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[KatieBMumsnet]

The folks at Disney On Ice have asked us to find out what you think about family days out. What's your idea of a great day out? What sort of 'fun day out' fills you with dread? What would your DC's dream day out look like? And what has them begging to be left at home?

Have you ever taken your DC to a live show like Disney on Ice (or another live show)? If so, what did they like about it? Was there anything they didn't like? If you've been to a live show, do you think you'd go again or not? Why?

Everyone who add their comments to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win £250 of Amazon vouchers.

Thank you for your comments and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

I have 3 DC aged 6, 4 and 2.
A great day out for all of us is either a park; where we would feed the ducks, play hide and seek and then play on a play area or a child friendly National Trust property (I get membership for the family as a christmas present from my Grandad) where we would wander round grounds, eat a picnic and then wander round the house looking at the bits that interest the DC.

I have taken the older 2 DC to the X-Factor Tour (was their Christmas present last year), which we all enjoyed. Have also taken all 3 to a pantomime, which again they liked. They particularly liked the audience participation, and that it was loud enough that they could ask questions without spoiling it for other people (unlike the cinema for example). I found the constant pushing of merchandise irritating, and the fact that the food was expensive, poor quality and there was nowhere to sit and eat (DC struggle to balance a polystyrene tray of lukewarm fries )

DD1 (4) and I are going to see Disney on Ice in Sheffield for her birthday in March. I generally try to avoid taking all 3 DC to shows like this without another adult, as I find it tricky to take them to the toilet safely, and also still really need a pushchair for DD2 (2) which can be tricky. I wish venues had Family toilets with cubicles large enough to fit a few DC and a pushchair. As the DC get older I hope we'll go to more live shows.

Aristocat, unfortunately it is 123 miles away so a bit far for a day trip.

shame mrspnut it is far for me too (prob 90 miles) but definitely worth a visit. The monkey forest at Trentham is nice too, lots of lovely grounds to walk tire the children

We have taken our 2 DDs to Disney on Ice once before. They absolutely loved it. They love to see all their favourite characters and hear the familiar songs from some of the Disney classics. Trouble is that I secretly love it too! We will definitely go again, but money is a bit stretched this year. It is not a cheap day out. I think a cheap day out is feeding the ducks or splashing in puddles, but I think it makes for a very special treat.

As other posters have pointed out, the 'plastic tat' sold on arrival is expensive. I wish they sold a few low cost items which I would seriously consider buying. I just say no to the expnsive stuff.

We also love cultural visits to museums and historical sights, but while the girls are little I am happy to indulge their love of Disney.

We've been to Trentham before, it is really good for a day out.

My children are nine and five.

We like lots of different kinds of days out.

City days out - galleries, museums, shows.

Park days out - simple picnic and play

Beach days out - buckets, spades, footballs, sand, splashing

Cycling and walking days out - mud, nature, and fresh air

My son has been to a big dinosaur arena event (not with us). My daughter hasn't. We have been to one of the Disneylands where they saw parades, etc.

I think they would love Disney on Ice. What puts me off is cost and that there will be a lot of stuff there on sale which will lead to pester power to spend even more.

Hi my children would love any Disney shows, I have been various bob the builders Thomas the tank engine, Angelina ballerina, horrible histories and many more. I have learnt now not to go to MEN area and that type of place as I will now not tolerate the shows when there is blatant over priced tat , awful plastic food and officious bouncers.
I therefore limit the shows to the smaller arenas such as Manchester opera house, Palace theatre. I will sometimes buy the tat but only if it is sensibly priced.
Disney on Ice was the straw that broke the camels back, I was not prepared to be so blatantly exploited. Especially now I have two children. £6 to £10 for poundshop tat is an utter cheek. I also think programmes are way overpriced these days - the Disney ones have a few cast shots, and not much else (except advertising - so presumably a lot of cost is recouped anyway) and to expect £10 for that is ridiculous.

