Seriously? £86 for family entry?

[biggirlknickers]

This is for a visit to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park for 2 adults and 2 children.

I mean, who can afford £86 on tickets? That’s before you’ve factored in petrol, extortionate icecreams / coffees and no doubt a huge gift shop that you are forced to exit through with kids.

We are professionals on decent enough wages - we’re not rolling in it but we are doing ok. But that is truly beyond our reach for a single day out!

I’m thinking too of all the lower income families that I work with every day as a primary school teacher, for whom this couldn’t even be a consideration. Yorkshire children who don’t have a hope in hell of ever going to Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

AIBU to think that it’s really too much?

If you want to compare prices you have to give actual prices. And I don't think 35eur is expensive for a full day at a theme park, at all.

@TSSDNCOP

I have a great one for you all.

There is now a zip line at Bluewater. You zoom down from the top of the pit wall to somewhere near the lake.

It is, wait for it, FIFTY POUNDS PER PERSON

For an experience lasting about 20 seconds.

As much as I love a zip wire... I think not!!

£50 for a single ride🤪

@QueenBee52

It's not exactly a god given right to go and gawk at animals, why shouldn't it be expensive?

what an odd response

They won't be priced out. Some will, but there will allways be enough. They are not stupid, the people running it, you know.

nobody suggested they are stupid.

It's just some people are talking as if going to look at animals should be affordable for anyone and why is it so expensive etc.

The animals aren't a fairground side show or be considered cheap entertainment.

The animals aren't a fairground side show or be considered cheap entertainment.

Im not keen either .. its a shame for the animals.

This thread is brilliant so many I can't afford to take my four/five children to Alton towers, really? You thought having that many children would be cheap??

@KingdomScrolls

This thread is brilliant so many I can't afford to take my four/five children to Alton towers, really? You thought having that many children would be cheap??

Couples who are selfless enough to have large families should get a discount, tbh... doing the economy a favour in the long run with lots of extra scientists, doctors etc.

No, they shouldn’t get a discount. We have 3 DC because we can afford holidays, days out, university etc for 3.
You can’t complain you can’t take 5 out or any children out to be honest, that should’ve been considered when they decided to TTC.

And yes, before I get flamed, I am aware circumstances can change but if you choose to have multiple children then you need robust contingencies in place so they don’t have to go without.

Couples who are selfless enough to have large families should get a discount, tbh... doing the economy a favour in the long run with lots of extra scientists, doctors etc.

Doctors can definitely afford a go on the Bluewater zip line. I'm going to keep having babies until I get one that's clever enough.

My comment was (half) made in jest😂

@LubaLuca 😂😂

@HarrisMcCoo sorry! I bit 😂 have actually heard stuff like that IRL before 😂

This was a point I made in the thread about teens spending all summer holidays in their rooms. Lots of typical middle class MN posts listing all the trips, activities and sports camps their dcs would be doing all summer with no understanding of those who can't afford these things.

Leave an adult at home if there's two of you. Take a picnic and buy one treat each, such as a coffee or an icecream. Have a rule that you never ever stop in gift shops.

I understand why some people say their three year olds are two with those prices.

To be fair, a lot of teenagers prefer to stay in their rooms @dementedma.

Couples who are selfless enough to have large families should get a discount, tbh... doing the economy a favour in the long run with lots of extra scientists, doctors etc.

Actually 😁😁 Eu migrants are net contributors to economy (generally). We should get a discount for doing economy a favour 😁😁😁

(I know it was in a jest btw)

@Willwebebuyingnumber11

And yes, before I get flamed, I am aware circumstances can change but if you choose to have multiple children then you need robust contingencies in place so they don’t have to go without.

You have to have a robust body too and be prepared to spread yourself thinly. I feel worn out just thinking about it!

I've known some - one who had eight (& I did hear they were expecting a ninth), and one who had eleven children. They were comfortably off, well cushioned but still....

What is 'funny' is that in the case of the one who had eight, they had trouble conceiving their first, thought they couldn't have any.

However, going back to a previous point, a lot of teens do like being in their rooms, and sleeping. That's normal. I remember I did that a lot of the time and was accused of being unsociable.

If parents can afford activities, sports camps etc, and their children want to do them, fine. Not everyone does. It really has to be the child's choice and not forced on them by parents who feel their kids will benefit from being outdoors, active, part of a group and all that. For many, the fortnight's family holiday in the summer is quite enough thank you.

@dementedma

This was a point I made in the thread about teens spending all summer holidays in their rooms. Lots of typical middle class MN posts listing all the trips, activities and sports camps their dcs would be doing all summer with no understanding of those who can't afford these things.

You don't have to be middle class to care for your kids and not leave them locked up in their bedroom all summer, between lockdowns no less. It's just an excuse for lazy parenting.

It might not be as fun as a holiday camp learning to sail or travelling in another country (which might not even be allowed this year) but if you want them, there are many opportunities volunteering, earning a bit of pocket money, meeting friends etc.. even when you are 12, even with a very little budget or no budget at all.

not forced on them by parents who feel their kids will benefit from being outdoors, active, part of a group and all that. For many, the fortnight's family holiday in the summer is quite enough thank you.

yes... because the various lockdowns and school closure, lack of any activity and opportunities, basically ruining any social life and experience did wonder for kids and teens did it

Of all the years to not let kids stuck in their bedroom and do nothing, this is the one. They have missed out on so much, what kind of parent would be happy for them to miss out even more?

The thing is we have to decide either to either heavily subsidise these things (or provide assistance to families who wish to take their kids there) or simply accept it will be too expensive for most people to do regularly. Wildlife parks are simply expensive to run properly. Stuff like zipwires etc are just your own choice, kids can have a perfectly happy upbringing without going down a huge zipwire. Wildlife parks etc I would like to be accessible to kids.

Lots of typical middle class MN posts listing all the trips, activities and sports camps their dcs would be doing all summer with no understanding of those who can't afford these things

Of course they understand there are people who cant afford these things! But so what? That has nothing to do with the people who are talking about. There are plenty of things they can't afford that others do. It's called life. You think people can't talk about things that you can't afford?

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Couples who are selfless enough to have large families should get a discount, tbh... doing the economy a favour in the long run with lots of extra scientists, doctors etc.

Actually 😁😁 Eu migrants are net contributors to economy (generally). We should get a discount for doing economy a favour 😁😁😁

(I know it was in a jest btw)

In for a penny...why not🤷

@KingdomScrolls

This thread is brilliant so many I can't afford to take my four/five children to Alton towers, really? You thought having that many children would be cheap??

I have twins at the end. I was never planning four kids

@kindaclassy

not forced on them by parents who feel their kids will benefit from being outdoors, active, part of a group and all that. For many, the fortnight's family holiday in the summer is quite enough thank you.

yes... because the various lockdowns and school closure, lack of any activity and opportunities, basically ruining any social life and experience did wonder for kids and teens did it

Of all the years to not let kids stuck in their bedroom and do nothing, this is the one. They have missed out on so much, what kind of parent would be happy for them to miss out even more?

You have a point, kindaclassy. However my point was that the kids themselves should choose what they want to do or not do, not be told, "You are going to xxx on XXX". I'm not saying anyone on here would do that but I've heard of parents who try to organise everything for the children's holidays when they would rather be at home - or doing something else.

However my point was that the kids themselves should choose what they want to do or not do

I don't really agree with that. Many times kids need a push and end up doing something they really enjoy, but they would have never naturally gone by themselves.

However my point was that the kids themselves should choose what they want to do or not do

Lol. That would be pretty shitty parenting.