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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 DCs (5, 2 and 8 weeks) and our favourite days out usually involve being outside as much as possible. Either at the seaside or exploring areas such as Hadrians Wall (near where we live). The girls love a picnic, no matter what the weather is and no matter how quickly put together it is!
My DCs also love being out most of the day then coming home for hot chocolates and a film.

I have taken my eldest daughter to Disney on Ice and she loved it. I thought it was a really good production but could have done without the huge numbers of stalls selling all the stuff. However, it was a very enjoyable afternoon and my DD loved all her favourite characters coming to life.

My dc are 11,8 and 6.

What's your idea of a great day out?
anything outdoor with space to run in, take a picnic (any weather) and not have to have a deadline or time schedule.

What sort of 'fun day out' fills you with dread?
crowded theme parks, legoland, gullivers world, blackpool, anything huge and commercial. I hate it too and the dc wouldn't thank me for taking them anywhere with so many people. They adore museums but trips tend to be shorter in the winter school holidays when the museums they like are crowded.

What would your DC's dream day out look like?
their favourite sort of day is filled with variety, creative stuff and somewhere to play/run. They really loved Underwater Street in Liverpool, Manchester art gallery, the tate etc but are equally happy on a mountain or forest exploring and making dens, on a cycle trip on a woodland track or having a barbecue on a beach in the summer.

And what has them begging to be left at home?
That has to be anywhere crowded, particularly shopping....

Have you ever taken your DC to a live show like Disney on Ice (or another live show)?
Stage Musicals yes, and we're seeing disney on ice in a fortnight - counting "sleeps" already!

If so, what did they like about it?
they usually enjoy the music and dance in shows. They're all performers so know how much work goes into the shows.

Was there anything they didn't like?
no

If you've been to a live show, do you think you'd go again or not? Why?
Yes - and we're going! We have a few more booked for later in the year and hopefully a West End trip soon. The best ones are at big venues where the entrance and exit arrangements are well managed and not chaotic!

The best days out we've had together as a family have involved DH, DSD and I making sandwiches, getting out into the mountains in the late morning and going for a hike. We live in Scotland, so we're able to do this once in awhile. It's a good chance for us to let DSD sprint ahead of us to her heart's content, let her climb things, jump off things, examine things, pick up sticks, chuck the sticks away, get her shoes completely covered in mud and sing about rabbit poo at the top of her lungs. There is no whining at us to buy her stuff, no pressure to look pristine (e.g. keep your shoes clean, brush your hair, wear a pretty dress, be a pretty girl), and a chance for DSD to technically misbehave in an appropriate setting (no reason to feel mortified about her rabbit poo song, it's just us and some trees to listen). She gets to have some fun, I get to relax and be a little more like the laid back parent I always wanted to be in the first place.

The last day out with her that I didn't particularly care for, we just tried to cram in too much at once and I learned that the hard way. Pool, library, park, home in between - she got fed up with it and started to strop.

Never taken kiddo to Disney on Ice. I would be open to this if the ticket prices were reasonable for a family of 3-4 and if it was being held nearby (ie northeast Scotland!). It would also have to be put on at a reasonable hour - we're very unlikely to take DSD out to anything if it starts at 7 pm on a school night and runs for two hours. Also very unlikely to take her at 3:15 pm on a school day because we work full time. Saturday/Sunday matinee would be ideal.

We taken DSD and her older cousin to the panto a few times, and DSD enjoys this. She doesn't like scary bits, and if an act goes on for too long, she'll whinge for the toilet, but otherwise she loves watching performances.

Oh yes, DSD just turned 6.

My dream days out are the ones where we've done things that money can't usually buy. Like taking them up the BT tower to see Santa, even though it is closed to the public. Going to Disney's HQ and saw a film in their private cinema. Ice skating with Penguins at Westfield!

I like the kids to experience as many different things as possible, and they do appreciate all the different things that we do. Everything from farms, theme parks to RAF musuems! I like to grab bargains where we can. We make the most of things and I can't say we've ever had a bad day out. The kids are usually just happy to be out! We usually do a family outing somewhere as a birthday treat rather than birthday parties. Next month the boys want to go to Beaulieu Motor Museum for the James Bond Exhibition for their 7th birthday treat.

They hav been to lots of live shows. We started when the dts were about 3, would just take some snacks or something in case they started to get bored. They saw a Disney show at the Wembley arena a few years ago and really enjoyed it. The DTs went to Cirque du Soleil and actually weren't that impressed, they preferred disney! The loved lucha libre (mexican wrestling) and they've really enjoyed sporting events like football, rugby and even hockey. Looking back, it's clear that they prefer fast paced events, that keep their attention focused. They also love it if they can make a noise, shout and cheer. I'd love for them to see Disney on Ice before they get too old for it, but the ticket prices are too much for us, especially with a family of 6.

