Summer holiday outings recommendations?

[r3dh3d]

I've just posted a thread on another SN board recommending Marwell zoo - carer goes free and with their annual pass you can get into a whole bunch of other zoos as many times as you like.

So thought it might be cool to do a thread where we all recommend good places to go with disabled kids this summer...

Legoland (Windsor) is the other obvious one near us - carer goes free there plus great access policy.

Birdworld (Farnham) has very reasonable disabled entrance fees, little playground, petting farm, aquarium bit as well as birds. Good value day out.

Where would you recommend?

[Arabica]

In general how do you claim a discount--do you have to show a DLA award letter?

[Sidge]

Paulton's Park is good - if you take proof of disability (doesn't have to be physical disability) they give you a wristband so you don't have to queue.

A good variety of rides, some more accessible than others but we have always found the staff helpful.

[r3dh3d]

Arabica - depends a bit on the disability; DLA letter is good or maybe relevant letter with diagnosis if you're pre-DLA. I wrote a letter for DD1's paed to sign - covers all eventualities because her diagnoses are rare and no-one has ever heard of them so it's not clear what her needs are. Hang on:

"To whom it may concern:



Diagnoses:
1
2
3
4

has been a patient of mine since

Mobility: She has poor mobility in that she cannot walk for more than a few steps on an unfamiliar surface without tripping or falling and, therefore, requires a buggy everywhere she goes.

Care: She has a severe learning disability and epilepsy and needs constant one-to-one support from a dedicated carer to keep her safe.

Social: She has no grasp of social situations and has difficulty tolerating sitting still or queueing (particularly in crowds).

Signed:
"

ie, let the wheelchair in, let a carer in free and give us a queue jump pass!

But as I say, DLA letter usually does fine. Some places say "carer goes free with registered disabled" - before DLA there was one single, central disability register and being on that was your proof. But what they mean really is DLA recipient.

Paulton's Park looks good Sidge - have heard of it though never ventured quite that far: DH has fond childhood memories of that area though, so will stick it on our list!

[PeachyBAHons]

Wow Sidge..... we're of there in two weeks! I thank you so very much . Can't imagine queueng with the whole lot screeching!

nbristol Zo- we took along the DLA letters and the lady actually worked out all the permeutations of disability / family tickets etc until she got us the cheapest rate she could find. Unasked. What a wonderful woman!

I find dla letter is good for us, with invisible sn

I say invisible

you should see some of the boys latest stims lol

[Arabica]

That's good, we will take DLA letters if we come across anywhere that wants to charge admission for DD. She's on the local disability register and I have a local carer's card which gives a useful discount at the local cinema and leisure centre and somewhat random discounts elsewhere (eg 5% off dry-cleaning Mon-Fri, 15% off perfume at one chemist miles away. Still, better than a slap in the face with a wet fish innit)

[Blu]

The Dr Who exhibition at Earl's Court and the Museum In Docklands gave us free parking (without fretting that I have no Blue Badge - but call beforehand), free 'carer' ticket and were v accessible for a 6-year-old wheelchair user.
All children go free at the Museum In Docklands, and pay a concessionary price at Dr Who.

[Arabica]

Maybe we should start an informal register of places that do discounts.

[misscutandstick]

this

entitles the holder of DLA to a free cinema ticket in many of the big film companies ie. cineworld, vue, etc. it does cost £5.50 for the pass, but it lasts for 3yrs. So it would only take 2 visits for it to be worth the money.

The website states:
"This is a national card that can be used to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema."

I have 2 SN children - each with their own DLA letter... does that mean 2 carers can go free?

[misscutandstick]

also:

Ten Pinn do reduced entry for DLA entitled and carer (£2.50 for both).

Nottinghamshire:
White post farm is lovely easy to navigate with wheelchairs and the slides are very accomodating for parent and child. also wonderland is quite nice. Sundown Adventureland is brill, but some rides may not be that suitable for wheelchair users - primarily aimed at up to 10's. tho we've been every year since DS1's first birthday and hes 15yrs now! But it has got better and better. Over in Hull I can thoroughly reccomend the deep is fantastically laid out, very wheelchair friendly, and loads of hands on stuff that even seated youngsters can get their mits on! the blue planet aquarium over in chester is also nice, but not as much there, whilst chester zoo is simply a must-do!

Im sorry i dont know if any of the above places offer discounts - but i imagine so.

[misscutandstick]

why do my bolds never work??

just thought id ask again in case the query got lost: i have 2 SN children with DLA confirmation... do we get 2 carers free???

[misscutandstick]

Nottinghamshire:
White post farm is lovely easy to navigate with wheelchairs and the slides are very accomodating for parent and child. also wonderland is quite nice. Sundown Adventureland is brill, but some rides may not be that suitable for wheelchair users - primarily aimed at up to 10's. tho we've been every year since DS1's first birthday and hes 15yrs now! But it has got better and better. Over in Hull I can thoroughly reccomend the deep is fantastically laid out, very wheelchair friendly, and loads of hands on stuff that even seated youngsters can get their mits on! the blue planet aquarium over in chester is also nice, but not as much there, whilst chester zoo is simply a must-do!

only took 3 attempts sorry.

[r3dh3d]

2 SN kids should get 2 carers in free. If in doubt you could always queue separately... . I find with most places it's easiest to phone and confirm policy before you go. Then when you get to the numpty on the gate you say "I phoned and spoke to X (get the name) and she said..." In extremis I've been known to get them to email me and have printed the email off. I do hate fuss

Re: Chester zoo - the annual pass for Marwell seems to work as an annual pass for Chester plus some other zoos. And is less than half the price (with SN discount). And they do it by post. But I didn't tell you that.

[TotalChaos]

r3 - I am very interested in that info you didn't tell me about marwell zoo membership .

according to this website Chester Zoo offers carers free entry on a 1-1 basis (www.aboutbritain.com/ChesterZoo.htm). I can't see any mention of this on Chester Zoo's own website though, just a very small reduction for disabled visitors. So probably worth phoning to check. I'll ask anyway next time I go.

[TotalChaos]

am pondering whether to join belfast zoo as ordinary adult annual membership is £24 and junior membership is £12, and they have reciprocal arrangements with chester zoo and other zoos.

[PeachyBAHons]

r3dh3d has it exactly- as we also habve 2 with dla, DH and I just go in separately lol (we do that anyway sometimes as I always think 2 invvisible asd's make us look doubly like liars as i am the Queen Of Paranoia)