🎢 Thorpe Park Resort
Thrill rides, height, speed, drops and anticipatory anxiety.
Thorpe Park is known for its high-thrill rides. This page particularly helps families assess thrill rides, height, speed, drops, darkness, noise, ride forces, crowds, waiting and anticipatory anxiety.
Daisy at a signpost — wayfinding support helps every child know where they're going
Before You Go
- Book tickets online in advance
- Check the Thorpe Park app for ride wait times and maps
- Review the accessibility guide on the official website
- Check height restrictions for all thrill rides
- Research each thrill ride's features: height, speed, drops, darkness, duration
RAP
- Thorpe Park participates in Merlin's Ride Access Pass
- Apply through Nimbus Disability before your visit
- Pre-book RAP — do not assume availability on arrival
Ride Preparation
- Show your child ride videos and photos before visiting
- Discuss what happens on each ride: height, speed, drops, darkness, spins
- Let your child make informed choices about which rides to try
- Never surprise a highly anxious child with a major thrill ride
Sensory Considerations
- Thrill rides are loud with screaming, ride sounds and music
- Some rides are dark or have flashing lights
- Ride forces (G-force, sudden movement, wind) can be intense
- Bring ear defenders and plan sensory breaks
Thrill Ride Anxiety
- Do not surprise a highly anxious child with a major ride
- Show ride images, height, what happens, whether it's dark, whether it spins, whether it drops, how long it lasts, how you get off
- Let the child make informed choices where possible
- Never use a preferred ride to pressure a distressed child through something they cannot tolerate
Breaks
- Plan regular break times away from thrill ride areas
- Identify quieter areas on the map
- Build in more breaks than you think you'll need
- Allow recovery time after intense rides
Food
- Check allergen information on the Thorpe Park website
- Identify suitable food outlets on the map
- Consider bringing permitted food where necessary
Communication
- Merlin provides downloadable communication cards for Thorpe Park
- Take Larry Lingo™ and Say It With Larry™ too
- Prepare your child's communication system before arriving
Bramble with an I Need board — communication support for every theme park visit
Official Information
Always check the current official accessibility information before travelling. Details can change.
Thorpe Park Resort accessibility information🎒 LARRY LINGO — MY THEME PARK DAY
Visual symbols for your theme park day. Tap to hear Larry say it, or print the whole pack to take with you.
🦁 These symbols work with Larry Lingo™, Say It With Larry™ and your Parent Dashboard. Create a custom Theme Park Board in your Parent Dashboard.
📋 VISUAL DAY PLAN
Build a visual timetable for your theme park day. Add, remove and reorder steps. Save and print.
Bramble and Mossy high-fiving — celebrating a successful theme park day
🔄 OOPS! THE PLAN CHANGED.
Theme parks are unpredictable. A ride may close, break down, have a huge queue, or stop because of weather. Use this tool with your child to navigate changes together.
Our Plan Changed
Our plan changed.
🦁 This tool could be extremely useful for children who find unexpected changes difficult. Practice it at home before your visit so it's familiar.