We have quite a few days out but aim for low-cost or free ones, a trip to the local park or the beach (we are lucky to live near some great beaches) plus I am hoping to get a season ticket to a local farm attraction this year which the dd's really enjoy going to. We have been to one live show which was We're Going On A Bear Hunt and it was fantastic - the dd's absolutely loved it and are begging to go back and see another show. We had a great trip to Longleat last summer and the dd's loved it there, hopefully we will be able to return at some point. We have to add up fuel costs as well as entry fees when planning days out but some of our best days have been free - counting starfish on the beach and jumping the waves!

DS1 (5yo)'s dream day out would be Peppa Pig World. He hasn't stopped talking about it since we went a year ago (we're going back at Easter). He is a little obsessed with recycling and adored the room filled with tubes that suck up foam balls. He also loves the beach (as long as it's not too windy) or anywhere with loads of space to run about. He's not too keen on being dragged round the shops!

DS2 (2yo) is easily pleased but loves anything involving cake :)

I like being out in the open air, or museums, not too keen on soft play but needs must on occasion.

We haven't been to a Disney show but have taken them both to the theatre for panto and other shows. They really enjoy it especially DS1. I think the ideal show for them would be no more than an hour long with lots of fun visuals and humour. They aren't that familiar with Disney characters (we don't have the Disney channel or anything) so would have to rely on more than just character recognition to keep them amused. And it would have to be reasonably cheap - theatre can be shockingly expensive (£17/ticket for the panto including for the 2yo!).

We live near Legoland and have annual passes. The children (2 and 4 ys) love going if the weather is good - even if just for a few hours. They get a good run around, enjoy the playground and love the shows - which we know almost by heart!
Other good days out are going into London on the train - and to the south bank or museums. My DD is obsessed with Disney princesses so she would love a Disney on Ice show! We are going to disneyland Paris in May and she is v excited!!!

We have a 3 year old daughter and a 14 month old son so our family days out have to keep them both entertained.
We love going for long walks in our local woods or visiting the gardens at Sandringham (not brave enough to let them into the house yet :) ) My daughter loves finding different things on every walk and we usually do her a checklist at home so she has some things to look out for.
We haven't been to any live shows since my daughter was 18 months, we took her to a local pantomine and she didn't like the loud noises so haven't been to anything since.
However, she has just started liking all the Disney Princess stories so I think a visit to Disney on Ice may be in our not too distant future.

A good day out for us is currently one that is not too stressful and also one that is not too expensive. DS is currently only 3, so some of the best days we have are going to various parks etc. so he can ride his bike and run around freely. He also likes to get a drink and snack at the park cafe.

We do occasionally go on various other days out (farms, etc.) but the attention span of DS means that we sometimes feel that we don't get the best value for money from these activities, which is why we mainly stick to low/no cost activities. We are hoping that this year, now he is 3, this will improve and we can range a bit farther a field and try out a few more things. For DS, his ideal day is something that involves trains - we went on a 'Day Out with Thomas' last year that was a big sucess. I think at his age there is nothing that he doesn't like, but no doubt this will change in about 7/8 years.

We took DS to two shows at children?s theatres last year when he was 2.5yrs. The first was quite successful, the second less so, but it was later in the day and he was too tired to sit very well. We are going to another children?s show in a few weeks and hope that he reacts well. As we love the theatre, we want to encourage him to like going and how to behave as an audience member from an early age.

We have not been to a Disney on Ice show, but likely will in future, but not for a god few years yet. Given the costs associated with tickets, programmes, travel etc. we would like to ensure that DS gets the most out of the experience and that we feel we had a good day out.

My ideal day out wouldn't involve anything indoors.

We would spend the day either at South Lakes Wild Animal Park (kids free from October-ish until the Easter holidays) followed by fish and chips on the beach.

Or a day in the Lakes, walking or riding (when DD is old enough)

My children like going anywhere with a playground. Even at the National Railway Museum, the highlight was getting to have a play outside. We all like museums like Magna with plenty of stuff to touch and buttons to press. Our ideal day out would involve lots of fresh air and a nice cafe.

