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Theme park picnic bans

156 replies

meditrina · 07/05/2011 11:00

This was discussed on today's breakfast news link to BBC website. Bans are already in place at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Zoo and Camelot at Chorley, and others (including Alton Towers and Thorpe Park) are considering it.

I think it's a dreadful idea - these places are expensive enough already, and queuing for (often mediocre) food would just take another chunk out of the day. But if the big players start doing this, then I suppose everyone will follow suit.

What does anyone else think?

OP posts:
serin · 09/05/2011 19:48

RAF Cosford have a wonderful indoor picnic area next to the restaurant,
it was full when we went so we were waiting patiently for a table when a member of staff came over and insisted that we sit in the restaurant itself.
They could not have been more helpful.

Eden project is also picnic friendly (mind you the food there is okay and very reasonable so we tend to eat that!).

mumoverseas · 09/05/2011 20:05

I'm another that has never had a problem taking picnics into Disney parks. Go to WDW Florida regularly, the last time being last November and most days took in picnics. The same with other parks there such as Universal, Aquatica and Seaworld. Seaworld and Aquatica however did have a ban on taking in straws (risk to dolphins etc) and also you were not allowed to take in large cool boxes but smaller ones were fine

Went to EuroDisney summer 2009 and again had no problems with picnics. We stayed in Davy Crockets where we got a huge box of french bread, croissants, jams, juice etc everymorning and always took it into the parks with us.

Have to agree about the shite food at Chessington and am hoping to give that a miss this summer when back in the UK. Went to Druisillas (Sussex) at easter and was pleasantly suprised by a restaurant that did baked potatoes and had a salad bar!

blueberrysorbet · 09/05/2011 20:08

that's us not going to anywhere with a picnic ban then- its so pricey to get in anyway and then to have to queue and pay for food, manage over excited toddlers who just want to wee NOW, just as you are paying, or not eat this minute but after you leave the cafe etc etc. and think someone has already mentioned the dirty tables you often have to eat at. also, agree, we go to have fun, not sit in plastic cafes. anyway, we love picnics:)

what about bf?:) a surcharge?:)

really, it seems insane, who is running these places? or is it a big money making idea by management consultants for a quick fix to show profit? what about repeat business- there is a recession isn't there? just getting someone to your park and paying a massive sum should be enough surely. assume paying to park will be next....

CultureMix · 09/05/2011 21:13

Agree with everyone else, I won't go anywhere without lots of water, snacks, nibbles and more if we're out for the day. It's all overpriced unhealthy crap for sale out there - impossible to get fruit or carrot sticks for instance - and the queuing would drive me (and them) crazy, we spend enough time queuing already. And too often the kids will take one bite of a £4.99 sandwich then decide they don't like it, I'd rather bring something I know they will eat.

DH too is of the "oh let's buy something there" school but the instant the children say they're hungry he'll turn to me and ask if I've brought anything Wink.

Another place with overpriced food is motorway service stations but you can usually buy a sarnie and there's lots of tables to eat your own lunch. That said I do like to treat myself to a nice coffee at times Brew.

nannynick · 09/05/2011 21:14

Paying to park is so Last Year! Grin
Merlin already do that... this year they have added Chessington into the Paid Parking group.

carriedababi · 09/05/2011 21:27

nick are you still renewing you passes each year? do you now go for the premium one?

ours runs out end of june[parking still free on it atm]
and don't think im renewing

whomovedmychocolate · 09/05/2011 21:41

bumblingbovine - Blenheim is very expensive in the cafes. They do however keep a jug of tapwater and cups available in all cafes by the condiments stand. We usually get the train from the pleasure gardens to the house and then walk into Woodstock where we visit the museum which DOES sell children's lunchboxes, snacks etc a lot cheaper. :)

r0se · 09/05/2011 21:51

We love theme parks, my daughter would go everyday if we could ever afford it, we have always taken a picnic (as we prefer to choose our own food, love sitting for a bit away from the crowds too) but if they do stop them then we will just go and sit in our car and eat ours as the food at these places is shockingly bad and when we did stay for dinner once, one of the tables were all sticky and dirty .. if you are paying peanuts then you expect it, but your not for a family meal.

r0se · 09/05/2011 21:54

bumblingbovine .. Blenheim don't mind picnics do they?

nannynick · 09/05/2011 21:59

Haven't got premium ones yet. End of last season I didn't renew full Merlin pass, decided to drop it down to just Legoland. It's the full Legoland annual pass, rather than the Basic term-time only one. This was before they introduced Premium and Standard. So it is I suppose the same as Premium Legoland Pass now. Will decide towards end of season as to what to change it to - possibly just Legoland again as it is closest. If you follow me on Twitter you will notice I go to other Merlin parks - but I go via a Carer Pass for those as I take a disabled child.

Went to Blenheim end of last Summer (may even have been Oct half term), quite far for us as a day trip. Cafe was a bit pricey but that is often the case at anywhere, don't think it was much different to visiting places like Wisley, Painshill Park, National Trust.

