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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this policy is very sad

175 replies

ILikeMyChickenFried · 04/05/2018 12:24

Yesterday my son went to the Legoland discovery centre in Manchester. He went in with his Granddad whilst my husband popped into a shop aiming to join them later (we're annual pass holders)
Anyway, when DH got to Legoland he wasn't allowed in as a lone adult. They've a policy which bans lone adults from attending even of they're meeting up with family inside. No one was free to escort him through to his DF and DS so he had to spend half an hour (FIL isn't great at picking up!) Calling his DF to get them to.come back to the entrance so they could all go in together.
This was obviously a huge nuisance for him but it got me thinking how tragic it is than we can't trust lone adults within a facility aimed at children. Obviously it's for safeguarding and is probably a good thing but it's so sad that it's even needed.

OP posts:
catinapoolofsunshine · 04/05/2018 13:00

The link Dee posted to describes the person finally arrested as a "boy" so presumably he'd still be let in!

MipMipMip · 04/05/2018 13:02

Am I the only one thinking a Lego pit sounds agonisingly painful? Like stepping on Lego with your whole body!

not derailing at all

DuchyDuke · 04/05/2018 13:02

The rule doesn’t apply to women. I’ve never had issues going in as a lone adult to meet with friends and family.

mostdays · 04/05/2018 13:02

That is a very sad policy.

Louiselouie0890 · 04/05/2018 13:03

Isn't this preety standard now. I'm a female and I wasn't allowed to buy a ticket for Gulliver's world on my own even though I was with my nieces and sister who had just paid. They had to refund my sister and do it all together.

Legoland is not for an adult. That place is hell on earth it is 100 percent for young kids

catinapoolofsunshine · 04/05/2018 13:04

FranticallyPeaceful are you totally ignoring the comments about adults with intellectual disabilities who have been told their annual passes won't be renewed. People with the abilities and interests of young children, who need carers with them. One man in the link posted had been going weekly for 7 months, so clearly found it interesting! Presumably annual pass holders going weekly with a carer and not buying anything are not money makers, and maybe some other visitors didn't like sharing space with adults with disabilities :(

BrutusMcDogface · 04/05/2018 13:04

Mip - that's exactly what I thought!! It can't be real Lego, surely?!

Anyway, what if I, as a teacher, wanted to do a school trip recce?

SluttyButty · 04/05/2018 13:04

I think this is the story that might have caused this policy?

metro.co.uk/2015/01/24/mentally-disabled-man-banned-from-legoland-over-child-protection-fears-5035164/

Chattymummyhere · 04/05/2018 13:05

It’s basically soft play but Lego themed. It’s for children who need to be accompanied by an adult it’s not for adults. I’ve been to farms aimed at children before where again it’s no entry unless you have a child and adults are giving wrist bands to confirm they entered with a child and staff removed adults without the bands. It’s just the reverse of 18+ only these places are 16 and under but must be accompanied by an adult.

IMBU · 04/05/2018 13:06

The policy is in place for a reason as it is designed to prevent incidents like the ones that 3stone and Dee have sent links to. Yes it's sad but it's needed - there are some weird fuckers out there who set out to deliberately target small children and measures need to be put in place to abate this. Not so long ago my little niece was was approached by some weirdo at a safari park which is local to us - he actually started taking photos of her - she's five years old - who does that?! Sorry but I'm glad the policy is in place.

Doyoumind · 04/05/2018 13:06

Regarding the disabled man, from what I remember a lot of what's there isn't suitable for adult sized people, whatever their intellectual age may be. It's built as a play area for children.

HappyLollipop · 04/05/2018 13:06

I thought Legolands no adult policy was well known it's to safe guard children I guess after those poor young girls were sexually assaulted and I've got friends who think all children/ family places even Disneyland should have a policy like this in place personally I find it really sad that we think by banning non-parents or guardians from places were keeping our children safe when only adult supervision can do that and what about adults and those with disabilities who love Lego? I understand they are trying to protect their brand but I think this the wrong way of going about it.

Dozer · 04/05/2018 13:07

The policy on adults is fine IMO and your DH was hardly inconvenienced.

Disagree with the policy to exclude adults with intellectual disabilities who are accompanied by friends or carers.

Doyoumind · 04/05/2018 13:08

Although I feel for the man in the story, I believe the policy was probably in place before he started going but they didn't apply it to him immediately.

Smeddum · 04/05/2018 13:09

Disagree with the policy to exclude adults with intellectual disabilities who are accompanied by friends or carers

This. Is it even legal?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/05/2018 13:10

Re the disabled adult who was refused entry, isn't there a risk of "chicken/egg" assumptions here? Could it be that he got caught up in the results of the policy rather than it being in any way introduced because of him?

Doyoumind · 04/05/2018 13:11

He's not being discrimination against because of his disability though, so it is legal. The discrimination is against all adults not accompanied by a child. In theory he could go in if he was with children. If he then wasn't allowed, perhaps that would be illegal.

TitsalinaBumSquash · 04/05/2018 13:11

This is absolute horse shit! I know tons of adults (men and women, not that it should matter) that are huge Lego collectors and would love a walk around lego land now and again.
The security in the park should deal with issues not just banning of all lone adults. (which I bet only applies to men)

Doyoumind · 04/05/2018 13:11

*discriminated against

Stormwhale · 04/05/2018 13:11

Surely it's not that hard to make exceptions for adults with learning disabilities. Of course it would require proof, but I would provide that for my loved one if they wanted to go.

Sockwomble · 04/05/2018 13:12

The people who complained about the man with learning difficulties being in a child's space would be the same people who would object to him being in an adult space too.

Chattymummyhere · 04/05/2018 13:12

I think it would be legal as it’s an age based policy not a no disabled people policy and a brand such as merlin would of looked deeply into this. If it was 18+ but wouldn’t let him in due to his mental age that would be discrimination.

Travis1 · 04/05/2018 13:12

Are they at it? That's ridiculous. So not only can I not have children I'm being punished for having a fucked up body by not being allowed to visit places just because they are predominately aimed at kids AngryAngry

Doyoumind · 04/05/2018 13:12

FFS this is not a Legoland. It is a Lego themed play centre! Its name is really misleading.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 04/05/2018 13:14

I remember that story about the man being excluded by their newly-introduced policy.
There was no "chicken and egg" situation - it states clearly that the man had been bought an annual pass, and 7 months into that annual pass, they brought in the adult-exclusion policy. They also stated that other customers had been made uncomfortable by that one man (whose carer was with him!). Bunch of dickheads, the lot of 'em.

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