Glasto this year, anyone know what to do to get tickets and AIBU for taking 5.5 and baby along?

[MyDarlingClementine]

Never been, really really really want to go this year, anyone been - with kids in tow...I have never been, and the thought of the loo's scare me, but are tickets easy to get, is it a lottery, etc..

[givemeaclue]

Op, your idea of baby smuggled up listening to the stones is very romantic but in reality you won't be able to get near enough to see/hear with a buggy. Buggies are not suitable for Glastonbury because of the mud he weather is bad.

[RememberingMyPFEs]

I've been going to Glasto since 1992 and its changed so much. I prefer Latitude and Bestival but I never care what the lineup is - I just love going.
I'm going to Glasto this year and will be 35 weeks PG (we have a camper van) and intend to take DD to smaller festivals til she's old enough to appreciate Glasto.
I can't re-iterate strongly enough how huge the site is. Even as a fit young single thing you can't get between stages quickly enough to see all you want and if the weather is wet it can be miserable. But. The upside is all the little tents and fields and weird and wonderful things going on.
I'm going to plonk myself on 1 or maybe 2 stages per day in a comfy camping chair and chill out

[MyDarlingClementine]

Thanks everyone who has helpful info particularly selks!
Am trying to find out at the mo if I can still register then will give it a shot.
I will feel soo much better having to watch it at home knowing I tried.

I am quite old fashioned in my music tastes so although I have always like the sound of it, there has never been a big enough draw, the stones is, and I like steve winwood and kenny rogers and a few others.

[honeytea]

I went to glastonbury as a child, I loved it! I remeber sitting on some (random) mans shoulders and watching the cure when I was about 6.

The kids fields were just amazing, there were loads of creative stuff to do and circus shows to watch.

I'd say prams are probably a really bad idea, it would restrict where you could go, a sling for the baby or one of those backpack carriers would be better.

In my experience (even when I was an adult) the best bits about glastonbury was not the music, the music is great but the other fields are probably more interesting especially for children.

If you can get tickets I'd say go for it!

[bootsycollins]

I wouldn't even consider taking the kids, nightmare. I love music festivals, not a good idea for a family weekend with kids though, logistical nightmare. I'm presuming that you wouldn't want to take your kids out clubbing? So why would you take them to a festival?. It's really easy to get lost, nothing's where you remembered it, there's loads of drugs, textbook drug dealers, rum fuckers, drug/alcohol casualties, toy fights that look like they could turn violent at any minute etc etc. I don't have a problem with any of those scenarios but no way would I willingly expose my kids to it, makes me feel sick just thinking about it, get a babysitter and enjoy yourselves

[Pigsmummy]

I have been to a lot of festivals including Glastonbury and wouldn't take a baby, I have been left exhausted from all the walking, standing and lugging of kit, it would be so much worse with children, all the best acts are on late so they would need to sleep and what you do see you will be so far away from the stage that you might as well not be there, the weather is always an issue, poor baby and child if it chucks down for the the whole weekend. Get a baby sitter.

[MyDarlingClementine]

someone mentioned truck things you pull them along in, i thought you hired them there?
honeytea, what a wonderful memory!
its an adventure isnt it.
part of me also bulks at the hardships of it, then I think life gets so sterile sat behind a tv, for better or worse we should go for it.
if i had the money i would take them off trecking all over.

[honeytea]

A good solution to the toilet problem is to take a potty and get your child to use it then you or your dp can treck to the toilet to dispose of it.

As for the crowds and kids getting lost it is unlikely, especially as there is 2 of you, my mum was a single mum with 2 kids and she went with her single mum friends so the kids outnumbered the adults (by a lot.) We memerised which field we were staying in, this was pre mobilephones so now it would be much easier, you can buy wristbands to write your phone number on. The people at festivals are so so friendly and there are official people all over the place.

:)

[MyDarlingClementine]

Thanks Honey, what a good idea re potty, although DD is 5!!
Perfecter circumnavigates the nasty loo dilemma, i wonder if us adults could also use it!!!

