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Original poster

Legoland? To go or not to go? Advice please

27 replies

DragonFaerie · 07/05/2007 14:14

DS's 8th birthday is in a couple of weeks and we are thinking about taking him for the day(a Saturday).
Please, if you have been can you advise me if you think:
We are going to spend hours queuing for everything?
If I prebook tickets am I going to have to queue just to pick them up, and is there an alternative way of doing this?
Is it going to be age appropriate for DCs aged 12, 9, 8 and 4? Or am I going to feel like killing myself at the end of it, ( even after I get over the cost?!)
I'd be grateful for advice. Thank you.

OP posts:
SexyMadSozzleder · 07/05/2007 14:18

IF you do decide to go you can get vouchers thru Tesco clubcard - slashes the price.

We went on a mid-week the day after the failed London bombings and it was very busy - average queue time was probably 30-45mins. I suspect it will be much busier on a Saturday.

It was a very good day out though. We got there about 11am and we didn't leave until closing time which I think was about 7pm.

Hassled · 07/05/2007 14:41

I'd really recommend it, especially if you can get any sort of price discount - we've always gone on one of those hotel deals. We haven't really had a problem with queues but have got there before opening time (10? not sure) so have been one of the first groups in. Don't let anyone get too distracted by the fantastic Legoworld (near the start) because while you're looking at that everyone else will be forming queues for the rides - you can gaze in wonderment at the Lego Big Ben etc on the way out. Re age range of kids - definately age appropriate for all of them.

mummydoit · 07/05/2007 15:51

I would definitely recommend it. There's something for everyone - we took our two aged 3 and 4 and our nephew aged 13. All had a great time. Resign yourself to some queuing on a Saturday. I second the advice to use Tesco clubcard vouchers to cut the price. Also, food can be pricey so you might want to take a picnic.

DoorstoManual · 07/05/2007 15:59

Take the hill train, start at the back of the park and work your way forward.

Bring your own food.

Hulababy · 07/05/2007 16:01

We weren't that impressed with Legoland looking back. There were long queues for the rides (a lot worse than when we have been to Disney!) and then there were not really that many rides anyway. The lego village is indeed fascinating, but for how long really?

We got cheap tickets from lastminute.com at about £10 each so was ok.

But I don't think it is a place we would return to.

Original poster
DragonFaerie · 07/05/2007 17:10

Thanks guys,

any more advice anyone?

OP posts:
LIZS · 07/05/2007 17:21

Ours (now 8 and 5) enjoy it but you may find that at 4 your youngest is interested in/able to ride very different things to the elder kids and that these are quite spread out. We went to fireworks there last year and it was busy but we also felt that the rides weren't being run to capacity so queues were allowed to build up. Worst was getting out of the car park at the end of the day . Arrive as it opens and you shouldn't have to queue to collect tickets etc then head straight down the hill to the back of the park (Knight's Kingdom and the new Viking ride) and work backwards.

badelaide · 07/05/2007 17:25

Hi DragonFaerie, like you we are also thinking of this for ds's 8th.
A lot of people recommend the "starting at the back of the park" thing.
We are thinking of staying nearby overnight, any recommendations anyone? (sorry for hijack DF )

Original poster
DragonFaerie · 07/05/2007 17:50

LOL, badelaide, maybe see you there! Luckily we don't have the accomodation problem as my sis leaves nearby.

OP posts:
CaptainUnderpants · 07/05/2007 18:55

The new Viking Ride is not open until the summer and by looks of it last week - probably the end of the summer !

We have a season ticket as we live relatively close so we obviously dont do all the park in one day.

If you do go take their swimming trunks and towel as if hot they can go in the water fountains.

If you are not getting discounted tickets then I beleive you can print them off at home.

I went last week and there were alot of people queuing at Guest Services - I think exchanging their Tesco & other discount vouchers .

take a picnic for the day and you then could always buy something to eat on the way out at the Pit Stop resturant at the top which will still be open when the rides have finished.

ChippyMinton · 07/05/2007 20:02

If your DC have an inset day, i would go then and avoid the queues.
The best advice is get there early and go straight to the dragon coaster and pirate falls, boating school and driving school. Take a picnic and eat it whilst watching the live stunt show (Johnny Thunder).

discount tickets here and here or try and get hold of some 'kids go free' vouchers.

badelaide · 07/05/2007 21:31

Captain Underpants, excellent advice about the fountains, they'll love it!

badelaide · 07/05/2007 21:33

DragonFaerie, I must admit I hated the idea but I've posted on here about it before (ds's bday not until july) and so many people convinced me it's a really good day out.

Original poster
DragonFaerie · 07/05/2007 21:46

Some great advice, tahnks guys.
TBH the biggest thing that's putting me off atm is the price, cheapest I can find it is £111 as there are 6 of us
( and I don't shop at Tescos v often so no Clubcard points )

OP posts:
maycontainstress · 08/05/2007 15:13

We are going in August.

