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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect DD to be allowed on rides at theme park

51 replies

CatPatrol · 18/08/2018 21:15

We went to a children’s theme park today where any child over one metre has to pay to get in. DD is on the border and was charged the full admission price because the staff on the entry gate deemed her to be one metre; however, the staff on the rides where children had to be one metre or over wouldn’t allow her on, even though I showed her ticket and said that she had been measured as tall enough earlier that day.

AIBU to think that she either should have got in for free and not been allowed on the rides or else she should have been able to go on them since we paid (almost £35) for her?

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 18/08/2018 21:16

Yanbu.

JenBarber · 18/08/2018 21:18

Email. Get a refund.

They've pretty much extorted money from you.

GlitteryFluff · 18/08/2018 21:18

I think I'd expect a refund tbh.

Topseyt · 18/08/2018 21:20

You could argue that she should have been let in for free, but not letting her on the rides was reasonable.

If there is even the slightest chance that she could be too small to be held firmly and safely by the harnesses then they are right to refuse.

Beeziekn33ze · 18/08/2018 21:21

Contact HO and ask for a refund. Very inefficient and unkind of them. Name and shame?

Pompom42 · 18/08/2018 21:21

That's terrible, I'd def complain otherwise what are they taking the money for?

mayaknew · 18/08/2018 21:22

That's a disgrace op. Email them and complain. You 100% deserve a refund. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but you should have asked for a manager at the time. I had a similar experience with DS at a theme park very recently and so wish I'd have asked for a manager. Don't know why I didn't think to at the time.

Soubriquet · 18/08/2018 21:22

Ah that would make me cross

She's either tall enough to be charged for the rides or she isn't.

The theme park there has obviously tried to con you

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 18/08/2018 21:23

Yes. Insist on a refund.

JenBarber · 18/08/2018 21:23

Naming isn't shaming, it 's sensible.

Might save someone else being ripped off.

Maybe they can explain this policy.

Quartz2208 · 18/08/2018 21:24

Its the staff on the gate that were at fault those running the rides were correct if she did not make the measurement they could not let her ride

Its odd though that all the rides were 1m that is v rare

But you do shrink over the course of a day (everyone does)

Bezm · 18/08/2018 21:24

I so don't know why you didn't complain at the time. I would have gone back to the ticket booth and demanded to see a manager.

Passingwords · 18/08/2018 21:26

Yes get your money back. My DC is borderline and we were told to go on height minimum required rides first as he’d shrink in the day and be too short after lunch-they were right!! Luckily we listened - get your refund

MargaretDribble · 18/08/2018 21:29

Had this discussion with a family at Wicksteed Park a few weeks ago. The child had been desparately wanting to go all year and when they measured her at home she was just a bit above the necessary height. When they got there they soon realised that the boards used for the different rides were not uniform sizes, so on one ride she was ok, on another 2cm too short. I don't know if they complained, but the staff on the rides stuck rigidly to the board they had been given, which I suppose you would expect.
In your case it is definitely worth asking for your money back.

WrongKindOfFace · 18/08/2018 21:37

I’d complain about that. She may well have been too small, but if that’s the case they shouldn’t have charged.

Original poster
CatPatrol · 18/08/2018 21:41

I will email them so thank you for reassuring me that I am not being unreasonable.

The queues for the rides were long so I was probably even more annoyed by waiting for ages and then being told no. A couple of times DD ducked when being measured so it was hard for them to tell but it is also hard to get an excited three year old to cooperate!

In hindsight I probably should have asked them to call a manager over but who knows how long that would have taken and DD did enjoy going on the smaller rides that she was more than tall enough for, so she still enjoyed herself.

OP posts:
Original poster
CatPatrol · 18/08/2018 21:42

When they got there they soon realised that the boards used for the different rides were not uniform sizes, so on one ride she was ok, on another 2cm too short.

That’s interesting and could have been the case here. At the entrance there is a fixed height board but for the rides they use a metal pole that was hand held and not attached to anything.

OP posts:
Charolais · 18/08/2018 21:46

That is unfair. I hope you get a refund.

IStillDrinkCava · 18/08/2018 21:48

They could so easily have given her a wristband or something when they measured her. Absolutely complain.

user1471530109 · 18/08/2018 21:50

Ooooo this pissed me off. My dd is 5 and under a metre. Drayton manor expect her to pay the full child price but she will not be allowed on most of the rides due to her height (below 0.4th centile).

I'm going to say she is under three. I know most of you will say this is dishonest but I know they won't allow her on most of the rides. I wouldn't be going her her eldest sister didn't want to.

Get on twitter OP. I'm v angry on your behalf! Cake for your dd

Skyejuly · 18/08/2018 21:52

Was it Paultons.?

Vanannabananna · 18/08/2018 21:52

I’m guessing it’s paultons Park. Hope they refund you. Very unfair.

BewareOfDragons · 18/08/2018 21:54

Why on earth didn't you go back to the entrance desks and demand your money back?!?!

Please email them and get it back!

That's just theft, otherwise.

user1471530109 · 18/08/2018 21:55

If it was paultons I found some of the ride attendants would let DD on and other wouldn't. My poor DD told the lady on the ride it wasn't fair when he let a blatant 18 month old with dummy but wouldn't allow her in the George dinosaur ride (even with me!). She was 4!!!

I know height is important. But it shouldn't be the deciding factor. Not on toddler rides!

JurassicAdventure · 18/08/2018 21:57

At Legoland they wouldn't let my nephew on the carousel (to sit in the shell carriage thing -not even on a horse!) Because he had no shoes on. DN was 7 months. We asked why, apparently it was so they can evacuate the ride safely in an emergency, it didn't seem to occur to them that being a baby, DN was unlikely to walk off the ride. (They let DD on the submarine ride despite her being 7 weeks and in a carrier -and not wearing shoes!) People who work on rides are not paid enough to use common sense.