Legoland on a budget? Possible?

[Bemyclementine]

I have 2 x DC, 5 and 7. Their GP wants to know what to get them for Christmas, and I'm considering suggesting legoland. Is it possible to do this on a budget? We're used to not spending much extra on days out (so I go equipped with picnic, drinks, snacks etc).

Using the 2 for 1 vouchers or club card points , could it be done reasonably cheaply? She normally spends £50 each, I realise we'd need to factor in adults, and travel. Just wondering if I'm way off the mark.

GP will be happy to spend a bit more for the wow factor

yes if you do all the free stuff like mini world and the water park. Or get there v early and go in a couple of rides. Otherwise the queues for the rides are cray. Or bunk off school for a day….

You can take a picnic, the food is the worst I’ve ever had, literally vile, so would recommend that to anyone!

However it’s very crowded so I would suggest you budget for the reserve and ride passes- even the £15 pp ones are really good, the don’t shorten the wait time but it means you don’t have to physically stand in the queue so can spend the time doing the smaller rides, big playgrounds, watching the shows etc so you feel like you’ve done loads and not just stood in line for hours.

Should mention, it will definitely be a bunk off school day.

I'm local and I suggest equip yourself with decent waterproofs and go on a day forecast to rain. Particularly rain after lunch. Place empties = no queues. And you get wet on some of the rides so why not?!

I took the kids at that age a couple of times (as we lived 40 mins away) and spent nothing inside once we'd paid for tickets (on an entry deal).
We took a picnic and drinks and a flask of tea for me. The kids were used to this, though, and also didn't nag to go in gift shops, etc.
I guess it depends on how far away you live and your kids' expectations around shops and sweet treats! There are certainly many opportunities to spend money inside the park.

There’s often 2 for 1 vouchers on boxes of Cadbury fingers or animal biscuits, or carex hand wash. Definitely bunk off school but not in July. We went early July weekday and it was horrendously busy.

Ah. Sorry - I've just re-read. Your kids are used to not spending extra on days out. Ok, you should be fine once inside the park, then, so it'll depend on travel and how cheaply you can get the tickets.

The kids are well used to life on a budget. We go out a lot , but don't spend much. Something like this we'd maybe buy the kids an ice cream or similar. They're pretty good with not badgering for gift shop stuff too.

It is a long way. 2.5hours in the car. Argh. Is it worth it??

If you go when it's warm you can spend a lots of time in the splash parks!

We went a few years ago when the dc were 7 and 4. Summer hols. Didn't get Qbots, because actually the little rides they wanted to go on didn't have big queues. We actually went for 2 days, as we were coming from Yorkshire, and stayed at Aylesbury Premier Inn on the way. We got a deal of 2 days in the park plus a hotel in Windsor from the LL website. Worked out about £65/head. This was erm... 7 years ago now so I don't know what it's like now postpandemic. Two days was certainly good at those ages as it's a big park, and a tiring day. We were some of the first in, and we were all flagging by 3pm, with loads still to do.

this blog addresses Legoland on a budget, and references the legendary MN Legoland survival guide. Again, it's a few years old, but imagine the principles are the same.

With the Kellogg's etc 2 for 1 tickets you didn't used to be able to book in advance and had to queue up and pay on the day. Advanced booking was cheaper and quicker - again, this was prepandemic.

Yes

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads thank you, very helpful. I fear travelling a long way, with excited kids, then queueing all day with them being upset and annoyed at not doing much. Then a long drive home!.

Do they still do brick week? In the feb half term when not everything is open so the tickets are much cheaper - we went pre-pandemic so might not be a thing now but could we worth checking out, there was still
enough open that we couldn’t get round everything

I looove Legoland and have taken the kids a few times but I think that is too long a car journey. It’s really quite big so you will walking all day. Or one parent drives and one parent does the park.

I would do a two day trip or do a local attraction instead. Unless your kids are Lego mad. But It’s own by Merlín so it’s a Lego themed park.

We always go using the sun vouchers. Save 9 codes and then book 2 tickets for £2. Weekends and school. Holidays go fast but if you're going on a weekday should be OK for booking. Then I get the 3rd ticket using tesco vouchers. You could then use some of the money saved for a Premier Inn in Slough, so can be there early on the first day at opening or know they can have a good night's sleep before the drive home.

I took ds out of school one day in mid May this year and it was fairly quiet. I would still recommend getting there before it opens though as it does get busier over the course of the day.
I would also recommend going mid week. I went on a Tues and got chatting to a lady who had also been there on the Monday and she said the Monday was so much busier than the Tuesday