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Original poster

Going to Legoland first time

37 replies

Goingtolegoland · 13/07/2022 16:35

Need some advice as Mumsnet has always been very helpful.

Tomorrow we are going to Legoland with DD (4yo) for the first time since she was born. I'd like to ask you first of all how is the food there, if any, so I know whether to pack lunch? DD is very picky and been a bit poorly lately too.

Also any advice re the rides for DD, best things to do, things to avoid?

Thank you x

OP posts:
Ontomatopea · 13/07/2022 16:38

Pack lunch, will save you money and you'll k kW what she will eat

lifechanginglemoncake · 13/07/2022 16:42

We've had a season ticket this year and have some tips:
Food/ they have a chicken restaurant, burgers, pasta and pizza, fish and chips which are ok but I found it easier to take a packed lunch and lots of snacks. They get very hungry!
Get there half an hour before opening and do the popular rides early. I'd say do the coastguard HQ, log flume, ninjago etc pretty quickly - in the first hour. Get the app to see the queue times and go for what's quiet.
When we went last week the splash pad and other water bits were ridiculously busy by 12 so if you want to do that also go early.
Otherwise there is loads to see and do so just go with the flow!

MrsOwainGlyndŵr · 13/07/2022 16:42

Take your own food, and be prepared for v v long queues. In this heat, I'm not sure it's the best place for a 4 year old as there is lot of standing around in the sun queueing.

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BertieBotts · 13/07/2022 16:44

I'd recommend going onto the website, find the downloadable list of all rides with age/height restrictions and then make a list of what she'll actually be able to go on.

Get the Legoland app. It tells you live waiting times so you can use that to plan your day. Bring your list (or print a park map and circle everything you think she'll like) and use that to choose what you'll go on.

Do the train around the park first, or last. If they have the Duplo land for toddlers, (I've not been to the UK one with tiny kids) she will probably enjoy that as well. It's a nice calm end point when she gets too tired to do anything but doesn't want to leave yet.

For lunch either bring a packed lunch or again scope out the restaurants online. Combo of tripadvisor and Legoland website should help here. Aim for lunch early (11/11:30ish) before she gets overwhelmed from hunger, and bring or aim to buy an afternoon snack (2ish)

BertieBotts · 13/07/2022 16:47

I'd avoid planning too many rides in advance as if the queues are too long she may be disappointed. Just make your own list privately without her and then on the day offer a couple of choices based on what's nearby and not a horrendous wait ie do you want to go on this next, or that?

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 13/07/2022 16:49

We always get there for opening, head to the back and work out way back towards the front of the park - it’s the opposite of what most people do. ;)

mklanch · 13/07/2022 16:50

we always take a lunch with us. the lines are pretty long for food and the quality isnt very good.
if your able to afford it a q bot is very good.
we went for the first time with my 2 when my daughters were 5 and 7 and it was hot weather like what we are having now. it was packed everywhere and very hot. the queue's were at least 1.5 hours for every ride. we only managed to get on 3 rides in the whole day.
we complained and they sent us some tickets, so we gave it another try and got the qbot...it was a game changer. we could walk at our own pace and hardly had to queue.
i would advice either taking a pushchair or hiring one from the entrance of the park, as there is alot of walking

Original poster
Goingtolegoland · 13/07/2022 17:03

Thank you everyone, lots of good advice.

Gosh, I didn't think it would be so busy before all the kids are off school? I hate queuing so can't see us doing a lot of rides, especially in this weather.

Looks like I have to pack a lunch too which is fine as I know in this case DD will have something to eat.

OP posts:
DesignerRecliner · 13/07/2022 17:12

Do the coastguard boat ride first then head to Atlantis, as they're very popular with big queues.

Take your own food as the food there is diabolical and SO expensive.

Get a refillable drink and share it with all 4 of you

whenwillthemadnessend · 13/07/2022 17:12

Take bottles of ice water and some insect relief spray. It's hideous for aggressive wasps.

BertieBotts · 13/07/2022 17:14

Queues may not be as bad going in school time. If you'd known earlier I guess you could have checked the queue times in app today.

