To be suprised at Butlins and their lack of neurodiverse awareness?

[GreenPhlem]

have just left Butlins. Will hopefully never go back.

We were visiting with our autistic 3 year old grandaughter.

Not one mention of “autism friendly” shows anywhere. Every thing we attempted was too loud and in your face, even with ear defenders on granddaughter was struggling. You would have thought a place like Butlins would put on at least one autism friendly show a day but nope … nothing.

We took her to the tots disco last night - was meant to start at 6pm so we got there for 6pm knowing DGD will struggle to wait for something to happen … 6:05pm and nothing is happening - DGD getting restless and wants to leave. 6:10 the redcoat comes on and says the kids disco will start in about 15 minutes. No chance we could keep DGD happy for another 15 minutes so we had to leave. As we were leaving he said something about another show that would be happening at 7:30 unless the PJ masks photo shoot goes on for too long then that activity will be cancelled!! God forbid they miss out on money making photographs

Swimming - you now have to book a time slot. We booked 11am. 11:05 were still in a queue outside in the rain. When we eventually get in the changing rooms are so packed out (as everyone is going in and leaving at the same time) that DGD gets overwhelmed and shuts down. Nowhere quiet to take her … no thought to neurodiversity

Took her to soft play. I booked her into the toddler area as she would struggle being around the big loud hyper kids. I was told she was too tall for the toddler area and have to go into the big kids area. A small, timid autistic girl going into the big kids area with 10/11 year old kids flying around screaming and shouting?? Was never going to work so we left (DGD was already starting to have a meltdown as soon as she saw the chaos of the big kids area).

Is it just me or what?? Surely a place like Butlins should factor in that some kids may require a bit of reasonable adjustment?

You'd be better off going to Skegness haven site and doing caravan only.You still get access to restaurants/takeaways but all the noisy stuff isn't included.

Not all nd kids can’t cope with loud noise etc. What you’re looking for is an experience catered to an individual , and it’s optimistic to expect that from butlins.

OP I think your grandchild is very lucky to have you in her life, wanting to spend time on holiday with her and wanting to make her time away enjoyable.
This time may not have gone as you hoped but it’s obvious you genuinely care and next time will be better.
so many aren’t as lucky x x

I second Bluestone, although my son isn't autistic he was definitely hyper-sensitive to lots of noise and crowds as a small child; scared of hand dryers in public toilets, loud traffic, babies crying, busy play areas, the cinema etc. He absolutely loved Bluestone, especially the bat watching sessions with night-vision binoculars. Anything quiet & outdoorsy and/or castle-related was his thing.

@GreenPhlem - I don’t see anything wrong with a calm, factual review - that, at busy times it will be very loud, lots of queues, and that, for these reasons, it may not be suitable for children with autism. And follow it up with feedback and suggestions to Butlins management.

This might sound detogatory but I would never in a million years have thought of Butlins being ND or anything else friendly/aware. It's loud, brash, in your face entertainment. It's infamous for it and always has been! It would be like taking someone who hated fish to a fish restaurant and being surprised they didn't eat anything.

By offering slots during the day or week that are otherwise quiet though.

That just can’t be the case in a holiday destination as there is equal demand all day all week as everyone is available.

This. Go during term time. Going in the holidays is batshit.

Butlins would be the worst place to take a child who struggles with noise and loud, in~ yer~ face forced jollity.

Butlins is meant to be like that.

I haven’t read these comments but I took my autistic son in term time last week and it was so loud , we have been twice before he regressed and he was fine, not so much this time.
we have an 18 month old who loved it but towards the end of the week we just took eldest tablet out with us.
hes not interested in any of the shows but it was too loud for him.
i know of many ND families who children thrive at butlins and love the hustle and bustle. I wouldn’t slam them for trying to be family orientated.
we are going back in November for youngest birthday and hoping it is generally quieter then.

CenterParcs is expensive but we've found it much more relaxing than places like Butlins. Things to consider, that we found helpful (NT family but I'm quite noise sensitive):

• We took cakes I baked and iced them in the lodge. A nice quiet activity that was much cheaper than the CenterParcs paid for activity. Our lodge had a huge table, so ideal for doing activities.
• We booked a cabana at the pool so we could escape somewhere quiet. Ours had a TV and recliners and our toddler had a little quiet moment there (didn't quite nap but did snooze).

They are not going to put it on their website! I think you could contact them and make a few suggestions for ways they might make simple adjustments, but I don’t think they will do more because they are catering to a client base that actively wants the things your gd finds so hard.

I hope you find better places to take her on holiday in the future, your suggestions of what she likes to do sound ideal.

There are huge variety of types of family holiday available in the UK. There is no way I’d take my eldest to Butlins for exactly all of the reasons you’ve described. It’s sensory overload hell.

If you’re thinking a lodge in a forest then try Forest Holidays. We went to the one in Forest of Dean. Lovely lodges in so much space. The lodges come with a hot tub so your granddaughter could have a little splash about in that at her own pace. There was a little playground too but very quiet and we were there in Easter. Outdoorsy activities you can book to do as a family like toasting marshmallows or building a den etc. might be more suitable than Butlins. My kids are not neurodiverse but at the age your granddaughter is they too would have found that overwhelming.

Butlins does not suit your needs.

You would think they would have some things that are suitable. I noticed many theatres etc will have "relaxed" performances nowadays where they adapt things to try and make the experience less overwhelming. As she gets older perhaps it will be worth looking into that?

Yabu, you can see what it's like from the adverts / websites! Just stay away and take her somewhere else.

One of my friends has an autistic son (7). for the past five years she has taken the family to Butlins three times a year because it's his safe space.

Just to add that the argument that it’s loud / busy etc is bollocks.

even rock and pop gigs / live events such as festivals can cater for additional needs (sensory tents/ear defenders etc).

”festivals are loud and busy! Just don’t go!”

utter ableist and lazy shite.

OP I think you have are entirely reasonable in what you have said with regard to quieter areas for children who can find noise disturbing. Places such as Butlins are large so it should be possible for them to provide space, resources and staff to support these children and their families.

Well done for raising this.

Not every venue should cater to everyone. Butlins doesn’t need to specifically cater to ND people.

It’s okay. If you don’t like it, just don’t go there. Plenty love it.

No but if it didn’t have wheelchair access they would be breaking the law.
In light of that read your post again.

You went to Butlins at half term and are surprised it is loud, busy and in your face?
That's what Butlins is.

Yes you're unreasonable butlins is a busy holiday resort always has been loud

Not quite that simple though, some places simply can’t be made wheelchair accessible so it’s about reasonable adjustments.

From what others have said Butlins do make some reasonable adjustments around things like queuing - although it seems these aren’t well publicised. Yes there is probably more they could do but what is realistic and reasonable is the question which is harder to answer.