[honeytea]

We used to go to some longer festivals too and then we had a potty tent which was just a tent with the potty in, I used it till I was about 8 I think!

[CooEeeEldridge]

You'll be on the potty before the first day is out- trust me! Still involves a trip to loo to empty though. Long drops are ALWAYS better than portaloos- just don't look down!!!!

[MyDarlingClementine]

I can register

Yippeee!!

[DoJo]

Ziplock bags are your festival best friend - keep a couple about your person to put your phone/wallet/anything else in if there is a downpour so that you can protect you valuables from the rain/mud.

[Sunnymeg]

Also be aware there will be a massive traffic jam from Junction 23 of the M5 to the Worthy Farm site, so if you will be using this route it may take two or three hours to get there from the motorway exit. So make sure your DC have a chance to visit the motorway services before you get on the A39. There is little chance to stop on what is a country road.

The locals get going about 4am in the morning to get ahead of all the traffic and the schools all along the route close when Glastonbury is on, as it can be total gridlock.

[LeChatRouge]

I'm working at the festival.....make sure you come and say hello!

[Meringue33]

I absolutely love Glasto but missing it this year as I wouldn't take my baby. I got horrendous D&V last year, must have picked up something off a toilet door, grim :(

[bedmonster]

Tbh, you sound very poorly prepared even before starting to look (months after everyone else) for tickets.
Sils have both been and taken their DC for years since they were v small They always stay in the family field and the kids have had an absolute whale of a time. And they have always gone with 2 or 3 families at least so there are always a few people left at the campsite allowing others to go off and see headlining acts late into the night. If you/DP were left alone for the evening in a cold damp tent with crying kids I doubt it'd be as much, if any, fun. I would never do it, I love getting merry when out and about and can't for the life of me imagine going somewhere like that with my kids in tow.
I think the biggest part of it depends on whether or not you are an outdoorsy family already. If not, I think the vision in your head will not on any level be like the reality. Sorry!
YANBU to go and take your DC, but you sound a bit like you have it all mapped out in your head based on bands you want to see but no practicality considered.

[MyDarlingClementine]

schools close along the road?

bedmonster,

you can register at this late stage and tickets go on re sale on april 21st so we have as much or as little chance as anyone who is an old seasoned pro, it will come down to luck in the end.

i am not fussed about drinking either.

we are not out doorsey, and cold nights in a tent would be a challange esp in rain with a baby.

i would much rather go in a camper van.

[dopeysheep]

It is freezing at night forgot that bit. You will prob need thermals and a proper sleeping bag. You will be really surprised how cold it gets!
If you do get tix and I hope you do, get there early doors on Wednesday if you can to give yourself time to set up etc and get a family camping spot.
Good luck in the resale!

[dopeysheep]

First time we went just me and the kids we were stuck on the road off the motorway for 8 hours. Amazingly the kids were fine, we had foid, they had a wee in the verge and weirdly I look back on it as a fun experience.
Trying to pitch a tent at 2am after walking for miles and practically crying with tiredness wasn't so great.
But we loved it and I think so wil you if the weather holds up. Camping in the rain blows big hairy chunks.

[MyDarlingClementine]

Travelin,
Go to Spain or Italy children are always out late there not perhaps awake but asleep in their parents arms or in their pushchairs. If my DD is asleep in the truck thing or in a tent, I really do not see the difference.

[DuelingFanjo]

If you want to get into the family field (there are two now) you wil need to get there early on Wednesday and most likely the family field will have regular campers in it anyway - it's not policed.

If you go to the newer family field then you will have more of a choice of pitch but will be miles from anything.

I probably won't see many bands and certainly not any headliners, but there's so much more to do than that. Long drops are massively preferable to the portaloos.

[DuelingFanjo]

And bbootsy, sure there are drugs and stuff at Glastonbury vbut in general it's a lovely place. To take kids. During the day there is so much for them to do and see. You just have to get your head round the fact that you won't be able to party all nightlong.