Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Flamingo Land suitable for a baby?!

184 replies

sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 18:32

Please help me settle this disagreement with my OH. We have 3 older kids between us (his two aged 14 & 11, mine aged 15), and a baby together. He wants all 5 of us to go on a family day out to Flamingo Land. I've never been. He's insisting it's suitable for all the kids including the 4 month old baby? To me it looks just like a theme park - I can't think of anything I'd rather do less with a baby tbh. He thinks we'll all have a lovely family day out. I don't - I think he should just take his eldest two (and my eldest if she wants to go) and I'll stay home with baby. He thinks I'm being miserable and unreasonable. Help?!

OP posts:
LouNatics · 04/08/2021 23:07

Why would she carry all their stuff?

They can all carry their own things and/or bring less. Not a chance I’d be carrying kids things around, I’d be carrying the baby.

Closetbeanmuncher · 04/08/2021 23:15

@sofiegiraffe

If you sign up to kidspass there's discounted flamimgo land tickets on there atm you'll save 30%.

Sign up for a months trial for £1 then cancel it if you won't use again.

PumpkinKlNG · 04/08/2021 23:46

I didn’t carry anything around when I went Confused we didn’t bring coats as it was a hot day but then surely if they did have stuff it could fit under the pram?

IHaveBrilloHair · 05/08/2021 00:38

Sure and they suddenly want XYZ that's under the pram when OP is half an hour away feeding the baby.

Of course you can make the day work, but that's exactly what it will be, work, not a fun day out for the OP.

PumpkinKlNG · 05/08/2021 00:48

then don’t put it under the pram and they carry it themselves? What do people do that don’t have prams 😂😂😂 they manage. Families go without prams and they all go on the rides so it’s possible! I didn’t carry anything for anyone when I went.

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/08/2021 00:53

Of course you can make the day work, but that's exactly what it will be, work, not a fun day out for the OP.

This.

ohthatbloodycat · 05/08/2021 01:00

Joyless.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 05/08/2021 06:39

@ohthatbloodycat

Joyless.

Me or flamingo land? 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 05/08/2021 06:39

@MrsTerryPratchett

Of course you can make the day work, but that's exactly what it will be, work, not a fun day out for the OP.

This.

Yep.

And that's a good point about all their stuff - I'll definitely end up with it. 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 05/08/2021 06:40

@lollipopsandrainbows

I'd seriously read the reviews both on trip advisor and flamingo land before planning a visit. It was so dire when I went a few weeks ago that I have free tickets to return, which I'll use when it isn't the school holidays. We got on two rides all day, the rest was spent queuing for rides which often broke down. Food outlets ran dry at 1 and the place was just filthy. Even with the tickets, I'm not in a rush to return.

Sounds grim.

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 05/08/2021 06:51

"all. I didn't think there'd be anything to entertain a baby"
Babies like to people watch. It's how we learn. Learning about communication isn't just about hearing speech. Putting babies into busy situations is good for them. Babies cry, the majority of people in a family place understand that. You talk about sensory rooms, the whole day out will be a sensory experience.

Ponoka7 · 05/08/2021 06:53

Also, I know a few people who go to FL, they've already been this year and haven't had the experiences the pp had.

Kinsters · 05/08/2021 07:09

Sounds like a fun day to me. Especially as you said you don't get to do family days out often.

To make sure you're not always the one with the baby perhaps you could have her going round the rides then DH is in charge going round the zoo (I assume the two areas are kind of separate).

FionnulaTheCooler · 05/08/2021 09:58

I'd seriously read the reviews both on trip advisor and flamingo land before planning a visit. It was so dire when I went a few weeks ago that I have free tickets to return, which I'll use when it isn't the school holidays. We got on two rides all day, the rest was spent queuing for rides which often broke down. Food outlets ran dry at 1 and the place was just filthy. Even with the tickets, I'm not in a rush to return

I was there a few weeks ago and it was fine, we got on loads of rides and had no problem getting food and drink. I was quite impressed by Flamingo Land's hygiene standards, they did have staff wiping down the grab rails on the rides in between people with disinfectant most of the time, unlike other places I've been (looking at you, Blackpool Pleasure Beach). The only downside was the staffing issues that other people mentioned that meant some rides were only open for limited times, but we managed to get on everything we wanted, apart from the big log flume thing which was closed for maintenance, and I was secretly pleased about because DD wanted me to go on it with her and I hate things that splash you in the face. We did go on a weekday after the Scottish schools had broken up but before the English schools were out though, so maybe that made a difference to crowd levels, there didn't seem to be as many school trip parties there this year as usual.

