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.

I'm sure it's been said lots already but you can prebook tickets for carers (you show your DLA when you enter with your prebooked tickets)

Out of interest what is the price difference with this offer?

Fair play OP you made a mistake but you handled all these comments really well

What are your suggestions for how they could have handled it better? Told 1,000 people selected at random and made them sign NDAs?

Why ask a question on a thread you can't be arsed to read the OP's responses to anyway?

You can't blame the zoo for other people advertising something. Tantrums and meltdowns were, on this occasion, due to your lack of planning, not the fault of the zoo or anyone else.

YABU

The £3 tickets were advertised heavily everywhere. I've seen the suggestion everywhere.

I'm not a fan of zoos. But even I know many other people don't feel that way and that anyone with any sense would have recognised instantly that the London Zoo will be a madhouse all week with their £3 offer, as they will reach capacity quickly every day. So if you don't live locally and/or can't get their before it opens to be in the queue, you will struggle to get in ... if you still want to when it's going to be crazy busy every day.

Like you've already recognised since posting, OP, if you really wanted to ensure being admitted, you needed to book and pay full price online in advance if that was the only way to get in without 'gambling' you'd be there early enough to get in for £3 per head (which everyone on here is pretty sure you'd planned to do).

I have read them, thanks, Prefect. Toddle on now.

Book online or get there earlier. Not them handling it badly your problem for arriving too late. Personally don’t think the scheme is massively fair anyway. People who live right by the zoo don’t even have a programme for lower cost tickets it’s ridiculous

Ever heard of "First come, First served" OP?

YABVU as what did you expect at half term?

I would have expected that offer to be oversubscribed at any time of the year tbh.

YABU for going to a zoo.

They’re so unethical.

The zoo had good intentions but at half term it was bound to be carnage.

Just checked Chester zoo tomorrow price wise

Oh dear… rocking up and expecting to waltz in was not going to end well. My zoo has a quarterly Free Day and yeah, it’s packed. You have to plan early to go, but it’s a great options and I’m glad they offer it.

It's alright, she didn't go to the zoo.

Imagine how the poor bloody animals must be feeling with hordes of screeching children invading their home! Especially any sloths, who need calmness and the primates who are basically people anyway. That's one of the many reasons why there's a max. capacity - to ensure their comfort.

Perhaps timed tickets, after two hours if you are still there you have to stroke the lions. With a pointed stick. 🦁

@LondonZoo55 , Hi Op, I feel for you. It's absolutely not necessarily in the knowledge of everybody in the country that you need to pre-book, especially if you don't take DCs to places like London zoo like once in a million years time.

Unfortunately, half term is only one week break. Lots of people wouldn't be going away for that reason, or just travel in the country. A week's childcare got densed up to those few places worth going where you can spend a day, especially when the weather is nice.

Anyway, pre-booking needs a commitment. I have friends who don't like make early plans in fear if last minute change. But some venue do offer a small charge for ensured refund in case if illness or sort. So to avoid losing money just because you can't go.

Lots of places started the pre-booking practice to cap the capacity since COVID. And they have kept this practice so far. So, even going to the museum these days (free entry), it still requires pre-booking with some. Just better plan ahead to avoid disappointing your DCs.

To travel 2hrs for them is a huge efforts. You are a loving mum and that's enough to make them happy and feel loved in the long run. Not a trip to the zoo that didn't work out could deter that! Flowers to you! 💐💐

I think you’re getting a hard time, OP. I’ve been a zoo member for many years and they have really struggled with admin over tickets in the last few years.

It would have been better if they had managed this more efficiently, with timed entries throughout the day, and a fairer system for distribution of tickets. £3 each is such a massive discount (c.£90 for family of four) they must have known it would be popular for half term.

They had similar problems during lockdown and lost a lot of money when they could least afford to because they asked all visitors to book online but failed to put any checks on the free member tickets. They then realised thousands of non members were getting in for free and had to shell out for a ticket partner to manage it.

To be honest it’s the people so disorganised that they wouldn’t think to book to go to ZLS, that I can understand might lack the critical thinking to understand how abhorrent zoos are.

I'd be good entz for sure

Not saying it isn't true though

It would be impossible to book them in advance as they need to show proof of eligibility which needs to be looked at by a human. The booking system couldn't handle it. Therefore it has to be done on the gate only.

The carer goes free but everybody else pays full price tickets.

The offer they have on right now is £3 per ticket for every person in a qualifying household.

Some very kind comments above, thank you ❤️

It wouldn’t be impossible.

They could have done it the same way they check carer/disabled tickets. If you don’t have the proof on the day you get turned away and refunded.

Aaah OP, we all mess things up sometimes. Like you say, we live and learn. Next time you'll know to book.

I hope you and the DC managed to still have an enjoyable day in Regent's Park when things calmed down.