As DD1 is only just four, we don't usually spend lots of money on days out as then the pressure is on for her to behave and enjoy herself and that inevitably leads to massive tantrums. I can list all sorts of places round the country where days out have been ruined by toddler meltdowns, from farms to Peppa Pig world. Even a theatre show Penguin - she had to be removed screaming- £30 wasted.

So we'll leave the expensive high pressure things like Disney on Ice till she's older! And stick to easy days out like the zoo (we're members), swimming, the beach, crabbing, playing in streams or puddles, free galleries etc. Less stress all round!

Our DC are five and three and we go out on days out a lot.

However it tends to be one parent taking one child out. So DH will take DD to London to see a show or I will take DS out to a soft play.

Days out challenges:

(1) Knowing what food will be available and there being food available which is reasonably priced, reasonably tasty AND healthy-ish.
(2) Getting the little sods out of the house can take up to two hours so being able to get there with in an hour at most is definitely vital.
(3) Knowing where the loos are. Big signs EVERYWHERE.
(4) Decent bloody coffee.
(5) Seating where you can wedge toddlers in so they can't escape (we LOVE corner banquettes).

My kids don't like Disney and like others it's really frustrating if they decide they want to leave 10 minutes into a show that costs £50.

My ideal day out with them involves them running round for an hour then sitting for an hour doing a focused activity - we achieved this last week (half term) going to soft play, then making bracelets in Hobbycraft.

But then mine are grateful to be taken outside to jump in puddles so they have quite low aspirations

Days out are expensive and tbh most of ours have been ruined by dd throwing a tantrum over one thing or another, you drive all that way, spend all that money and struggle the whole time to keep dd happy e.g. driving 2 hours to the zoo and all she wanted to do was play on a slide, didnt like any of the animals and couldnt be bothered to walk, hard work, stressful and everyone was miserable!

Some of our best days out have involved exploring the local sights, we live near the coast so playing at the park, a run along the beach, playing in the sand, a paddle and collecting shells followed by an ice cream or fish and chips or a walk through the dene and along the harbour if there's any energy left. A couple of hours somewhere outdoors with a variety of things to do where we dont have to carry a heavy picnic bag is great for us and long enough for us to enjoy it without the 'tired tantrums' kicking in.

We have been to Disney on Ice 3 times and usually book with a priority booking code and get cheaper tickets. We take our own snacks and drinks, dd loves dressing up in a costume and the whole live nature of it is brilliant, dd can laugh and talk as much as she wants without disturbing anyone unlike in a cinema. We love it and I even upgraded my camera in the January sales so I could take better photos at the next Disney on Ice!

Our kids are 5 and 3. I have never taken them to a live show and very much doubt I ever will. I do not like crowds, I do not like the ticket prices for events like that and I expect such shows to be formulaic and therefore dull. The hearest I can imagine us getting to Disney on Ice is something like Cirque du Soleil at the Albert Hall. That attracts me because it gets great reviews, is pushing the boundaries of the circus form, is in a gorgeous location and is not a "day out" its just a great show. Obviously my kids are too young for that now though.

Examples of days out which we have recently enjoyed include:

• Walking along the South Bank in London. Going on the London Eye, watching street performances, walking to Tate Modern and running around in the Turbine Hall;
• Hampton Court Palace;
• Warwick Castle (a little too Disney-esque but the kids liked it)
• London Zoo (the day after the riots so crowd free!)

Some of my favourite days out have been going to live shows. We used to get early flight to London (we are near Glasgow) then head straight to Hamleys for a mini shopping spree. Budget usually a massive £20 each

Covent Garden is next for lunch in a pavement cafe watching the street artists. We love pretty much everything there from string quartets to living statues. We go for a mooch around the shops/markets picking up quirky things that we can't get back home.

We walk round to theatre to catch a matinee show, dd's both love Wicked and The Lion King but are happy to go to anything. Usually a mad dash to grab a bite to eat before heading back to airport to arrive home around midnight exhausted.

We used to do this a few times a year until fecking Ryanair cancelled most of the flights on that route.

As for Disney, I think I'm in the minority here as we all love it! We go to every Disney on ice when it comes up our way. I do always go for discounted tickets and don't buy any of the plastic tat. Its always a fantastic show and very well done.

We also love theme parks and would happily spend days there. Alton Towers and Disneyland Florida and Paris being our favourites.

We do still have cheap or free days out to museums, art galleries or some of the stunning castles nearby. We also are only an hour from Loch Lomond so a picnic there is always an option.

I honestly can't think of any day out that would fill me with dread although when we do theme parks we do go in quieter times. If we had to stand in massive queues then that would be one I suppose.

Hi. I have namechanged temporarily and intend to change back soon - is this a problem where prize draw is concerned? I assume people at mumsnet will know who I am?

I have a son almost 5 and a daughter aged 2.

