As millions of Brits flock to the nation’s top theme parks over the summer, Britain’s ‘Rollercoaster King’ has revealed the top mistake parkgoers make on rides.
John Burton, Senior Creative Lead at Merlin Magic Making, is the award-winning designer behind some of the UK’s most popular rides, including Alton Tower’s Nemesis Reborn and Toxicator, along with Alton Manor’s The Curse.
The mastermind was recently crowned Alumnus of the Year by Birmingham City University for his phenomenal contribution to thrill-seeking.
Now, the creative force has shared his expert insights to help thrill seekers maximise their visit to amusement parks – while warning of the one mistake that could ruin a visitor’s experience.
John’s golden rule for any rider, whether they’re an adrenaline junkie or more prone to nerves, is to keep their eyes open at all times.
He said: ‘The one thing you should never do is close your eyes. By doing that you’re missing half the experience – all the incredible theming, the storytelling, and the artistry that is built into every ride.
‘People think it helps calm their nerves, but it actually makes the whole experience worse. You lose all visual context, your brain can’t process what’s coming, which amplifies the fear.’
In terms of nerves, John advised: ‘On high-G rides like Nemesis Reborn, to prevent light-headedness, try tensing your calves and core like a fighter pilot to reduce blackout sensations – and remember to keep breathing.’
John Burton, Senior Creative Lead at Merlin Magic Making, is the award-winning designer behind some of the UK’s most popular rides, including Alton Tower’s Nemesis Reborn and Toxicator, along with Alton Manor’s The Curse
John’s golden rule for any rider, whether they’re an adrenaline junkie or more prone to nerves, is to keep their eyes open at all times (Pictured: Smiler roller coaster at Alton Towers)
According to John, there is a science and art to getting the best thrills at theme parks, and of the core elements is storytelling.
He explained: ‘The rides at Alton Towers are a magical combination of engineering and storytelling to create truly immersive worlds.
‘So look up. Look around. Let yourself feel it. Rides and roller coasters are about surrendering to the moment – and the more you engage, the more thrilling it gets.’
John also revealed that where people sit on rides can significantly impact their experience.
On roller coasters such as Wicker Man, he advised sitting at the back for stronger airtime and a more intense pull as it glides over the hills, and on cinematic rides like Nemesis Reborn, he urged riders to sit in the front row to get the full, immersive view.
In addition, John shared a key hack to avoid long queues at Alton Towers over the summer break.
He urges parkgoers to head to the rides at the back of the park first, as most visitors tend to pile onto the first prominent rollercoaster near the entrance.
Alton Towers is currently offering a deal that will guarantee families an extra day of fun for free this summer, which includes an overnight stay at the resort and full entry to the park on both days – giving guests the chance to double the adventure.
John also revealed that where people sit on rides can significantly impact their experience (Pictured: Toxicator ride at Drayton Manor)
John shared a key hack to avoid long queues at Alton Towers over the summer break: head to the rides at the back of the park first (Pictured: Oblivion ride at Alton Towers)
Meanwhile, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has unveiled footage of its newest ride – which promises to be the ‘tallest of its kind’ in the UK and transform the resort’s famous coastline.
The park has released the first CGI video of Aviktas, a brand-new £8.72m pendulum ride set to open in 2026.
Riders will fly on the towering 138ft gyro swing, alongside the popular Big One roller coaster and parallel to the coast, which is displayed in new footage created by the park’s creative team.
The ride will be the ‘tallest of its kind’ in the UK, surpassing the current leader, Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom, which reaches approximately 74 feet in height.
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