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Original poster

I would like to do something really special for dd the weekend before she starts school. Any suggestions?

61 replies

CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 10:41

She is so excited about starting school, has been such a lovely girl lately, Dh and I really want to do something with her that SHE would adore and would make her feel special

Have considered
Centerparcs (she has just learned to swim and would love the water aspect)
Eurodisney (but don't really want to flog all the way there for one night)
Maybe some kind of safari park thing, she adores animals - can anyone recommend one?

Any other suggestions welcomed!

OP posts:
nailpolish · 23/08/2007 11:19

why isnt Harrods PC?

hatwoman · 23/08/2007 11:20

definitely not Disney cd - it's great but it's so full on and open til 11pm - she'll be exhausted and on such a high that I don;t think it's the right thing for the weekend before starting school - and that's not particularly taking into account the journey.

Whipsnade is good (haven;'t been, dh has and liked it a lot); also Marwell. How about here. Again I haven't been but it looks lovely.

aloha · 23/08/2007 11:20

Because the owner is an utter arse, really!

nailpolish · 23/08/2007 11:21

oh right! lol

hatwoman · 23/08/2007 11:22

and because they sell beds for dogs that cost £10k. I'm not entirely sure whether that's un PC or just plain wrong...

bozza · 23/08/2007 11:26

Maybe it is just me but I don't think I would go away the weekend before starting school the first time. I would aim for a day trip on the Saturday, I think. Having said that we didn't get back from France until 3 am on the Sunday before school started last year - but that was Y1 and our main family holiday.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 11:27

Is whipsnade better than longleat?

It will not be the weekend before she starts but the weekend before that, we figured she woudl need quiet weekend at home learning how to sew on name tapes then

OP posts:
aloha · 23/08/2007 11:28

ooh, yes, Harrods has a pet shop too!

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 11:29

We can go to harrods any time is only up the rd

Would like a night away really

OP posts:
aloha · 23/08/2007 11:30

They get very knackered IME when they first start school. If you want to go away I'd personally do Centerparcs. Get a nice villa with a jacuzzi bath and real fire, so when dd is in bed, after swimming and bowling and riding and eating, you can open a bottle of wine with your dh.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 11:31

Am torn between CP and Safari park now

OP posts:
Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 11:32

It would be warm in teh domey thing too
i need warm

OP posts:
bozza · 23/08/2007 11:33

Couldn't you go to Longleat and do both then? I think maybe have a few minor activities planned the weekend after though, because otherwise she'll drive you mad, if she is as excited as she sounds.

CatBert · 23/08/2007 11:34

It's a completely different thought - but do you know anyone who is starting school with her, and you could do a "school uniform" tea party... I only say because we did this last year with my ante natal group and it was soooooo sweet - there were about 10 children, and they were not all at the same school, but they all turned up in their new uniforms, and we made a special cake, dished out "certificates" to commemorate their first day at big school, took a photo of them all (then hurridly got them changed to keep the clothes squeaky clean!!!!) before digging into cake, as we all shed an emotional tear at our first borns getting so big! Sigh.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 11:34

Oh yes she can play with her mates etc the next weekend

I don't want to do both really

If we are going to safari park then we will not use the cp stuff, we can stay somewhere else much cheaper

OP posts:
Hurlyburly · 23/08/2007 11:36

We all need warm, CD. Brrrr

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 11:44

I have just looked at a few centreparcs threads and I really don't think ican face it

I think it will have to be Longleat or whipsnade

OP posts:
thomcat · 23/08/2007 11:45

Go to Longleat Centre Parcs, have a great day at the pool and parks etc, then on the morning you have to check out (and you have to be out by 10am ish) on the way home go via Longleat safari park and have a day there and then put her in her pj's and drive home. Perfect.

bozza · 23/08/2007 11:46

I must admit I had some sympathy with thomcat on that one, but everyone else seems to love it. Even my MIL is going in November.

nailpolish · 23/08/2007 11:46

i still think you should get titivated up and go to a show just you and dd and a oh-so-posh meal

my dd1 would love that!

then a farm the next day to feed the baby animals

bozza · 23/08/2007 11:46

tc I thought you detested centerparcs?

aloha · 23/08/2007 11:47

No, centerparcs is nice! it sounds horrid, but it isn't. A bit like Canada in the 1970s, but nice.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 11:47

Dh wants to come too though!

OP posts:
Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2007 11:48

Mabye I should go to butlins

OP posts:
aloha · 23/08/2007 11:48

Centerparks is expensive, so is rammed with Boden-wearing classes.