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.

Butlins isn't even a cheap holiday. I thought it was brilliant for little kids when we went as there was so much available for them. I wished we'd gone there more instead of CP when my kids were little. Could you get your dd a new playdoh set? There used to be one where you squeezed the play doh through holes to make Hair for the characters which was quite fun. Is messy play where they play with Baked beans and so on? Mine are teenagers so I've forgotten

It's fine for them to have to do a deep clean, but they should be offering something to you as compensation (a free meal one evening, say?) as I'm sure the week was not cheap, and they are offering less for your money than you expected when you booked. They probably have fine print somewhere saying they are allowed to close/change activities but may offer something as goodwill. I would certainly email them and ask what they will be offering in place of the messy play.

Honestly, you and the kids will still have an action packed break as Butlins (particularly Bognor) has loads of activities and shows. Plus you've got the pool which is amazing and the fairground, not to mention a few playgrounds on site which are very good. Also beach is a stone's throw. Butlins is basically heaven for small children!

Ignore it. Butlin's is very expensive for what it is, and our kids have always loved it. The username tells me it's some pathetic teenager who couldn't afford an ice-cream at the beach.

And yes, I'd be annoyed if advertised activities were changed because of cleaning the place. Surely a deep clean can be done anytime other than the planned couple of hours of messy play? I'd probably make a point of it, although I'm sure there'll be enough to entertain the children and you'll enjoy it, regardless.

OP is this for the one in October? We are booked for that and didn't realise you have to book things in advance!

I really don't think you're being unreasonable.

I wouldn't irritated too.

Call them and express your frustrations and ask for an alternative week maybe.

Well done, You receive the Cunt of the day award!

Oh yeah. My mistake! I think the cunty comment threw me off.

Thanks for the replies and perspectives, really helpful. Will give them a call but won't get too caught up on it.

@Milknosugar123 no don't worry it's for one in July - they open up the bookings 14 days before and will send you an email!

I bet you any money that the small print says "all activities are subject to availability and may change at any time" or similar. That's what they will come back to you with, if you complain. Luckily cancelling playdoh and messy play isn't too bad as it's the sort of thing you could replicate yourself or do somewhere else. I'm sure you'll still have a great time!

It's fine for them to have to do a deep clean, but they should be offering something to you as compensation (a free meal one evening, say?)
I would be AMAZED if you get offered something like this as compensation. The playdoh session costs them basically nothing, just the cost of one or two members of staff to run it. Much much less than the cost of an evening meal for a family. If they compensated every family there that weekend they would lost hundreds. think you're more likely to get a £5 "goodwill" voucher towards the cost of another activity.

You’re a dick.

@GirlCrushxxx I saw an advert on TV earlier for an adults only weekend at Butlins. To me that would be when I "expect" a deep clean in a facility aimed at small children to be done. Not when the children are there 🙄

Wow rude assumption there

Whet do you want by calling them? I think they will offer a refund or to rebook to another week after the deep clean but I dont think they will offer a discount as they have other alternative activities.

@ZeroFuchsGiven

Well done, You receive the Cunt of the day award!.

Agreed! 😂😂😂😂

Agree with the others... you won't miss it when you're there. My child verged on hyperactivity when she was little, there was no keeping up with her.... but Butlins was one of the few places that managed to knacker her out... even with one or two activities taken out, you won't be able to do it all.

We've just got back from a just for tots week at bognor regis and there was so much to do without the activities. We booked a show for each day and saw a couple of the puppet shows. I appreciate it is really annoying for you if those were the activities you were hoping for though, I e no idea if they were available while we were there as I forgot to book them once booking opened

Ah phew! Have a fab time!!

I went there in April and couldn’t get a booking for either of those either. Have they been permanently cancelled but not telling anyone?? Anyway, we had a great time :)

We've recently been and couldn't book into either the playdoh or the messy play as it was booked up straight away. We kept ourselves very busy without it! There's loads going on in the pavillion, the pool is great and there's some nice little playgrounds. Your DC will have a lovely time (even if you are more than ready to come home by Friday 🤣)

No because in your T&C's it states activities/shows are subject to change. So you won't have a leg to stand on.

It is annoying don't get me wrong but they cover themselves.

I went, those activities were fully booked. We didn't miss them, I wouldn't worry. Loads to do elsewhere.

Do triple check the show venues though! We missed half of Mr Tumble because they advertised the venue wrongly on the paper schedule. We weren't the only ones.

I took my two to that twice, and didn't do either of those activities. Honestly, there's plenty there to keep them busy, and you won't miss those activities.