to send dh to Legoland with DD1, while I look after dd2 at home?

[HookADuck]

We planned a family trip to Legoland next Sunday and used our cc vouchers to purchase two special offer tickets and we were going to use a half price voucher for dd1's entry (she's 3) so would cost £16.

However after reading a thread which talked of long queues I am now thinking maybe I should stay at home with dd2 (8 months) She will get nothing from the trip anyway, dh and dd1 culd use the tickets and instead of spending money on another ticket they could buy Q bot (for £30) and effectively only spend an extra £14 on the day.

AIBU not to join the long queues on a possibly hot day to waste money on a ticket for me and give dh and dd a better day by hvaing a Q Bot?

[addictedtofrazzles]

Surely it is about what dd1 (and dd2 to some extent) will get out of the trip by having both her parents there on a 'family' day? And trips like these are where I see the best in my dc and get to enjoy being with dh, so as a parent I benefit.

If you had said dd2 was a few weeks old then I would say yanbu as it would be lovely to have the peace and rest whilst dd1 gets a fun day out.

But sorry, in this instance YABU!

[HookADuck]

I do see your point and agree about family trips.

I can't see how we could possbly enjoy time together in a packed theme park, where I'm pushing dd2 trying to occupy myself while dh and dd1 spend 45 mins in a queue.

[seeker]

I think you're perfectly reasonable. Dd1 will have a special day out with her dad, dd2 will have your undivided attention for the day - sounds like a win win to me! Make something special for tea when they get home and let her tell you all about it in graphic detail while your dh necks the gin you will have handed him as he staggers through the door!

[addictedtofrazzles]

If queues are 45 mins then dh and dd1 are going to have a miserable time while you relax at home... My 3 year old would not queue for that long.

If it is really that bad (and you won't know until you try it!) then cancel the whole trip and go and do something else as a family - a walk in a park and ice cream. Doesn't need to be expensive!

[cjbartlett]

Yanbu
An 8 month old will get nothing out of legoland

[HookADuck]

Well that is the other point of me not going addictedtofrazzles, dh could buy a Q Bot (half of which could be paid for using money saved on the third ticket) and then no queuing for dd1.

And there have already been many ice creams and trips to the park for all of us!

[myBOYSareBONKERS]

I personally wouldn't take a 3 year old to Legoland either. Much to big and noisy. Huge Q's. Not many rides for that age.

[HookADuck]

Well we have already exchanged the vouchers now - so discussions of not taking her are pointless!

[exoticfruits]

Sounds like a win,win day to me too-I can't think why you are even hesitating. The baby will get nothing out of it so you will have a relaxing day at home, DD1 gets the undivided attention of daddy and as a 3 yr old she will be too young for the things with the longest queues. YANBU

[exoticfruits]

She will love it-don't listen to the doom mongers-they are looking at it through adult eyes (I dare say dad won't be so keen)

[HookADuck]

She is over a metre tall - not sure of that helps with the rides she can go on

[exoticfruits]

I don't think that she will have a problem-it is things for the older DCs that will have the queues.

[addictedtofrazzles]

Well why don't you take dd1 and stand in queues all day and your dh can have a nice relaxing day at home bonding with dd2...!?

Don't know what Q bot is.

[HookADuck]

Q Bot is book a ride and then turn up when your handheld device says, go on ride. No que.

I would go but I don't do rides, have no enjoyment of them, they make me feel ill and I cannot do heights. Even if we both went dh would take dd1, hence me saying earlier that I would be standing around with dd2 while dh and dd1 queued.

[Takitezee]

YANBU, the 8 month old wouldn't get anything out of it.

I think that's there plenty for a three year old to do there for a whole day. We had an annual pass when my dd was 3 and went regularly - she used to love the shows.

I think your idea of sending dh and dd1 and using the extra money for Q bot is the best way of doing it.

[Whatmeworry]

I'm not sure even a 3yo would get much out of Legoland tbh.

[HookADuck]

She loved Chessington - and I think Legolandis more suited to her age

[EightiesChick]

Yes sounds like a good idea to me.

[LiegeAndLief]

Legoland no good for 3 year olds? Seriously?! We have had annual passes since ds was 2.10 (used tesco clubcard vouchers, great) and he loves it. There are loads of rides for little kids. Dd (dc2) is just 2 and she loves it too.

Have you been much before op? You don't have to stand in all the queues to have a good day out, especially if you can get there just as it opens - run down to the bottom of the park as quickly as you can and you should be able to get on a couple of the big queue rides (like atlantis or laser raiders) before everyone else gets there. There are the playgrounds, and the shows, and the rides that hardly ever have a queue like fairytale brook, the carousel or the duplo train.

OTOH, we've just been with a qbot for ds's birthday treat and it was great, went on lots of rides which we wouldn't have done without the qbot because of the queues. Probably depends how desperate to go on the rides your dd is. I'm sure she will have a great time either way. Def better for a three year old than Chessington.

Oh, and for the poster who said a three year old can't go on that many rides at Legoland, my 2 yo who isn't even 0.9m yet can go on loads!

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Can't you wait until the end of the summer holidays? Queue's will be much shorter then..

Also, have a look at Tesco deals (if you have points) there's a deal for a pass for £10 worth of vouchers (certain date restrictions though)

[HookADuck]

Thats the passes we have Jareth - so cannot go between 25th Aug - 5th September.

DH and I used our leave at the beginning of August so we are going on Sunday and next Sunday is the only day we are free.

Maybe I won't bother with the Que Bot then Leige. Thank you for the fab info I really appreciate it - haven't been before!

[LiegeAndLief]

You can always get a qbot after a few hours there if you change your mind, there is a qbot kiosk at the bottom of the park. I really would recommend getting in there as soon as it opens though, especially as you can't use a qbot for atlantis (the new ride) and it's really worth going on.

If you want to know anything else just ask, I have been far too many times!

[Namechangeoshame]

L&L is exactly right, although I hate the summer holiday queues it will be much worse for the "grown-up" thrill rides than for the toddler stuff. The water play, Miniland, the shows and all the rides for small people will have no, or very manageable, queues.

Top tip is, as L&L says, to turn up really really early, pick the two "big" rides you really fancy, perhaps Atlantis and the boat school, and hit them as soon as the gates open, before the queues build up - then do baby rides and stuff with no queues for the rest of the day. Oh, and take a towel and change of clothes for the water play.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Ahh I see, yes.. we have the same ones but are going to go one weekend in Sept :)

Glad to see there is plenty for a 3yo to do though, so thanks for this thread. V useful.

[HookADuck]

A friend told me ou could only book the new ride online (I'm guessing he meant Atlantis) is that incorrect then?

Getting there early won't be a problem as we don't live too far away. Is there huge queues to get in?

Would love to know anything you can think of L&L