Drayton Manor K-Pop Takeover February Half Term 2026

Featured image for a blog post titled “Drayton Manor K-Pop Takeover February Half Term 2026 – Disabled Access Review,” with a purple-lit concert crowd on the left and a cartoon rollercoaster car with an accessibility icon on a yellow background on the right.
Join me for a K-pop fun day at Drayton Manor filled with plenty of music, dancing and of course rides.

Table of Contents

Facilities and Services Available for Disabled Guests

Here is a quick overview of the facilities and services available for disabled guests at Drayton Manor, so that you can decide if this attraction is able to meet your access requirements. Please note: some of the services listed bellow have a full explanation latter on in the blog post. in order to quickly Navigate through the post you can use the table of contents.

  • Wheelchair Hire: wheelchairs can be hired on a first come first serve basis from the hire station by the main entrance. There is a hire charge of £10 alongside a £10 cash deposit.
  • Mobility scooter hire: Mobility scooters can be hired for £25 alongside a £10 cash deposit. During our visit there was a sign saying that you had to be 18 to hire a mobility scooter. So if you’re planning on hiring a mobility scooter I recommend bringing ID.
  • Changing places: Drayton Manor has a changing place toilet in the first aid centre located next to the 4D Cinema. The park refers to it as a hoist room and full details can be found by clicking here Drayton Manor changing places website.
  • Essential companion ticket: Essential companion tickets formerly known as carer tickets are available to paying guests with the access card or Nimbus ID with the +1 or +2 symbol. Full information can be found in the ‘before your visit’ section of this blog post.
  • Easy access pass: For guests unable to queue due to a disability Drayton Manor offers the reasonable adjustment of an easy access pass. In order to obtain an easy access pass you need a valid access card or Nimbus ID with the standing and queuing symbol. Full information can be found in the ‘before your visit’, ‘Arrivals’ and ‘how easy access pass works’ sections of this blog post.
  • Assistance dogs: Assistance dogs must be kept on a lead/harness at all times and always be accompanied by a member of your group. Assistance dogs are not allowed in ride queues or in the zoo.
  • Makaton: Many of the entertainment team at Drayton Manor know basic Makaton signs and use these in meet and greets and some shows include a few Makaton signs.

Before Your Visit

Before visiting Drayton Manor there are a few steps you must take in order to ensure you have the correct access available to you so you can enjoy your day.

booking tickets

For Drayton Manor you can easily book tickets by clicking here Drayton Manor book now. In terms of prices, Drayton Manor uses dynamic pricing. This means that prices differ depending on when you visit. You do not pre book Essential companion tickets. For the for the K-pop February half term event day tickets for guests aged 4+ start from £20.

The event is free for silver, gold and ultimate annual pass holders.

Essential Companion Ticket

Essential companion tickets can be obtained at the ticket office on the day if your visit.

Booking with an access card: If you already have an access card with the +1 or +2 symbol on then all you need to do is book the rest of your party tickets online. Please note: you cannot pre book essential companion tickets all information in the ‘Arrivals’ section of this blog post.

Booking without an access card: If you do not already have an Access Card the I have a full blog post all about the access card that you can find by clicking here what is the access card and is it worth it. If you do not wish to purchase the access card and only want your access needs registered for Drayton Manor then you can get a free Nimbus ID by clicking here Drayton Manor access register. Please note: on the day of your visit you will need to show proof of either your Drayton Manor Nimbus ID or your access card with the +1 or +2 symbol.

Easy Access Pass

Have an Access Card: If you already have an access card with the difficulty standing symbol or difficulty with crowds symbol then there isn’t anything you need to do before your visit. Please proceed to the ‘Arrivals’ section of this blog post.

Don’t Have an Access Card: If you do not already have have an Access Card the I have a full blog post all about the access card that you can find by clicking here what is the access card and is it worth it. If you do not wish to purchase the access card and only want your access needs registered for Drayton Manor then you can get a free Nimbus ID by clicking here Drayton Manor access register. Please note: In order to use the easy access pass you must be awarded the difficulty standing symbol or difficulty with crowds symbol.

