Butlins Tots Break let down!

[GoodnightRain]

So we booked a Tots Break at Bognor Regis Butlins. The bookings have opened and you can't book Playdough or Messy Play because the venue is having a deep clean throughout the week.

The break was advertised to be specifically centred towards under 5s - with Playdough and Messy Play as some of the main selling points. Shows are great but it's nice for them to be broken up with hands on activities.

AIBU to think that this is not on? I've been telling my little one about these activities and they've got all excited. Would you call and complain? I can't get passed the fact that they are not including something they have advertised as part of the Tots Break.

We've never done playdough or messy play on a Tots weekend, and still been more than busy. I'd really not sweat it.

Is playdough literally playing with playdough, or something else?

same

Is it that big of a deal? Isn't play dough and messy play something you do at home all the time anyway?

When would you expect a big clean like that to be done then?

@TokyoSushi it's like this Playdough kitchen thing, sounds like they were supposed to make orders etc.

So we booked a Tots Break at Bognor Regis Butlins. The bookings have opened and you can't book Playdough or Messy Play because the venue is having a deep clean

So did you book that week a while ago and are now (at a later date) looking into activities to book for that week?

Or are you trying to book the week plus it's activities now, all at the same time, and have seen that some aren't available, iyswim?

If it's the former then YANBU as you booked the week without being warned that some activities weren't going to be available that week.

If it's the later then it's annoying if that's the only week you can do, but it's your choice to book it or not and i suppose they have to have deep cleans ...

@GirlCrushxxx 1am - 3am obviously 😉.

I am sure it's not completely unreasonable to think they could offer the advertised activities on one of the five days.

But I did chuck the question out there so I suppose I should expect replies like this.

@Laiste

Thanks for your reply, so yes we booked a while ago and were told these activities would be available. They have been available to see on the app since we booked - but when the bookings opened today we weren't able to book them because they are not going ahead due to the deep clean. Hope that makes sense X

This is the sort of unexpected change that would really stress me out for all of an hour or two, then I'd get some perspective and realise it probably wasn't that big of a deal on the grand scheme of things. Can you take your own play doh and plan a fun activity for it?

This made me laugh. Do you have any idea how much of a dick you're coming across?! 🤣

@GirlCrushxxx that post genuinely made me feel upset. Mission achieved I guess.

We went once a few years ago and play-doh and messy play weren’t on the activities list at all. Between the rides, soft play, sports, swimming and shows, our time was packed and the kids were exhausted. I would just explain to your child that plans had changed and distract them with all the other great things you’ll do.

@Foldinthecheese thank you for this! We haven't been before so it's good to have a bit more perspective - sounds like lots of fun X

It's the sort of thing which would annoy me too, OP, as these are standard under 5s activities that my DC would have loved. I would consider retaliating by taking my own play doh and paints/glitter and sabotaging their deep clean 😁.

Ignore the goady fucker.

I'd be a bit annoyed too. It seems a bit of a swizz to advertise something and then it not be available. Hopefully the weather will be lovely and you'll be outside all the time and not miss if

Ignore.

Which Butlins is it? Is there a beach nearby?

@GirlCrushxxx . Where are you going this year then? Is it too much to hope that you get stuck in the airport for 12 hours after a bitchy comment like that?

Doesn’t seem like your kid would be missing out on much with those two things. Play-doh is a pretty bog standard item for kids, and making a mess is what they do all day anyway. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other stuff to do

@KyaClark she wrote which one it was.

@ChocolateHippo 🤣 glitter party for four in the pavillion!!

Thank for your reply @Clymene it's nice to know I'm being completely unreasonable - all the positives help though! x

That seems a tad unnecessary.

OP we’ve just had a similar break away and got there to find the soft play was closed for maintenance. DD was gutted as it was closed for Covid last time we went and she was really excited, and DH and I were pretty irritated as we’d planned on using it in the predicted wet weather. We’ve still had a brilliant time though, and didn’t do a few of the other activities available that we thought we’d do. So YANBU to be disappointed, but I’m sure it won’t ruin your break. Hope you have a lovely holiday!

You sound like a complete twat.

And do you have any idea how expensive Butlins actually is?

I'm guessing you have your hyacinth Bouquet hat on.

There is so much to do at Butlins your little one won't miss those activities. There is swimming, soft play, fairground rides, puppet shows, mini golf etc. We went a few years ago and it was really good.