legoland dilemma

[leelo]

dh and me planning holiday to legoland windsor next year. having issues as i say drive he says fly.we're in scotland. also does anyone recommend any hotels/times of year to go/ how many days to spend there? this will be our only holiday and we need to plan work holidays and school holidays around this. i need help as dh is not listening to me and i need facts to back up my case not what his work pal has suggested to him. so am i being unreasonable to drive there?

When me and Mum took the dc earlier this year, there were posters advertising a deal where you get a night in a local hotel, and entry into Legoland. Don't remember the prices though, sorry! But then again, I didn't pay much attention, as we live close enough to not need to worry! :)

We went this summer, in very early August. I was dreading the queues but actually they weren't that bad.

If you are coming that distance you definitely need 2 days. As we were camping for a week nearby we separated ours which worked well. Dcs are aged 8 to 13 and all had a great time.

Arrive early, an hour before stated opening time so you can pay entry and get into the main forecourt before the official opening time. Try and do the big rides at the beginning and end of the day, and do the model village, interactive water park etc in the middle of the day.

We actually missed a trick, we decided not to go on a very wet day and went the next day which was forecast to be dry. We asked the operators what the previous day had been like and were told it had been v quiet with minimum queuing and had been a great day to go. And not actually that wet.

There wasn't a wasp problem this year, I had heard about it and you could see lots of wasp traps about, but didn't see any wasps.

I would fly from Scotland rather than driving. Legoland is good, but you only really need one day there, you could fly into heathrow and stay between heathrow and central london (on the piccadilly line), you will be able to get a train out to windsor to go to legoland for the day and you can then easily travel around London on the tube on the other days.

Thorpe park is good, but depends on the age of your children, most of the rides have height restrictions, Chessington is better for younger children and also has a zoo and sea life centre.

Do t forget Beconscot model village nearby, that's good for at least an afternoon.

Hell on Earth. Don't do it! The queues are just horrendous.

If you are driving from Scotland I ould recommend getting Premium Merlin Annual Passes.

You can break your journey up into phases and have free admission to loads off attractions on way down country

Merlin pass wil give you admission to Blackpool Tower, Dungeons, Sealife centre, Blackpool Tower circus (fab for kids) and Madam Tussauds
En route southwards then you have Alton Towers and Warwick Castle (premium passes give free parking)
Then theres Legoland, Chessington and Thorpe park all near each other

Then a scoot into London for the London Eye, bigger Madam Tussauds etc

I would love to do a Merlin tour, could fill a fortnights worth of days out for virtually free!!

Mum

We have merlin cards to work well for us though living in Scotland not so useable for you , were near London so near enough to go . Plus the discount with things it soon adds up over the year let alone the annual drink flasks free refills all year

Thorpe park unless your dc are all over 1.40 I would not bother . Chessington is good 1.20 they can get on everything bar 2 rides done will need adult with them even above 1.10 with adult quite lot to ride . Hotel you do get in bit earlier but be aware that's it's only one area that's open early .( wild Asia this year) and it's not all rides as well

Oh and don't eat in the hotel expensive and not much good ,

We have stayed at the grange in Bracknell in their apartment 2 rooms and small kitchen area worked well for us . Right in town centre so meals out or takeaways. , plus coach direct to the gates

i think thats it decided. we drive and go before schools break up in july. sorted. now to organise dh and not tell kids so it comes as a surprise. thank u all for the great tips. i feel more prepared now.

we always go in the first 2 weeks of july before the state schools break up and it is fine - you will love it! Remember you will still need to queue (non-england/private school kids, tourists) but it will be doable.

Another top tip I forgot to pass on is the shop - everyone goes at the end of the day about 5/6 pm and it is bedlam - so busy you can't even see what is on the shelves. We always go first thing when we arrive as it is right by the entrance. You can buy any gifts and have a browse round then when it is nice and quiet. You can even leave them in the shop at the collection place and then just nip in amongst the chaos, one person, at the end to pick up your bag from the collections but, don't need to queue at tills. We find this really handy as can then still make a pretense of saying to the dc you are only getting your new lego at the end of the visit if you are good throughout the day!

Is this your accommodation flynn123? As this is an extraordinarily zombie thread?