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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to get my DD a fast track pass for a school trip to a theme park?

69 replies

Coconutmeg · 05/07/2024 18:59

She's so excited to go, never been before, she's a bit of a thrill seeker and watches ride POVs on YouTube etc. I can't do spinning etc at all anymore. This is her opportunity to get on some rides with her friend.
Her friend has asked if she can get a fast track pass as her mum has said she can get one.
I am thinking of saying yes. But I'm uncomfortable about if that then becomes a bit of a haves and have nots with it being with the school trip.

OP posts:

Runnerinthenight · 05/07/2024 19:00

I think it's a terrible idea. They should all be on the same level playing field. I doubt the school would be happy about it. Plus surely it makes supervision (depending on their ages) more difficult?

ExitPursuedByABare · 05/07/2024 19:02

I’d have thought the school would be organising entry?

thistimelastweek · 05/07/2024 19:03

Absolutely not.

MynameisJune · 05/07/2024 19:03

How old are they? When they get in the park are they going to just be able to wander off on their own?

If they’re going to be able to go off on their own I don’t see a major issue with it. But if they have to stay in groups with a teacher it wouldn’t be fair.

AllThePotatoesAreSinging · 05/07/2024 19:04

I've never known a school trip to a theme park wheee the kids are supervised through the whole trip. They go off in their friendship groups and meet back at a set time. Check with school by all means but if her friends are doing the same then go for it. Might as well maximise their time.

TwattyMcFuckFace · 05/07/2024 19:05

If you want to teach your child that impatience is a virtue, and her time is more important than all the other kid's then sure, go for it.

You're the one who'll have to live with the teenager/adult that sort of thing creates.

Original poster

Coconutmeg · 05/07/2024 19:05

I was sort of assuming the supervision was going to be more of a 'this is our base , off you go' (Year 7s & 8s)

OP posts:

Charlotte120221 · 05/07/2024 19:05

DC did school theme park trips and no one ever did fast pass- they go on a random
week day when queues are low and they enjoy being part if a gang.

do the school even allow it? Some fast passes require rude booking on the app when they’re at the park- quite a faff?

Longma · 05/07/2024 19:06

Will the school allow it?

whatsthequestion39 · 05/07/2024 19:07

Yabu and I doubt the school will allow that.

AGreatUsername · 05/07/2024 19:08

Don't bother. We recently went to Alton Towers on a school day and it was dead. We went on absolutely everything at least once before lunchtime! No need to fast pass at all on a school day.

TinaYouFatLard · 05/07/2024 19:09

My DS and his friend group all bought them recently for a trip to Thorpe Park with school. It was packed with other school trips so was definitely worth it for them.

itsgettingweird · 05/07/2024 19:09

I thought you were talking about the ride access passes for disability.

If it's normal queue pass then no - I wouldn't. It'll likely be quieter than normal holiday visits anyway.

I got my ds a ride access pass when he went with school as he has a physical disability. He could take 3 friends with him. However you don't get more rides etc you just got a time to join the queue based on queue time for the ride. But he can't stand in busy queues so that was different and I made sure school allowed him to choose true friends and they didn't allocate kids to him because they felt it better for them!

miniaturepixieonacid · 05/07/2024 19:09

Definitely check with the school before potentially wasting your money. They will almost certainly have to be in groups of 3 or more (in case one gets hurt or lost) so just one friend having a fast track pass wouldn't help them. And yes, it could cause friction if one group have been able to go off as a VIP group and do way more than anyone else. But, if several of her friends have one, you don't mind buying one and the school don't mind her having one then yes, I'd do it.

fungipie · 05/07/2024 19:10

Yabu totally. If she went with a group of friends and they all had those passes, fine. But not for a school trip where most will not have those passes.

Original poster

Coconutmeg · 05/07/2024 19:10

Ok that's good to hear. Her sister went a few years ago and they only got on 2 rides

OP posts:

Original poster

Coconutmeg · 05/07/2024 19:11

Yes, Thorpe park.

OP posts:

Nicelynicelyjohnson · 05/07/2024 19:12

I'd ask school if you are allowed.
If it's next week, half the schools in the country will be descending on theme parks. I know at DS trip to Alton Towers last year, they got to go on three rides - and queued an hour to get into the park itself (nothing you can do about that). Hardly worth the two hour coach trip!
If I was the school, I would not allow fast track as it's unfair on the others, but if they are allowed, then I'd be quite tempted.

Invisimamma · 05/07/2024 19:27

I would. It's Scottish and Irish school holidays now so attractions are going to be busier.

I remember driving through the night by coach for an Alton towers school trip and we only managed two big rides and a couple of smaller ones due to queues.

Check with school first though.

housethatbuiltme · 05/07/2024 19:39

We went to Alton Towers about 20 years ago for a school trip.

It was bizarre, everything had to be pre-booked (you went to rides first thing and electronically booked which gave you a time to return later) it was suppose to stop queues except all it did was mean everyone was stuck in a queue to book and by the time one thing was booked everything else had already booked up... we traveled an 8 hour round trip to go on ONE ride. It was ridiculous.

It sucked to only get to go one 1 ride. We spent the whole day wandering randomly in the sun and spending obscene amounts on bottled water (hottest day of the year) waiting for our time slot to open.

I can imagine she will also be disappointed if she doesn't get to go on anything.

Magnastorm · 05/07/2024 19:46

Theme parks will be busy this time of year as all the school trips rock up.

If your dd and her friend can just go off by themselves, I'd totally get her a fastpass to make the most of a one-off day.

lunar1 · 05/07/2024 19:52

The first time my son went to Alton towers with school, he got on 4 rides the whole time. Subsequent years him and his friends have had a fast pass. They are allowed to wander off in groups though.

marmiteoneverything · 05/07/2024 20:14

TwattyMcFuckFace · 05/07/2024 19:05

If you want to teach your child that impatience is a virtue, and her time is more important than all the other kid's then sure, go for it.

You're the one who'll have to live with the teenager/adult that sort of thing creates.

I will always pay to queue for less time if it’s an option, and I can afford it. I’ve never before considered it to be any sort of character flaw- I just don’t like queueing.

If they’re allowed to be in pairs OP then I would absolutely buy her the fast pass. I imagine they might have to be in groups of three though, and it’s not worth her and her friend getting in trouble over. Is there a way you can find out?

Oldcroneandthreewitches · 05/07/2024 20:17

Yeah I would!

YellowDaffodilRedTulip · 05/07/2024 20:28

I would. Her and her friend can go off together.

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