Arrivals

In this section of the blog we detail what will happen when you arrive at Drayton Manor so you know what to expect and can get on the rides as quickly as possible.

blue badge parking

Drayton Manor has lots of blue badge parking. Hardstanding blue badge parking spaces are located past the main car park and over the bridge. Sadly during our visit this car park was flooded so we had to park in the Vikings car car park that is not hardstanding and was very muddy. A few rows of blue badge spots were available and it was a short walk to the Vikings entrance. Car parking costs £9 online or £12 on the day and is free with a gold or ultimate Annual pass or if your staying in the hotel. There is no discount available for blue badge holders. Parking can be pre booked online by adding it on when buying tickets or clicking here pre book car parking. Which is helpful as it means the barrier automatically opens for you.

Image shows a muddy car park with blue badge parking signs
Vikings car park

Essential companion ticket

In order to get your Essential companion ticket you need to go to one of the ticket kiosks located at both entrances and show your access card or Nimbus ID with +1 or +2 symbol on it. You will then be given a paper ticket for the essential companion to enter the park.

entering the park

In order to enter the park your tickets will be scanned so make sure you have your tickets ready on your phone. There are female, male and accessible toilets located at the entrances.

Image shows a queue line with a ticket office at the front

collecting easy access wristband

To use the easy access pass you need to go and get your wristband from gust services. guest services is located opposite the pirate ship and is in a visible red building as seen in the images below.

Once in guest services I showed the staff member my access card with the standing and queueing symbol on and she gave me a blue wristband that said easy access and stated the number of people in our group. You can have up to 3 accompanying people with you when using the easy access pass. If you have limited mobility then when collecting your easy access wristband ask for an attraction accessibility guide. Please note: during extremely busy periods you may only be allowed one accompanying person on the easy access pass.

Sensory wise, it can be loud throughout the full park due to the music playing all throughout the park.

in the image you can see a pirate ship ride and then a lake in the distance you can see the guest services building
close up image of the outside of guest services you can see a red building with a sign that says guest services

How Easy Access Works

Drayton Manor allows the easy access pass users and a maximum of 3 accompanying guests unlimited access to enter the ride via the ride exit on the day of their visit. Please see my step by step guide to using the easy access pass at rides below:

Please note: There is still an element of queueing and the easy access is available on all rides open in this year’s February half term event. During extremely busy periods you may only be allowed one accompanying person on the easy access pass this will be indicated by the number on your wristband.

Step 1: Check ride restrictions

image shows ride restriction board for Jolly Buccaneer ride

Before going through the ride easy access pass entrance for the ride of your choice it’s important to make sure you have checked the ride restriction to make sure this ride or attraction accessible for you. The ride restriction boards are clearly located at the entrance for each ride and attraction. You can find the ride easy access guide with restrictions for disabled guests by clicking here Drayton Manor easy access guide 2024. You can also collect an attraction accessibility guide from guest services this features all restrictions for guests with limited mobility or limb differences as seen in the images. So you can check the ride requirements before getting to the ride.

step 2: find the easy access pass entrance

in the image you can see a blue gate with a large saying exit. to the side their is a sign saying easy access wait here

Now you have found out the ride is accessible for you it’s time to locate the ride easy access pass entrance for the ride you would like to enjoy. The easy access pass entrances at Drayton Manor are clearly signposted as seen in the image to the left. For the majority of rides you use the exit but please look for an easy access pass entrance before going up the exit as some rides have a separate easy access pass queue.

Step 3: show your easy access wristband

image shows a blue wristband with the Drayton manor logo on and text that reads easy access +3

Once reaching the front of the ride easy access pass queue line for your chosen ride a ride host will come and ask to see your blue wristband As seen the image to the left.

Step 4: Enjoy the ride

Image of the Jolly Buccaneer ride you can see mini pirate ships going around in a cercal

It’s now time to experience your chosen ride! Whether you’re riding Troublesome Trucks or taking a more gentle ride on Thomas, Rosie and Percy engine tours. I hope you enjoy being able to access the ride thanks to the ride easy access pass system.

Event Overview

There is so much to do this February half term so here is a list of all there is to explore at the K-Pop Takeover.

