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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking · 11/04/2018 15:07

Went with our nieces last summer and was very disappointed. We went several times about 8-10 years ago and had very fond memories, it seems very tired now. Queues for absolutely everything, not just the newest rides, seemingly there are no limits at all to how many people are allowed in the park. Every eatery was struggling to cope. There's a great playground but it was a zoo with arguing parents and a pretty dangerous number of children climbing at the same time. One poor little lad got set upon by another group while his parents couldn't find him as it was so busy. It was hideous, couldn't get out quick enough.

BarbarianMum · 11/04/2018 15:10

We visited Legoland in Bavaria last year. Very nice, very clean, everything working, dh and kids had a whale of a time (I can take it or leave it tbh). Obviously this is not much use to you unless you happen to be passing through Bavaria but if you are....

Ruggles · 11/04/2018 15:10

Good thread OP as will warn others off. I thought it was the worst thing we've been too - incredibly expensive, shoddy, third rate and a very depressing experience. Everyone tends to pretend that it's ok and some sort of parental rite of passage and not say too much as people are looking forward to it and spending a lot of money, but its a dump and we should dump it.

Ruggles · 11/04/2018 15:11

to, not too :)

PineappleScrunchie · 11/04/2018 15:14

The German one is much better too. Plus loads more onsite accommodation options (we stayed in a Lego racers themed cottage). Significantly shorter queues than at Windsor, despite it being a busy time.

Original poster
Tireddotcom4 · 11/04/2018 15:15

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

Water area was closed too - despite it being quite a hot day at 18c.

OP posts:
mummyof2boys30 · 11/04/2018 15:16

Yikes we have booked to come from Northern Ireland 1st week of July :(

Chickoletta · 11/04/2018 15:19

We're going on Friday with our DCs - 7 & 4. I've read very mixed reviews before so not sure what to expect. We're doing it entirely on Tesco vouchers as part of a visit to stay with a friend in Windsor so I don't feel too invested in it, which I would do if we were travelling across the country specially and spending a fortune. We'll be taking our own food.

Think we'all probably pay up for the Q-bot things as we're not spending on anything else. What do people think? Any tips about what 4&7 yr olds will/won't enjoy there?

habibihabibi · 11/04/2018 15:22

best TripAdvisor review I've read
Legoland Dubai is amazing and I've heard great things about the European ones.Windsor is so shite.

Original poster
Tireddotcom4 · 11/04/2018 15:24

mummyof2boys30

Don't panic but take heed of advice on here:
Take your own food and drinks!
Don't have any expectation of being able to go on loads of rides. You will probably fare a bit better as it won't yet be school holidays in the UK but I think the queues are pretty hideous whenever you go.
If you can afford to, get a Q-Bot - it means you don't have to physically wait in the queues.
Familiarise yourself with the layout of the park and what rides you want to go on before you get there.

OP posts:
habibihabibi · 11/04/2018 15:26

chickolette
Be prepared to take lots of cash for terrible food if you are eating there or pack a lovely picnic.
Handsantiser and wipes (the loos are grim)
If its still like when i went you have to pay for parking.
Absolute rip off.

Butteredparsn1ps · 11/04/2018 15:32

Yup.

Went last year and it was grim. Long queues for mediocre rides and as PP said very expensive for all the add ons.

We had Merlin passes last year. Never again. Hate that Warwick Castle has become just another Merlin attraction too.

Igottastartthinkingbee · 11/04/2018 15:34

Would love to know who wrote that review! They should have a career in comedy if they don’t already!!!

Does anyone have any experience of legoland Manchester?

