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Original poster

How Strict Chessington with free entry for under 3d?

109 replies

Bertieboo82 · 09/07/2022 12:52

It’s free entry for under 3 or £36

I am going with a friend. She’s planning on trying to get her 6 year old through. No judgement please. She’s using the Kelloggs free adult (thanks to a lovely mumsnetter) and yet still out of her range. I can’t sub her £36 as that would be a stretch for me!

she has had a very rough year and money is very tight for her.

i know it is easy to judge but please try not to

Just after how strict Chessington is please

OP posts:
Redcrayons · 09/07/2022 13:13

I might chance it with a just turned 3 year old, but even the smallest 6 year old isn’t going To pass for 2.

Most kids that age are still in strollers.

AtLeastPretendToCare · 09/07/2022 13:15

What is her plan for when they say “lol, that is not a 2 year old”? Will you all have to turn around and come home?

Thesearmsofmine · 09/07/2022 13:15

I wouldn’t even try it as I would be mortified when I was rightly told no plus really upsetting fir the child. I think a few months to a year past the cut off age would be no issue but my dinky 6 year old would no way pass for being 2!

Ducksurprise · 09/07/2022 13:16

But isn't the free adult ticket with a full paying child?

Thesearmsofmine · 09/07/2022 13:16

AtLeastPretendToCare · 09/07/2022 13:15

What is her plan for when they say “lol, that is not a 2 year old”? Will you all have to turn around and come home?

Maybe hoping others will pay or the park will feel sorry for her. There is no way she can be deluded enough to think her 6 year old will pass for 2.

EarringsandLipstick · 09/07/2022 13:16

OP, I am going to judge, sorry.

I have every empathy for a struggling mum who can't afford treats for her DC. I have been & still am, that mum.

But going to a theme park isn't necessary, even in terms of treats. There's lovely other things you & she can do with your DC that are affordable or free.

No one must go to Chessington or similar.

EarringsandLipstick · 09/07/2022 13:16

Ducksurprise · 09/07/2022 13:16

But isn't the free adult ticket with a full paying child?

Good point!

Floraanddougal · 09/07/2022 13:18

Is there something missing here? Is the child has some form of condition? Because otherwise no one will think a six year old is two.

Glittertwins · 09/07/2022 13:19

A 6 year old looks nothing like a 3 year old, even if petit - the shape of the face for a start will look nothing like a toddler's

Mammyloveswine · 09/07/2022 13:22

My 4.5 year old could pass for 3 as hes tiny and still has a baby face.., my eldest is 6, has two adult teeth and is all bony and gangly... he definitely does not look anywhere near 3!

I love how batshit mumsnet is 😂

Floraanddougal · 09/07/2022 13:26

Op they aren’t strict in that they will check birth certificates. If the kid looks about two they will get in, so they aren’t strict at all.

but clearly a six year old isn’t getting in for free. Unless there is a medical condition here no one is going to think a six year old looks two. I’m stunned the pair of you would think they might, or that under three might just mean six year olds. It doesn’t.

jadedspark · 09/07/2022 13:28

Maybe if they are very small and will sit in a buggy? To be honest I never even notice them looking at my children when I tell them their ages.

But is it worth the potential embarrassment? What will you all do if they say no?

SoupDragon · 09/07/2022 13:28

I can't imagine there are many 6 year olds who could pass for "under 3" at all!

does she really think it's likely to work?

LairyMcClairy · 09/07/2022 13:29

My 6 year old is off the bottom of the growth chart and still has a tiny bit of the preschool look about her but there’s no way she’d pass for 2/3. I’d say there is zero chance of this coming off I’m afraid.

Svara · 09/07/2022 13:32

Thinking of the smallest children I've known, my DS's friend could have passed for four at six because of his size, but not two. Friend's petite four and a half year old who was a 34 weeker wouldn't pass for two either.

Pinkflipflop85 · 09/07/2022 13:32

This has got to be a joke, surely?
No 6 year old is ever going to pass for a 2 year old.

TimBoothseyes · 09/07/2022 13:43

Sorry OP but the 6 year old will not pass for under 3 in any circumstances. DD's DP works there and the amount of people who try to pass 4 year olds off as under 3 and fail means that the staff have become very apt at at spotting when someone is pulling a fast one.

AnaïsM · 09/07/2022 13:51

Maybe a better idea would be for her to do some shop lifting for easily sellable items (meat or spirits) then sell that to get the money for his ticket. This will avoid the risk of them being turned away at the gate.

Another option is to see if her child can slip a wallet out of someone’s pocket or bag in the queue while they are busy with their own children. At six they are below the age of criminal responsibility, so don’t need to worry about the legal implications.

NewYorkLassie · 09/07/2022 13:56

Let it be a lesson in you can’t always get what you want. Everyone has things they cant afford. Saying no to a child is part of life's great lessons.

If you’re thinking of Chessington you must be within a day trip of London, where there are tons of free things for kids. All the big museums are free. And the transport museum, which is a massive hit with kids, is free for kids and £21 for an annual pass for adults.

waveyourpompoms · 09/07/2022 13:56

Won’t happen. She needs to go somewhere she can afford.

NewYorkLassie · 09/07/2022 13:57

AnaïsM · 09/07/2022 13:51

Maybe a better idea would be for her to do some shop lifting for easily sellable items (meat or spirits) then sell that to get the money for his ticket. This will avoid the risk of them being turned away at the gate.

Another option is to see if her child can slip a wallet out of someone’s pocket or bag in the queue while they are busy with their own children. At six they are below the age of criminal responsibility, so don’t need to worry about the legal implications.

😂

CarriMarie · 09/07/2022 14:05

I took my 3 years old grandson yesterday, he was in buggy with hood up as sunshade, also wearing cap, and no-one attempted to check his age.

Brideandprejudice · 09/07/2022 14:08

Very silly. Unless she's prepared to either A) pay the £36 if/when they refuse entry or B) take a child to a theme park and leave without going in, which I think is just cruel.

whynotwhatknot · 09/07/2022 14:14

my niece is a very small 6 year old and even she wouldnt pass for 3 sorry not worth the risk and unfair really

go to the beach or a park free and still fun if you tak stuff for the kids

Greenkitten · 09/07/2022 14:14

Chessington is just round the corner for us- am they’re pretty strict! I had to argue my 2 year olds case when they were actually, honestly two! You might luck out and get a bored teenager on the gate who doesn’t give a shit- but you might get the shift manager who really does! It is nice for little ones as they have an aquarium and a little zoo and some kiddy rides- but not much to justify a full price entry. If your this way round London you could go to tooting? There’s a free farm at dean city farm and then try the lido?