To swerve Peppa Pig World

[Angliski]

Oh dear. I have a peppa pig based dilemma. Ds just turned 3 and loves her. He keeps asking if she can come to play. He just doesn’t want to accept that mummy can’t make anything happen. I’ve tried - I don’t have mummy pigs number… she can come in summer and now it’s spring… I’ve tried discussing what we would do if she came.

I will take him to peppa pig world but I’m a bit afraid to break the seal, plus I’m seriously injured at the moment and learning about being disabled and can’t really a age a theme park yet.

I’ve decided to buy him some peppa soft toys… but does anyone else have any ideas?

Keep an eye out for local events, Peppa was in a town near here this week at a smaller theme park type place (Twinlakes) so you might find somewhere easier to manage.

DD loves Peppa too but at 3.5 has mastered that some things are pretend now. She looks at me very earnestly and takes my hand and says things like “it’s not real mummy, it’s just pretend. It’s just a programme” so you might not have long to wait.

We will do Peppa Pig world at some point but it’s a long way and requires a minimum 2 night stay and I just don’t have the £ so waiting until she’s old enough to go on everything to get better value out of the whole park.

Paultons Park also has a cars-themed (not Disney cars, but also clearly based around Disney cars) and a dinosaur themed area. It might be the day your little one grows up from Peppa pig.

How about...

"You remember that bacon sandwich Daddy had...?

No, you probably shouldn't say that.

Each time? You don't have to go more than once. If you've got money for soft toys maybe put that towards the trip and ask family not to buy presents but to chip in towards the trip to peppa pig world. Just an idea though.

You can just go once op.

Does she have a toy kitchen or tea set. Most one and two year old pretend to make food or drink and mummy has to pretend to drink said cup of tea! I'm sure she will be able to understand the fact that peppa pig isn't real at 3yrs old. I can't remember any of mine thinking cartoons were anything but a story just like in a book. You could use that analogy to explain it🤔

😂😂 reminded me how one of my 2-3 Yr olds a long time ago said to a relative, who I'd describe as a bit Hyacinth Bucket, .......that he knew where eggs came from, 'where's that then' she said expecting 'supermarket'.........'hen's bottoms' said he😊

Sorry above was meant to quote @TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

Yes as @Mossstitch says a toy kitchen or tea set is a really good analogy. And they know the difference between a cuddly toys and real animals, toy cars and your actual car etc. So much of their play at that age is pretend. I think you’re really overthinking this one! DS has a Peppa Pig clubhouse that he loves (despite not really liking the cartoon) and the Peppa and Suzy Sheep figures can have pretend tea in there. It even has a really annoying button that says ‘we have pretend coffee and pretend tea’ when you press it 🤣 Get that and job done - Peppa has come for tea and it’s all pretend!

Also Paultons Park is a throughly decent day out. You only have to go once though so not sure what you mean by £130 EACH time.

If dd is small and you're in a wheelchair won't you only have to pay for 1 adult? Free carer's ticket...

Why would you need to go more than once? We took our autistic toddler and it was lovely, far cleaner and more gentle than other theme parks.
I think he’s old enough to understand real vs pretend though, if you explain it to him.

I don't understand why you say 'each time' one visit will be enough, and you will probably find your 3 year old is either terrified of the dressed up characters, or grows out of Peppa either before you go or pretty soon after.

I also agree with those who say explain that Peppa is a cartoon, and cartoons can't come to play.

It’s not unkind to be honest with him. Tell him the truth - Peppa is pretend, she’s on the TV but she’s not real and doesn’t visit people. Maybe offer a toy Peppa so you can have a pretend tea party with her?

Most preschoolers can understand the difference between pretend and real.

Don’t go to Peppa Pig world if you don’t want to, that’s fine. If you want to then go, but I agree with pps that you’re overthinking it.

I have to say, I’m not a theme park person but Paultons is brilliant. We had a very full day out there last summer with a 2 year old and 6 year old. Spent much longer than I expected in Peppa Pig World soft play!

Sorry to hear about your accident. I’m happy to stand corrected by those with more experience but it seemed quite well set-up for people with disabilities - I saw a number of people with mobility issues being escorted to the front of the queue and so on. I got the impression they were very supportive of making it a good day out for the whole family, so worth looking at what accessibility support might be on offer if that would make it easier for you.

If you live locally then having season tickets and going multiple times makes good sense if you can afford it.
If you get tickets say June time you can go multiple times this year, have the break over winter when they are shut, and go multiple times next year too before the tickets expire.
There is far more to Paultons than just the PPW bit.

That said, season tickets have gone up a lot since mine were young.

Don't go op it's the 7th circle of hell! My child now 8 doesn't even remember going when he was 4

It was packed, raining drizzling and full of other toddlers and 3/4 yr olds.

We went and sat in the gardens and threw sticks into the lake and had a great time after that 🤣

Do you have a Sealife aquarium near you they sometimes do a peppa pig event

I hate theme parks but Peppa Pig World is fine.

Is it really £130 each? Surely your 3 year old is free unless exceptionally tall?

Also Peppa Pig shows on at local theatres are really good, we’ve been a few times at two different theatres near us.

He isn't my carer. Not everyone in a wheelchair needs a full time carer. @PastMyBestBeforeDate

Ahh those saying - you don't need to go more than once, don't have a kid with my DS tenacity. Trust me, once won't suffice thats why i am worried about breaking the seal. But am overthinking so yes I will just arrange to go when I feel more able.

Not quite what you asked but.... I got an amazing deal at Butlins Minehead when my dd was 3. We got a term time midweek break for 2 adults and a child for something ridiculous like £60. Included a Peppa Pig show and a meet and greet/photo op. As well as all the usual pool, other shows, fairground etc.
I decided for that price even if it was bloody awful then who cared but actually it was really good. My dd had the best time and still talks about it now.

Might be worth a thought, when you're feeling more able to travel?

Boris Johnson said it was good, and he's never lied to me.

Same as my DS!

We went to a party and Peppa was coming half way through, he screamed the place down.

Our local soft plays, children centres have character breakfasts/lunches etc so worth a look

You really don't need to lecture me about being a wheelchair user.
@Angliski

My 11yo Dts still talk about PP world, we went when they were three. It's the quietest, smallest 'theme park' if you go at the right time. We did go over to PP too for a couple of rides that they were tall enough for.

If you can do it I would.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate im not. I’m lecturing you on the assumption that my DH is my carer. He isn’t. That’s all.