My idea of a great day out is one where all the family are happy and catered for and prices are fair. I don't like loads of waiting in hot queues and crowds and I prefer to be able to take the pushchair places with DD as she can get ratty and uncooperative if tired. DS loves going out for meals as he has done this a lot since he was a baby. He also loves things like zoos and museums.

As far as filling me with dread...we have been to Eureka a lot in term time before he started school which was lovely but when we went in early July on a day when there were loads of school trips in at once and found this horrendous as the children in the school parties were not behaving well and were allowed to race into the various areas throwing bits about, snatching things off my children and coming running into the under 5s areas without the adults reading the signs . I felt it spoiled our day. Also, some teachers (and I'm one myself and it still riled me) were coming into an area my DS was already playing with (eg the post office) and taking all of the parcels from him to get the group to sort them, disregarding the fact that he was using them. I realise that he was only 4 but we had paid to get in too and he was actually doing it properly (not just messing, he was reading the labels etc) so a bit of politeness wouldn't have gone amiss.

Recently we have been to Thackray medical museum in Leeds which was good value and the cafe was also nice. We have also spent a day in York and enjoyed Yorvik and the Dig! place which was excellent (and DD just thought she was in a huge sandpit so she also had lots of fun digging!).

We have taken DS to see "Joseph", "Annie" and also a production of "Jack and the Beanstalk", and they are also booked to see the Chris and Pui Roadshow in March, Peppa Pig in June and DD and I are going to see a show aimed at the under 4s in May. I have always enjoyed going to the theatre and shows/concerts myself and I think that DS has really enjoyed it. I chose the first two because he had seen the film versions of both several times, loved the soundtrack etc so I thought he would really like to see it live. He loved it, although for "Joseph" we were really far back on the balcony so it wasn't so easy to see. I would like to take them to see Disney on Ice someday but haven't yet had the opportunity. It's a nice day out and we take DCs out for a nice meal beforehand and we all enjoy it.

We have been to see Disney on Ice in Birmingham and my children really enjoyed it. I wasn't very taken with the Incredibles though and they were are large part of it... But, I refused to buy a programme as they were horribly overpriced.

As for days out, in the summer we often go to a local forest for a walk and get an ice cream, or take scooters around a large lake nearby. One of the best days we had last summer was meeting friends in a local park. We all took outside toys (kites, skipping ropes, hula hoops, boules, footballs, stilts etc) and packed lunches (I made a big batch of sparkly cupcakes too ) The children played for hours and the mums chatted and put the world to rights. We also enjoyed going to a pick your own fruit and vegetable farm that has swings and balance bars.

So all in all, a good summer day out IMO allows the children to play together and run about, whilst the adults can have a chinwag!

In the winter, I don't particularly enjoy being outside as much, but we do still go on bracing walks and to the parks. I'd rather take the dc to an indoor play centre where they can run around and I can sit with a cuppa!

The things I dread though about days out are the queues. If I think a soft play centre is a good place to spend a rainy afternoon, you can bet your bottom dollar so does the rest of the town! The other thing I hate are the extra costs that you don't anticipate and have to say no to (well I choose to say no to...) for example, go carts and a merry go round at a local indoor play area cost £1 a go, the overpriced programmees at theatre shows, even at the free events at the library they had 'relevant' merchandise for sale and a little sales pitch made to the dc. It's hard to be the Big Bad Wolf who says no to these extras.

That is why I like Disneyland (can only comment on Paris). The entrance fee is high, but it covers all the rides and shows, there are no hidden extras (food and merchandise aside). I take my dc most years, and people always comment on the cost, but they are often the ones who spend a fortune on days out at home! (cinema with snacks, bowling followed by burgers, splash zone and pizza etc)

Other things I don't like on days out are smoking around my dc, bad language (parents swearing at their dc) and poor manners such as queue jumping, grabbing and hogging the swings are guarenteed to spoil my mood!

I have 2 DD aged 7 and 5.

They like anything active. Cycling, beach, walk in the woods, adventure playgound, theme park, swimming etc. They love science museums and the hands on activities.

I hate to go anywhere that is crowded and has awful expensive food. We took a picnic to Alton Towers only to discover that they charge £10!! for a locker to leave the cool box in. Grossly unfair seeing as you pay so much to get in and their food is overpriced and poor quality.

Their dream day would be a day at the beach followed by a pizza.

They would hate anywhere crowded and really dislike shopping.

We have not been to a Disney show but have been to lots of stage shows and pantomines. They particularly like audience participation and slapstick to make them laugh.

The cost of live shows is often prohibitive so we do limit what we see. When you add in programmes, drinks, transport and food the cost mounts up.

Thank you for all your comments. We have done the prize draw and congratulations go to.....
coffeewhitenosugar
You have won £250 worth of Amazon vouchers! I'lll PM you to get your details.