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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in thinking that £89.50 for two adults, a four year old and a two year old

49 replies

Concordia · 25/02/2011 19:39

to go to Thomasland in April is just ridiculous. I mean who can afford to pay that?
i know you can get it cheap with tesco or nectar or something, but we are not big users of either of these. and i know you get a zoo and a theme park, which we don't really want. it would be expensive at half the price frankly. well, AIBU? or just tight/ poor?

OP posts:
earwicga · 25/02/2011 19:41

Have you not got a steam train place near to you? They often do Thomas style weekends. Some of them are a bit costly though.

Karia · 25/02/2011 19:44

Wow, that is expensive! Just looked up the individual prices online Shock.

They're doing a 2 for 1 for adult tickets on lastminute.com at the moment, its here

Original poster
Concordia · 25/02/2011 20:01

we have done a thomas day locally, but DS is so into Thomas i thought it might be nice.... i might try the last mimute site though thanks karia.

OP posts:
bubbles12 · 25/02/2011 20:06

Another thought, if you have Tesco clubcard points you MAY be able to cash them in to pay for tickets. I know they do lots of places, might be worth checking on their website.

In answer to your question, YANBU - total rip-off.

Original poster
Concordia · 25/02/2011 20:08

we only have £4 worth of clubcard points - don't use tescos for main shop - so i don't think that will get us far!

the last minute site gets it down to £60, but it's still a lot of money.

OP posts:
TheArmadillo · 25/02/2011 20:11

fuck me thats pricey.

amarone · 25/02/2011 20:13

Shame you don't have more clubcard points; it would only cost you about £23 in total.

Sorry that's no help now though...

Professor · 25/02/2011 20:16

OP, took mine there last year. Even with 2 vouchers courtesy of Tesco clubcard rewards, it still cost us £50.00 just to get in.

When Thomas mad DS2 refused to go on any rides, I was gutted. Spent all day wandering round with a pushchair whilst other DCs and DH went on rides.

Completely bloody outrageous the prices they charge, especially when small children can't even go on half the bloomin rides.

Professor · 25/02/2011 20:17

Plus it cost me £15.00 in tesco vouchers on top of the £50.00.

TotemPole · 25/02/2011 20:17

That's very expensive for a day out.Shock

Original poster
Concordia · 25/02/2011 20:30

both mine are short - Ds aged four is still in 2-3 year old trousers, and DD aged 2 in 9-12 month trousers! so perhaps we wouldn't get on many rides anyway...

OP posts:
SeeJaneKick · 25/02/2011 20:45

We never bother with these places....I KNOW it seems like all the other kids go...but ime they're just as happy with a good walk in the woods, visit to museum, trip to a cafe...those are the kind of days out we have as then we can spend money on lunch out and a little treat from the souvenier shop for the DCs.

monkeyfacegrace · 25/02/2011 20:58

Oh come on, we go all the time. Its worth every single penny! The rides, the magic, the zoo, soft play, meals out, its magical.

£100 ish for a FULL (literally 10am-5pm) day of fun for the kids isn't too bad. You would spend that on a night out on drinks/a meal.

Even if its once a year, your kids will remember it.

StarExpat · 25/02/2011 21:10

Wow that is expensive! Where is it? I'm in Surrey and haven't heard of it before... DS would love it but so pricey.

Monkeyfacegrace I haven't spent £100 on a meal or a night out since well before DS was born and even then that would have been for several people.

StarExpat · 25/02/2011 21:13

Oh and OP have you looked online at your tesco vouchers? I was surprised at how many had accrued on there before that I didnt know about as we don't use it for our main shop either. I forgot which part you look at... Not points maybe vouchers? You might have more than you think! Even if you don't have the paper vouchers. Apologies if you already know this! :)

herbietea · 25/02/2011 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ceebeegeebies · 25/02/2011 21:21

We have been 3 times now (for each of DS1's birthday since he was 2 as he was totally Thomas-mad) - it never cost us that much. We did go during term-time as they did have offers of adult & toddler tickets which were only £15 (iirc) so it was actually cheaper than an adult ticket - can't remember how old the 'toddler' has to be but I think it may be under 4 as we went on DS1's 4th birthday last year and DH took him to one side whilst I was buying the tickets just in case he started telling the cashier how old he was Grin

If your 2 are little, there are several rides they can still go on and you can still use all the facilities of Drayton Manor aswell....we usually take the train down to the zoo and wander round there aswell so not quite such a rip-off.

SmethwickBelle · 25/02/2011 21:31

If you are talking about the Drayton Manor Thomas Land thing and you have a train mad little one then don't bother and please consider this as an alternative:

Tyseley Locomotive Works have open days with ENORMOUS real steam trains on turntables, puffing soot and going TOOT - you can have a ride on a real one (not a crappy plastic small scale one) and although it is very spit and sawdust you won't feel like you've been conned. I'm still wiping the soot out of the buggy basket.

www.tyseleylocoworks.co.uk/tlw_ods/

OTTMummA · 25/02/2011 21:32

Its in derby, tamworth.

SeeJaneKick · 25/02/2011 21:34

I don't think that many families can afford 100 pounds for a day piddling about a little theme park Moneyface.

Most people struggle to pay te bills these days never mind a meal out.

Professor · 25/02/2011 21:44

Drayton Manor have changed their pricing too now I come to think of it.

when we went last year, DS2 and DD were free as both under 4. It is not the same now, so it will cost us even more now.

We have a local train station that has visits from Thomas at xmas. But for all of us to it will still cost about £80.

We used to have The American Adventure Theme Park on our doorstep. That wasn't too pricey, but they shut it down.

We are also close to Alton Towers, but thinking about their prices brings me out in a cold sweat.

And don't even mention Legoland...have you seen how much they charge? Good God, it's cheaper to buy the kids a box of Lego and stick them in the garden and tell them to biuld their own Legoland.

PepsiPopcorn · 25/02/2011 22:25

That sounds a huge amount to pay for one day out.

Local steam train (on a non-Thomas day) much more affordable, and just as enjoyable :)

hissymissy · 25/02/2011 22:35

Find a local steam railway instead. That's extortionate! They are really taking the piss. We should start a MN boycott of all rediculously priced theme parks!

bullet234 · 25/02/2011 22:41

It's not £89.50 though. You have to add on the cost of petrol and at least the price of a packed lunch. Because if you are paying nearly £90 a family, you at least want to be sure that you are there for the day.

Professor · 25/02/2011 22:42

I think anything aimed at parents is extortionate. Holiday companies, theme parks and soft play areas always put their prices up at half term.

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