Fullofpudding · 13/07/2022 17:19

I went yesterday and it was unfortunately absolutely heaving. Lots and lots of schools there on days out. We waited an hour for the log flumes and another hour for the driving academy. We didn't get on the boat ride or the fire station ride.

justasmalltownmum · 13/07/2022 17:20

Pack swim clothes and go to the giant splash pad. Too hot to be queuing.

SurreyMumOfOne · 13/07/2022 17:27

Scottish schools have been off for a few weeks and private schools are now off too. Don't be put off but be prepared to be flexible and as pp have said, use the app to keep an eye on queue times.

Take a packed lunch and lots of snacks. Swimmers and a change of clothes.

greenbirdsong · 13/07/2022 17:28

I went with my 4yr old 2 weeks ago.

It was so busy even on a school day!

I would recommend the legoland app as if gives you estimates for the ride times.

There isn't much shade so make sure you have sun cream and hats and drinks.

Food available was awful and lots of food places closed when we went. So glad we had taken a packed lunch. £7.50 for a disgusting looking hotdog for example.

You have to pay for parking which you can do in advance or on the day.

I'd recommend getting there as close to opening as you can. We got there at 10.30 and it closed at 4 and we didn't have time to get around everything.

The indoor 3D cinema is good to get in out of the sun for a bit and the film was funny (about 20 mins).

derryrose1980 · 13/07/2022 17:32

Was there yesterday. Loads of school trips there. Wait times ok on rides. It was scorching though so plenty of liquids and suncream. My picky eater loved the pizza and pasta place in the Lego girls section.

BreadInCaptivity · 13/07/2022 17:36

Food is poor quality and expensive so definitely take your own.

There are lots of places to picnic.

Think about using the money you save to use ride and reserve (using the app) otherwise you'll spend a lot of time queuing.

Don't dismiss the model village as an attraction (no booking, you just walk around).

Take sun protection/hat buggy cover for your little one and lots of water.

Also swimwear/towel for her and yourself for the splash part of the park.

www.legoland.co.uk/tickets-passes/extras/reserve-and-ride/

iRun2eatCake · 13/07/2022 17:37

Goingtolegoland · 13/07/2022 17:03

Thank you everyone, lots of good advice.

Gosh, I didn't think it would be so busy before all the kids are off school? I hate queuing so can't see us doing a lot of rides, especially in this weather.

Looks like I have to pack a lunch too which is fine as I know in this case DD will have something to eat.

School trips are taking place.

DS went to Thorpe Park Monday, and even with a Ride Access pass the queues were over an hour long.

Washermother33 · 13/07/2022 17:42

Mine are too old now but we had a pass for years . Get there before 10 to get through security and head straight to the back of the park without going on any rides then work from the back towards the entrance . Go and look round the Lego World when it gets too busy , take snacks for the queues and be ready to keep her amused ! Also go to the loo before queuing . Also check her height in shoes and the ride height list tonight

Original poster
Goingtolegoland · 13/07/2022 17:46

Washermother33 · 13/07/2022 17:42

Mine are too old now but we had a pass for years . Get there before 10 to get through security and head straight to the back of the park without going on any rides then work from the back towards the entrance . Go and look round the Lego World when it gets too busy , take snacks for the queues and be ready to keep her amused ! Also go to the loo before queuing . Also check her height in shoes and the ride height list tonight

Brilliant advice, thank you.

OP posts:
Washermother33 · 13/07/2022 17:47

If you have a long journey home the pizza pasta place might still be open for a meal before heading home ( always used to be peak season) … mine always enjoyed going there and they were very fussy

BuffaloCauliflower · 13/07/2022 17:48

We did Chessington last week and it was full of end of term school trips so very busy, I’d bet any money Legoland will be the same. It’s also going to be crazy hot and the queues mostly don’t have shade, if you haven’t booked already I’d seriously consider resheduling.

If you do go, take packed lunch and lots of snacks. Plenty of places to sit.

Sweetpea84 · 13/07/2022 18:01

If you can afford it Qbot is worth every penny.

Original poster
Goingtolegoland · 13/07/2022 21:36

Thank you everyone, very helpful x

I'm slightly dreading it now though 😁.

I'm taking everyone's advice on board and hope for the best. We can't cancel it as we bought the tickets a while ago, specifically to avoid the school holidays.

OP posts:
BuffaloCauliflower · 13/07/2022 22:21

Hope you have fun!