'Nice parking spot, Rita!': I joined the Alton Towers queue that everyone's talking about (aff)
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The queue almost becomes part of the experience.
Queueing for the new Bluey ride at Alton Towers feels a bit like being trapped inside an episode of the show itself — chaotic, funny, slightly overstimulating, but somehow still wholesome.
And honestly? That’s probably why it works.
The world’s first Bluey rollercoaster, “Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies”, has become absolute catnip for families since opening in CBeebies Land, with queues regularly spiralling past an hour as parents, toddlers and fully-grown adults who definitely know all the words to the theme tune shuffle slowly towards Rita and Janet’s chaotic little car.
The funny thing is, nobody seems particularly mad about waiting.
Maybe it’s because Bluey has quietly become a genuine global phenomenon. What started as a sweet Australian cartoon about a family of cartoon dogs is now basically a parenting philosophy, emotional support programme and international obsession rolled into one.
There are Bluey hotel rooms, Bluey live shows, Bluey books, Bluey memes and now — naturally — a Bluey rollercoaster in Staffordshire.
So the queue almost becomes part of the experience.
Children are bouncing around shouting “Nice parking spot, Rita!”, parents are debating their favourite episodes, and somewhere ahead of you somebody’s toddler is absolutely losing their mind because they’ve spotted Bingo painted on a fence panel.
There are photo spots, little play areas and enough colourful distractions to stop the full-scale queue meltdowns most parents fear.
And unlike the grim, cattle-pen vibes of some theme park lines, this one actually leans into the silliness. You snake through Bluey’s world while hearing that instantly recognisable music looping in your brain until you become one with the soundtrack.
While the kids are buzzing for Bluey, plenty of parents are quietly reliving their own children’s TV eras elsewhere in CBeebies Land. One minute you’re in a queue for Bluey, the next you’re watching the Teletubbies live show wondering why the sun baby still feels faintly unsettling 25 years later. Then suddenly you’re drifting through the In The Night Garden boat ride in a weirdly peaceful trance while hearing “Pontipines” whispered into the void.
CBeebies Land genuinely feels like out-of-this-world.
But Bluey is clearly the crown jewel now.
The ride itself is faster than expected, with gentle dips and turns that deliver just enough tummy-flip excitement for younger kids wanting their first “proper” coaster experience. Several early reviewers said the surprise was how thrilling it actually feels once you’re on it.
Still, the real attraction may be the atmosphere around it.
There’s something very funny about watching hardened rollercoaster enthusiasts standing in a 60-minute queue surrounded by toddlers because a cartoon blue heeler has conquered the entire theme park industry.
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