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Christmas

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Original poster

Longleat Festival of Light

13 replies

MrsSup · 03/12/2018 12:57

Has anyone got any top tips? We're going at the weekend. Planning on getting there fairly early - should we go straight for the safari? They are offering a book of vouchers to guests who arrive at the drive through before 10 a.m. (I but don't know what the vouchers are actually for). The website says to allow 3 hours for the safari but that seems a bit much... and do we definitely need to avoid the monkeys?! We've got the santa train booked for 2.30 and lanterns go on at 4.

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Penguinsetpandas · 03/12/2018 13:03

We went straight to safari as it closed before other things. Monkeys well kids loved them, husband hated them and we needed new windscreen wipers and a car wash after DH refuses to go to monkeys now. Great fun but don't be surprised if your car gets damaged a bit. I thought safari was more like 1 hour but didn't time it. Is worth spending as long there as you can. Wrap up warm as well. We love it, have fun!

Stringofpearls · 03/12/2018 13:32

There is a bus you can go on if you want to protect your car, we've seen wipers, hub caps and even bumpers removed from cars on previous visits! Like the other poster suggested about an hour should be plenty of time, but they do sometimes have hold ups where gates can't be opened in particular sections for a bit, which can slow everything down a bit. Have a lovely time!

LegoMasterBuilder · 03/12/2018 13:38

Definitely do the safari early if you can - it shouldn’t be as busy so you hopefully won’t be queuing to get round. It only takes us about an hour but we have annual passes so sometimes go round quite quickly! We’ve had windscreen washer nozzles chewed off our car by the monkeys but were lucky last time we went through and managed to escape any damage (the car in front looked more interesting as it had a roof box!)
The queues for the boat are usually a bit shorter in the morning too.
The owl show in the Long House is good - we usually go to this whilst we’re waiting for the lights to be switched on. The lantern routes are usually busiest when the lights are first turned on so you may avoid crowds if you go round the lights a bit later.
I expect the vouchers will be for their various cafes around the park.

Lovemusic33 · 03/12/2018 14:26

I’m going at the weekend too. We go a lot as we have annual passes but this is the first time going in December.

We love the safari but kids get bored if it’s really busy so we probably won’t be doing it this time. We avoid the monkeys after seeing a dead one last summer (dd was really upset).

We are just going to see the lights really.

I’m not sure if they have extra food kiosks and traders? They do for some other events.

Original poster

MrsSup · 03/12/2018 14:29

Hahahaha! Do the monkeys get up to their tricks even if you keep the car moving? I'm not sure my husband will be up for that, even in our clapped out car!! Maybe we'll do safari first and then boat ride, and hope we don't hit any ridiculous queues.

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Original poster

MrsSup · 03/12/2018 14:30

Oh sorry - cross post - wasn't laughing at the dead monkey scenario!

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Mamabearx4 · 03/12/2018 14:33

Hi. Monkey bit can be avoided if you wish. They play and sit on your cars as you go round. Or sit in the middleof the road. Thr babies jump out of nowhere to keep up with mum. Our car hasnt been attacked, but saw plenty ofothers being used as playgyms. The santa train is amazing though.

stridesy · 03/12/2018 14:44

We missed the santa train as underestimated how long it would take to drive round the safari. Luckily they let us on the next train. Have a great time x

Penguinsetpandas · 03/12/2018 15:08

There's an option on safari to just miss monkeys. They will target your car even if moving and they have lots of car parts around. My DH got very grumpy about the monkeys mainly as they took our windscreen wipers on a day it was raining and we were driving back home. Our car is clapped out too but its still very loved by DH

Original poster

MrsSup · 04/12/2018 15:05

Thanks eveyone! Am really looking forward to it now. Husband reckons that we need new windscreen wipers anyway, so may risk the monkeys, provided we don't need the wipers for the journey home

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ArabellaUmbrella · 04/12/2018 15:09

We went last year and made the mistake of leaving the safari until the afternoon, Sat in a traffic jam most of the way round and it took over 2 hrs! The lights were beautiful and well worth seeing. Wrap up warm though!

Penguinsetpandas · 04/12/2018 16:12

It'll be lovely and the monkeys are great fun. Think my husband takes the aerial off first too, basically take anything off that you think a monkey or monkey gang could take off and your car won't fall apart without. If you need new wipers anyway maybe buy them on the way there though think its 50-50 on whether you get damage and can vary what. Car also ends up totally covered in mud from muddy monkeys so no point doing car wash until after. Have a lovely time.

BrieAndChilli · 04/12/2018 16:17

We do boat etc first then do the safari over lunchtime and eat a picnic on the way round (safari is a bit quieter plus it solves the issue of finding somewhere to sit to eat lunch!!)
Then we do other bits and the house last as it’s open later and fine to go round in the dark

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