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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this was badly handled? London zoo

165 replies

LondonZoo55 · 13/02/2023 13:19

They are doing an accessibility scheme thing for people on low incomes, so anybody who receives supplemental universal credit etc.

A woman took it upon herself to post about it in a Facebook bargain group and it went viral.

Thousands of people (us included) have been turned away at the gates after travelling for 2hrs to get here. We were happy to pay full price and came fully intending to even though we do qualify, but we were refused as they're at max capacity.

Cue a meltdown from autistic DS. A tantrum from DD. It was absolute mayhem.

AIBU to think this was badly handled?

There are people that have travelled further than us, the zoo employees are apologetic and suggested they try again tomorrow. It'll be like this daily until the offer ends on 31st March.

Ridiculous.

OP posts:
Skinnermarink · 13/02/2023 13:22

That was shared everywhere, our nursery put it on social media and it was all over the show other than that. It wasn’t down to that one woman!

At the end of the days it’s London zoo in half term- it’s always mayhem

JauntyJinty · 13/02/2023 13:23

If you were willing to pay full price why didn't you pre-book? Can you not pre-book if you are using this scheme?

Showing up at somewhere like that there's always the posibilty of it being sold out. What would have them do differently?

SpinningFloppa · 13/02/2023 13:23

Should have got there early

PacificallyRequested · 13/02/2023 13:23

If they're full, they're full. What did you expect them to do?

Skinnermarink · 13/02/2023 13:24

There’s a super playground in Regent’s Park, and hopefully you had a plan b for the day?

Haus1234 · 13/02/2023 13:25

It would be unsafe for them to let any more people in - what do you want them to do exactly?

DrMarciaFieldstone · 13/02/2023 13:25

If you were willing to pay full price why didn't you pre-book?

This

Lockheart · 13/02/2023 13:26

You didn't think London Zoo would be packed at half term with an offer on and you traveled two hours without checking or pre-booking?

This one's on you OP.

DoesItMakeYouFeelBetter · 13/02/2023 13:26

Should have pre booked.

UthredofBattenberg · 13/02/2023 13:26

What do you expect them to do?

Skinnermarink · 13/02/2023 13:26

I can’t believe literally thousands of people were turned away.

Galadriel90 · 13/02/2023 13:27

I would have expected London zoo in half term to be at capacity and I wouldn't have gone without booking.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 13/02/2023 13:27

I'd genuinely love to know what you think they should have done?

Sirzy · 13/02/2023 13:27

They can’t go over their legal capacity. People would rightly complain if it was dangerously full

this is why I always pre book when taking Ds somewhere to stop the element of risk that we won’t be able to.

BadgerLovesMash · 13/02/2023 13:28

If you could afford to pay full price and were willing to you should have pre booked.

I went before it went viral, I got there just before it opened and had no issues whatsoever. It was really quiet in there too.

Unfortunately it is now half term, the weather is warmer so its going to be busy. The cheap tickets just add to that.

I hope your son is OK and you manage to find something else to do in London. I highly recommend the museums which are free to get into.

SpinningFloppa · 13/02/2023 13:28

Everywhere is packed in the half term, I heard about this but wouldn’t go because I knew it would be crazy, my kids have been many times anyway as we live in London I wouldn’t go in the half term.

RiktheButler · 13/02/2023 13:29

Just for clarity OP - what EXACTLY was "badly handled"?

BreviloquentBastard · 13/02/2023 13:29

If they're at capacity they're at capacity. How precisely was it poorly handled? What would you have them do, bring a giraffe out because your child was having a tantrum? Kick out another family to make way for yours? Make a special exception for you because you travelled two hours without having the sense to check availability?

Tacocatgoatcheesepizza · 13/02/2023 13:33

They have a good offer on. Things are always busy when it’s half term never mind if there’s a special offer.

You could have pre booked but you didn’t. If you’re saying you’re prepared to pay full price that makes it sound like you’re annoyed they have an offer running and feel you should have taken precedence? That’s not how it works. It is your forward planning that was the problem in this instance.

holierthanthou73 · 13/02/2023 13:33

The only thing ridiculous here is you OP

SpookyBlackCat · 13/02/2023 13:33

I'm just place marking for the OP's explanation as to why she didn't pre-book and how this still isn't her fault.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 13/02/2023 13:34

Have to admit, I’m quite surprised they didn’t set up a pre booking of that offer and just check people’s proof of qualifying on arrival.

Its pretty inevitable that running that during half term was going to make it manic busy.

it does/did say on their website that they were expecting it to be very busy though so people should have thought about that also.

StuckInTheUpsideDown · 13/02/2023 13:36

How do you think they SHOULD have handled it OP? I’m unclear.

Dotjones · 13/02/2023 13:39

It says on the website booking tickets in advance is "essential" and they can't guarantee admission if you just turn up. You took a chance and didn't get lucky, I'm not sure what you expect them to do? Let more people in than they can safely handle and risk deaths and injuries? Or just not run promotions or allow on the door tickets?

Irritatedmum · 13/02/2023 13:41

Woman ‘took it upon herself’ to share it with people who might need it, and that bothers you because, well, you’re entitled more than others somehow?

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