to think Butlins is better value than Disneyland for toddlers and its a shame its a social faux pas to go there.

[StripeyBear]

My toddler enjoys fairground rides, splash pools and live shows, and I've been pricing a theme-park-type break for this Spring during term time.

4 nights mid-week at Skegness in Butlins (including 2 bed apartment) shows, fair ground rides and splash pool comes in at around £150 for 2 adults and an under 3. Disneyland Paris, for a 2 bed static van in the Davy Crocket Ranch, ticket to both parks and access to the pool and so forth is £600. OK - I know Disneyland is probably bigger and sparklier - but will a 2 year old really like it 4 times as much? Both journeys are about 4 to 6 hours, and probably cost similar.

However, when I've relayed this to mummy-friends, I keep being told "BUT YOU CAN'T GO TO BUTLINS". Amidst the bluster, they seem to be saying there is something intrinsically wrong (maybe too many poor people (ahem) in going to Butlins that can't quite be voiced. "Skegness of Paris" another mother declared! Yet, I'm thinking it hardly matters where you are if you're in a park - and the choice is more "Barney or Minnie Mouse".

I have to confess I have never been to Butlins before - so please, give it to me straight - AIBU to think Butlins is better value than Disney?

By the way - any Devon recommendations? We've been randomly googling but so far with criteria of just "cottage" and "pool" we're not getting far...

Oh goodness. The first time I went to butlins was when I was a teen and df dragged us home within 24 hours. Issues (and looking back he was bloody right - it was during the falklands conflict and he heckled a comedian who he though was being racist. DF was heckled by the entire crowd back and we left).

booked a weekend for us and and shat my pants thinking it would be the usual little union jack hatted oik.

Self catering and the family in the little flat opposite us kept sending their kid to loudly knock on our door to tell us to be quiet (we were much quieter than them) but we were cool even though they were people who heard me speaking other languages and they were doing this thing like 'oh darling have you properly locked the door as there are odd people here' . Their kids was sn so I just shut up so the parents got away with their racism - but watevs. Well fuck off but we didn't die and we had a good time anyhow.

Not my scene but the place was fairly quiet (apart from the very 'snooty' and loud neighbours) and there was so much for ds to do it served it's purpose.

I actually rate it better than centre parcs as although the butlins self catering was dire, so was the one at centre parcs (the last time we went), and there was more for a young child to do.

I'm sorry but I see very little difference between centre parcs people and butlins people. Just get value for money and get on with it is my view.

Big Tanzanian safari it ain't - but it's great for kids. I'm not thinking of taking my kid to rome anytime soon as he just won't get it. But he'll get cheapo holiday with big pool and play centres. That's all they want.

I can recommend Muddlebridge House - lovely cheapish little cottages in Fremington - right between North coast and West coast (easy to visit anywhere from Tintagel to Illfracombe) , £450 ish for 2 bed for the term time between Easter and end May (£730 ish/week in the school hols). Little indoor heated pool, outdoor play field, swings, playhouse, trampolines, pet area with rabbits/guinea pigs and goats and ducks to feed, games room with table tennis/table football and pool table.
www.muddlebridge.co.uk

also The Olde House cottages - more modern, in N Cornwall near Wadebridge - but still under £500 for the same weeks for a 2 bed (£900 to silly money for a summer hols week) - easy for Padstow/Bodmin and St Austell/Eden Project. indoor heated pool (bigger than muddlebridge) indoor play barn for little ones, adventure playground outside, usual animals, farm trail - more of a holiday complex feel, but not too big.
www.theoldehouse.co.uk

Sound good thanks . Will look when I get home. We're hoping to go in may and make the most of being able to go in term time!

Also worth a google is court farm in bude Cornwall. Beautiful.