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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Am I being ungrateful?

43 replies

Bahh · 19/02/2017 23:05

Long story short, OH told his parents he didn't want 'things' for Christmas, he wanted things to do together as a family. Cool, no problems with that.

His mum got us a night in a hotel. Which seems nice at first. But it's a themed hotel in a well known kids attraction. Okay. So we take SD. Which begs the question is it actually a present for us or is it a present for SD? But anyway. Turns out the attraction isn't open because it's winter. This is a little annoying. It can still be salvaged though - there is evening entertainment! No wait. There is no entertainment because the attraction isn't open.

So to sum up, MIL has given 'us' a night away in a hotel room we have to share with SD (so no hanky panky or drinking or any noise generally after 8pm - her bedtime). In an attraction that isn't open, so she's going to be upset she can't go in. And the only entertainment is a small park outside and a pool inside. And I have to drive an hour there and back for the pleasure.

AIBU to really not want to go?

OP posts:

Wishforsnow · 19/02/2017 23:45

The theme park is closed but there is entertainment in the evening for the kids. Windsor Castle is good and depending on day they sometimes have dressing up as knights or similar for kids. You can see changing of the guards at half 10 ish which runs from the barracks along the street up to the castle. Go down to the river and feed the ducks/swans there are loads of them and they eat out your hands. There is a painting crafting type place in town called busy buttons which is good. Windsor museum is about £2 to go to and is good for half an hour. Walk on the long walk through the deer park. Loads of restaurants in town.

Original poster

Bahh · 19/02/2017 23:46

Rockingaround if you're missing something then I'm missing something too. Cant rearrange because there'll be a massive cost associated.

At least it sounds like the hotel should entertain SD in its own right, that's good to know.

Anyone got any recommendations for travel-type things to entertain kids for pre/post-book in?

OP posts:

SanityAssassin · 19/02/2017 23:49

Incidentally what is good to do in Windsor?
Apparently there's a bl@@dy big castle near by.

Wishforsnow · 19/02/2017 23:49

You can do a duck tour. One of those things that drive along the roads and then goes into the Thames. I think it maybe on groupon too.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 19/02/2017 23:51

It sounds like a bit of a weird present. She must know the park isn't open or it would have been far more expensive & they'd have been pushing park entrance tickets etc. It's a bit like taking a kid to a theme park & telling them they can't go on the rides...oh hang on...

IMO she's either dim or nasty.

DH should know better, either way, & have been specific about what he'd like. His request was far too vague.

Take wine, food, books & your iPad/laptop. Relax.

Windsor is OK. There's the Castle of course...just make sure DSD isn't expecting Disney Princesses or she'll be totally traumatised by the weekend away.

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 19/02/2017 23:53

The theme park is closed but there is entertainment in the evening for the kids

There isn't, OP says.

bunnylove99 · 19/02/2017 23:56

OP. It doesn't sound like the best thought out gift to be sure. But you sound like a nice person and its only for a night? Most kids like the excitement of staying away anywhere, and there is a pool, they always love that. Take a pack of cards, a bottle of rum and nice snacks for the room and all will work out well!

PuddleJumper01 · 20/02/2017 00:00

I'm going against what's been said but the gift seems to me to have come from someone who isn't experienced in things like Groupon, trying to purchase the gift she's been asked to get. It might be, but I don't think it's necessarily nasty. More naive.

But I think you can rescue it!

Original poster

Bahh · 20/02/2017 00:02

Yeah I get I might have been being ungrateful so have snapped myself out of it as best I can.

I'm oddly titilated by the idea of a duck tour. Not SDs cup of tea (too much sitting around doing nothing) so may drop them off and go following some funny waddling creatures around the roads. Why not

And snacks. Snacks sound damn good.

OP posts:

downwardfacingdog · 20/02/2017 00:04

We stayed in the lego hotel once and my kids absolutely loved it! It really is a kid's present though rather than an adult one, but I'm sure you'll have a lovely time. As pps have said, the kids' sleeping area is quite separate.

Wishforsnow · 20/02/2017 00:09

Thewinter there is a kids disco type thing and they bring a dinasaur character out. Was drinking wine so didn't pay too much attention! I live in Windsor and have stayed there when the park is closed which is just completely ridiculous

Original poster

Bahh · 20/02/2017 00:13

Wishforsnow it says in the leaflet we have the the entertainment isn't provided on days LL isn't open? If that's not the case that would be brill.

OP posts:

Rockingaround · 20/02/2017 00:15

Op I don't think you're BU or grateful, it's just a bit torturous too strong? I mean, WHY buy a family a stay at legoland hotel if legoland is closed... I'm genuinely baffled. Fair enough the money issue but she could've bought you something else then, would it be horrendously unreasonable to just ask MIL "did you know it's closed? given it is, should we still go?" Feel free to flower that question up with politeness and poise but something along those lines.

I just couldn't get my head round it and would have to mention it. If she wanted you to enjoy the delights of Windsor then why not book you a quaint little hotel where you can stroll around, nice lunch, no driving etc. as from legoland you'll have to drive into Windsor, it's just so bizzare. My DD is 6.5, if we took her to the LL hotel when the park was closed she'd be devastated.

Rockingaround · 20/02/2017 00:17

*sorry ungrateful. And also agree that MIL has just been duped/naive

Wishforsnow · 20/02/2017 00:20

It's in the restaurant, they have a small stage and it's on for a couple of hours. When you check in they will give you the times it's on. They have some PlayStation games (or similar I have no idea on kids tech) that they can play with. There is a treasure hunt thing in the room and when they guess the code they get a lego prize in the safe in their room. Kids do love it there and I think the parents tolerate and drink wine

Wishforsnow · 20/02/2017 00:22

Taxi will be £5 to get into town, occasionally £4 takes 5 minutes

avamiah · 20/02/2017 00:43

I didn't think the main hotel was open when the theme park is closed?
Are we talking about Lego land Windsor?

youokayhun · 20/02/2017 00:48

My MIL booked and paid for this for them, us and BIL and family for NYE. I was very much when I realised park wasn't open and worried how my (sometimes bloody ungrateful) kids would react....so when we got there we sold it to them as "yaaaay were going to the Lego hotel" rather than any mention of actual legoland. Eventually explained park was shut yada yada and they were cool. There is Lego everywhere in the hotel to play with....they've been obsessed ever since we came back. Entertainment wasn't brilliant IMO and finished too early and there is no "disco" or anything - I'd expect it to be a bit more like a haven park type affair of an evening but sadly not. Kids enjoyed pool but you have hour long slots so can't go in for whole afternoon or anything (it's cold, sorry!) Lego lounge is on same floor as pool and is the best bar I would say and it has two rooms coming off of it, one a Lego room for endless bloody Lego play and the other a cinema room showing Lego movies. To be fair, the 4 kids between us weren't seen for dust so we could still relax and have a few drinks and it was no trouble at all. I'm pretty sure we still managed a bit of quiet "hanky panky" as you say if I recall due to where the kids area was situated in room, it's very well separated I'd say!

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