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Original poster

To think legoland Windsor is that bad.

81 replies

ICanSeeTheSun · 21/05/2014 19:35

DS has been nagging for years to go, we have sold something's that he no longer wants and have raised enough to go.

Reviews seems to be bad.

I don't want him to be disappointed.

Is it as bad as the reviews going in 2 weeks

OP posts:
Mushypeasandchipstogo · 21/05/2014 22:09

Was good in the 1990's lots to do for under 10s that you didn't have to wait for. Too many people and too long queues last time we went. If you do go take a packed lunch and snacks as the food is dreadful and very expensive.

Fram · 21/05/2014 22:18

Yes- an 8yo will love it! And do take some paperwork- if he has AS, you can take him to the front of the queue if he can't cope with queuing. My children beg me nearly every other week when can they go back...
they are lego nuts though!

littledrummergirl · 21/05/2014 22:45

We went when the dc were small. Stupidly we bought an annual pass thinking it would be great.
We had 3 dc age 6and under. The oldest was not allowed to go on a number of the rides without an adult next to him so one adult had to go twice. Although they did say the adult wouldnt have to queue again.

We couldnt afford qbots so had to stand around for hours while people skipped past us. We would be at the front of a queue (finally) and still not get on the ride that turn. There were many comments about how the better off are able to gain preferential treatment.
We had to return a few times to get our monies worth but have not been back since our pass expired.

They still send magazines to our next door neighbour though, it appears they input the address into the computer wrong.

The dive show was awesome though. I dont think we saw any others ever because we were waiting to get onto rides.

They also told our dc to leave one queue at the end of the day, along with a few others because it was on the hour and the ride had stopped for the day. They closed the queue after our dcs had arrived.

Its the only place I have ever felt the need to leave an unfavourable view about.

Drayton manor is really good though.

Original poster
ICanSeeTheSun · 21/05/2014 22:49

I didn't know that.

Would the DLA letter be ok to use.

OP posts:
Catsize · 21/05/2014 22:50

I hated the Windsor one but loved the Denmark one. Had a season pass last year, as we went to Denmark a couple of times. If you can go to that one, it could really be worth the wait. Check out sailing with DFDS, or Billund airport is literally adjacent. Check out the prices at the very end of August - the Danish kids are back at school then and prices and crowds drop. We stayed in the main Legoland hotel for £70 for three of us incl breakfast.

Taz1212 · 21/05/2014 22:52

He will love it. You will hate it. He will be so happy to have gone. You will be so happy you will never have to go back again. Grin

Catsize · 21/05/2014 22:54

Sorry, just saw your post to say you have booked. Ignore my other post!

NannyPeach · 21/05/2014 22:55

We went in August with 3 children aged 2, 6 & 9. We had a brilliant time. We had great weather and the splash park was a massive hit.

I definitely recommend Qbots -worth the money - for example, while we we're virtually queuing for a ride we went to the splash park, then hopped straight on the ride!

tiredandsadmum · 21/05/2014 22:55

I have a merlin pass - wonder if I can use that in Denmark. Would be a fab trip.

frownyface · 21/05/2014 22:58

DLA paperwork perfect.

They should stamp your partys hands-you then get to skip the queues.

Do ring to double check-havent been for a couple of years.

Jollyphonics · 21/05/2014 22:58

It is fun but ONLY if you pay for a Qbot so you can go to the front of the queue. Otherwise you will spend the entire day standing in queues for rides that last 2 minutes. And there is no way you should ever pay full admission. The are always free vouchers on cereal packets etc. it's a bit of a rite of passage I think, but definitely don't pay full price, and use the money you save to get a Qbot.

DustBunnyFarmer · 21/05/2014 23:04

Don't worry about your son hating it. Ours (5 & 8) bloody loved it. It was me & DH tutting and rolling our eyes all day. The queues were tiresome (mid Sept), but not as bad as high season from what staff in a local restaurant told us - they spoke of 2 hr queues for each ride in the summer.

DustBunnyFarmer · 21/05/2014 23:06

He will love it. You will hate it. He will be so happy to have gone. You will be so happy you will never have to go back again.

This sums up our feelings perfectly.

Bambambini · 21/05/2014 23:07

Went a few years ago and had a great day, really enjoyed it and I'm not a big fan of theme parks. Was expensive though we got the fast track tickets to cut the queues.

PoppyFleur · 21/05/2014 23:16

Your son will love it but if I am honest, to get the most from the day you really need to plan it like a military operation!

  • Arrive as soon as it opens, you can park from 9.30am & the turnstiles open at 10am.
  • get to the popular rides first thing at 10am eg. Atlantis. Study the map online & identify where you would like to go, the park will be quieter the first hour of the day. So make the most of it & head straight to the rides you want to go on.
  • do mini land & Star Wars at the end of the day when it's quieter, it breaks up the walk on the hill back up to the car park.
  • take a picnic & lots to drink, the food at Legoland is awful & expensive. The pirate show at 12.00 is great time to rest & eat whilst watching the show.
  • if you go to splash park you will need swimsuit & towel, changing rooms are right by Splash park.
  • If the park gets really busy & you want a quiet time out, head to the hotel. It has a great outdoor activity playground & is rarely busy, you can enjoy a coffee on the patio & still be able to watch your son play.

Enjoy & take lots of pictures of your son smiling throughout the day as he will love it!

DraggingDownDownDown · 21/05/2014 23:23

DLA paperwork is NOT good enough. You MUST have the letter of diagnosis showing that he is autistic and therefore unable to queue.

DraggingDownDownDown · 21/05/2014 23:24

I would not take my ASD son there if I could not queue jump.....and we go every year.....sob,,,,,,

Overheatme · 21/05/2014 23:26

I love Legoland. If your son loves Lego it doesn't matter if the queues are bad as you can look at the Lego.

Tangerinefairy · 21/05/2014 23:28

I'm surprised that the reveiws were bad. We took dd a couple of times when she was younger and had a fantastic time even though she wasn't really into the rides there is so much else to look at and enjoy. I think we even went one bank holiday Monday and it was very crowded but still great fun.

JerseySpud · 21/05/2014 23:31

It bloody better be good there especially if im taking 40 odd Beaver Scouts in September

Overheatme · 21/05/2014 23:35

Honestly, if he loves Lego it will be amazing for him. Ds1 wasn't really interested and more focused on rides and it seemed a bit rubbish. Ds2 loves Lego and soaked it all as intended. How much you love legoland really is affected by how much you Lego!!

Original poster
ICanSeeTheSun · 21/05/2014 23:35

Looks like I'm paper diving tomorrow < crying emotion>

If not will get the qbot.

Was thinking of rides 1st day then splash park attractions day 2

OP posts:
Original poster
ICanSeeTheSun · 21/05/2014 23:37

Ds is obsessed with Lego.

OP posts:
Overheatme · 21/05/2014 23:51

Then it will be amazing! You'll have a great time. We went once when there was a power cut so had to focus on mini land and play area. Ds2 told us it was the best day ever! We got a free pass for another day?!

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 22/05/2014 00:04

I'm taking my 6 and 4 year olds on Friday. They love it and are so looking forward to it. We've been quite a few time (often on inset days) and it's really good fun. I would say for an 8 year old it will be fab as you'll all be able to go on the bigger rides together. The Miniland bit where they build the world out of Lego is really great too. We have been on a really hot busy day in August when queues for everything were ridiculous and it took hours to get out of the park; those are the days when the bad reviewers go. I went on the weekend this time last year and it was a brilliant day :)