Screaminginsideme · 11/04/2018 15:36

Rubbish place. Dh took the two kids with another dad and his 2. They only got of 4 rides the whole day. He wrote and complained and we got free entry fore another time. I took the kids and fell victim to their ridiculous 1:1 policy on some rides. I was left with the choice of leaving a child alone in the queue with strangers and riding twice or putting them in the ride with a stranger.
It was dirty and I was so unimpressed.
Not going back

Lovemusic33 · 11/04/2018 15:41

We went a few years ago and loved it, I think one of the rides was out of order. We did use vouchers to get in half price which helped, not sure if I would want to pay half price as it still cost a fortune to get in. I was annoyed that we had to pay to park too. We planned on not eating there to save money but ended up doing the ‘all you can eat’ at the pizza place and it wasn’t too expensive, took our own drinks and didn’t buy ice creams. My dc’s have ASD and don’t usually cope at theme parks but thanks to the special passes we didn’t have to queue very long which helped a little. Some of the bigger rides had huge queues but luckily the dc’s were too young to go on them. Not sure if we would go now they are older.

StephiD3 · 11/04/2018 15:42

I agree with a poster above about Gullivers World. Another thing I like about there is you pay by the child's height not age. Most places you have to pay full whack over2/ 3and there too small to go on most of the rides!

Budsbeginingspringinsite · 11/04/2018 15:44

I always feel a bit sorry for people who spend a lot to go there then have a miserable time.

Its not great and that train has been out of action for ages. The problem is its built on an extremely steep hill - so the elderly - disabled etc all have a nasty hike back up.

Its OK but really only do it if you get heavily discounted vouchers.

Almostthere15 · 11/04/2018 15:46

I wouldn't bother writing to them. I did after we went last Easter and they basically argued with me saying that the fact it was so busy showed I was wrong. The q's are a managed really badly and rides open and close all day long, which I've never experienced anywhere else. Everything is massively overpriced. Even though it was 24 degrees the water parks weren't open because it was "too early in the season"

It's all well and good saying don't go in the holidays but if you have to travel that's pretty much the only chance you have and LEGOLAND should work out their capacity and stick to it. We got on four rides all day the first day and then reluctantly paid for a qbot the second (which I'd like to point out is included at Disney in the form of fast pass!)

It's charging Disney (usa) prices - it needs to give a similar (or even just acceptable) experience

Budsbeginingspringinsite · 11/04/2018 15:48

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

Just been had wonderful time and staff couldnt have been more helfpul

Mia1415 · 11/04/2018 15:48

I love LEGOLAND but I go there several times a year and know the tricks.

Firstly - get there for park opening and go on as many rides as possible in that first golden hour
if you can afford it get a QBot. If it is really busy get the one that reduces the wait time. Well worth the money
For Lunch we go to Bricks in the hotel. It is a reasonably priced (for a theme park) buffet. I've got a merlin pass so get a discount. We eat at 12 and fill up so we don't want to snack all afternoon.

I'd also recommend not going at the beginning of the season. The staff will all be new and inexperienced.

Mia1415 · 11/04/2018 15:50

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

Really? I've been many times and have never experienced any rude staff. I absolutely love DLP and its worth every penny (although I wish it was cheaper so I could go more!)

Shadow1986 · 11/04/2018 15:51

With the amount of attractions not working I would complain and hopefully get new tickets to try again...take a picnic next time and head to the rides the kids enjoy. Mine really like the submarine ride, and the laser ride, did you do those?

Notso · 11/04/2018 15:52

I wouldn't make a special trip to the Trafford centre one or pay for it, Igottastartthinkingbee
If you have a Merlin pass or some other discounted entry and are going to be in that area it's ok. Otherwise it's a rip off. There's very little to it and it is hideous when busy.

I'm in two minds now about Windsor, we went August bank holiday weekend seven years ago and had a great time. We had three days there and DC1 and 2 loved every minute. The food was a rip off but then it is at most places. The queues were minimal considering the time of year, much less than expected. We were thinking of taking DC3 and 4 this year but I don't know now.

Flaskfan · 11/04/2018 15:53

We went last year on a two day deal thing. I expected queues and high prices cos, well, it's. A British theme park. The weather was lovely, which helped, and we took own food. As we live nearer Alton towers and won't be going again, we got bots o second day. Kids were 5 and 7 and just loved it. We had a fab time.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 11/04/2018 15:55

Oh dear, we haven't been since my older 2 were little, we'd thought of going this summer. Was it really that bad? Sad