to try and get my Jubilee Family Festival ticket money refunded?

[cityangel]

We had to queue for 45 minutes to get in. Once in we had to queue 30 minutes for the toilet with one disabled baby change toilet and then 30 minutes for sausages that were £5 each and 25 mins for fish & chips. The only activity you could get anywhere near was morris dancing and a band. Everywhere was packed with screaming kids and pissed off parents. There was no queue management or shade to queue for Thomas, Fireman Sam or the Disney tent that all had 1 hour + waits. There were no characters walking about, no free stuff to see while waiting and the whole things was a big advertising drive.

Should I just accept that my mistake should cost me £52 + £20 food + £15 parking? I am 8 months pregnant and this was supposed to be my last family big trip out before the birth. I was expecting something like Lollibop but this was a truly terrible day out.

Yabu for even contemplating this as a day out.
Screaming children and pissed off parents.

Who organised this? Was it a community thing? Surely you knew it would be packed?

It sounds like an average day out at any event to me.

Do you not get out much to theme parks and the like?

Even the zoo is similar to what you describe during busy times and the food has never been cheap.

Might be worth forwarding your feedback to the organisers, they may welcome it. At least it will enable them to make some changes before the next event.

Is this the Hyde Park thing?

I was going to go.

So glad i didn't.

Unfortunately, I don't think it's reasonable to ask for your money back because it is ia kind of free for all and doesn't sound different to any packed day out.

If you've not been near Chessington, stay away. It's worse than what you've described that's for sure.

sounds awful(especially the bit about having to wait that long to change a disable child)
but can't see why you would get a refund.

God that sounds awful - so sorry for you.
I was applying for tickets via the draw, glad I didn't win any now.

Put your feet up for the rest of the weekend.

Maybe it's worth a go but I wouldn't hold my breath sorry. I avoid these things like the plague. They're always packed and the kids always start complaining 20 minutes in.
But like others said, maybe they'd appreciate the feedback.

We are going tomorrow, maybe it will be a bit quieter fingers crossed! We booked because we loved lollibop so much too.

I wouldn't request a refund. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but this is pretty much the norm for things like this, unfortunately.

We have tickets for tomorrow but if it rains, we are not going to bother, I don't think!

I'd complain to Sainsburys - the sponsor - doubt you'll get a refund but they might bung you a few vouchers

The thing is it doesn't have to be like this, lollibop was in August last year, heavong with people but plenty for everyone to do.

Yeah it was the Hyde Park thing, sponsored by Sainsbury's. I was expected to queue, but not to spend the entire time queuing. I've been to lots of other big events like Lollibop and the likes where you expect a certain amount of queuing but I've always managed to find time to enjoy myself. This was just complete rubbish there was nothing to amuse the kids that didn't involve massive queues. A big lesson for us. It was billed as a family event and not cheap, but maybe more fool me for expecting to enjoy any of it.

Oh no - we are going tomorrow

Do you have to queue for the military displays? Ds is desperate to see the horses.

I was just saying earlier what a shame it is we have plans tomorrow or we could have gone to try and get some tickets on the gate....quite thankful for my sisters jubilee party now!

I agree. We went and it was rubbish. Nothing for kids to do like bouncy castles or rides or even flippin face-painting, except the Kids Zone that it was impossible to get into without queuing for hours. Waaay too many people in there for the facilities available. And our friends collected loads of stamp thingys to get a goodie bag and it was just an empty bag!

Everybody - you'll be okay for the military display. That was the one vaguely entertaining thing we were able to watch.

Is there enough shelter if it rains?

Five - I would say no. There's quite a few stalls where you can go and learn about Kleenex or similar (yes really) but even in the sun today everywhere was packed and daft queues. If it rained there would be an absolute stampede for them.

feeling a bit disappointed now - I didn't pay to 'maybe' see some of the things. DS will be gutted if he misses mike the knight

How much were the tickets

about £55 for a family ticket

I expected the overpriced food and marketing and queues for the toilet, but I thought the shows would be easier to see

Oh pricy,we went along today and I agree with everything people said. It was heaving and difficult to get into and see the acts. There were many commercial displays e.g. Flora/cadburys etc that you had to queue to get a card stamped to get a free empty bag. They gave out samples e.g crisps, mini pack of choc fingers etc. If you go tomorrow bring a print out of the schedule.

if you're still going and want to enjoy I would suggest - taking wellies, umbrellas & a folded rug. Maybe the rain will mean less queues Pack your own picnic, drinks & snacks. At the very least take drinks as you as we had to queue twice once for food and again for drinks. The sausages were worth queuing for as they were checking the temp and friendly if you don't have a picnic.

Get there when it opens as I guess the queues would be better - everyone turned up at lunchtime. Pick up the free map on the way in, there are no large maps inside.

Storming the mens toilets when the stewards aren't looking or at least sending the kids in with Dad. Should have been clearer - the baby changing and disabled toilet were one and the same small porta-cabin cubicle - sharing a queue.

Take Dad's favourite choc bar to placate him. If I wasn't pregnant I would have been in the cover of the bar/ Pimms tent. There was little cover anywhere else.

If your kids are older maybe books or games that they would be happily entertained queuing with.