  • Sir Topham Hat’s show: Join Sir Topham Hat, Rusty and Dusty on the Thomas Land balcony for a fun interactive show full of singing, dancing and games! Full information can be found in the ‘entertainment’ section of this blog post.
  • Themed Food and Drink: There were a number of K-pop themed food and drink options including bubble tea and burgers. Please note: The bubble tea outlet was cash only.
  • Fancy Dress Competition: There was a fancy dress competition taking place for the best K-pop fancy dress. The competition takes place at 1pm on the main stage located near Accelerator.
  • K-pop Games: During the day a number of interactive games shows took place with a K-pop twist on classic party games. Full information can be found in the ‘entertainment’ section of this blog post.
  • K-pop Dance Workshop: During the day the K-pop hosts did a full K-pop themed dance workshop. During the workshop the children were taught a dance to the song Gangnam Style. The dance workshop happens at 2pm on the main stage located near Accelerator.
  • K-pop End of day concert: The main event this February half term was the K-pop E
  • end of day concert. A full one hour concert full of K-pop songs and dancing. Full information can be found in the ‘entertainment’ section of this blog post.
  • End of day water show: An end of day water spectacular took place on the lake straight after the end of day concert. Full information can be found in the ‘entertainment’ section of this blog post.
  • Rides and Attractions: this February half term there is a limited ride offering of the carousel, Accelerator, Bounty Pirate Ship, Jolly Buccaneer and the rides in Thomas Land except Bertie Bus, James and the Red Balloon and Diesel’s Locomotive Mayhem.
Pink and purple “K‑Pop Take Over” poster for Drayton Manor Resort listing entertainment times: K‑Pop Games & Fancy Dress Competition (1pm), K‑Pop Games (1pm and 3pm), K‑Pop Dance Workshop (2pm), End of Day Concert (4:30pm), End of Day Water Show at the lake (5:30pm), and Thomas Land’s Sir Topham Hatt’s Show on the balcony (12pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm).

Our Day At Drayton Manor

Now we’re in the park and have sorted all of our access out it’s time to enjoy the park and get on some rides. In this section you will find a write up of our day at Drayton Manor Christmas including all the accessibility information of course. So come and enjoy the day with us!

Entertainment

Sir Topham Hat’s show

Sir Topham Hat is back for 2026 with a fun filled show featuring plenty of party dances! Rust and Dusty are joining Sir Topham Hat to play some games during the show. Sir Topham Hat’s show takes place on the balcony in Thomas Land at 12pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm. After each show there is a meet and greet with Sir Topham Hat, Rust and Dusty under the balcony.

In terms of access the show takes place on the balcony that is at the main entrance to Thomas Land meaning the show has no seating. It can get very crowded in this area at show time however, as the balcony is so high up its easy to get a good view. It gets very loud in the entrance to Thomas Land when a show is on as there are lots of speakers playing music.

Sir Topham Hatt performer in a black top hat, black coat, and yellow vest poses and smiles beside a white picket fence in front of the Thomas Land entrance building and balcony.
Visitors gather in a crowd with strollers near a white picket fence, watching the Thomas Land entrance building

K-pop Games

One of the more unique entertainment options was the K-pop Games that took place on the main stage located near Accelerator. The games were run by two hosts and everyone was split into two teams they were classic party games. We only caught a bit of the games and they were playing red light green light. The area In front of the stage was turned into a games area with a white box painted on the floor. The K-pop Games happened at 1pm and 3pm.

Crowd of adults and children gathered in an open paved area in front of a small outdoor stage decorated with bright, colorful panels, with string lights overhead and a roller coaster track visible in the background.

K-pop end of day concert

The main part of the K-pop takeover event was the K-pop end of day concert! The show was located on the main stage located near Accelerator and was an hour long. During the show there were three K-pop fans that came out and sang lots of different K-pop songs as well as the hosts from the games earlier in the day who taught everyone some dances. The concert was very popular and there was a big crowd so I didn’t manage to get a good view of the performers so sorry for the lack of pictures.

In terms of access, there was no wheelchair viewing area for the concert and it is was all standing so wheelchair users couldn’t see the stage. It was very busy near the stage area however, there is an undercover picnic area close by where we watched the show from away from the crowds. The sensory effects used in the show were loud music and lights as well audience participation noise.

Crowd gathered in front of the main stage during the K-pop end-of-day concert, with bright purple and blue stage lighting and people standing to watch.
View of the K-pop concert from farther back near a covered picnic area, showing a busy crowd facing the stage through trees and support posts.
Busy park walkway near the concert area, with visitors passing shops and a roller coaster track overhead, showing the wider crowd and access route away from the stage.

