entrance: A,B,C - 10-15 Minutes D,E,F,G,H - 18-22 Minutes J,M,N,O,P - 22-28 Minutes Ticket Collection You must collect your tickets and event packs between 9:15am and 10:00am from AUK Volunteers (who will be wearing yellow high viz vests and blue Alopecia UK t-shirts) at the park entrance plaza.You will soon spot us (look for all the blue t-shirts)! Please bring either your confirmation email (paper or digital) OR proof of ID in the name of the person who booked in order to collect your theme park tickets. Organised groups will start going around the park at 10am. If you are late: If arriving after 10am please text the event organiser (details will be sent to those who have booked closer to the time) and include your name and estimated arrival time. Please DO NOT PHONE! That first hour is really busy for the volunteer team and unfortunately no one has time to answer the phone. Don’t worry we will not just leave you. Once most of the attendees have gathered their tickets we will check the phone to see who has sent a text. Please bear in mind though that we will only wait until 11am before going in to the park. What to do after ticket collection From 9.30am (once you have collected your tickets) you will be able to enter the park. If you would like to join one of our organised groups you will be able to head to the Hospitality Suite to meet the group volunteers and other attendees. Organised groups will start heading around the park at 10am. If you would prefer not to join an organised group you may start heading around the park from 9.30am. Don't worry there will be plenty of AUK volunteers around to help you figure out what to do and where to go!
Managing Expectations and Emotions Expand Reactions from Others Ok, so we all know that looking a bit different can sometimes result in people becoming curious and looking for that little bit too long! While we’re sure it will generally all be fine, we’re mentioning this because if you are going out for the first time without any wig/hat/headwear then you might get a reaction from others that you are not used to and we want you to be prepared for it. Generally, people stare (or say stupid things) because they do not understand or it’s something they’ve never seen before. Take this as an opportunity to educate! Just give them a nice big smile and point at your t-shirt! If anyone asks questions, just answer them. Once they know, they know. The more we educate people, the less of an issue it is! We haven't experienced any problems at our previous Alton Towers events and generally people are just interested in what we were doing. If any of you do get upset by something during the course of the day or afterwards, feel free to give us a ring. We're sure once we’re all together that we’ll all be supporting each other, but you can call us anytime and we’ll do our best to help, even if it’s just to listen. Nerves If it is your first time coming along to an event like this you might be really nervous and not know what to expect. We assure you that you are not the only one feeling like this and there will be many others trying to talk themselves out of it! But honestly once you get there you’ll be fine. What you get out of the day can depend on what you put in however so please get involved and just chat to people or say hello. You’ll keep spotting blue t-shirts as you go round the park and if you join a group it gives a nice opportunity to chat to others who will really know how you’re feeling. Everyone is there to support each other. It might be enough for you to just see other people with alopecia and, if so, that’s great. If you struggle at all on the day then please try and find a volunteer who can help. Afterwards Alopecia is something that gives us many ups and downs in life and sometimes we can keep things to ourselves or put on a brave face (whether you are the person with alopecia or a parent/friend/partner). If you are the only person you know with alopecia or being affected by someone close to you having alopecia, suddenly meeting so many others who understand the journey you’ve been on can get you feeling quite emotional. It’s also a big thing to do putting your alopecia on show when you don’t normally (not that this is expected of anyone). All of this mixed together along with the adrenalin of going on some rather scary rollercoasters might make you feel a bit all over the place. Generally giving you a big high and then possibly feeling a bit drained afterwards. Basically what we're saying is it might make you want to have a bit of a cry at some point! And if it does, that is totally fine and perfectly normal! Just go with it. If you’ve got someone there who can give you a big hug while you do then great, and if you don’t just give yourself a big hug and remember how flaming fantastic you are! And remember the Facebook group is there for you to share anything you need to share or get any support that you need afterwards. Don’t forget that you can email or call us if you need us too.
Lunchtime Meet Up Expand This is the big meet up for the day and can have a huge impact for those with alopecia as they can see how many others are there who are just like them. Try not to miss it because people are always annoyed at themselves when they do! Getting some lunch If you buy a sandwich through Alopecia UK (when you purchase your ticket) you will be given a voucher upon arrival (in your event pack with your tickets) and you can then collect your sandwich from staff in the Hospitality Suite. There are no food stalls in the Hospitality Suite other than the cash tuck shop (12-3pm) with drinks and chocolate/crisps. If not purchasing a sandwich through Alopecia UK, we recommend bringing a packed lunch as this saves any extra queuing time and means you can make the most of this get together time. Otherwise there are food outlets around the park (https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/restaurants-shops/) Note that while things look close on the Alton Towers map - it's very deceptive and is actually a long walk! Food queues can also take up a chunk of time. It's up to you how to manage your time but we share this as learning from previous years.
