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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:
Wendalicious · 11/04/2018 22:16

We actually went today- maybe 5th time in three years and first time I noticed that it looked tired! Still had fun but quite a few rides closed, a lot of queuing (which we expected) staff great and Kids loved it, maybe it’s just had a battering in the shite weather- i would go again x

OnTopOfSpaghetti · 11/04/2018 22:20

We went yesterday and were disappointed. As others have said, several rides were closed and lots of areas need a good lick of paint and a clean.
The worst part was when DS aged 8 went to the driving school, you have to leave your children and watch from the edge. He came out if the ride looking very upset, I asked him what was wrong and he said he couldn't make the car move. He put his hand up and shouted 'Legoland' (as instructed) and a member of staff came over to him, shouted 'Why is your foot on the brake?' and shoved his leg off the brake.
Went straight to the service centre and made a complaint, they seemed to know exactly who I was talking about!
We were given £10 in 'lego loot' to spend in the shop, which was something, but my main concern is that someone with this attitude is working on a kids ride where you have to leave your child. I work in a school and if I shouted at and shoved a child I'd be in big trouble!
I have emailed a complaint but have yet to hear anything, apparently as the auto reply tells me it could take 7-10 days to get back to me...
Shame as we have fond memories of Legoland but it has definitely gone downhill over the years and needs a huge injection of cash into maintenance and staff training.

boatyardblues · 11/04/2018 22:20

Oy - It’s probably relevant that all those Florida theme parks will never make it onto a list of holiday destinations for our family. We much prefer hiking up muddy mountain trails in the back of beyond (as long as there’s a hot dinner and warm bed at the end of our day). I’d take wildlife and solitude over artificial thrills any day, but we were doing it for our kids.

Sophisticatedsarcasm · 11/04/2018 22:29

My DP and DS have merlin passes, they went today managed to get on a lot of rides. The train was broken last year when we went. Never had any trouble with the staff they all seem over friendly IMO. It is thier least favourite with Alton towers being top followed by Thorpe and chessington.
It’s one of them places that can’t please everyone. Sorry you had a bad experience.

Lemons1571 · 11/04/2018 22:37

Went to Alton towers last week and 5 ice creams were £12. Never been to legoland as I like the enormous rides, but also another fan of the queue land and wasp world review on trip advisor.

AngeliqueDePeyrac · 11/04/2018 22:49

We went to Legoland a couple of years ago and it was hideously overpriced shite even with the q-bot. Hugely overcrowded, endless queues, 20 min wait for water/drinks or the toilet. As a pp said we love Crealy in Devon. Fab place. Went last week and as weather not great there were only 5/10 min queues. Bliss. Unfortunately i think our 11yo will soon outgrow it! But we certainly wont be back to legoland.

frankchickens · 11/04/2018 22:54

We adore it... and Disneyland Paris! Not sure what you’re complaining about

The expense - you must be minted
The queues - you must have a very low boredom threshold or love queues
The shabby nature of the exhibits - you must like dirty broken Lego models with bits missing
The food

It's awful

Prancingonthevalentine · 11/04/2018 22:55

Dh and I love it, possibly more than the dcs! Been a year though. Expected it to be overpriced, not much worse for drinks etc than a trip to a cinema these days.

enpointeredshoes · 11/04/2018 23:05

Dh and I love it, possibly more than the dcs!

Are you on glue! Confused

PyongyangKipperbang · 11/04/2018 23:07

Expected it to be overpriced, not much worse for drinks etc than a trip to a cinema these days.

It is overpriced, the cinema is a fucking rip off these days too!

FallenAngel89 · 11/04/2018 23:15

Sounds really poor! Think we'll stick to Alton Towers 😊

Sammy901 · 11/04/2018 23:20

My kids love legoland! And I do! ...

I agree it could do with a good spruce up and food is over priced but I think that’s to be expected really.

The shows are always good I find and plenty of them. Kids love the rides.

