To think Legoland was a load of shite

[Tireddotcom4]

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.

Very British. Overpriced. Grotty. Substandard. Hate it there.

Went couple years ago. Def good for young children under 8. It is tired looking and expensive but kids loved it

Agree it’s awful, and very tired looking for what you pay to get in!

The key to Legoland is to not bother with rides. We go see the shows and interactive displays. We have a great time there. But it is way overpriced

We went around four years ago, we had a fab day, took a picnic and ate it in mini land to save some money and also avoid queuing etc. Avoided the gift shops. It’s not a cheap day out. We went in June and had a lovely sunny day and that helps of course. I would go again, but my DC are now not interested in this type of theme park. But great memories of Legoland.

We went in October and loved it the only thing not working as the train so guessing long term issues. My daughter loved it and asks regularly to go back. I thought some bits were tired but at 6 it went over her head! I found the staff great especially the hotel ones.

My advice is not to go to Disneyland Paris. I could have written your post OP word for word about Disneyland. Summed it up perfectly. And I feel like such a grouch because I didn't like it. Are you allowed to not like DLP??

sallyteapot that tripadvisor review is comic masterpiece! [grin!]

We went about 10 years ago, some of it looked a bit tired then and the cafe was a mess BUT dc absolutely loved it - it poured with rain the whole time so there were no queues and they could have as many goes on anything as they liked. So that's my recommendation, go in torrential rain.

My favourite bit was the walk-in drying machine...

I didnt like DLP either, another place that is not worth the money. The staff were the rudest people I have ever met, bar none.

Absolutely loved Parc Asterix though (also on the outskirts of Paris, down the road a bit, literally, from CDG airport).

Theme parks are overpriced, overcrowded and overrated. Having to spend hours in queues while being fleeced at every turn is not my idea of fun. I know kids love them and we have done but never again.

This thread makes me very grateful for the small theme parks we have here in Devon. There is Woodlands and Crealy. Both are very good in there own way.

We went to Crealy this holiday and you could almost walk on to every ride. I think there was a maximum wait of around 5-10 minutes even for the bigger rides like the log flume, roller coaster etc.

Crealy was £15 pounds and whilst it would probably be too tame for a 12 yr old+ it is fantastic for the little ones.

Both theme parks allow you back in for free with 6 days and the second day we went back it was a bit rainy and you could literally stay onthe log flume and roller coaster as there were no queues.

most wild wasps have been sticking to their hives and using the time to relax with a copy of Mein Kampf and a refreshing glass of incandescent rage.

Made me laugh out loud

I went a few years ago using Tesco points and even at that price I thought it was awful.

I'd been warned about the food prices to took a picnic, the only bit I liked was the actual lego models of the buildings etc

I liked the water area but the rest was pretty lame.

Have only been to the one here in Germany but it's always clean and I've never seen a broken down ride. When the boys were younger we had annual passes so we could go whenever we wanted (not July or August, nightmarishly busy).

Sorry your day out was spoiled, that sounds awful!

We had a similar negative experience. Very sour faced staff. And there were some "entertainers" in jester hats who for some reason thought it would be the height of hilarity to tail us around for the best part of fifteen minutes until I was on the verge of telling them to fuck off.

My kids loved it but we went on a school day awaits flaming

We had a great time at Legoland last year despite the fact it rained all day.
BUT we were 'lucky' in that we went as part of a large group of disabled children and families so our entry was subsidised and cheaper - we also got ride passes.
My overall experience might be different if we had paid full whack.

I did have some gripes though -
To get the disabled pass you have to queue with your disabled child (kicking screaming and head banging) for up to 30 mins to get the pass to prove your child has difficulty queueing - errrrrr!!!
The pass system is a phone app. Pissing rain, bad signal meant I spent most of the day staring at my bloody phone than spending it with my family. My phone stopped working it got so wet. Just give us a wrist band FFS.
Agree to taking a picnic - the food looked expensive.
Laser quest ride where you shoot lasers was the biggest waste of time. Long queue, lame experience. An hour totally wasted.

Highlights

Rarely a queue for the spinning ponies or pirate ship.
We stayed right to the end and they kept the dragon ride going - so got 3 rides back to back.

It's really gone downhill over the last 5 years. I've never liked going, but I actively hate it now. They seem to spend their money on building a big attraction and hotel every couple of years and not doing a big overhaul of all the tired, faded bits. They definitely do not spend money on staffing the queues, I've never seen such inefficient processes. Paulton's Park/Peppa Pig World is so much better.

That said, I really dislike theme parks in general, but I seem to get dragged along because everyone else likes them. I've decided to be more firm about not going from now on. What a waste of my time, endless bloody queuing.

Sorry, I cannot get past £15 for four ice creams at a family theme park!

HOLY FUCK!

YANBU to be pissed off OP.

That review is brilliant!!!

We've done LEGOLAND a couple of times now. I feel it's Ok, never pay full price for tickets (one time we went on just Tesco vouchers). Never eat in the park the food is overpriced and not great. Even when we did an overnight we took our own food.

Try not to go for really peak times. It's not wonderful but the kids enjoy it, They have updated the rides over the years but I don't want to go again. Feel it's time my kids moved on and yes there needs to be more Lego for it really.

Had a much more fun Lego experience at one of the Lego expose in Birmingham. More Lego there then LEGOLAND.

Ds and I had annual passes until last October. We love it!

NovTV box was great. Free box and free month pass. Cancelled as we could and signed in on my WiFi to connect new box to existing contract! The guy there even explained to me how to do it when I refused it because I have 1! Doubt he cares - probably just needed his commission!

Yes rides were being maintained throughout the year meaning some were shut. But I guess when you go 8 times a year is less of an issue!

That review is so funny omg.

I agree with you OP. Al O did not help I had my camera swiped from my back pack whilst queuing in the dark inside one of the rides. Staff not remotely helpful either.