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Original poster

To think Legoland was a load of shite

169 replies

Tireddotcom4 · 11/04/2018 13:50

Have NC'd as I've been complaining to anyone who will listen.

We went to Legoland for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Really looking forward to it, DDs really looking forward to it, loads of recommendations from friends and acquaintances. I was so disappointed. It was overpriced (vastly! £15 for four ‘99’ ice creams), dirty and tired looking, completely disinterested staff. Six of the rides were out of service and one broke while we were on it – not even an apology for that. The train up and down the hill was out of service so smallest DD really struggled with getting back up the hill after 6 hours of walking around the park. Staff in the shop were really rude and completely unhelpful.

Even DDs have said they don’t want to go back again.

I’m probably in the minority as I’ve always seen really positive things said about it on MN but I can’t justify the cost and the experience we did have to ever go back and give it another chance.

OP posts:
NotAnotherJaffaCake · 11/04/2018 13:52

We went last year and thought it was rubbish too. Tired and grubby, with minimal actual Lego stuff -it’s just a theme park with some Lego branding. We bought a picnic and I’m glad because the food areas were horrifically grubby and expensive. There was also a lot closed for maintenance - we went end of May so not exactly off peak.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 11/04/2018 13:54

You went to LEGOLAND in the school holidays and 7 rides weren't working and neither was the train up and down the hill?

I'd be fucking furious.

When staff are disinterested its because they are treated badly by their employers.

The ice-cream prices sound about right for a theme park.

Can you write and ask for your money back?

ChocolateTea · 11/04/2018 13:56

Ah we went yesterday, and actually really enjoyed it! The queues weren't too bad, the place was clean and tidy, and although the spider ride was out all day, and a couple of others had intermittent problems, we had a great time. We have Merlin passes so went and spent about 4 hours there and did loads. I actually thought it was the best trip we had had there in 5 years.

ChocolateTea · 11/04/2018 13:57

And I don't think the hill train has been running for a long time - it's having extensive work looking at what was going on by Atlantis.

JuneFromBethesda · 11/04/2018 13:59

We went last summer and absolutely loved it. Lots to do and although it was busy, it didn’t feel overcrowded. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it.

Sirzy · 11/04/2018 14:00

The train wasn’t working when we went last year either

Soubriquet · 11/04/2018 14:01

Blimey.

I went when I was a kid..about aged 11-12 and loved it! Thought it was fab. Everything was working and it was amazing.

Been thinking of taking my two, but it sounds like it's gone massively downhill in 17 years

Original poster
Tireddotcom4 · 11/04/2018 14:02

I'm thinking about it Smugmarried but I've since looked on the website and hidden right at the bottom is a link to planned closed rides (although some of those closed were not on the website) so I'm not sure I'd have a leg to stand on.

I was actually disgusted that we went during the second longest holiday of the year and a lot of the rides (especially those that were more suited to the age of my DDs) were not in service. I was telling my friend yesterday (she just happens to be a lawyer) and she has suggested emailing Legoland with some 'constructive' feedback from our visit and see where it gets me.

I also didn't like some companies trying to flog stuff while we were there e.g. Fiat and NowTV. It just seemed to cheapen the whole feel of the place.

OP posts:
hibbledibble · 11/04/2018 14:02

We had passes and love it.

leccybill · 11/04/2018 14:10

I've never been to Legoland and don't think I'd bother now.
I know Gullivers World is not in the same league at all, and it's a bit scruffy but what I love about it is you don't exit any rides through gift shops, there are no arcades, stalls, merchandise, chuggers. There are kids play areas near a lot of queues to keep kids entertained and picnic benches throughout. You don't need to spend a penny once there.
It all just feels a bit more, well, honest. I hate being ripped off.

Mari50 · 11/04/2018 14:12

My dd and I went last August and she absolutely loved it. We used the buy one get one free vouchers which made it fine admission wise and took a picnic (trip advisor strongly suggested this)
We noticed a large part of the park we’d missed out when we were leaving, dd is determined to go again this year.
Personally I thought I was typical uk park, a bit disappointing, not especially well maintained and usual litter and shit lying around and any extras massively overpriced.

No worse than Blackpool pleasure beach though......

italiancortado · 11/04/2018 14:13

YANBU it is one of the most over rated places in the UK.

