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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to expect a theme park discount....

51 replies

Lulabel27 · 17/10/2010 21:30

... when 6 months pregnant?

Went to Thorpe Park today with DH and 2 DSC (who have annual passes) aged 8 and 11. I knew I wouldn't be able to go on the rollercoasters so explained to the girl on the desk that I'm 6 months pregnant (and quite clearly so) and asked if they have any discounts to compensate for this. She replied that there are some rides suitable for pregnant women and so no, they don't and I would have to pay full price (£38). Upon being given a map of the park I asked if they had a list of rides I could go on or if she could tell me which ones were suitable. She had no idea.

Ok I thought lets go in and see how it goes. I queued up with the children and DH for the big rides and just waited for them after the ride. But when it came to finding something we could all do there was nothing. Even the fairly gentle log flume and kids flying carpet ride. In the end the only thing we found was the little train for toddlers which I don't think I could have fit in anyway! After 4 hours I was just tired and fed up so we left and felt really cross that despite there being nothing for someone who's pregnant, they still have the cheek to charge full price (oh and a supplementary £5 for each childs annual pass because its a special event TONIGHT regardless of the fact we were there in the day and left before anything special happened).

Am I being unreasonable to expect a discount? Or am I being hormonal?

OP posts:

SixtyFootGhooool · 17/10/2010 21:31

YANBU
A few places do discout for OAPs should be the same if you are pg

pozzled · 17/10/2010 21:31

YABU, sorry. Your choice to visit a theme park when pregnant. You knew that you wouldn't be able to go on all the rides.

Serendippy · 17/10/2010 21:31

YABU and hormonal. But good on you for trying!

curlymama · 17/10/2010 21:50

YABU. But I suppose it was worth a try!

justonemorethen · 17/10/2010 22:01

YANBU.

How flipping sexist.

You get a discount if you are disabled (presumably because you can't make full use of all the rides) and for two of your helpers.

Make a fuss. Might be worth a return ticket.

taintedpaint · 17/10/2010 22:01

YABU, but I do see your point.

nannynick · 17/10/2010 22:01

Nice try... could try e-mailing Merlin and asking them about it. Never know, may get something back as a good wil gesture - worth a try.

I'm wondering though why you went on a day where they were doing a special event, yet didn't plan to stay for that event. Having gone in, it is reasonable for the park to assume you are staying for the event.

readywithwellies · 17/10/2010 22:04

Can you imagine the board meeting... We should give pregnant women half price entry. How are we going to know if a woman is pregnant?
Could be quite interesting trying to prove it and embarrassing for apple shaped, non pregnant women attending theme parks.
They don't give short people half price entry when they aren't tall enough for the rides either.

RandomMusings · 17/10/2010 22:08

arf RWW

MadBettyBlue · 17/10/2010 22:11

YABU, why do some poeple expect the world when they are pregnant?

Firawla · 17/10/2010 22:16

yabu! they didnt force you to go.. the price is the price, not their fault you're pregnant

justonemorethen · 17/10/2010 22:18

RWW
Hang on they DO give discounts to short people...children.
If you are the same size as a four year old then I'm sure that would qualify as "disabled" and therefore you'd get a discount as well.

MadBB
Don't think the op is expecting the world, just value for money.

justonemorethen · 17/10/2010 22:22

And another thing ....why is it acceptable to blame op for turning up and not said disabled person.

Love to hear you say "why did you go" to a wheelchair bound woman.
Doesn't happen.

Bluebell99 · 17/10/2010 22:24

I think you were being a bit silly for going to a theme park when heavily pregnant tbh, particularly one like thorpe park where lots of the rides are aimed at thrill seekers. You would have been better off going to chessington, where at least you would have had the zoo and sealife to look round, or legoland, where you would have found plenty to do and see. It sounds like you ruined the day for everyone by insisting on going home early too.

edam · 17/10/2010 22:25

What a bizarre OP. Why on earth would you expect a discount?

And justonemorethen, that's a nasty pop at disabled people.

RandomMusings · 17/10/2010 22:31

and er, wheel chair users are not bound but more likely liberated

rant over

MumBarTheDoorZombiesAreComing · 17/10/2010 22:37

YABU and you should have booked online - you get a massive discount then

I can see your point but considering these theme parks biggest demographic is families they'd make a loss if every single pg woman got a huge discount.

RockBat · 17/10/2010 22:44

Bloody hell, maybe they went on that day because it was her kid's birthday? Maybe the children pestered her to go? I didn't realise you weren't supposed to leave the house without a good reason when pg.

izzywizzywoowooo · 17/10/2010 22:47

Pregnancy isn't a disability, you chose to go the theme park when you were pregnant why should they compensate for your choice?

edam · 17/10/2010 22:47

Rock, some of us are saying it's a bit mad to demand a discount. I've never noticed any theme park offering discounts to pregnant women. No-one's said pregnant women aren't allowed, just that getting outraged because they don't give you a discount is weird.

gobbledegoop · 17/10/2010 22:51

Well i'm going to go completely against the grain here and say YANBU! It is completely ridiculous that you were charged full price. I second the email suggestion too- worth a try.
The amount of money these places make, they could afford a discount for pregnant women.

DeadBodyofKaraStarbuckThrace · 17/10/2010 22:51

YABU - next time go to Blackpool Pleasure beach - you would have been able to get a park entry wrist band for £5, which would allow you onto the park but not on the rides.

Thorpe Park is sh!t - some friends went there a couple of weeks ago and were seriously disappointed - long queues for everything, surly staff, poor layout and theming.

And sorry but being disabled is not the same as being pregnant! And my FIL (who is disabled) was a real rollercoaster nut until a few years ago!!

TethHearseEnd · 17/10/2010 23:01

Technically, you got a two-for-the-price-of-one deal; a bargain

Original poster

Lulabel27 · 17/10/2010 23:11

Well, thank you for your replies and some interesting points. I chose to go because the children really wanted to go before the park closes for winter and the weather is nice which I don't think is unreasonable.

I understand the point made about how would you assess pregnancy - but I have all sorts of proof which could easily be used if it was required. Apple shaped ladies would be caught out when they tried to get on the fast rides!

The whole point of me going really was for a family day out (I didn't spoil it for everyone else at all, they loved it) but just felt it was a shame Thorpe Park haven't considered charging a discount rate for someone who can't make use of the facilities that they charge a high entrance fee for.

PS: Thank you for the email suggestion I will try that tomorrow and probably be also told I'm being unreasonable!

OP posts:

Original poster

Lulabel27 · 17/10/2010 23:12

haha @ TethHearseEnd - DH and I did actually make that point on the way out

OP posts:

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