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Original poster

Any tips for visiting Olympic Park please

147 replies

lorisparkle · 28/07/2012 19:29

We are off to visit the park on Tuesday with a 6 year old and 4 year old. I am feeling rather anxious about the whole thing and hoping that there will be some fab MNetters who have already been and can give us some handy tips! We are travelling by car then by tube. Would a buggy be a help or a hindrance, buy or take food, places to visit, etc etc

TIA

OP posts:
Original poster
lorisparkle · 02/08/2012 09:52

I can't believe we missed the schools garden - DS1 kept asking 'where is the park?!'.

I wonder though how things will be different went it is the paraolympics...

OP posts:
dinasaw · 02/08/2012 12:46

Ok, I'm back from my trip on Tuesday, We had a fantastic day at the Olympic Park, well worth the money and the effort.
Mum is finding walking distances really hard at the moment. We travelled in to Stratford station on the overground train. It was a bit of walk round to security but Mum managed it at a slow pace. Security was very quick to get through and was efficiently manned by a group of soldiers and some games makers. Take everything out of your pockets and put it in your bag as you queue up to save time.
They did offer to fetch Mum a wheel chair at security but she wanted to carry on walking for a bit more. As you come out of security and you reach the main walkway with the stadium in front of you there is a games mobility stop to get on the carts. There was a bit of a queue and no shelter so as it was about to start raining we carried on walking. We then found another mobility cart stop a bit further on and put Mum and Dad on that which took them to the games mobility station by the massive Macd's and the London 2012 Megastore. We walked on and met them there. Mum was able to borrow a mobility scooter for the day. There is no cost, you just fill out a form and show photo id. They showed her how to use it and she was away. Thanks to the scooter Mum was able to cope with the day and we were able to see everything in the park.

Water points are by the toilets, although sometimes they are hidden behind them.
The toilets are in blocks of three or four, go to the furthest block away and there will be less of a queue. The furthest cubicle away has hand rails if someone in your group needs them.
We had some food in the world's largest Macdonalds, although I wasn't impressed they had run out of tea at 2 in the afternoon! I went in and got the food and left the others sat outside. If you plan to eat there I would grab a table outside and send someone in to get food. Don't take the kids in if you can help it. The queue was huge (a good twenty minutes) and all the littlies I could see were getting stressed with the crowds of people.
We were going to see the hockey in the evening. We went in to the venue and they have a games mobility tent. They will store the mobility scooters as well as pushchairs. They give you a ticket, the other half of which is attached to your item. At the end of the event they bring the items out of the tent for you to collect.

AuntieMaggie · 02/08/2012 13:06

BradleyWigeons which is the best entrance to go to for the Riverbank Arena?

AuntieMaggie · 02/08/2012 13:09

dinasaw we're going to see the hockey next week (2 adults) any other hints?

What time did you arrive?

GreenGoldSilverAndBronzeShadow · 02/08/2012 13:35

We're going to the first Athletics tomorrow morning.

Encouraging to hear that security/queues aren't too bad , but expecting it to get worse tomorrow as the numbers attending are predicted to almost double.

We also have to cross London during the rush hour.

I'm sure it will be worth it though.

buggybored · 02/08/2012 13:52

We're also going to the hockey (tomorrow!) with a 4 and 7 year old. Does anyone know if it's possible to exit and re-enter the riverbank arena itself (as opposed to leaving the Park) - I had this cunning plan that I cld pop in about with the youngest to keep her entertained, no a,punt of pom bears is going to get her through 2 matches...

staranise · 02/08/2012 13:53

We went at about 9.30-10ish and the Jubilee line was empty. Going home at 8pm was fine til North Greenwich, then super-busy. Waterloo was fine.

Going through security took less than 5mins. We walked everywhere but lots of people with children got the shuttles. I should probably have got them as DC3 was grey with tiredness by the end.

We went to McDonalds and the queues were awful - I would definitely time a visit for when the events are on - the main areas seem to triple in numbers when people come out of the arenas.

Park Live was a great place to hang out and have a picnic and watch the big screen.

Enjoy!

Rhubarb78 · 02/08/2012 15:43

buggy no re entry allowed, haven't been to riverbank but the copper box had space you could take your dc out to wander up and down without exiting the arena.
Note to anyone who may buy souvenirs, they are soooo much cheaper in Argos. Was going to buy ds a mascot teddy at the park but was £16 so decided against it. Bought the exact same one in Argos for £3.99! Just bought one for my sisters little girl too, she is going to take it with her and give it to her when they are there.