StarfishDish · 05/08/2021 10:05

@sofiegiraffe Not to put you off but I read a family spent the full day there and only managed 4 rides as the queues were so big!

Where are you from and maybe people could suggest other ideas too? Smile

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 05/08/2021 10:16

[quote StarfishDish]@sofiegiraffe Not to put you off but I read a family spent the full day there and only managed 4 rides as the queues were so big!

Where are you from and maybe people could suggest other ideas too? Smile[/quote]

The North Yorkshire region.

OP posts:
BashfulClam · 05/08/2021 11:01

This is actually a good set up. If you don’t like the rides you can be the wallet and phone keeper. Take the baby to see the animals.

AudacityBaby · 05/08/2021 12:19

Lightwater Valley might be an alternative option. It's another theme park but seems to advertise itself as having options for kids of all ages.

Mind you, I really want to go to Peter Rabbit Land and I'm 36...

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 05/08/2021 12:55

@AudacityBaby

Lightwater Valley might be an alternative option. It's another theme park but seems to advertise itself as having options for kids of all ages.

Mind you, I really want to go to Peter Rabbit Land and I'm 36...

Haha! I'm the same age as you and me too (although I'm pretending it's purely for the baby)Grin
OP posts:
ToykotoLosAngeles · 05/08/2021 12:58

6 people's stuff are going to fit under a pram? What is it, a triplet-mobile?

There is no way they'll conveniently take their coats and bags into the queue with them and put them to the side of the ride when they board if OP is conveniently right there. I'm guessing nobody here has been the only one in a group of 5 refusing to go on Oblivion at AT, thus being left with "the pile". Grin

IHaveBrilloHair · 05/08/2021 14:53

Yep, we all know it'll happen.

TwoMountains · 05/08/2021 15:08

@AudacityBaby

Lightwater Valley might be an alternative option. It's another theme park but seems to advertise itself as having options for kids of all ages.

Mind you, I really want to go to Peter Rabbit Land and I'm 36...

Lightwater Valley have announced within the last year that they’re now going to be focusing on the family, under 12, market.

I haven’t been there since Covid so I don’t know what changes they’ve made so far, in terms of removing the bigger / thrill rides, but if I was thinking of going with a teenager, I’d be wanting to check online whether there’s still enough there to interest a teenager.

Sceptre86 · 05/08/2021 16:07

The op doesn't like rides so won't be going on them which she has made quite clear in the op. I think your oh is being unreasonable. Yes you could walk around the zoo on your own with baby but then how is that a family day out? You will just end up walking around a lot with a baby, finding somewhere to sit while you wait for them queueing up and going on rides. It sounds dreary. I would much rather be chilling out with such a young baby at home.

LuxOlente · 05/08/2021 16:23

A "family" day out where Mum has to sit with the buggy all day, changing nappies awkwardly on the ground while the baby gets tired and hot?

No way, fuck that. It's not "family", that's just putting on a show for no good reason and dragging you along to watch everyone else have fun. There are better things to waste £40 and a whole day on.

IHaveBrilloHair · 05/08/2021 16:28

What about a day out in Scarborough for example, lots of different things to do there even if the weather isn't great?
I'd have said Whitby but I don't think it's very pram friendly.
Or just get your DP to accept that Flamingo Land with three teens and a four month old isn't a good mix and your perfectly happy to stay at home.
Surely this is something he's going to have to get used to?
Not every trip out has to involve everyone, so long as no one is constantly being left out its not an issue.