If you’ve been looking up Alton Towers this season you’ll have no doubt come across their recent batch of quirky promotional material, one of their many discount vouchers and the infamous word of “fantabulous”. Everywhere you read, look and search you’ll more than likely come across this word which is causing more than just a stir within enthusiast communities.

First and foremost, where does this word originate from? It most certainly isn’t a recognised word in the english dictionary nor is it something you’ll hear in some parts of the country (accents). “Fantabulous” has came from the whacky world of Alton Towers, a description of themselves as both fantastic and fabulous. Clever huh? What a wonderful and quirky word, right? Well not quite according to the masses.

At first people actually quite liked the word “fantabulous” as it was different and sounded rather magical - that was up until Merlin pressed the overkill button and used it at any given opportunity and thus the magic seemed to fade. The people who orginally liked it are ironically now finding it quite irritating, a bit like Rihanna and her song ‘Umbrella’ I suppose. There are a few who still find it fun though and are rather annoyingly using it in their own forum contributions and the like which really doesn’t help the situation.

I kind of stand in the middle on this one. As a word I really like it, why not describe an amazing theme park with something out of the ordinary? Afterall, it is things that are different that have made Alton Towers the magical place it is today. But then again, seeing the word over and over again is a bit too cheesy and a bit, “Yeah, we get the point now shut up, we know this attraction is a piece of crap, don’t make it sound like it is something it’s clearly not”.

For example, The Dung Heap. The name is as good as any description in my opinion as it quite literally is a big pile of dung. Is it a fantabulous attraction? Clearly not. How about The Towers themselves? Recent signs state the “fantabulous” Towers ruins are closed for Scarefest preparations. Now, let’s get one thing straight shall we? The ruins at Alton Towers are not, nor ever have been, “fantabulous”. They are awesome, breathtaking, awe-inspiring, beautiful, overwhelming, stately, magical, dumbfounding, astonishing…almost any descriptive word other than “fantabulous”. There are times when the use of the word is called upon, and there others when it quite clearly ought to be left alone.

So, what do you think? Fantabulous - love it or loathe it?

Please leave your comments and have a fantabulous day (excuse the pun).