Windsock · 02/08/2012 15:59

went to riverbank once you are in there is NO reentry
the qs at the interval were MANIC

Windsock · 02/08/2012 16:00

we did mac donalds at 12. walked right in.
by exit EVERYONE was there qing around the block.

go just before lunch.
the qs home were big - lots of slow walking like sheep.
but all well managed

Windsock · 02/08/2012 16:01

oh ant macdonalds DONT be a wanker and grab a table first - i bloody hate that

BradleyWigeons · 02/08/2012 16:11

AuntieMaggie - go to the Stratford Gate entrance for Riverbank arena (accessible from Stratford tube or Stratford International or DLR), rather than West Ham, although it's still a bit of a walk through the Park from there. But at least you are in the Park and can look at all the lovely other venues, the jolly crowds and the pretty trees and flowers etc!

So glad to hear everyone is having a fab time!

dinasaw · 02/08/2012 19:23

Tips for Riverbank for the hockey.
Once you go in you cannot go back out and re-enter.
Going in is simply a matter of getting your ticket scanned.
We went in about forty minutes before our game started. They let you in shortly after the previous session have left.
Try and go to the loo before the previous session come out of the arena, there are less queues. Otherwise go into the Riverbank arena as soon as you can and head for the loo.
You will see signs saying watch out for hockey balls, you only need to watch out if the training pitch is being used.
If you want coffee or food get in the queue as soon as you can as the queues get longer.
As you enter on the right hand side is where there is a small London 2012 stall with hockey souveniers. Next to this is where you can leave mobility scooters or pushchairs.
We were row 29 of 30. It is quite high up and was a bit scary when people started drumming their feet, so brief the kids for this.
If you need the loo or food or drink during the break in matches try and elave a few minutes early to walk round.

buggybored · 02/08/2012 21:00

Thanks Dinasaw and Rhubarb - do you think it's really necessary to arrive at the riverbank an hour before your session starts? I might send DH and DS in at the beginning and then join them a bit later with DS - being honest it's the GB match I really want her to last thru'!!

ReelAroundTheOrbit · 02/08/2012 21:26

Might be worth knowing - today I was at the gymnastics and we managed to sit in (empty Grin) top seats. I had cat c tickets but sat in cat a seats. We just asked the volunteers it would be ok and they said ok but we'd have to move if someone appears. Nobody did and there were plenty of other empty seats around.

Nobody wants the empty seats to be prominent on the tv. Soooo glad we did it - our view was amazing! I know of others who have done the same in other venues too.

PeppermintCreams · 02/08/2012 21:48

We took my 4 year old to the morning hockey matches on Monday. He did really well (for him) and we left during the middle of the 2nd match, but it wasn't GB so we didn't mind! We took it in turns to take him for walks to the toilet in the middle of the matches, so there were no queues. We arrived just as they were singing the national anthem and didn't have any problems with queuing to get in.

Windsock · 02/08/2012 21:50

No don't need to arrive an hour before. The time passes fast tho. We were row 26!

Block 216 and tonthenright of that faces sun. Bear that in mind

PeppermintCreams · 02/08/2012 21:51

diamondgeezer.blogspot.co.uk/

Take a look at DG's blog, he has written a lot about the Olympics and the Olympic Park.

PeppermintCreams · 02/08/2012 21:52

diamondgeezer.blogspot.co.uk/

Link fail!

BradleyWigeons · 02/08/2012 22:08

Wow - that is a super helpful and interesting blog! Thanks for posting!

Windsock · 02/08/2012 22:38

Great blog

yellowflowers · 02/08/2012 22:40

Do the morning hockey games really start at 8.30. It says that on our tickets but I don't know if that's when gates open or when it starts. Also can you take umbrellas? Presumably that just gets in the way of the people behind you?

Lilymaid · 02/08/2012 22:51

Went today. Loos excellent at Olympic Park (but not so good at "North Greenwich Arena" aka 02). Plenty of seating, food outlets (not all McDonalds). All the volunteers and the armed services were really jolly - so were the nice African guys who we met during their break who were working for G4S on Security! A really positive experience.

PeppermintCreams · 03/08/2012 06:36

The morning hockey games do indeed start at 8.30. We got in the venue at 8.30, and pretty much went straight into our seats.

PeppermintCreams · 03/08/2012 06:51

The other London blog that is (generally) helpful and interested to train spotters like me is www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/ .

Love Diamond Geezer. Been reading his blog since he started back in the naughties. If I knew he wasn't reading this, after checking his link stats, I'd say I had a big crush on him.