Titsywoo · 11/04/2018 14:17

Haven't been for a couple of years but used to take the DC every June when they had an inset day. I found it ok but what annoyed me was the state of the bit where they have different places in the world built in lego. I would consider that to be one of the most important bits but it was filthy and mouldy and bits like the moving trains were always broken. They must make enough money to be able to tart the place up once every 10 years surely?

SallysTeaPot · 11/04/2018 14:19

There's a hilarious trip advisor review about legoland entitled QueueLand and waspworld (sorry can't link as on an archaic phone), definitely worth a look.

lostherenow · 11/04/2018 14:20

We were going to go an the read all the awful reviews on trip advisor so didn't bother.

AnneLovesGilbert · 11/04/2018 14:27

Sorry you had a bad time, but we were there on a weekend a few weeks ago and we all thought it was fantastic!

A few rides were closed but there were so many things to see and do it didn't matter at all. The place was spotless, especially the toilers, the staff were friendly and helpful, some of the older lego figures were a bit grubby but the DC didn't notice at all and we had a brilliant time. I really found it quite magical.

One of the things I liked the most was how relatively uncommercial it felt in the main - we took our own food, which most people we saw had also done, only bought hot drinks as it was cold. The second day we went to the pizza place where the food was hot, fresh and fairly priced.

I've been recommending it to everyone I know and I think it's great Smile

Original poster
Tireddotcom4 · 11/04/2018 14:28

SallysTeaPot I think that might be the best thing I have ever read.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186419-d207144-r298217582-Legoland_Windsor_Resort-Windsor_Windsor_and_Maidenhead_Berkshire_England.html

OP posts:
BothersomeCrow · 11/04/2018 14:28

I took ds and was disappointed. The Star Wars exhibition impressed him but after that it was (literally) downhill. The half of the park with big rides he was too small and scared for, but it could have been anywhere - no Lego branding at all. I was comparing it to Aarhus where the attention to lego detail was what made it, eg Lego men and women shapes on the toilet doors.

The miniland was grubby but I'd have still enjoyed it. The elevated train broke down shortly before we were to go on it. We went to a playground bit but turned out only people paying for the hotel were allowed in. Not enough staff to assist ds in the driving school. And some of the rides just weren't worth the wait like the safari one. Atlantis was good but after 45 min it damn well should have been!

I know theme park rides need maintenance but it would be better if Lego land, Chessington etc did cheap tickets which didn't include rides, for people with younger children.
The best bit of Lego land was the room where you got a lego model and a tray and could do the model and swap for another. Ds did four. Would have been cheaper to simply buy four lego sets and a tray!

PyongyangKipperbang · 11/04/2018 14:28

We went last summer and it was an utter rip off. Cost us several hundred £££ as we did a weekend break. I was told on here that my mistake was going during the holidays and we should go after school ...... ok, I will just drive the 150 miles after school for a couple of hours and then back again Hmm

They charge premium theme park prices for an end of the pier experience. I dont mind paying a high price if its worth it but Legoland most certainly isnt.

I posted on trip advisor about it and so have many many others all saying the same thing. And the reply I got was one of those "Sorry you didnt enjoy your visit" non-apologies. I will tell anyone with ears now to not bother going.

Prettylovely · 11/04/2018 14:31

Agreed its utter crap, I dont understand how people go back again and again.

PistFump · 11/04/2018 14:32

We went at the end of last summer and agree it looks very dated and faded these days, it needs a lot of TLC to get it looking as good as it does on the adverts. The food is horrible and excruciatingly over priced and I have always said that if there are rides out of action for the full day you should get a proportion of your entry fee back - particularly with regard to the 'big' rides.

That being said, 6yo ds had a whale of a time and didn't seem to notice how shabby it was looking.

BothersomeCrow · 11/04/2018 14:33

Though it wasn't their fault that an accident nearby meant traffic gridlock. A bus arrived after 20 minutes and I used all my Londoner sharp-elbow skills to get me and ds on it. It then took two hours to get back to Windsor.

notsohippychick · 11/04/2018 14:34

It’s by far the worst attraction I’ve ever been too.

Absolutely awful. Overpriced and overrated.

caperberries · 11/04/2018 14:34

The Legoland in Denmark is much better IMO, Windsor needs a major overhaul.

bryheresse · 11/04/2018 14:36

Haven't been for about 10 years but have very happy family memories of it.

Sad to hear it's gone downhill since.