On 11th to 12th September, a group of Blue Light Card families headed to Alton Towers Resort for an exclusive CBeebies Land overnight adventure. Two days, a lot of surprises along the way, and memories both kids and parents won’t stop talking about.
Here’s how the weekend played out.
The excitement started the moment families checked in to the CBeebies Land Hotel. Each family had their very own themed room, and inside, goodies were already waiting to set the VIP tone for the stay ahead.
After settling in, guests could enjoy mini golf and soak up the magic of CBeebies Land Hotel, with character meet-and-greets with Upsy Daisy, Igglepiggle and the one and only Ubercorn from Go Jetters.
“Watching my daughter’s face light up when she woke up in the CBeebies bedroom – she just lay there beaming like she was lost for words. If I could have bottled that moment forever, I would have.”
“It was a lovely touch to have something waiting on the bed for the children, our little girl was absolutely over the moon. There was also a welcome “goody bag” which had some lovely bits in too and things that could be reused like a drinks bottle, toothbrush and the Bluey toy.”
That evening, families sat down for a private dinner at The Crooked Spoon Restaurant, with Bluey-themed cups and activity packs keeping the little ones entertained at the table.
Then came Bing’s Sleepover, a tot’s disco and the Octonauts. To round off the evening, plenty of little ones got into their pyjamas and then came back downstairs for a stargazing finale.
“We didn’t expect anything extra at the dinner, but there were cups, balloons and colouring – all of which added to the excitement.”
After a brilliant night, families woke up to a private breakfast at The Windmill Restaurant. With express car parking at the front of the resort as well, it was a stress-free morning from the off.
Before Alton Towers opened its doors to the general public, families had something completely exclusive: a private Bluey and Bingo meet and greet, right in the heart of CBeebies Land.
Bluey is the show right now. It’s a fan-favourite with kids, and honestly, the reactions speak for themselves.
“I can’t believe my kids got to meet Bluey and Bingo exclusively and have use of CBeebies Land before anyone else – we must have gone on the Bluey ride over 10 times and would have kept going! It was seriously a dream.”
“Being able to use the park an hour before opening time was great – we did lots of rides, some of them twice, before it got busy.”
After the meet and greet, that exclusive hour in CBeebies Land before the gates opened to anyone else was a crowd-pleaser.
Every guest also received fast track passes for CBeebies Land, Magic Money to spend on food and treats around the park, freestyle refillable cups and a souvenir photo to take home.
“We would never have been able to stay at CBeebies Hotel if we had to pay, so from that through to all the gifts my kids received, to the way we were treated, and the surprise gifts for adults – we did not expect the ‘magic money’, express parking or refill cups. Plus, the private Bluey and Bingo meet and early park access. All of it made us feel so special and like VIPs!”
“Our 5-year-old kept telling us it was ‘the best holiday ever.’ She really lived her best life the weekend of the experience.”
After the exclusive access wrapped up, families had the rest of the day to explore everything Alton Towers has to offer at their own pace.
For a lot of the families there, the experience shifted how they think about their Blue Light Card membership.
“It definitely makes you realise that having the opportunity to hold one of these cards is actually a privilege that not everyone gets. It’s not just discounts and offers – you can win experiences and enter ballots for days out. It’s a no-brainer.”
“It really shows that it’s more than just a discount card for daily use, and that the Blue Light team really go out of their way to treat and spoil those that work within the specialist services.”
Ballots for events like this one are open to all Blue Light Card members, and they’re completely free to enter – no catch.
To be in with a chance of winning a place at future VIP events, head to the Events section in the Blue Light Card app or browse on our website. New events are added regularly, so it’s worth checking back often and entering as soon as they go live.
"It changed my mindset on entering ballots. I never win anything, and this was amazing.”
Yes. As well as thousands of discounts, Blue Light Card runs exclusive events and experiences for members throughout the year. These could be VIP adventures or Member Days, where top attractions across the UK are open exclusively for Blue Light Card members. You can make the most of discounted tickets, free parking and lots of other perks.
Yes. All active Blue Light Card members are eligible to enter. All you need to do is head to the Events section in the Blue Light Card app and enter before the closing date.
Completely. There’s no cost to enter a ballot and no hidden fees if you win a place. The events are our way of recognising the incredible people who hold a Blue Light Card.
