Given how great Alton Towers is as a theme park, we had high expectations for Splash Landings Waterpark, but the experience was very underwhelming. The drive into the park was lengthy. Parking was a complete free for all, you essentially just park wherever you can and hope for the best. While the walk down the stairs to the entrance started quiet, the ground floor ticket area was chaos. The entrance space is tiny and enclosed, causing it to fill up and back up fast. With only one entrance lane, one exit lane, and a barrier in the middle where staff manually let guests in, entry so slow. Scanning barcodes wasn't working properly, adding to the delay alongside visibly stressed staff handing out wristbands.
Once inside, the changing rooms immediately hit us with a strong stench of urine, and this was only at 11:30am. Finding an available locker felt like being in a cattle market, and the toilets were filthy.
The waterpark itself is surprisingly small and felt dangerously overcapacity. We visited on a Sunday expecting a relatively low-key crowd, but the facility simply isn't large enough for the number of people admitted. You literally couldn't move without bumping into someone.
Our kids (12 and 13) had a great time running around on their own, but the park offers very little for adults looking to unwind. We headed outside to enjoy the sun, but there were no sun loungers and no decent-sized pool actually suitable for swimming. Every single facility, from the hot tubs to the main pools was completely crammed, making relaxation impossible.
Leaving was just as badly organised. After getting through the barrier, we were directed toward a different set of stairs near the lifts to exit. A massive queue had formed in a narrow, very humid corridor. People exiting were completely blocking access to the hotel lifts, while guests stepping out of the lifts were trying to join the entry line. Having so many people trapped in one tiny space, some trying to leave and others trying to get in, shows how poorly designed the layout is. After waiting about 20 minutes in the heat, we gave up on the exit line and squeezed back up the entry stairs instead. They were packed too, but we simply weren't willing to wait in that cramped corridor any longer.
To top it all off, the car park barrier on the way out wasn't working either, causing traffic to back up for a good 15 minutes. Eventually, staff had to instruct everyone to drive on the opposite side of the road to pass through the entry barrier one car at a time, so my £15 parking fee was useless!
The waterpark definitely has the potential to be so much better if they were to expand. Adding a much larger outdoor pool and proper seating, like sun loungers, alongside a total rethink of their entry and exit layout, would make a world of difference.
Personally I wouldn't recommend. Its ideal if you have small children and plan to be constantly on the move, but definitely not recommended for adults with older kids who want to sit back, swim, or relax.