End of the day water show

After the concert there was a finale of the water fountain show on the lake. The water show was around 15 minutes long and of course full of K-pop songs the same ones from the consort. The water show had different coloured fountains along with fire effects as seen in the images below. The water show started at 5:30pm and the lake is located to the right of the main stage where the concert was. Smaller water shows take place on the hour every hour during the day.

In terms of access, there is no designated wheelchair area for the water show and everyone rushes over from the main stage so it can be difficult for wheelchair users to be able to see. We moved over to the lake before the end of the concert so we missed the rush of people and got a good view. It was not very crowded for the water show as lot of people left during the concert. The water show has loud music, announcements, water fountains of different colours and shapes as well as fire effects.

Brick pillar and black iron fence with a posted “Water Show Times” sign beside the lake.
Dusk water show on a lake with pink and orange-lit fountains and bursts of flame, reflected on the water.
Water fountains glowing blue and green across the lake during the show, with reflections on the water.
Tall pink-lit fountains rising in a row across the lake at dusk, reflected on the water.

Rides and Attractions

The K-pop takeover has a limited ride offering of the carousel, Accelerator, Bounty Pirate Ship, Jolly Buccaneer and the rides in Thomas Land except Bertie Bus, James and the Red Balloon and Diesel’s Locomotive Mayhem. This meant that queue times were long for most rides however, staff were working hard to get through the easy access pass queue and we didn’t wait longer than three ride cycles for any ride during our visit. As it was February the weather was cold which did mean that a number of rides had weather delays at the start of the day but thankfully in the afternoon the temperature was above 5 degrees meaning Troublesome Trucks and Accelerator could open.

Jolly Buccaneer

For some reason this style of ride is one of my favourites. Although nothing very thrilling and with a minimum height restriction of 1 meter the Jolly Buccaneer ride simply spins around in a circle on a a little pirate ship.

In terms of access, the easy access entrance is located at the ride exit for the Jolly Buccaneer as seen in the images below. There is a step to get into the ride vehicle itself however the easy access entrance is level. To help you know exactly what to expect, I have created an access video for Jolly Buccaneer that can be found below.

image shows ride restriction board for Jolly Buccaneer ride
in the image you can see a blue gate with a large saying exit. to the side their is a sign saying easy access wait here
Image of the Jolly Buccaneer ride you can see mini pirate ships going around in a cercal

Winston’s Whistle Stop Tour

Winston’s Whistle Stop Tour is a slow moving monorail style ride that gives you a great view of some of the rides in Drayton Manor and a full birds eye view of Thomas Land! There is no height restriction for this ride however, guests under 1.05 meters must be accompanied by an adult. Winston’s Whistle stop tour also features audio and tells a story of Thomas Land as you go around the track. After your ride on Winston’s Whistle Stop Tour you exit through Discover Thomas Exhibition where you can explore the model railway as seen in the images below. The Discover Thomas Exhibition can also be accessed via the Thomas Land shop.

In terms of access, Winston’s Whistle Stop Tour easy access entrance is completely step free. The easy access entrance for this ride is located through the Thomas Land shop and then through the Discover Thomas Exhibition as seen in the images below. The ride has a lap bar restraint and is quite high up the only sensory effect is some quiet on board audio.

