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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect my 10 yr old and 8 yr old to enjoy legoland?

20 replies

IvyMay · 19/08/2012 18:02

We've never been to Legoland but have the opportunity to go on last Monday of school hols (3rd Sept) as will be staying nearby with relations. My 8 year old son loves lego and my 10 year old daughter does quite like it too - she's not particularly "grown up" for a 10 y o

But will they still enjoy legoland - everyone I know who's been seems to have gone when their children were much younger. It's not cheap so I don't know whether to go for it, as this will prob be the last chance before they are too old, or whether it'll be a waste of money. Also a bit worried that it'll be insanely busy.

Would reallly appreciate hearing from anyone who's taken kids this age to Legoland. Thanks!

OP posts:
OddBoots · 19/08/2012 18:05

We've just been with my 13yo ds and 9yo dd and both loved it. The 13yo did prefer Thorpe Park but there was still a lot of fun stuff to do at Legoland.

jimswifein1964 · 19/08/2012 18:05

Should be quieter as its right at the end of the hols. They will love it! Miniland is great for all ages to look at, even a 10yr old will enjoy getting wet in Duploland, and there's enough 10yr old rides too :) . Dont pay full price though, there are bogof offers everywhere.

valiumredhead · 19/08/2012 18:07

My ds wasn't over keen tbh. Wanted to go for ages and then a dear friend took him but they ended up queuing for so long it took the fun out of it I think. Do it on Tesco vouchers then it's free!

naturalbaby · 19/08/2012 18:08

we went for free with tesco vouchers, can't wait to go again (but my oldest is 4!)

DeWe · 19/08/2012 19:08

Last Monday of school term will be heaving Grin I've done it on then for a few years. 3rd September is the first date for ages that standard (not premium) annual pass holders can go, so all the children that have waited all through August to go, will be there. 5th September would be the first quieter day ime.

It does depend on your dc. We've been going since they were little on annual passes and Blue Peter Badges. My 11yo is very young for her age and not into anything that might be a little bit scary, and she finds it a bit beneath her now, but that might be because she knows it thoroughly. My 8yo and 5yo love it.

dollywashers · 19/08/2012 19:12

There's loads there for that age group. They'll love it.

BulldogDrummond · 19/08/2012 19:14

If you have to pay, it's cheaper to book and print your tickets on line.

marquesas · 19/08/2012 19:17

I'm going to disagree with the others. My DC didn't really enjoy it at all, lots of queuing, the rides weren't very exciting and IIRC very expensive for food etc (OK, so that's one of my reasons for not enjoying it Smile). We went in a half term and it was OK in the morning but packed by lunchtime.

I wouldn't go again.

MavisGrind28 · 19/08/2012 19:29

We went last October with 10 and 7 year old DDs, for 7yo's birthday. We got premium passes via Tesco vouchers and this meant we could go on both Saturday and Sunday (with a stay overnight in a budget hotel). This worked really well - on Saturday we wandered round, worked out what rides we really wanted to go on, and the ones with enormous queues we put off to the next day. The Lego miniland (bits of the UK and other countries built out of lego) was fab and relatively quiet as it isn't a "ride". We did queue for some things but felt no great pressure as we knew we'd be back the next day.

Second day we got there really early and made straight for the most popular rides of the day before - virtually no queues because we knew exactly where we were going and were there before most others. This was the weekend that virtually every Beaver troup in SE England descended on the park for some big celebration so I think we did pretty well.

I'd recommend doing it this way unless you want to pay extra for the "virtual queue" thingies which allow you to go away and come back when your turn on the ride is due. Those might be worth it if you can spend only one day there.

Both kids loved it and we'll be going back before our passes expire this year.

scummymummy · 19/08/2012 19:34

Chessington would be my top theme park recommendation for that age group, I think. But it definitely sounds like it would be worth a go at Legoland if you have a lego mad son! One of my sons still not so secretly likes a bit of lego at 13 and I think he'd like looking about Miniland even now. We haven't been since my sons were about 5 and I mainly remember saying "no, no, no, wait!" in a stressed way and standing for ages in queues. However, when we left and I turned to the boys to commiserate about the frustrating day they looked up at me with shining eyes and said that they'd had the best day ever and thought Legoland was the best place in the whole world!

DilysPrice · 19/08/2012 19:40

They aren't too old, but it will be heaving so you need to research like Darwin and plan like Rommel - if you don't then you will have a crap time regardless of their age, if you do then you should have a good (though not relaxed) time.
Get there at 9:20 am, go to the loo, get through the turnstiles and see the display area and the shop before they open the main gate at 10, hit two big rides immediately, then do non-queue stuff for the rest of the day.

elliejjtiny · 19/08/2012 19:45

Me and my sister went when we were 12 and 15 (when it was fairly new) and we loved it. Have taken DS's since but they are a lot younger

myBOYSareBONKERS · 19/08/2012 19:48

We went on Friday with ds age 9 and 5. We had a lovely day but the rides are very tame. It was very very busy but due to my sons SN we had exit pass stamps which made it all bearable.

The last time we went and had to queue up we only got on 3 rides as the queues were an hour long each - hideous!

When we left I felt quite re-leaved that we had "done" it and so wouldn't have to return for a couple of years again. I really don't think it is worth the entrance money due to the length of the queues. If I could guarantee an exit pass stamp again then I would chance it but I don't intend to return for a long while yet!

jojane · 19/08/2012 19:48

Getting worried now we are goin sun 2nd and mon 3rd and naively thought it would be quieter as people going backto school / people already gone earlier in holidays etc!!!!
We are staying over in the legoland hotel so will get into park earlier on 2nd day so can head straight for rides with biggest queues day before.

FanjoPingpong · 19/08/2012 19:50

Frankly, I'm twenty-five and I'd like to go to Legoland.

LynetteScavo · 19/08/2012 19:50

Last year DS1 was 12 - he was given the choice of Legoland (we have been every year since he was 3) or Alton towers (he hasn't been since he was 2, but his friends rave about it). He chose Legoland.

SoldeInvierno · 19/08/2012 19:59

I went this afternoon with my 9yo and he loves it. We live nearby so we've been going many times a year since he was 2yo. There's something for everyone there.

Nosleeptillgodknowswhen · 19/08/2012 21:16

Definatelly pay with Tesco vouchers - cost me £34 in clubcard vouchers for 2 adults and 1 dc (eldest dd has blue peter badge so gets in for free Grin). Someone on next till was paying £35 for ONE CHILD!

I think even if you book in advance on the web it's cheaper.

valiumredhead · 19/08/2012 21:17

Oh yes, ds mentioned the food wasn't nice and they had to wait an hour for it - and he is quite happy to eat anything usually.

Original poster
IvyMay · 19/08/2012 22:09

Thank you so much for all the advice - hurrah for Mumsnet! We'll brave the queues and go - we're hardly ever in the Windsor area so I think we should take the opportunity. Haven't got enough clubcard point for entry but will research online discounts.

Hope you all have a good rest of the hols and thanks again.

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