Have Historic Houses membership this year for the first time, so hope to give that more of a try - often good places for picnics in the grounds.

whomovedmychocolate · 09/05/2011 22:01

r0se - Blenheim do not mind picnics (outside). Though there are limited picnic tables (there are a few on the lawn outside the pleasure gardens). If visiting with kids and attempting to picnic park by pleasure gardens so you don't have to carry a lot round with you. :)

carriedababi · 09/05/2011 22:04

lol nick,no sorry i am not one of your followers on twitter!Grin

apprenticemum · 09/05/2011 22:15

I am sooooo sick of being ripped off by these ammusement parks. There is nothing ammusing about being robbed right left and centre. The type of food they serve up is either rubbish or overpriced. Don't they realise that these actions will restrict the number of times people visit? When I next take my daughter, we will be wearing T shirts with the slogan Theme Parks Are Greedy; and I will have sarnies stashed about my person!

nannynick · 09/05/2011 22:44

Probably a good thing carriedababi as I tweet a lot of rubbish I expect Grin

apprenticemum - I do wonder if that is their aim, less people to visit, more revenue per visitor. But then, why offer annual pass... doesn't make sense to me.

dixiechick1975 · 09/05/2011 23:54

Disneyworld Florida lets you take food in - it's not banned. The bag check is for security not to remove sarnies. Drinks, lunchboxes with food are fine.

Also taken same into disneyland Paris no problem.

Again eaten lots of picnics in blackpool zoo, lots of places to sit and eat.

nunnie · 10/05/2011 11:01

Blackpool Zoo were still allowing picnics last year, not sure how they would implement a ban there as alot of their income comes from school trips which involve picnics.
Same with bigger theme parks. However Pleasure beach is pretty small and have tried to cram as many rides as they can in a small space so sitting room is limited.
I am in no way trying to justify their decision as it really is an awful place and there are much nicer places to visit in Blackpool and surrounding areas than there.

mixedmamameansbusiness · 10/05/2011 13:55

We cant afford to go to them anyway. Even cinema at £59 for a family flaming ticket is now out for us so I imagine this now doesnt concern me.

Down right diabolical though.

Kiwijen · 10/05/2011 14:38

WIll they be checking bags on the way in? Why not smuggle in sammies, fruit and snacks to eat on the go. I wouldn't be upset about sitting on the concrete next to a cue of people to eat my picnic with the kids. Hell, I even breastfed sitting on a grass verge on the gutter at the horse races once! I WILL NOT be forced into buying food from these places. It's like going to the movies. I always smuggle in our own popcorn, sweets and drinks! ;)

Kiwijen · 10/05/2011 15:38

Oh, and BTW, Blairdrummond Safari Park in Sterling has a FANTASTIC picnic area. Once you have paid the initial entrance fee, you can play all day and see the animals. You can picnic wherever you like, but next to the huge adventure playground is generally our favourite. Only money grabbing bit is the small amusement bit, but that is easily bypassed with the enticement of the playground! :)

nunnie · 10/05/2011 20:03

I believe you get an armband or something, so there is no reason why you can't go and sit somewhere on the prom (weather permitting of course) would be much nicer than sitting in there, there is much more to Blackpool than that dismal place really and it's not like other theme parks I have been to, it is surrounded by other places and the beach. I guess with the armband you can enter and leave as you wish.

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 11/05/2011 00:37

DD is coeliac and DP has high cholesterol. Any venue which doesn't cater and doesn't allow picnics wouldn't get my custom. End of!
This is one of my biggest bugbears. There are so many allergies. Many are life threatening. These venues are going to lose custom.

tigercametotea · 11/05/2011 01:26

Theme parks often have a poor choice of menus with the standard burger-and-chips type fare and if they banned picnics there, I think many people wouldn't want to go anymore.

differentnameforthis · 11/05/2011 05:24

We encountered this when we holidayed at the Gold Coast.

SeaWorld & MovieWorld both sent people back to their cars with eskys full of food (there is no warning until you rock up). You can then go in, just can't take food.

We had no idea until we got here. We took a small bag with us which wasn't checked. Just a bottle of water & a sandwich for each of the girls. So we bypassed it.

The bigger issue is, all there was to eat at MovieWorld was junk! Burgers, chips etc. And at $15 for a burger drink & fries...we are glad we didn't have to spend out for the kids!

I noted that it didn't seems to be very busy for a theme park in the holidays!

At least SeaWorld had that & pizzas, plus sandwiches, rolls, wraps etc.

differentnameforthis · 11/05/2011 05:26

Sorry, wanted to add that you could take a certain amount of food in if there were special dietary requirements.

wishingchair · 11/05/2011 11:32

I've just come back from disney in florida and we actually asked the security guy what he was checking for and was it sandwiches (DH being convinced it was a disney scam to get you to buy their food). He said they're checking for weapons and glass and they're supposed to check for food but it is impossible to enforce so they don't bother.