Fuckity fuck fuck

[MAREMCKENNA]

Paid £400 for a 3 day trip to a theme park, with a themed room, paid the extra £25 for cancellation protection up to 48 hours beforehand. 36 odd hours before we are due to leave my 4 year old has a blazing temperature. I'm a lone parent who has saved up to take him as he's been desperate to go for the past year. Just wanted one surprise trip away before we were tied to school holidays. Theme park refusing to let me go a different day which I can't argue as it is in the terms and conditions. I could CRY right now I'm so gutted. Son is fine, negative for covid, lots of colds going round and he is prone to a high temp whenever he has a virus. Just wanted to do one nice thing and it's looking like I'm just going to have to sack it off. What are the chances of a high fever being gone in 36 hours?

I think credit cards give you a bit more protection for purchases. My bank suggests a second account with a low ish balance that you transfer into for purchases. To protect your main account from fraud If you don’t use a credit card for online purchases.

They definitely offer more protection but I wouldn't go so far as saying debit cards are dangerous.

All of mine have always had high fevers with almost every virus going. The pattern I found is that the fever peaks after 24 hours. Calpol doesn’t touch the fever but alternating with nurofen helps to bring it down a tiny bit for an hour or 2. On the 3rd day I find that both calpol or nurofen start to work and actually break the fever. By the fourth they may get a spike in temp at some point, but it almost always goes with calpol or nurofen.
As your DS currently has a fever right now I think it will be more manageable after 36 hours and calpol/nurofen should manage it.

I'd give him a dose of kids ibuprofen, it works better than calpol imo. Go. Lots of cold drinks. Even if you don't do much, go.

yes, payment fraud or the need to stop a transaction are new. 🙄

I wouldn’t say they are dangerous just that it’s better to have a back up in case you have to freeze the account/ order a new card due to fraud.

You also get a much better credit rating when you have a credit card or two, it doesn't mean you go into debt.

Honestly he will be fine. Calpol is your answer

Back to the original question, I would borrow a stroller and stick it in the boot of the car. Hopefully the little one will have bounced back completely, but it can be useful if he's more tired than normal.

Give the park a call in the morning and explain the situation. I think since Covid places like that are usually good at transferring you over to another time.

You do realise that thousands of people aren't eligible for credit cards, either due to their age, their credit rating (or lack of), a low income etc. To make statements such as 'how on earth do you buy anything online' and suggest that anyone using a debit card to make purchases is putting themselves in danger is a bit silly. Yes fraud happens and credit cards offer better protection but using a debit card on legitimate and well established sites is generally pretty safe.

May be worth writing them a polite note on Twitter or similar. Although it is their T and C, it is harsh not to allow a date change. And it encourages people to visit when ill, which is unfair on all.

Thank you everyone I'm feeling slightly more hopeful now! He's just crawled into my bed...

He could easily be well again. Ive kept mine off school with the symptoms you have mentioned (after being unwell at bedtime/evening) and bouncing round the living room by lunch the next day. Hope he gets over it quickly and you can enjoy it 🤞

Hi OP another set of crossed fingers and toes here. Unless he's totally miserable get a stroller and go.

BTW I pay online with debit card all the time. Never yet been scammed

My friend has just agreed to lend her pram so that'll be fun! I've amazingly never used one before 😅

I think it’s really rubbish of the theme park to not let you change days, most places do these days.

Yes, definitely worth a try. Was going to suggest that even if you paid by debit card rather than a credit card that you might be covered by your bank for a possible refund? Hopefully he'll feel better in the morning though.

Agree, I thought after Covid places were all abit more accepting of people having to change plans if ill. I can understand no refunds but surely you should be able to at least get it changed to another day.

DD started burning up on the eurostar on the way to Disney. Like you a single parent and had saved up for ages.
Kept her dosed up on calpol and ibuprofen, also those freeze soothe sticky cold things for her forehead. Hired one of the giant Disney buggies when we were there. She was fine in the morning, crashed and slept in the pushchair in the pm or we went back to the hotel and then perked up for the fireworks and parade in the evening. It wasn't the holiday I had planned but she still enjoyed it.

Take lots of nice food and drink and medication incase you end up holed up in the hotel for a day so it isn't a complete wash out.

If you haven’t left for your trip yet you can still purchase travel insurance although I’m sure it’ll be ok.

So he's acting fine and running round like a looper.....why take his temp?? Crack on with your trip

If you're not getting the money back anyway just go even if all he can do is be ill in a hotel room that's still more fun than being ill at home and you're in the right place for when he rallies. Hope you have a great time.

I would say more likely to be fever-free after 36 hours than not. so high probability he will be on the tail end by then and well enough to go.

Keep him well hydrated ideally with water, small regular, nutritious meals/snacks and resting as much as possible.

Ignore comments about debit cards but consider taking out insurance next time. It adds to costs, but wouldn’t be that much relative to the outlay for the trip and worth it for peace of mind.

How do you have a 4 year old, live in the middle of nowhere, have a car but never used a pram?