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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to never want to take my dc to Center Parcs, Disneyland or Camp Bestival?

121 replies

bibbitybobbityhat · 10/02/2010 20:09

Will they think I was a tight fisted old meanie that I never took them to these places when they are older?

I sometimes worry about this.

OP posts:

waitingforglasto · 12/02/2010 10:48

I consider a holiday for me though to be one where I'm not doing the school run for half of the week and then going to work for the other half with all the stressing, rushing about and commuting that brings and if thats cp then its fine.

My ds usually does 1 activity a day - archery maybe or the climbing wall and then we cycle about/feed the ducks/go swimming/build tipis out the back of the villa for the rest of the time - for me its about 100% more relaxing than being in London.

Maybe if you dont live in a city anyway then its different.

GrumpyOldHorsewoman · 12/02/2010 11:00

My DDs are 15 and 6, so they don't even play together! Our last holiday (which we took without DH) was four days in Boston which we all loved. We visited the aquarium, went on the Duck Tour (90 minute amphibious vehicle tour of the city), ate in restaurants, walked around Copley Square, Faneuil Hall and Boston Common taking in all the sights and absorbing it all. We would leave the hotel in the morning with no plans and no idea what we would be doing that day and it was great (we all agreed!) We then flew on down to my parents' home in Florida where they played in the pool, rode bikes and had fun at the beach and I got to relax a bit more than I do at home. Children don't need to be stimulated all day every day and you'd be surprised at how quickly they adapt to being left to their own devices for making fun. It's good for the imagination and a lesson in self-reliance, if you can get past the first couple of days moaning! I do know I'm very lucky to have what I have at my disposal, but similar principals can be applied to most holidays. It's only organised 'fun' I find a bore.

bruffin · 12/02/2010 11:43

"Center Parcs I can agree sound bloody awful"

why

I have only been to the european ones, but last year went to De Eemhof and our dcs were aged DD 11 and DS 13 at the time.

They went climbing a couple of times and zipped wired across the lake

We all did archery and mini golf together.

We had a day out in Amsterdam and another to a harbour.

Lots of swimming, walking and bike riding.

We had a villa on the water so DD loved to feed her ducks and coots.

DCs also made a few friends while we were there.

Lovely relaxing holiday for everyone.

Pikelit · 12/02/2010 12:33

I'd rather have dined on dogshit than spent a holiday at DLP. Neither do I think family holidays have to be 100% child centred so that if you aren't prepared to be exploited at the Magic Kingdom it isn't worth going on holiday at all. Because it's perfectly possible to have a really good holiday that includes elements that suit everyone and doesn't leave anyone whinging and moaning about boredom. I know this. I have done it!

waitingforglasto · 12/02/2010 12:47

Dog shit? Really? maybe you're right it is so awful to watch dcs faces light up with pleasure.

GrungeBlobPrimpants · 12/02/2010 12:47

DH and I both had parents who really turned their noses up at fairgrounds, theme parks and the like

So instead we had very many wholesome hols and days out which we loved

But we knew we were missing something . As parents we have got down and dirty at theme parks, Center Parcs and Disney using our own children as an excuse to capture our lost youth. We have even taken our parents along to some of them and they've had a whale of a time

Just warning you

taffetacat · 12/02/2010 12:47

Agree with GrumpyOldHorsewoman but its taken a while to realise this.

For me, when the DC were very little, if they were happy then it was a "break". I think it depends how confident you are in your parenting and how easily stressed you are by it.

I was a very stressed and ineffective parent to my DC when they were little and as they grow, I'm getting more confident and therefore happier, so able to realise my own needs, which include a proper holiday for me.

Blackduck · 12/02/2010 14:39

yes waitingforglasto, but I can get my ds's face to light up by taking him to the local stream railway! (and I'd far rather do that than DLP...) Infact I'd say nothing (DLP included) beats the look on his face the day he saw his first fullsized steam train (railway bore in the making...) In the end horses for courses and no parent should be made to think they are inadequate/casued lasting trauma to their children/mean/whatever for not doing something they really don't want to do (I make dp do Drayton Manor on his own with ds...)

BouncingTurtle · 12/02/2010 14:57

According to DH's ex, not taking DSS to Disney World Florida, we would be 'depriving him'

She took him when he was four, getting herself very heavily into debt to do so. And no we didn't contribute because we couldn't afford to, and were NOT willing to get ourselves into debt for it.

The thing is now she takes him a cheapy package holiday every year, yet he doesn't appear to have any less of a good time - he just loves being on holiday, just like any child would!