Base Camp Expand Within Alton Towers, we have the use of a room called the 'Hospitality Suite' for the whole day. This is a very short walk from the theme park entrance and we will circle it on your Park Map which you will receive in your Event Pack with your tickets. Timings for the Hospitality Suite 9:30 – 10am: Different to previous years Alopecia UK Groups will now gather in the Hospitality Suite rather than on the Plaza as it’s a bit warmer than waiting by the entrance gates. You can also leave bags/lunch there if you wish however please note that the room will not be secured and we cannot guarantee the safety of your items. We therefore recommend that you do not leave any valuables. 1:30 – 2:25pm: Lunchtime Meet-Up. Everyone will gather in here at lunchtime and you will have the opportunity to really get a sense of just how many of us are in the park. You can also have chance to chat to others with alopecia who are maybe not in your group for rides. If you have pre-ordered a sandwich you will be able to collect it at this point. One or two of the Alopecia UK staff team will say a few words to the group at about 2pm. What do we have in the Hospitality Suite? Alopecia UK Merchandise Stall Forgotten to buy something? We will have a limited amount of stock available for sale at our stall in the Hospitality Suite. Different to previous years the stall will now only be available in the Hospitality Suite (we will no longer be set up on the Plaza in the morning). The stall will be open from 9:30am until 3pm. Tuck Shop A tuck shop will be selling some snacks such as crisps, chocolate and drinks. Tables, Seating & Breakout Space You are welcome to visit the Hospitality Suite at any point if you just want a sit down (perhaps stop your head spinning after one of the rides!) or even just to warm up (in the event of cold weather!) It is our own space for the day and is for use by Alopecia UK attendees only.
Important bit of the day (blue t-shirts!) Expand AUK T-shirts & Hoodies! One of the main things we always get great feedback on is the fact that the majority of our attendees wear our blue Alopecia UK t-shirts and hoodies throughout the day. Not only does it create awareness in the park for those outside our group, it also helps create a sense of unity between our attendees. It can be really powerful knowing that you are not the only one there with alopecia and that there are lots of friendly family and friends in the park who know all about alopecia. This leads to an incredibly supportive atmosphere in the park. "Being part of a sea of blue brings about a sense of confidence and support." "We all bought hoodies and hats and t shirts and wore them with pride." "The fact that everywhere you looked there was blue shirts and you knew you always had a friend nearby." "Seeing the field of blue and feeling part of a bigger group [was my favourite part]." "Just seeing the sea of blue was a boost. How many others all coming together." "Meeting up together to end the day "turning the train blue" finished the day on a high!" "Wearing the t-shirts and feeling proud about alopecia [was my favourite part]" "The t-shirts and hoodies were a great idea too so you could spot everyone round the park." "It gives my son a big boast to see he is not alone. The sight of all those blues is just amazing." The weather in April can vary considerably. We've had rain, we've had sun, we've had hot, we've had cold! On our 2015 trip to the park, it was pretty chilly! As a result, some attendees put their Alopecia UK t-shirts on UNDER their own jackets which made it really difficult to know they were part of the Alopecia UK group and create that same atmosphere of awareness, support, friendship and fun! For this reason we encourage people to buy t-shirts/hoodies big enough that they could wear them over the top of other layers. If you are a bit nervous and don’t feel comfortable wearing Alopecia UK branding, that is totally fine and understandable - it is not a requirement in order to attend. But for everyone that is happy to do so, we really encourage it! Please note we sell hoodies & t-shirts at the lower price IF you purchase them ahead of time, when you order your tickets. We will have a small selection of hoodies and t-shirts for sale on the day but these are slightly more expensive and we cannot guarantee to have your size available as this any small amount of stock is offered on a 'first come, first served' basis.
Photos & Filming Expand Whilst this event is an incredibly supportive event, it is also a chance for awareness. For this reason we often have a volunteer photographer or two following people around, trying to get some good images, both to remember the day and to use to further publicise our work and the images may therefore be used in a public domain. However we want everyone to come along and have a good time at Alton Towers and don't want anyone worrying about photos of them going out publicly via Alopecia UK. For this reason on the day of the event you will be able to register for ‘no photos’, this will entail taking one photo of you on the day so we can identify you in our photos afterwards. This will ensure you will be removed or blurred out from our Alopecia UK photos before anything goes out publicly on Alopecia UK website and social media. We ask that you make a conscious effort to remove yourself from posed group photos where possible as these will be used publicly and to advertise future events. (Please note that we cannot guarantee that other attendees won't take and share pictures on their own social media. Please see Alton Towers own photo policy for how they might use any of their photos taken round the park).
Facebook Group Expand Over the past few years we have created a Facebook group ahead of the event to allow attendees to meet and get to know each other ahead of time. It’s nice for people to share their excitement/nerves ahead of the day and a great place to ask questions. We will send links to join closer to the time. Please note this is a different group to the general Alopecia UK Facebook group and you will not be able to find it through searching for it as it is also a secret group.