Butlins Minehead August 31st

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I'm a single mum taking my 8 Yr old dd to butlins Minehead for the weekend of August 31st. Just wondered if anyone else is going this weekend, who would perhaps be interested in meeting up?

Have taken dd before, and had a great time, but she didn't really get to play with many other kids, which was a shame.

TIA.

What a lovely idea . I'm not there that week, I'm back there end of September but hope you have a lovely time. Is it your first visit? We go 5 times a year we love it so much.

@Peoplemaynoticeus have you got any tips about going?

Sorry to hijack the thread OP! Going mid September so not able to help.

Thanks for replies :) not my first visit, went once last year. We had a great time. I recommend getting a meal pass if u are only in a room though as it works out much cheaper. I've always booked last minite and managed to get good deals that way. Hope you both have great times :)

You have to book things like archery, arts, fencing etc in advance even if it's a free activity. Do this as soon as you can because things can get booked up quickly. They can be booked at the inn on the green, sports hub, booking shop and a stand in the middle of the skyline.
The pool is always quiet in the afternoon because most people have a dining plan.
Buy bubble guns before you go, they are really expensive there.
Don't get sucked into the 2 hour queue for shows (especially the panto). The centre stage can seat everyone so you are guaranteed a seat (even at the back is a good view as it's on a platform).
Don't buy bottles of water there, everywhere will give you cups of iced water or fill your bottles up, or give you jugs of water with ice and lemon.
Don't waste too much money on the arcade machines, the 2p machines are full of little gifts, if they aren't moving or have hit the glass call a assistant over and they are really good at giving kids prizes.
Watch the skyline gang shows if they are the only shows you watch.
Don't pay £10 for a solitary photo just take your own.
At the end of crazy golf the second hole is the one you need to aim for to get a free pass for another game.
The land train runs every 20 mins from the shop opposite the American diner. So if you are staying in the new chalets it really helps.
Avoid the space bowl, I had the lifeguard jump in to get me out it is bloody awful and terrifying
Check if there's Morris dancing on in minehead town any evenings. It is lovely to see.
I will try and think of anything else, happy to answer if there's anything you can think of

Thank you for all the tips :) really looking forward to it now.

Just hope dd makes some friends this time, but even if not we will still have a great time.

I'm sure she will make make friends, mine always do even though they have siblings. Have you ever been in to see the old sunsplash pool? It's pretty creepy but good to look around

Love Butlins.

Definitely book any activities as soon as you can. We waited until the first full day before and it was all booked up. You.can get the guide online before you go so can see times etc.

The panto is fab! As is Stephen Mulhern's show (if I'm correct in thinking you are there over the weekend)?

Don't get ticket prizes on last evening or last morning, the queue will be huge. Same for any photos you want to buy.

Most of the fair is free, make good use of it.

Use the hand gel around. Someone is always always ill when we are there, bugs seem to be rife, and if someone in your party gets ill and the staff know they will make you leave. Child right next to us threw up in centre stage once, DH caught it but because we knew their rule we kept him shut in one of our bedrooms and DCs slept in with me and we were out all day. The rest of us didn't catch it but if staff had known they would have sent us home.

The pedal karts are great fun.

@Peoplemaynoticeus @AspieHere
Thank you so much for the tips! We’re going Monday-Friday for tots week so I will look online tomorrow for anything we need to book.

Will definitely use the hand gel & got loads of our own too. We haven’t got a dining plan so I hope we’ll avoid most of the bugs!

We always go in June ( term time) to tots as we have a 2 and 3 year old but also have a child with Autism that wouldn't cope with the crowds at peak time.
We always go for premium dining, the staff there are great and go the extra mile for the children.
Make sure you take socks with you for your little one in a bag if wearing none as they will need them in the soft play and the fair for tots.
They have a tent in the main tent full of books for the children to read as well which is nice.
Most things close earlier then a normal break at the tots breaks.

"We haven’t got a dining plan so I hope we’ll avoid most of the bugs!"

When we were there last time a child was sick in the soft play area, time before was centre stage so often not related to dining unfortunately.