CBeebies land V LEGOLAND Windsor for an 18mnth old, 6 yr old and 8 yr old

[3beforeme]

Trying to decide on short one night stay break after Christmas and cannot decide between the two! LEGOLAND looks probably better for the older two however I'm worried me and DP would end up separating off with one us managing the big ones and the other with the little and not having any quality family time. On the other hand CBeebies land potentially could keep everyone happy or would the older ones be bored? CBeebies land also has a better splash park and offers pantomime and mini golf in with the price? Anyone have any experience of both/either with similar aged kids?

i would go with legoland. cbeebies land wont keep the older 2 interested all day and the rest of alton towers is not suitable at all for younger children. Legoland has a lot more to see and do.

The water park at Alton towers is brilliant, we've just been. Couldn't recommend it enough. We wished we'd stayed over and done a day at splash landings and a day on the tree top walk and golf.

Just to throw that into the mix!

i would go to legoland very child friendly

I don’t think actual Alton towers will be open just CBeebies land and my eight year old doesn’t enjoy it in there at all, she gets really bored! So I think legoland would be better, just check if the park is actually open for the Christmas period!

ETA I no the hotels are open but not sure how much of the actual park is!

No actual Alton Towers is closed - literally just the CBeebies bit open... but there's the golf and the water bit too

At that age I would say that paultons park is much more suited.

I think somewhere like Paultons we'd deffo end up splitting into two separate groups of the older kids and the baby. It's so big I don't think there'd be any sort of crossover things that they'd all get something out of iyswim

Legoland. My 7 year old would be bored at CBeebies Land, Legoland is just amazing!

We've done both several times and I would definitely recommend Legoland.

Legoland! Took an 11 year old and a 6 month old this summer and both enjoyed it

I’ve done both. I’d pick Legoland. CBeebies land was amazing but I felt more rushed because we are from the south and wanted to pack it all in over the 2 days because we knew we’d not be returning for a while. I am more familiar with Legoland and I felt like I got more in. My older one would like 2 of the rides in CBeebies but likes almost everything at Legoland. Staying at the resort is more magical at Alton Towers though.

I went to Legoland Germany with a toddler and a 5 year old and the toddler loved it. He wasn't quite 2 at the time, now he's 2.5 and mentions Legoland quite frequently, it obviously stuck in his head! He enjoyed the Duplo train, wandering around the park and looking at the various Lego creations and going up to the big Minifigures that were about his height, enjoyed watching his older brother on the rides, etc.

I think with that range of ages there is nothing at any amusement park that will perfectly entertain all three children so it's inevitable that you will have to separate off from DH occasionally while one of you takes the older ones on certain rides.

Legoland is fine for them all. Have you checked it’s all open though? It only tends to be for the Santa days at this time of year. They’ll be stuff to do together as well as separately.
The hotel is also very child friendly, but yes, the water park is MUCH better at Alton towers. But your older children are too old for Cbeebiesland.

Oh incidentally, the pantomime in Windsor itself is also usually very good.

I’d pick option c and go to Drayton Manor...

Never even heard of Drayton Manor!

Drayton Manor is thomasland and it’s actually very good!

It snows in Thomasland

I kind of disagree with you OP re Paulton's though to be fair I haven't been for 4 years. We have an age gap of 5 years and always managed to stay pretty much together.

A number of the rides in the PPW bit are fine for all of that age group.
then in the rest of the park there are often small kids rides nearer to those for juniors. Plus the ride on toys scattered throughout the park.

However I'm not sure to what extent Paulton's is open over winter...

I'd go with the easiest drive. My children love both.

CBeebies land no - my youngest is 6 and had had enough quite quickly.
We took ours to Legoland when they were 3, 6 and 9. 3 year old was really too young for a lot of it.
We loved Paultons on the same trip. Lots for all of them and we didn't have to split up.

We were disappointed with Paultons for a 5 and 3 year old for the money. It rained and they closed the rides so we didn't get on everything. I enquired about their come back offer and it was virtually the same price. You might find it's a bad time of year to go for them closing rides/attractions.

Should have said that we only did the Peppa Pig section but was we couldn't even get through all of that.

I'm worried me and DP would end up separating off with one us managing the big ones and the other with the little and not having any quality family time

Isn't this going to happen where-ever you go? I think there's virtually no rides that will take a toddler and also excite/interest an 8-year-old.