We always stay in a local hotel within 5 odd miles I think and it’s cost me approx £140-150 for 1 night(including breakfast) and 2 days in the park which iv always thought is really good

Ariela · 11/04/2018 23:28

I used to get us Merlin season tickets with Tesco vouchers. We started going with daughter after nursery 16 years ago or so as we're local, then she started school & first term did mornings only so we went after that, often 3 or 4 x a week. We just used it in the same way one would use a play park.
Only went in the holidays when the forecast was very wet, or went after early afternoon showers, that way we didn't have to queue.
Lost interest when the QBots came out - to me that's a rip off & apparently they now charge for parking ...
Wouldn't buy more than 1 treat (ice cream usually), and always took our own picnic.
After age 14 I'd say daughter preferred Thorpe Park

frankchickens · 11/04/2018 23:35

I agree it could do with a good spruce up and food is over priced but I think that’s to be expected really.

Well not by me it's not - and especially given the eye-watering cost of entry and parking. We really have such poverty of expectation in this country.

PyongyangKipperbang · 12/04/2018 02:26

Such low expectations!

I paid at least £500 for a weekend at LL for 2 adults and one 5 year old, covering hotel stay (off site), food, petrol, parking, etc. I was not left thinking "Its to be expected" I was thinking it was complete fucking rip off and piss take. But then I expect to get what I pay for and not what some money grubbing fat cat thinks is the bare minimum they can get away with. I am funny like that.

FleurDelacoeur · 12/04/2018 07:44

The thing is that Legoland are obviously happy being second rate. They're happy with the shabby figures, faded Lego models all around the park and stagnant water in the miniland "lakes". They're happy recruiting workers who don't give a shit and are teenagers who'd rather chat with their mates. They're also happy not doing all renovations over the down time in winter and closing rides in the peak season.

And the British public puts up with it because "it's to be expected"? When you see how well these sorts of operations can be run elsewhere there really is no excuse for it. Lego is such a great brand and I'm surprised that they think this is OK.

echt · 12/04/2018 07:49

I went in the late 90s. It was shite and overpriced then.

mummyof2boys30 · 12/04/2018 07:54

Thanks, we are hoping to do two days at legoland and will definately get the quebot for at least one of those days. We are staying near heathrow so hoping to do longleat and maybe chessington the other days. Ive finally give in to going after a few years of nagging

autumnleaf1 · 12/04/2018 07:59

We went last year, 3 adults and 4 children. It was dreadful. The entrance price was ridiculous and there were long walks between each of the rides, which combined with the queues meant that we went on even fewer rides. The play park was nice, but there are nice parks everywhere, and they are usually free. The rides were average and not better than Chessington, which is half the price, more condensed (less walking) and reasonable queues for all but the biggest rides. We took a picnic and ate the food when we were standing in queues, to try and keep the children somewhat occupied. The lego miniland creations were a bit grim and full of stagnant water.

nicenewdusters · 12/04/2018 07:59

Went a couple of years ago, very cheap entry due to a friend's Merlin passes, Absolute rubbish. Vastly over priced crap food. Totally shabby looking. The Lego section could have been great but was neglected and dirty. We wouldn't go again if it was free,

Bettyfood · 12/04/2018 08:04

Have been once with vouchers. The kids enjoyed it but it is a cynical rip-off which really denigrates the brand of Lego. It's also in a completely horrendously busy location. Paulton's Park is much better.

Theworldisfullofidiots · 12/04/2018 08:08

Windsor awful. Denmark was great (and much cheaper)

papayasareyum · 12/04/2018 08:12

We went once a few years and and won’t be back because it’s a hideously overpriced, overhyped and very average experience.

mammmamia · 12/04/2018 08:21

It’s absoltrly terrible and I will never go back there.
Went during the summer holidays and it was crap, massive wasp problem, rude staff.
The final straw was one of the staff letting my friend’s 3 yo DD get on a ride, telling us they would ensure she put her belt on then starting the ride without doing it. I made them stop tbe ride. Was furious and complained.
Chessington is much better.

mammmamia · 12/04/2018 08:23

I agree that it really denigrates their brand. Also the Quebot price is shocking. Have they not been to Disney Florida who manage to run a free fast pass system very efficiently?

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