We took the children to see Disney on Ice in 2010, and we enjoyed it, but it certainly wasn't the best value live show we've seen. We adults felt a bit ripped off after paying for tickets and shelling out for the overpriced gubbins on sale at the arena, and the children didn't recognise some of the characters (Mulan, for example). The Sooty Show at our local theatre knocked Disney on Ice into a cocked hat

We've just returned from 3 days at Disneyland Paris. Now that's an outing that fills me with dread.

A perfect day out for us would be a trip to the coast, spend the day on the beach and in the sea. Lunch in a fish and chip restaurant and then book into a little b&b to do the same again the following day.

Failing that it would be a ride into the Peak District a good walk along the trails or even hire bikes to get further. Lunch in a nice pub and an ice cream later from a little teashop.

Our idea of hell would be a trip to a crowded and over priced theme park with no decent eating facilities tbh. We tend to avoid them like the plague tbh.

We take dd most years to Dancing on Ice show she enjoys it immensely I wouldn't say it's something for the whole family though as her siblings prefer to stay at home. We also go to the local theatres fairly regularly sometimes as a family often in twos or threes depending on what's on.

I have ds' of a variety of ages. We have been to all the normal 'big' days out as well as the low cost or freebies. We have been to disney a couple of days and depending on the show we may go.

I have learnt tricks eg taking a bag of drinks and snacks or it just becomes too expensive and a resounding no to extras. Anything they think they 'desperately' want they leave in the car on the way home and I fell very annoyed.

I do think an afternoon performance would be great if tailored for children with additional needs as we do we glared at/ made to feel uncomfortable. It would be nice to relax and not feel like an oddity.

I have to say a 'great day' would vary for all of them and the things I think will be fantastic they sometimes disagree with. Its very much trial and error.

Perfect day out, as voted 'best day of half-term' by my DC:

Lazy breakfast
Walk along the coast path, stopping to explore little coves and a old fort, collecting sea glass and skimming stones
Fish & chips out of the paper, sitting on the quayside
Crabbing - the most fun you can have with a fishing line and bacon
Home for board games and a DVD in front of a roaring log fire

We have two DDs, 4.9 and 1.8 and a good day out is bith inexpensive, outside and active. We had a lovely day out yesterday, visited temple Newsam- a large house with parklands, duck ponds, an excellent playground and a lovely little farm. So the girls got to run around and play, we had a picnic then went to see the animals. It was a lovely day and it cost £1!

We have been to a live show, the panto when DD1 was about 18mo. She hated it and we haven't been back but only today was investigating shows locally. She hates loves 'show me, show me' so was looking for chris and poi dates.

Not sure how I feel about Disney on ice, don't know much about it at all but imagine it would be ££££!

We are lucky to live in an area people flock to for the gorgeous beaches and countryside. However this makes the 6 week summer high season hell so we tend to do less touristy things during those weeks! Plus the parking charges are crippling. As we are often a family of six we take own picnic.

My ds and I have been to panto before- won tickets but he was a little too young and asked to leave half way through. He enjoyed the circus (no animals). We both loved the gruffalo child on stage.

Would we enjoy the Disney on ice? Depends- is it full of screaming whiny kids? If not then yes we would.

My 2 DC favourite day out would definitely be to a theme park, preferably Lego land.
Have been to Disney on ice, 2 years ago, would love to take the children again, I am thinking to take them to the Cbeebies one this year.
We all loved Disney on ice show, the only thing was we were not allowed to take any pictures of the characters, so not many memories of that unfortunately. It was a nice day out.

We did a three generational day trip to Sealife Centre Birmingham, DS was 21 MO and he absolutly adored it. We went on the train so got 2 for 1 entry to the sealife centre for the DGP's and a season ticket for me and DS (only need to use it 2/3rds of a trip to be paid off).

Fantastic day out, food provided there was apauling (canteen/restaurant is a collection of vending machines), but lots of restaurants around.

Looking forward to going back again very soon

Dd is 2 and ds is 5 months
Ideal day out is somewhere that has good baby change facilities and good snacks. Preferably healthy ones. Have not been to disney on ice show, i thi k they are still a bit young. We would definitely consider it when they are a bit older.
Fun day out involves anything interactive and that tires them out. Walk to the local park to feed the ducks, swimming, going on a train ride, soft play if it's miserable weath