We got a deal for 2 days at Legoland for all 4 of us, plus a night in a family room at The Hilton (kids under 10 eat free, bonus!). The whole lot inc hotel came to £219. We got the deal here

Our rate is for August so that's probs peak season.

I got tips to start at the back too!

majorstress · 08/05/2007 15:27

We just got back from a 2 day ticket, a xmas present from very generous Auntie, dds are 4 and 6 and loved it, so we upgraded to an annual ticket-I was surprised to enjoy it a bit myself, as I am a grouch with a bad back and hate q'ing. Staff were really nice!

With them (one over 1.3 m and the other over 1.1 i.e. very tall) we needed 2 adults, a lot of the rides are 2 seaters and insist that an ADULT has to go along if they are under 1.1 or 1.3(???) metres, so that might be an issue-you can't just send the 12 year old with the 4 year old IYSWIM. Some rides the adult can go down with one, leaving older child at top of q, then double back and go again with child 2. I wouldnt want to be the sole parent in our case, because my eldest wouldn't stay alone and wait for me and dd2 to climb back up.

The back of the park (biggest coaster) was shut til 10:30, we thought we were SO clever to charge down with the herd on Sunday morn! qs are a bit shorter first thing, and better at end of day. You can go out and come back with a handstamp, we went to settle at hotel and chill at midday on Sat.

Biggest hit was a surprise...-making Lego models together that move- bought a few bits like wheels that suddenly made our dusty lego get used for the first time at home! This wouldn't have happened without 2 days to play with.

princessmel · 08/05/2007 15:36

Are your children tumble tots? If so they have a fun day in september where you can go for half price. We've been for past 4 years. Its great.

Agree with bringing your own food and take swim things. We always forget and the children go in in their underwear. We do that bit last.
If you pre book tickets it is quicker at the enterance.

Have fun.

sweetheart · 08/05/2007 15:40

i wouldn't overly recommend it TBH. We live wuite nearby and the few times we have gone we've found it to be overpriced, the quese a total nightmare and most of the rides very babyish. My dd is nearly 7 and much prefers Chessington World of Adventures which isn't far from Legoland - it will also probably appeal to your older children more too and it's cheaper (although not by much).

Only problay would be your 4 year old as there's not as much for younger children but I definatly think your 12, 9 and 8 year old would enjoy it more than legoland (unless they are into Lego)

Pamina · 09/05/2007 08:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Saturn74 · 09/05/2007 08:57

I wouldn't recommend Legoland for children over the age of about 7 or 8, TBH.
We went last summer with children aged 10, 9 and 8, and although they enjoyed it, there weren't many rides that interested them, and we had trouble stretching a whole day out there.
We went to the 3D cinema 3 times, which gives an indication.
VERY expensive for what it is, IMO.

bozza · 09/05/2007 08:59

maycontainstress, snap, we got the same deal but for the half term week at the end of the month so I am reading this thread with interest. Our DC will be 6 and 3.

bozza · 09/05/2007 08:59

maycontainstress, snap, we got the same deal but for the half term week at the end of the month so I am reading this thread with interest. Our DC will be 6 and 3.

Azure · 09/05/2007 09:05

Pamina, there's not loads for the little one. We went a month or so back with DS2 (20 months) and his rides were fairly limited. There is a playground, though, the water fountains and the lego buildings, which he was absolutely fascinated by (particularly the boats and trains), and so we had no problems entertaining him. DS1 (5.9) absolutely adores it - we have an annual pass - and in our experience it's a great day out. With your kids you would not be able to have one adult with the two oldest together on many of the rides (assuming the other adult is with the youngest), so there may be a bit of juggling with the children taking turns.

Pamina · 09/05/2007 10:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nannynick · 20/05/2007 22:42

Dragon, given the age of your children I'd say to avoid Legoland, unless your 12 and 9 year olds are really into Lego. Legoland in my view is aimed at younger children.

Pamina, I regularly take a 2 year old to Legoland and he also went last year so has been going since shortly after his 1st birthday.
When I go to legoland, with two under 5's I make sure I go with another adult - as rides can often be for 2 people at a time, of which one must be an adult. Some rides - Dragons Apprentice and Dinosaur Safari come to mind, do let you leave a child with the ride supervisor, so the adult does the ride twice. A 1:1 ratio however would be a lot better, more enjoyable for all. Rides are done by Height, not age, so the height of your children is important. The 2 year old I care for is now above the 0.9m mark and thus can go on more rides. He tends to go on: Spider Ride, Dragons Apprentice, Carousel, Chair ride, Big Train, Duplo Train, Dinosaur Safari (think this is his preferred ride), Boating School, Balloon ride, Fairytale Brook, Helicopters, SkyRider. Legoland does not charge admission for children aged under 3.