A retail area themed around Thomas the Tank Engine. The walls are painted with a sky and clouds motif, and there is a white picket fence. Shelves display various Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise, including books, toys, and clothing. A sign above reads "PAY STATION" with the Thomas logo. The area is well-lit, and there are decorative elements like faux greenery. A stroller with a Thomas-themed bag is parked in front of the shelves. The website "Accesscoasters.com" is displayed at the bottom right corner.
A long, indoor ramp with a gentle slope, featuring a handrail on the right side. The left side has a glass barrier with red metal posts. The wall on the right is painted with a mural depicting a scenic countryside landscape with green hills and a blue sky with clouds. The ceiling is white with evenly spaced lights. At the end of the ramp, there is an entrance to a shop with a sign that reads "Thomas Land Shop." A person wearing a beige coat and a red hat is walking down the ramp. In the bottom right corner, there is a watermark with the text "Accesscoasters.com."
Indoor area with a white picket fence and a ramp leading to an exit. The walls are painted with a mural depicting a scenic countryside landscape with hills and trees under a cloudy sky. A bright turquoise door is open on the left side. There are two black trash bins, one on each side of the ramp. A sign on the fence reads "EXIT ONLY" with smaller text below saying "STRICTLY NO ENTRY EXCEPT FOR DISABLED PERSONS." The floor is green, and there is a yellow banner at the bottom right corner with the text "Accesscoasters.com."
A theme park scene with a red, open-top vehicle resembling a character from the Thomas & Friends series, named Winston, as indicated by a nameplate on its side. The vehicle has a face on the front and a beige canopy. In the background, there are various amusement park rides, including a red and white striped carousel and a lighthouse structure. The sky is overcast, and there are a few people walking around the park. In the bottom right corner, there is a watermark with the text "Accesscoasters.com".
Overcast sky with gray clouds. In the foreground, a red and white striped tent top is visible. Behind it, there is a small elevated track with several red, vintage-style vehicles that resemble old-fashioned cars, each with a white canopy. People are riding in these vehicles. Below the track, there are buildings with green roofs and a sign that reads "Sodor Classic Cars." In the background, there are trees and a crane-like structure. The image has a watermark in the bottom right corner that reads "Accesscoasters.com."

Blue Mountain Engines

Blue Mountain Engines is a roundabout style ride that rotates clockwise around a humped track. The ride has no height restriction however, guest under 0.9m must be accompanied by an adult. The ride features train sound effects as you go round.

In terms of access, the easy access entrance for Blue Mountain Engines is located at the ride exit and has level access as seen in the images bellow. Blue Mountain Engines uses a seatbelt on the ride and then a gate on each ride vehicle. The ride features train sound effects as you go round so something to bare in mind sensory wise.

entrance for blue mountain engerance with a white picket fence. There's a height measurement sign featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, titled "Check Your Height with Harold." The sign has height markers from 0.6m to 1.3m, with a note stating "children under 0.9m must be accompanied by an adult." Nearby, a sign reads "Only 1 adult per engine or 2 adults per carriage." Another sign labeled "Entrance" is for "Blue Mountain Engines," with a note that children under 0.9 meters must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The area is busy with people, and there's a stroller parked nearby. The website "Accesscoasters.com" is visible at the bottom right corner.
exit and easy access entrance for Blue Mountie Engines White picket fence with two signs. The sign on the left reads "EXIT ONLY" and features a small image of Thomas the Tank Engine. The sign on the gate in the center reads "DISABLED ACCESS" and also includes an image of Thomas the Tank Engine. The ground is paved with bricks, and there is a stone-textured wall in the background. A small portion of a person is visible behind the gate. The bottom right corner has a yellow rectangle with the text "Accesscoasters.com".
A group of people is gathered in front of a white picket fence, seemingly waiting in line. Behind them is a themed area with a sign that reads "BLUE MOUNTAIN ENGINES" on a building resembling a mountain or rocky structure. To the left, there is a character from the Thomas the Tank Engine series, likely a train engine with a face, partially visible. The setting appears to be an amusement park or themed attraction. In the bottom right corner, there is a yellow banner with the text "Accesscoasters.com". The sky is clear with some clouds, and there are trees in the background.
A small amusement park ride designed to look like a train with several carriages, each painted in different colors such as red, green, and brown. The train is named "RHENEAS," as indicated on the side of the red carriage. The ride is surrounded by a white picket fence. In the background, there is a large, animated face on a building resembling a crane, with a sign that reads "CRANKY" on the crane arm. The setting includes artificial rocky terrain and some trees. The sky is overcast. In the bottom right corner, there is a watermark with the text "Accesscoasters.com."

Cranky’s Drop Tower

Cranky’s drop tower is a children’s drop tower ride that goes up and down with a minimum height restriction of just 1.05 meters. The ride gives you a good view of surrounding attractions and is a great choice for little ones who like bigger more thrilling rides, although the ride is aimed at children so not that thrilling.

