We went to Minecraft: Meet the Mobs at Alton Towers on opening day – best ticket deals (aff)
Find out what it's really like, our top tips for making the most of your visit, and where to find the best ticket deals for a fun-filled family day out.
We visited Minecraft: Meet the Mobs on opening day at Alton Towers with our two daughters, and it was a huge hit – especially with our eldest, who is absolutely Minecraft man!
If you've ever been to a theme park with younger children, you'll know that sometimes the walking can become a bit of a struggle by the afternoon. Not this time! The Meet the Mobs Trail completely changed that. Instead of asking "Are we nearly there yet?", the girls were racing ahead asking, "Where's the next stamp?".
The trail has six different Minecraft-themed stops spread around the park, where you collect stamps before returning to the Minecraft Hub to claim your prize. It was such a simple idea, but it kept their little legs going all day because they were so excited to find the next baby mob.
Each stop is brilliantly themed and gives you another reason to explore different areas of Alton Towers. We found ourselves discovering parts of the park we might normally have walked straight past.
The characters were definitely the highlight. We met favourites including the Creeper, Chicken Jockey, Pig, Baby Panda, Baby Wolf and the adorable Axolotl. The girls absolutely loved stopping for photos with each one, and there were plenty of opportunities to capture some brilliant family pictures.
One of our favourite moments was meeting the Axolotl, which even sprays water! It caught everyone by surprise and had the children laughing every time it happened. It's little interactive touches like that which make the characters feel so much more than just photo opportunities.
Our eldest couldn't stop talking about the Chicken Jockey all day (and yes, "Lava! Lava! Chicken! Chicken!" from the Minecraft Movie had already been playing in the car on the way there!). She was completely in her element, pointing out every Minecraft detail and making sure we didn't miss a single stamp.
Once we'd collected all six stamps, we headed back to the Minecraft Hub to claim the reward. It genuinely felt like completing a Minecraft quest, and seeing the girls proudly hand over their completed trail cards was lovely. The exclusive in-game reward is a fantastic bonus and gives children something to look forward to using once they're back home.
The Hub itself has a really fun atmosphere with music, dancing, activities, themed merchandise and Minecraft-inspired food. We couldn't resist trying the TNT popcorn, which went down very well while we watched all the entertainment.
What we liked most is that the event doesn't take over your whole day - it fits perfectly alongside a normal visit to Alton Towers. We still enjoyed plenty of rides, but every now and then we'd spot another trail location or hear that a mob meet-and-greet was starting, and off we'd go for another Minecraft adventure.
For families with Minecraft fans, it's a fantastic addition to the park. The trail gives children a purpose as they walk around, keeps them engaged between rides and creates lots of opportunities for photos and little moments they'll remember.
Our eldest declared it "the best day ever," while her younger sister, who isn't quite as Minecraft-mad, still loved searching for the stamps, meeting the characters and laughing every time the Axolotl sprayed water.
If you're visiting Alton Towers while Meet the Mobs is running, we'd definitely recommend picking up the trail card as soon as you arrive.
It adds an extra layer of fun to your day, keeps the children entertained from start to finish, and makes exploring the park feel like one big Minecraft quest.
A brilliant event, brilliantly done - and one we'll definitely be returning to before it finishes.
Meet the Mobs at Alton Towers this summer running from July 18- August 28.
Stay over (and add on Splash Landings)
Stay at Alton Towers Resort and get free kids Waterpark entry when you stay until September 1.
Book to stay over with free kids swim here.
If you're looking to turn your visit into a full family getaway, it's well worth staying overnight at the Alton Towers Hotel. It means there's no need to rush around trying to fit everything into one day, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the rides, complete the Minecraft Meet the Mobs Trail, meet all your favourite characters and soak up the atmosphere.
To round off the perfect family break, why not spend the following morning at Splash Landings Waterpark? After a day exploring the theme park, it's the ideal way to keep the fun going, with pools, water slides and splash zones that the kids will love. It makes for a fantastic two-day adventure and is the perfect way to make the most of your visit to Alton Towers Resort.
Book to stay over with free kids swim here.