Urgent advice request - Legoland, Thorpe Park or Chessington?

[worriedsick100]

We need a day out this weekend for my daughters 8th birthday. She is an adventurous 8 year old and we have a similar 7 year old (I don't think she is 1.3 m). Where shall we go Legoland, Thorpe Park or Chessington? We have been to Chessington once in the rain and was not over impressed (so much was over and above the already expensive entrance cost). Looking at the websites LL looks like it is aimed at younger children and TP at teenagers? I would appreciate any views as panic beginning to set in. Thanks so much.

Which is going to be the easiest journey? Do they like Lego? Do they like zoo animals? All three will be crowded so you need to arrive first thing.
Thorpe Park they won't be able to go on a lot of the rides due to height, so I'd say it's perhaps a bit of a waste. Chessington is probably the one aimed most at their age group, and all the animal bits means it's a bit less queuing-heavy but my Lego-mad kids would have preferred Legoland at that age.

all as difficult journeys as each other. they know what lego is and we have quite a bit though neither particularly play with it. My son likes animals my daughter is a bit take it or leave it.

Definitely not Thorpe Park.

I'm not sure about Legoland or Chessington - as you say, Legoland may be a little young and Chessington is very expensive, although you don't need to buy things like the fast pass or photos for Chessington which is what adds to the cost.

Queues at Legoland are usually horrendous so if you're not going to get anything from the actual Lego bit of it, I'd be tempted to avoid it. Your kids will be tall enough for all the rides but you can expect 1hr+ queues. Also not terribly white-knuckle - our 4 year-old has been on all the rides so may be a bit tame if you want exciting rollercosters etc.

Chessington you should be able to go on most things (think there are 3/4 rides where you have to be over 1.3m) but it's not so white-knuckle as Thorpe Park. Tends to be shorter queues than Legoland though and the advantage of the animals is that you can break up the queueing by going to see the Sealions show etc. Not sure about the comment about things being over and above the entrance fee - we got quite often (we've got Merlin annual passes) and the only thing we pay extra for is lunch.

And agree to avoid Thorpe Park - very much aimed at teenagers and a lot of rides with height restrictions.

I'd say Chessington. If she's adventurous, she'll enjoy the Dragon rollercoaster (I think the height limit is low enough that your 7yo can go on it too) and it has all the other usual rides. Plus animals if you want a breather.

Thorpe Park is better for older children and Legoland is just boring for parents.

I just recall when we went to chessington we spent about 90 mins queuing for the vampire ride in the pouring rain. I am now far to old and sensible to go on anything like that again :)

If you get to chessington for opening time you should be able to do a couple of big rides before the queues build up and then do animals and smaller stuff for the rest of the day. I never notice particularly being stung for extras but then I just blank out the photos/fairground games etc and the DC know that it's not even worth asking.