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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Noodledoodledoo · 18/08/2018 21:57

I noticed at Paultons when we were there they had height wristbands being dished out just after the entrance that I thought was a fab idea. We didn't use them as neither of mine are borderline, one way over one way under!

Rachie1973 · 18/08/2018 22:00

Paultons Park (Peppa Pig World) Make a habit of this!

They measure the kids at the gate, then again at the entrance! Then refuse them entry on the rides

Suewiang · 18/08/2018 22:07

Had this at Thorpe Park last year with one of my daughters. Exactky the same.
I wrote a letter of complaint and was treated well by the complaints staff and received a full set of free tickets for us all and for the faster queues all day at any day we chose for the rest of the year. I waited 3 months till she was obviously much taller and had a great day on return.
So I fully suggest complaining

NorthStarGrassman · 18/08/2018 22:07

Top tip for Legoland - if you have a child in the border of a height restriction you can go to guest services and get them measured properly against a measuring thing. If they’re tall enough they then get given a wrist band which will get them into the rides even if they’re slightly under the metal rod thing at the ride. I wonder if they do something similar at Paulton’s Park?

Witchend · 18/08/2018 22:08

At LEGOLAND if you have a child on the verge you can go and get them officially measured and then they get a wristband to say they can go on the rides. We had a short period for dd2 that if she was measured first thing then she was just tall enough. By after lunch she wasn't.

But we're having an argument with Thorpe Park at the moment. Dd2 is not allowed on 25% of the rides. And they don't offer any discount.

This is not because they're unsafe for her (she's 14yo) but because they think because she's an amputee (arm below elbow) if the ride stuck she couldn't climb down an exit ladder. On the basis that she has always climbed everywhere and anywhere then this is totally ridiculous.

It's not even that they've considered it carefully. They've just made a general rule that amputees (no other disability) can't go on the ride. This is despite if, for example, you had a paralysed arm through stroke or other reason, you can. For those with limited mobility they ask them if they can climb down a ladder and take their word for it.
And I believe if they do use the exit ladders then you are strapped to them too.

Alton Towers also won't let (irony) amputees use the Smiler for similar reasons, and also, very strangely they're also banned from the driving school. On the basis the DVSA is happy for amputees to drive on roads this does seem to be rather arbitrary discrimination.

To put it in perspective this chap would be refused:

Original poster

CatPatrol · 18/08/2018 22:09

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

Because at the end of the long day there were no managers on the gate and at that stage I had a really overtired child to get back to the hotel and settle. Hanging around for possibly a long time just seemed to be asking for my daughter to go from being niggly to tears, and I knew I could go back to have the conversation or else email. The entrance desks were a long walk away from the rides, especially with a child, and had very few staff around at the end of the day as the exit is elsewhere.

OP posts:

Equimum · 18/08/2018 22:10

We had this at Paultons a couple of years ago. It was really unpredictable which rides DS1 could go on, as some attendants considered him to be 1m and others didn’t. We were furious and he was, understandably, really upset.

Original poster

CatPatrol · 18/08/2018 22:11

@Witchend I really hope the change their policy following your complaint.

OP posts:

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 18/08/2018 22:13

Yes Tops maybe they were right to not let her on.
However they were quick enough to take ops money. I don't blame her for being peeved. As we all know these amusement parks are certainly not cheap

BikeRunSki · 18/08/2018 22:14

Was it Diggerland? we had exactly this with Diggerland, and complaints got us nowhere.

Whyohsky · 18/08/2018 22:15

How can so many people be so bad at measuring?! Can’t they read?

LockedOutOfMN · 18/08/2018 22:16

Sorry to hear about this, OP. Agree it's totally unfair.

I suggest you complain until you get a refund or compensation. Hope you can arrange something to make up for the disappointment for DD.

The wristbands at Legoland seem like a sensible idea.

MillieMoodle · 18/08/2018 22:18

We had similar at Oakwood recently - DS1 is just 1.2 metres. He went on all the rides that were height restricted except one relatively tame rollercoaster as the operator wouldn't let him on. We asked another staff member where we could complain, he was really helpful and directed us to guest services who measured DS1 and gave him a wristband confirming he was 1.2m. They also gave us some fast passes so we could jump the queues on a couple of rides. Definitely worth a complaint, you shouldn't have had to pay full price if she wasn't allowed on most of the rides!

MargaretDribble · 18/08/2018 22:18

Diggerland (shudder).Bad experience there, safety wise.

Witchend · 18/08/2018 22:18

Cat I first got a very dismissive letter back saying "health and safety". So I pointed out it was still discrimination as they were judging on appearances and people, for example, with limited use in their arm, who are far more disabled than dd2 (as she would use the end of her little arm) would be allowed on no question.
They haven't responded to it, and it was a good couple of weeks ago.

A number of her friends have been removed from the rides (including a Paralympic swimmer) when they've been on it, so they are following through with it too.
But then there was a blog post a few weeks ago from someone who (according to their description) has "limited mobility and is blind" who was allowed on the rides that she wasn't, so it is entirely about being an amputee-possibly because it's easy to spot.

sobeyondthehills · 18/08/2018 22:25

Most theme parks, if you go to the customer service desk, get them measured get a band, saves time and energy arguing

Horridhenry88 · 18/08/2018 22:27

I think on the dinosaur ride little ones can go on the front seat with an adult but you can't use front seat if above a certain height. Obviously she would be too young to go on her own.

Horridhenry88 · 18/08/2018 22:28

Meant to say you should get a refund.

user1471530109 · 18/08/2018 23:09

No. They wouldn't let her on with me despite being 4. But she was under 90cm. Let the toddler on fine.

I was not happy. Neither was my poor DD. It was the first time her height had really affected her.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 18/08/2018 23:25

This sort of thing gives me the rage - probably because I'm short and remember the sheer humiliation of not being allowed on rides that younger friends were allowed on, which always seemed dreadfully unfair.

Theme parks should do entry prices by height (as that's what determines how much of the park you can make use of) and then give out wristbands accordingly, and stick to it (all day!)

BarnabyBungle · 18/08/2018 23:35

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.

You don’t seriously think the harnesses/straps etc are designed to be safe at precisely 100.00cm but unsafe at 99.99cm, with absolutely no tolerance? There would be a safety tolerance of a few % at least. I get they have to set the height at a particular level and stick to that, but it should be sufficient to be meaasures when entering, get a wrist band, and not need to be measured again.

WillowPeach · 19/08/2018 00:15

Woah, the theme park was out of order. Complain OP and don’t back down until they’ve give a refund. Failing that, take to Facebook or Twitter publicly. They can’t have it both ways, your DC should of been let in for free.

Ihavenoideaatall · 19/08/2018 09:48

Do complain. We are lucky that our local small theme park has a limit of, say 110cm, but the measuring stick is at 105cm.

safariboot · 19/08/2018 10:49

The ride operators have to take responsibility for safety, but you should absolutely get a refund on the basis that since most ride operators said you were too short, the front gate obviously got their measurement wrong.

5000KallaxHoles · 19/08/2018 11:03

When I had a borderline child at somewhere or other there's been provision you could get them "officially" measured and then get a wristband to say they were OK to avoid the slightly differing height sticks on the rides thing.

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