We still have no intention to go to any of the Disney parks, Centerparks, or any of those ridiculously expensive holidays. There are plenty of other places we can take DSS and DS for much less money, where they will have a memorable holiday - and surely that is what counts?

Incidentally DSS's favourite holiday destination? Blackpool! He absolutely loves it there

coldtits · 12/02/2010 14:59

We had caravan holidays in Wales, with rain and smacks.

TiggyR · 12/02/2010 15:06

Ah, those were the days Coldtits! Sitting in a morris minor on Dartmoor in the fecking rain with nothing but a flask of orange squash and a Jackie or Bunty for company. Sand in your egg sandwiches and 20p to put in the penny slots if you were lucky. The highlight of the week was finding a phone box so we could feed it with two pences and ring our friends. Never did us any harm. But personally I'd rather have gone to Disneyland.

Blackduck · 12/02/2010 15:09

coldtits you are describing dp's childhood, hence a strong aversion to tents or caravans!! He'd rather poke his eyes out (or not go anywhere...). For me holidays meant coming home to my nan (7 of us squashed in a two bed flat....)....I loved it!

chippy47 · 12/02/2010 15:11

Try the Justso festival in august -designed with kids in mind.

waitingforglasto · 12/02/2010 15:38

Thats just what I'm saying Blackduck - we do what the dcs like but dismissing Disneyland out of hand because of some form of snobbery or tedious anticapitalism (I dont go to Disney/eat in MCs etc but have you seen my lovely new i-phone etc) is not even giving them the chance to find out is it.

And fwiw I really dont believe that when push comes to shove pikelit would rather eat (presumably organic) dogshit than sit on the POTC ride looking out for Johnny Depp popping out of a barrel. Its simply not true and is just showoffy smuggery bollox.

[and breathe]

Lighteningbugs · 12/02/2010 15:45

I agree with waiting it is rather boring in this country that it is only acceptable to be staying in a cottage in cornwall or skiing.

Squitten · 12/02/2010 16:00

I was never taken to any of these places when I was a kid. I went to Disneyland in LA when I was about 21 with DH and LOVED it We would definitely like to take our kids once they're old enough to enjoy it but it would definitely be in the USA - if you're going to do over-hyped American garishness than do it properly!

My DH has a bee in his bonnet about CP. He's a VERY big outdoors person (unlike me) but he has a real snobbishness about CP. I wouldn't mind it but he seems to think that the only way to enjoy a proper outdoors holiday is to go to a sheep farm in Peru or something, which won't be happening, so he's going to have to lower his standards!

I have only just now looked up Camp Bestival and DH would also LOVE that as he wants to take DS to the Glasto family camp thing. I'm not so sure myself...

OP: Yes, your kids will no doubt tell you endlessly that you're the worst parent in the world but, hey, they say that a lot anyway so just ignore them

Blackduck · 12/02/2010 16:05

glasto - I see your point, but see pikelet's too. My thing re DLP is not snobbery I just don't like that kind of thing (not keen on theme parks fullstop, hence making dp take ds to drayton manor), but equally I don't see 'haven't been to disney = deprived child. Also rather spend my hard earned cash else where (it ain't cheap!!)

BouncingTurtle · 12/02/2010 16:18

I don't think it is anything to do with snobbery or anticaptilism to not want to go to Disney/Centreparks etc., and everything to do with them being fucking expensive.

waitingforglasto · 12/02/2010 16:20

Well no clearly, havent been to disney=deprived is clearly ludicrous. And I dont like a wet weekend at legoland - theres nothing enjoyable about it at all.

But a lovely California day, churros and chocolate (DLand has a very Spanish feel and is much better laid out than Florida and Paris), dcs happy and watching loads of American emo kids whooping around forgetting themselves...it does cast a strangely alluring spell - one that isnt matched by anything here - much like our experience of NY is coloured by seeing it in so many films.

Cant believe I'm rhapsodising about Disney - we dont even have any of the films in the house...

btw Go Weeeessst...

Sunshinemummy · 12/02/2010 16:36

Camp Bestival is ace. We had a wonderful time last year and will go again this year.

I have to admit that I also like Centre Parcs. DH and I went pre-kids and we had a great weekend so am looking forward to taking the DCs to there.

I'm also looking forward to Disney. Having DS's ecstatic reation to meeting Eddie Katz and Spiderman at Toys R Us in NY, I can't wait to see how excited he'd be to meet Lightening McQueen, Mater or Nemo.

bruffin · 12/02/2010 18:50

"And I dont like a wet weekend at legoland - theres nothing enjoyable about it at all."

We had our best days in the wet at legoland- no queues

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