In terms of access, the easy access entrance is located at the ride exit and is fully level although the seats are raised off the floor I have no difficulty getting on to the seat like I do on most drop towers. The ride uses an over the shoulder restraint that can be seen in the images below making it a great option for children to get used to this style of restraint before they go on bigger rides. In terms of sensory, Cranky’s drop tower is very loud as makes a loud noise every time the ride drops I highly recommend ear defenders.

image of exi gate and easy access entrance for crankys drop tower. White picket fence with a sign that reads "EXIT ONLY" in red letters. Above the text, there is a small image of Thomas the Tank Engine with the words "THOMAS LAND" written below it. Behind the fence, there are people sitting on a green ride. The ground is paved with dark asphalt, and there is a small patch of gravel in the foreground.
A row of bright green amusement park ride seats with black over-the-shoulder restraints and seat belts. Each seat is numbered, with visible numbers 5 and 6. The seats are part of a circular ride structure, likely a drop tower or similar attraction. In the background, there is a white picket fence and some trees. A person wearing a dark jacket is partially visible on the right side of the image. The bottom right corner has a yellow rectangle with the text "Accesscoasters.com".
A small amusement park ride featuring a vertical drop tower with green seats arranged in a circular formation at the base of a tall, green metal structure. The ride is surrounded by a white picket fence. In the background, there is a small building with a sign that reads "Franky's Drop Tower" and a roller coaster track. Several people are standing around the ride, some with children, and a few are wearing winter clothing. The sky is overcast, and there are trees and a grassy area in the distance. The image has a yellow border with the text "Accesscoasters.com" at the bottom right corner.

engine tours

Located in Thomas Land you can take a ride with Thomas, Rosie and Percy down to the zoo. Although the zoo is quite small it features a number of animals including red pandas, flamingos and owls. There is a café, Thomas themed playground and dinosaur trial also located where you get off the train. The trains come every 20 minutes. You are also able to walk if you do not want to get the train. The train is a one way ride you will need to wait for the next train if you would like to go straight back.

In terms of access, you enter via the exit at both stations for the engine tours. There is a wheelchair accessible carriage on the train allowing you to stay in your wheelchair during the ride. I was a little worried how long we would need to wait as the engine tours have a slow throughput compared to other attractions and are very popular. I had nothing to worry about as during our experience they let all easy access users on to the train as long as you arrive before the train starts boarding.

image shows ramp leading up to train station with a sign that reads disabled access
image shows a carriage with 2 rows of seats facing eachother
image shows Thomas front of train

Accelerator

Accelerator is a fun family boomerang coaster this means you go backwards and forwards around the track. With just a minimum height restriction of 1 meter when accompanied by an adult it makes for a great family coaster. Please note: Accelerator can not operate in temperatures under 5 degrees so there may be a delay opening for example, Accelerator didn’t manage to open on our visit until the afternoon.

In terms of access, there is step free or as the park refers to it wheelchair access available via the ride exit located through the photo booth as seen in the images below. The easy access entrance is located to the left of the photo booth near the main queue as shown in the images below. It is just a lap bar on this ride and in my experience I do find the ride vehicle very low down so something to bare in mind when getting on and off Accselorater. During the ride itself when you reach the top of the track there are some sound effects through a speaker that are quite loud. Don’t worry in my experience ear defenders can stay on for the ride however, glasses have to be removed unless you have a glasses strap.

in the image you can see a door leading through to a queue line with a sign that reads disabled entrance.
In the image you can see a ramp leading up to in the image you can see a door leading through to a queueline with a sign to the ride station with a sign saying wheelchair access
in the image you can see Accselorater at the top of the track.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, The K-pop event at Drayton Manor is well worth a visit this February half term. Despite the rides open being targeted at younger children the K-pop entertainment really opened the event up to an older audience making it a great day out for the full family. I look forward to seeing what’s to come at Drayton Manor for the 2026 season. Anyway that’s all from me today thanks for joining me for some K-pop fun. See you on my next adventure, bye for now.

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Disclaimer​

The information provided on this blog about theme park accessibility is based on my experiences and the details available from the attractions’ official websites at the time of my visit. Please note that facilities and services for disabled guests may change, and the information may not always be up-to-date. I strongly recommend checking the accessibility section on the respective attractions’ websites for the most current information. The comments and opinions expressed in this blog are solely my own and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of any other organisation.