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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

runnyhabbit · 25/02/2011 22:49

I know that it is expensive, but (going against the grain here) my ds loved it. We went when ds1 was 3, and ds2 was about 16mths. Went on nearly all the rides (ds1 is just above average height) and nearly 3 years on, he still talks about it

But agree that they must have changed ticket prices, because only had to pay for me & dh.

Some household products(washing powder etc) start 2 for 1 offers for theme parks this time of year. Might be worth looking out for.

(and if your ds is on the short side, could he get away with not paying, depending on age/ticket prices)

A1980 · 25/02/2011 23:32

I don't actually think it that bad considering 4 people get a full day out. Ok there is food and petrol costs on top of it.

How much are cinema tickets these days? Pushing £10? Childrens tickets aren't much better and they start charging at 2 years old. So to take a family of four to see a short childrens film at the cinema would be about £30+

£90 for a full day out for four people isn't that bad when you compare it to the cinema.

VintageTrains · 28/02/2011 15:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

EleanorJosie · 28/02/2011 15:59

I always look at what exactly you get for your money before paying anything like that much- it's easier than ever nowadays when most places have lots of info online.

There was a Christmas type attraction near to us (not that Lapland fiasco) that was charging £40 a head so it would cost £160 for all of us to go. It didn't sound like much more than train ride and a trip to Santa's grotto with a chance to spend even more money at a Christmas market, to me. Maybe a couple of hours entertainment, that's it. The kids visited Santa at the school Christmas bazaar in the end for £2 each - and the money would go back to benefit them as it goes to the school fund. I think at 5 and 2 doing anything different should be exciting and they don't need a lot of money spending on expensive entertainment, in general.

EleanorJosie · 28/02/2011 16:03

I do think some companies see families, couples getting married, anything to do with Christmas as Kerching pound signs whirr in eye sockets like fruit machine. You have to take particular care as to value for money in these cases.

Fimbo · 28/02/2011 16:08

We went when Thomasland had just opened probably about 2/3 years ago now. Paid for it all using Tesco clubcard. Ds did love it. I thought the rest of Drayton Manor was the biggest dump I had ever seen. It needs a good facelift. There was a massive queue to get in too.

runnyhabbit · 01/03/2011 23:17

Fimbo, I agree, Drayton Manor itself was dire

Original poster

Concordia · 14/03/2011 22:29

thanks all, have decided not to go, we are quite tight for money and need to make sure that any treats we have this year are really worthwhile. we will be travelling past on our way to cornwall but have decided to stop in devon and go here instead

OP posts:

craftynclothy · 14/03/2011 22:33

We went last year during Feb half term. It was a fraction of the usual cost (because only the Thomas Land bit is open). You have to wrap up warm though

twolittlemonkeys · 14/03/2011 22:36

If you can go in (Staffordshire) term time I believe it costs £24.50 for an adult + preschooler (don't know whether your 4 year old is preschool or reception age...)

NearlySpring · 14/03/2011 22:38

I don't think it's all that expensive for a great family day out for 4 of you!

Anywhere similar is similarly priced... Chessington, Legoland, Drusillas, Drayton Manor, Thorpe Park etc. Large theme park / zoos are not cheap.

As someone has already pointed out a night out meal and drinks for 2 adults would cost about that, and ther eyou'd be getting a whole day's entertainment for all 4 of you!

Fimbo · 15/03/2011 10:06

Ooh that Pecorama place looks good, have bookmarked it as we are going to Cornwall in the Easter hols.

MmeLindt · 15/03/2011 10:09

Someone linked to Legoland deal on Twitter. Wait. Will look.

MmeLindt · 15/03/2011 10:11

here 50% off Diggerland. Not Legoland. Sorry.

I think that £100 for a day out is expensive. And we can afford it.

LaWeasel · 15/03/2011 10:16

A meal and drinks for two adults would no way cost £100 at the places most people can afford to go.

It would be too much for us, DH took 2 adults and 2 kids to our local train line Thomas day type thing and it was about £35ish, which was pretty expensive but acceptable for a treat! (the kids absolutely loved it...)

TotemPole · 15/03/2011 10:36

For anyone who likes going to the zoo, and is in/near London, consider getting an annual zsl membership. That gives you unlimited access to London Zoo and Whipsnade for a year.

£150 for 1 adult plus children.
£225 for 2 adults plus children.

I think you get a discount in the shops as well.

Obviously the cafes are expensive, but you can take a packed lunch.

Skifit · 15/03/2011 10:42

No YANBU thats ridiculously expensive. . . a dam rip off if you ask me.
Cheaper for a boat trip over the Channel !
Or a flight to Geneva. . . Return !

FabbyChic · 15/03/2011 10:45

£60 for a day out for four is relatively cheap to be honest.

lexxity · 15/03/2011 10:50

DS1 loves Thomasland, but we always pay with clubcard vouchers.

We have annual membership at Keighley and Worth Railway, where the railway children was filmed, costs £36 for the family.

ilovemyhens · 15/03/2011 10:53

We just visit local steam train places. They're a heck of a lot cheaper, less crowded and the people that run them are lovely. I'd rather give them my custom than some overpriced cattle market

redskyatnight · 15/03/2011 10:54

I agree that all these types of places are expensive. But they are not an everday trip are they? We've been to Drayton Manor once - it was a birthday treat for DS in lieu of a treat. Most of the things we do as a family are free or inexpensive so we might splash out on something like this once a year.

maighdlin · 15/03/2011 11:14

dear lord. that to me is the same as being charged a fortune to be waterboarded.

candleshoe · 15/03/2011 11:26

We stayed in a really nice B and B at the seaside (2 adults and 3 children) for £105 last weekend! We spent two days on the beach having a whale of a time! (BEACH WAS FREE)

YANBU - £89.50 is VERY pricey for a day out!

cheesesarnie · 15/03/2011 11:32

theyll grow out of thomas and want to go somewhere else in a month!

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