We can now reveal the winners of the Ride Rater Awards 2011, and which parks have been recognised as the best in each field – by you.
After several weeks of driving this poll, we have had a great response rate.
The awards concern the UK theme park industry only, with international parks not represented in this poll.
Best Value Day Out
We asked you to consider how entry prices compared to the number and quality of attractions on offer. The winners you chose were:
GOLD: Alton Towers
SILVER: Lightwater Valley
BRONZE: Pleasure Beach Resort
Best Use of Resources
We asked you to think about how a park best spends its money (regardless of how much that may be) on improving its product. The winners you selected were:
GOLD: Lightwater Valley
SILVER: Alton Towers
BRONZE: Thorpe Park
Best Food and Drink
We asked you to consider value for money, quality, seating at outlets and variety on offer. The winners you chose were:
GOLD: Alton Towers
SILVER: Pleasure Beach Resort
BRONZE: Thorpe Park
Best Use of Social Networking
We asked you to think about regulaity of use and interactivity with the fans. The winners you selected were:
GOLD: Alton Towers (33%)
SILVER: Lightwater Valley (30%)
BRONZE: Thorpe Park (16%)
Best New Addition
In a relatively low-key year of major additions, the winners you chose were:
GOLD: Nickelodeon Land – Pleasure Beach Resort (27%)
SILVER: Ben 10 – Drayton Manor (17%)
BRONZE: Storm Surge – Thorpe Park (17%)
Best Halloween Event
Many parks now run special events at Halloween. The winners you selected were:
GOLD: Scarefest – Alton Towers (43%)
SILVER: Fright Nights – Thorpe Park (34%)
BRONZE: Frightwater Valley – Lightwater Valley (13%)
Best Halloween Scare Maze
Another growing trend for Halloween events in recent years. Scare mazes are horror-themed walkthrough attractions. The winners you voted for were:
GOLD: Terror of the Towers – Alton Towers (31%)
SILVER: Experiment 10 – Thorpe Park (20%)
BRONZE: Dracula’s Labyrinth – Lightwater Valley (12%)
Best Fireworks Display
Fireworks traditional end the operational year for many theme parks, providing a dramatic finale to the year. The winners you chose were:
GOLD: Alton Towers (58%)
SILVER: Lightwater Valley (12%)
BRONZE: Thorpe Park (11%)
Best Staff
We asked you which parks had the most friendly and welcoming staff. The winners you selected were:
GOLD: Alton Towers
SILVER: Lightwater Valley
BRONZE: Thorpe Park
Best Ride
We asked you to name the ride which is currently the best maintained, presented and running in the country. You overwhelmingly chose:
WINNER: Nemesis – Alton Towers
Many thanks to everyone that voted in our first awards programme.