Disneyland Paris or playhouse for 6 year old?

[karensb]

I am in a dilemma! We have been given some money from a relative and wanted to get something that we couldn't normally afford for dd. she is 6 and loves playing outside. I initially wanted to take her to Disneyland for a few days as it is not something we could normally afford to do. It would be a surprise and would be for 3 days and would involve leaving dp with ds (3months) as could not all afford to go.

However she has been asking a lot for a playhouse so I have started to wonder whether to use the money for that instead. We would get one about 8x6 so would last her a few years.

I am worried though that she may never use the playhouse apart from odd occasion, although she says she would love it. She doesn't know we are thinking about getting one or about the possible trip to Disneyland as I know it's not a choice she could make.

So what do you think? Would love to hear from those who have a 6 year old who likes/doesn't use their playhouse or who has been to Disneyland. Its just too much money for us to get wrong and it won't come up again in the near future.

Not been to either.

But if it were me, personally, I'd get a cheap plastic playhouse then put the rest towards a trip to disneyland and save up to take when DS is two or so and can appreciate it too.

Though that's not what you asked!

Sorry, I don't know why I said not been to either - not been to disneyland is what I meant!

My DC are younger (nearly 4 and 2) and they love their plastic playhouse. I'm glad we didn't spend a fortune on an aesthetically pleasing wooden one.

I would go to DLP. We went last year (my lovely dad paid for it) and my DC still take about it all the time. We had a lovely time and have so many lovely memories of it.

At 6 she won't be using a playhouse for much longer, although might be good for your DS in a year or two.

I would look for offers on Disneyland, I've recently booked on a 40% off, kids go free deal which makes it pretty cheap for the 4 of us to go. If you drive on the shuttle it makes no difference if 2 or 4 go as cost is the same (obviously different if you go Eurostar!). You also have to look for the cheaper dates.... I also got a 50% off when we went last year, which was for a monday-thursday.

personally if you're not doing disney I'd buy a swing/slide rather than a playhouse as it'll get much more use (at least does in our house)

I have a wooden playhouse and, tbh, DD (4) doesn't really play in it much. We are not resorting to building a fitted kitchen in there (pretend sink, washing machine etc) to try and encourage her to use the ruddy waste of time and money it.

We went to Disneyworld in May and I haven't heard the end of it. Mainly the Peter Pan ride (she is now pirate obsessed and spends most of her day in a giant cardboard box pirate ship - and meeting the princesses at a special meal. We have even started hiding the scrap book we made because my 15mo DD2 wants us to read it a million times a day and we can't take anymore!!!!

not? now!

Thanks for all your advice. The problem is we can't save the money and wait a few years to go to Disneyland so ds is old enough, as all the costs of life will come along and the car will break down or something and the money will have to be used for that! I have looked at the cheapest offers and still seems about £800 for the 2 of us once you factor in meals etc.

Dd is currently obsessed by famous five etc and loves the idea of a club house. She is too old for a plastic one and is tall for her age which was why I was looking at an 8x6 playhouse. She would not play in it as such but think she would draw, read etc. A place of her own!

Meant to say she has a climbing frame so that is out.

What about buying a shed with a window, turning it into a playhouse and then it can serve as a shed when not used anymore? there are plnty of house looking sheds.

This is like mine (the updated version), and from the people I bought it from:
www.waltons.co.uk/waltons-honeysuckle-playhouse-6x5

£250 inc VAT and del. It must be good quality, we bought it end 2009 and only varnished it once when we got it, and its more-or-less as good as new.

Now get ye to
www.disneylandparis.co.uk to get a quote, and then maybe
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=527819&highlight=disneyland to check if you can get that price down a bit?

See if you can have your mickey mouse shaped cake AND eat it in a playhouse

alternatively,
This is like mine (the updated version), and from the people I bought it from:
www.waltons.co.uk/waltons-honeysuckle-playhouse-6x5

£250 inc VAT and del. It must be good quality, we bought it end 2009 and only varnished it once when we got it, and its more-or-less as good as new.

Now get ye to
www.disneylandparis.co.uk to get a quote, and then maybe
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=527819&highlight=disneyland to check if you can get that price down a bit?

See if you can have your mickey mouse shaped cake AND eat it in a playhouse

I think the playhouse would be "invisible" in the garden very quickly - just like our climbing frame became and then the 12 foot trampoline! I'd do Disney - Myself and my husband took out two age 11 and 10 last October, we flew from scotland and stayed 3 nights and it cost less than your £800 budget. we booked with these people:
www.breakstodisney.com/