dinosaurs unleashed - Would you recommend it?

[jollydiane]

Has anyone been? Would you recommend it? It looks amazing.

is this the one in oxford street? If so when we went it was dreadful - lots of poeple asking for money back

Glad you just replied, stressed, as we were also thinking of going. Tell me more, why was it so bad? Had hoped to go in half term but was fully booked so sounds like we may have had a narrow escape.

I took dd2 (7) on Thursday. It was ok-ish - well, she thought it was fantastic. There were a few interactive displays, but long queues for all of them. Lots of parents trying to make sure their children got their moneys worth, so they hogged the interactive stuff. There were plenty of staff but they didn't seem to get involved in encouraging people to move on and let others have a go.

I'm thinking about taking DS1 (4yo) here for his birthday in a couple of weeks - I've seen the reviews and know it's probably not worth the money, but he is dinosaur crazy and I know he will love it regardless of wires on show etc etc.

Just one thing I wanted to know (for those that have been) when I've looked at booking tickets it asks for a time slot, do you have to arrive at that time, or can you go in anytime? For example, we want the first time slot, 10-12, but we won't get their until 10.30am, will we still be allowed in? I understand we would still need to leave at 12 and it'll be cutting our visit short but we hope to get to the Natural History Musuem in the afternoon.

I agree that it was ok-ish. I kind of expected it to be not worth the money (but I paid £33 for 3 of us) but ds (5.5) is absolutely mad on dinosaurs so I knew he'd love it, whatever. I believe you can turn up any time in your time slot. What I wasn't expecting was such a huge queue to get in, despite everyone having pre-booked tickets, but it did move reasonably quickly. It doesn't take long to get round the models. My dcs loved the fact that they could touch some of them. I didn't succomb to buying anything from the small and pretty rubbish shop or the cafe which was heaving or the suggested CD and info book, and we didn't bother queuing for the interactive stuff. The aquarium bit is rubbish - don't bother with it. All in all it took us about half an hour/40 mins.

I would only do it if you have a ds/dd completely mad on dinosaurs and combine it with a visit to either Selfridges to gawp at the sweets display and other things or Hamleys (if you're feeling brave).

Thanks for that Moonshine - was expecting some kind of guided tour that meant we would be tied in from 10 until 12. I doubt he will be fussed (and maybe a bit young) for the interative stuff anyway. We're hoping to go the Rainforset Cafe then on to the Natural History Musuem afterwards.

The Natural History Musuem is fantastic and a million times better, although the queues can be awful in holidays/weekend but so much more worth it (although my ds was scared but fascinated by the animatronic T-rex when he was 4! Wouldn't look at it but insisted on going back round again!)

(Have started another thread about this but anyway...) Do you think we'd be better off skipping dinosaurs unleashed and spend more time at the Natural History Museum?

Yes definitely! Spend the money you would have spent on a ticket on something nice from the (much better) shop there! There's so much more to see apart from the dinosaurs, although it's a tiring day for a 4 year-old (and me now I come to think of it) so if you're only going for the afternoon I would plan the visit really carefully.

Thank you! Think we will go straight there, then have tea at the Rainforset Cafe on the way home! DP is very grateful that you have saved him £45!!

Just one more thing, DS2 is 1yo, do you think we could take him along, or would it be best to leave him with a sitter do you think?

Yes I should think it would be fine, presuming that he is in a pushchair? There are large distances to cover and it can be information overload, but there's plenty for a 1 year-old to look at, especially if he loves animals!