To think this was badly handled? London zoo

[LondonZoo55]

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.

if you walk through regents you can see the giraffes and zebras for free! saw them today

I know? I said they SHOULD HAVE.

They should have implemented it onto their ticketing system.

The apparent joy some people seem to have at others learning a shit lesson is so so so gross and so typically mumsnet.

Okay?

My point is all the ‘pre-book’ comments and calling her stupid or a twat aren’t really fair seeing as you can’t pre-book.

She only wanted to pay full price IF she couldn’t get the discount though which is why she didn’t book in advance, I imagine loads of people there would have just paid full price to not disappoint the kids so op isn’t any more special than anyone else who was willing to pay

Do you mean me? I’m not happy she learned a shit lesson, I just thought I’d point out you can’t pre-book so the other posters being aggy that she didn’t seems a bit daft.

Not seen it on Facebook but it shared at my daughter s school..it's everywhere legally they can't go over the limit. Yabu. No way go to a zoo with such amazing offer on during half term...you know it be packed

I put YABU but reluctantly as you should’ve pre-booked at half term. But it is 🙄 that people on UC seem to get everything cheap or free when in many cases they have more disposable cash than people who don’t claim… but that’s a different thread I guess…

She said she’s happy to pay full price - should have prebooked full price tickets then. If you know ahead of time this offer has been widely publicised, then it’s really silly to travel there and just expect to get in. Venues still have a max capacity and it’s not hard to see how this offer would pack the venue out.

Start that thread. I dare you. You'll be torn apart for your ridiculous opinion.

Well she could have.

If going was the most important thing and she can afford to pay full price - and has a child that can’t handle change then that’s what she should have done.

it was very obvious it was going to be insanely busy

To be honest I would be happy to, but I know what would happen - lots of ‘goady fucker’ responses while the silent voters agree with me.

What do you want them to do? Make the zoo bigger?

I have an autistic child, and take responsibility for ourselves and for his comfort and happiness by (wait for it…) booking stuff. We don’t go anywhere without a booking or a quick phone call to confirm they’re open and don’t expect to be full.

Why not take your children on an alternative day out and not teaching them it's okay to keep animals in captivity for our own amusement? I don't understand how people enjoy watching animals in cages and not in their own environment!

But why? If there’s an offer on and you travel to use said offer why would you pre-book full price in advance? That just doesn’t make any sense to me, I would go and be waiting outside for opening times.

She ballsed up not getting there early enough, but the venue definitely should have an option to pre-book.

What’s with everyone today? Full attack dog mode on mumsnet this afternoon 😂

Ridiculous , it’s half term everywhere is busy so if you are coming from a distance then you should have pre booked , take the kids to a different zoo or wildlife park there is enough of them about .

Who cares if your kids autistic? They aren’t psychic. You know. Solve the problem by pre booking.

How would you suggest they handle it?

What could they have done to make you happier while maintaining the safety standards they are obliged to uphold?

Do you really not understand the conservation role played by ZSL these days? The funds generated by people going to see the animals go to support massive conservation projects in the UK and overseas.

It's half term. It's London Zoo. Of course you pre-book

Tbf I agree with the masses.
Pre-book if you want to guarantee entry otherwise it's a chance you take.

Personally I wouldn't travel to anything like that without a booking, even if I lived close.

I've got autistic DC and they would have really struggled to cope if we hadn't been able to get in somewhere as planned.

This is why I always, always pre-book and don't ever just risk turning up.

You can't expect London Zoo to let people in if they're at capacity. It's a safety and legal issue.

I get that you're pissed off, but really it's on you for not pre-booking. With autistic DC I really don't understand why you didn't.

This reminds me of those posts when Covid lockdown first started. People were going to their local High Street and posting complaining about all the people who were going to their local High Street instead of Staying at Home.

Any child friendly attraction in London at half term is rammed. I found this out taking my son to one of the big museums once - never again!

I think really what they should have done to keep crowds down is restrict it to those living within a certain radius, which would be quite easy with a list of eligible postcodes.