Lets Start A List...

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

Kind of a spin off from the "It's Ok to Be Single" thread. Anyway. Over the past few weeks, I've been debating taking DS on holiday next year. Now, one of the holidays I looked at, with the under occupancy rate, cost just 100 euros less for myself and DS than it would cost my DB, his wife and two children for the exact same holiday.

For myself and DS, 899 euros.
For his family, 1014 euros.

This is, may I add, Disneyland Paris. A holiday which is supposed to be designed for kids... Yet it's discriminating against single parents...

So, I though, we could start a list of ways society, capitalism and the patriachy discriminate against single parents, thus implying that the ideal family has 2 parents...

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

Amen, aliceliddell...

Go out and work, and we're abusing/neglecting our kids.

Stay at home, and we're benefit scroungers. Can't win...

[aliceliddell]

The surprising lack of free 24 hour availability of childcare provision - no, wait! That is the single parents

[garlicnutter]

Correct, limetrees. it's one of the few things that older women get cheaper than men or younger people

[limetrees]

margery - car insurance discriminates by sex/age/job/marital status and a whole lot more. It is based on statistics of how likely particular groups of people are to claim - it isn't based on hatred of any of these groups!!

[margerykemp]

I bet car insurance discriminates against sps.

[garlicnutter]

I'm single and childless so I go on holiday on my own, etc. Package holidays are ridiculous; the offers are always for 2 - single supplements bump the price right up, often above the offer price. I either end up doing my own or booking with a friend, who won't turn up. I have to pay double for my hols.

A la carte is at least less annoying, as many European hotels charge per person and I only have to buy one plane seat.

When the car ferries were running, everybody was going on about how cheap the crossing was - but it wasn't for me! I paid the same as the car full of people next to mine.

Restaurants try to sit me at a shelf by the loo. They don't get away with it, but they shouldn't even try
Quick-food chains do two for one offers but, natch, you can't get one half-price.

Food isn't a problem because I cook and freeze, but it would be if I didn't have a freezer and/or relied on ready meals. Most rentals for singles only have a fridge with a freezer compartment, which is useless for food storage.

"Two can live as cheaply as one" really comes true when you look at housing and heating costs - two of the biggest bills - plus your insurance and so forth is the same. You get CT discount, though.

Am sure I'll think of more

[limetrees]

Oh and all the stuff designed for 2+2

2 children is the most common number of children to have. I am not saying this as a smugly - I come from a family of 6 and I know what it's like to have nothing designed to suit. Again, it's simply money.

[limetrees]

It's just money isn't it.

If a Disneyland hotel could sell a room to 2 parents and 2 children, it is more profitable than selling the exact same room underoccupied to 1 parent and 1 or 2 children.

4 people will buy more meals.
4 people will buy more park tickets.
4 people will probably buy more from the shops.
etc

Don't think it's really about discrimination. Disney is a business. It's designed to make money.

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

DS would be gutted if he couldn't go dressed as Ursula, though. :( Seriously, he loves her...

*Please note... If I mention in, say around 10 years, that my child has been sectioned for trying to steal peoples voices, I will blame Disney...

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

Oooh, sounds a wonderful idea! We could also demand that Prince Eric parades around topless as a show of solidarity for Ariel.

If I can afford it, was planning on going next year, myself. All depends on how the next month or so pans out.

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

And I thought Disney with one child would be enough...

I also think we should have a feminist meet at Disneyland...

[madwomanintheattic]

disney with eight children
but wow. you learn something every day!

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

Ooh, the themed suites look really nice...

Tempting...

[ThePosieParker]

I've looked at Disney and it's £900 for us, for a weekend!!

Other than that, barely any online booking company allows you to book for four children.....family rooms are usually for three children and getting adjoining rooms is impossible. Then there's swimming, one adult per child under 8!!

We've been to Disney in Hong Kong many many times.....much much cheaper!! And I went to Paris Disney when it was still EuroDisney, and I was filmed for 'Blind Date'!! So ner!

[madwomanintheattic]

posie, yy, we are five. most times we can't get a room at all, even if we could pay an under occupancy premium. we have to get two rooms. and spend the nights with a kid or two each. fine as it goes, but it isn't really a family holiday if your family actually has two adults in it, m or f. and you want to converse after dinner once the kids are in bed. and then pay an under-occupancy premium for having two unfilled rooms.

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

Oooh, Posie had forgotten about that. By the time I was adopted, older DB and DSis had moved ou, so DM started again with a 2 + 2 family. We only ever went out or on holiday when DF was at home.

[DontCallMeFrothyDragon]

I'll have a look into those, thanks UMS!

I never had an imaginary friend. I used to make up stories off the top of my head though....

In fact, we had a five hour drive to Peterborough when I was about 4 (traffic jams included) during which I told my DM a tale in which Snow White was really a baddie, and had stolen from the Queen, etc. Dragged it out for five hours, then on the way back asked DM if she wanted to hear it again... Needless to say, she didn't...

DS just pretends he's Mother Gothel, or Ursula...