I think it depends on what your expecting/wanting from a holiday..
If your expecting a quiet holiday then no... Butlins wouldn't be for you
I have ds who is 5, so the shows are going to keep us busy all day. We are staying in silver accomodation, but tbh, we leave the chalet at 8am in morning (maybe pop back before dinner to get changed or pick up swimming stuff) then are out until the family entertainment finishes at 10... Then get back to the chalet fall asleep and do it all again the next day
I've booked standard food court dining.. Is it the most 5 star glamourous catering of my life? No ... But its eat as much as you like, quick and easy.. Some of the stuff they do is lovely. My boys enjoy the breakfasts and they do lovely barbecue chicken. Will you see tables with plates on ect?? Yes you will but its a busy food hall. There's lots of staff cleaning up. I have clearly seen plates not cleared but are they there the whole 45 mins I'm eating dinner?? No they are there for a few mins and then taken. I must admit the staff are very good, whenever we have tried to clear our own plates someone has come and taken them from us and been very helpful :) there is always a que for the icecream factory (I've never ever been anywhere where there isn't a que of kids waiting for the icecream factory) and it does take a few minuites to get everyone in through the door whilst the staff book everyone in (they just tick a box on your food ticket)
The entertainments always been pretty good, sometimes repetitive, but there is a lot of it so you could always choose not to watch something/do something else. There is always a very long que for pantos ect.. Waiting to go into the nightclubs ect. We don't really bother queing to be honest as even if we get in there when everyones already in, there's normally people moving about/spare tables/seats ect. So I make sure dh and I cram in whilst ds goes and dances :)
The nursery is good there, although might depend on ages of your dc.. My son didn't enjoy it when he was 3. And this year I was extremely reluctant to take him back in there, but he seemed very happy and had a fantastic time :) I think its £6 a hour?? You need to book so maybe do this on first day you arrive whilst looking at the entertainment guide, to see if there's anything you and your partner would like to do alone. Or maybe just go for a quiet child free drink inbetween shows.
Drinks are expensive there .... Its to be expected really. But there's lots of good choice for drink :)
There are a lot of arcade games, so if your kids are into that it will cost a lot of money.. We only pay the 2p machines and we have a jar we save all year. So the cost isn't that bad for us.
The one thing there I have a serious problem with is the big indoor soft play.. Kids can go in.. Adults can't.. The staff go in to get your dcs.. And obviously if your dcs don't wanna come out of there then the staff can't actually get them out :/ and you can't go in.. So yeah it becomes a problem. We only put ds in when we know we aren't going to be late for a show ect, because otherwise we would just be sitting there for ages tryna coax ds out lol...
Sorry massive post, I'm just tryna say.. Its not all that bad, some people like to pick on things and yes its deffo not suited to everyone.
Have you not been before? Maybe try book a cheapy break, poss term time if you can? And see how you enjoy it then.
I'm going tommorow. Very excited :)