Legoland

catnia

We are going to Legoland as part of our first family holiday outside of Ireland :-) (the reason it's our first holiday outside of Ireland is that we have a son who is nearly four who has been oxygen dependent since 4 months). We will be there for one day on Monday 25th with our two boys, nearly 4 and 7. We are staying locally the night before so can arrive nice and early to get a full day in. What I'm hoping is that someone who has been before could give me any hints/tips re what we should make sure to do whilst there/avoid etc, best place to eat v bring a packed lunch, what the queues are like etc. We really want to make the most of our day there so would be really grateful for any advice. Thanks! Cat. ps from a money saving point of view I have 2 for 1 vouchers from Clinton cards :j

MatyMoo

We went in May for my God daughters birthday and I was surprised at how compact it was.

We ate in a Bar B Q place close to one of the water features (Log Flume Type thing) and for that sort of place it wasn't bad food.

I think you can buy a special pass that means you can book some rides ahead and therefore avoid queues. We didn't do this and we were there on a saturday. I think the longest we queued for was about half an hour.

We got there at 10am and left at 6 so it was quite a full day. I thought there was a great range of things to suit all ages. The kids had a great day so I am sure you will enjoy it.

Rolandtheroadie

My 6 year olds there today with his Gran, travelling home tomorrow.

They're staying at the Travel Inn, Hemel Hempsted. Grans not impressed with the hotel. Or the bus journey down from Scotland lol.

But they've loved Legoland.

I've subscribed to the thread, I'll find out more when they get home tomorrow night.

closemead

We went yesterday and although it was busy, the longest we queued was 35 minutes for the atlantis submarine ride. This is their new ride, the kids loved it and I thought i was pretty good too!
We took a packed lunch due to us having 5 kids! The cost of a cornetto was £1.90 :eek: I bough 6 for £1.12 at Morrissons!
Our kids enjoyed the duplo village and it's water play bit so take a towel and swimming stuff for kids.
There are plenty of play areas and things to do and see so you dont even need to do the rides if you choose not too.
The show in Lego City is worth seeing, I think it was on 3 times during he day.
We did not get to see everything you could easily spend two days there, we arrived at 10am and left at about 6.30pm and we were knackered by then but it was a really great day.We first went 2 years ago and the kids were desperae to go back again.

catnia

Thank you so much everyone! Some great comments. I wouldn't have thought about them needing swim gear/towels so that's fab to know - both boys are mad about getting wet and splashing about!! Really appreciate you taking the time to reply :-) Cat.x

givememoney

We went last Saturday with our 3 year old grandson.

I was very apprehensive as we went to Thorpe Park last year. We went to Thorpe Park about 25 years ago (doesn't time fly) and I remembered a spacious clean and tidy place with nice rides. This has changed dramatically and the place is dirty, cramped and signs are practically non-existant.

So with this in mind although I hadn't been to Legoland before, I was slightly concerned.

However, I was delighted. Lovely clean place with lots of lovely rides for him and nanny and granddad to enjoy to. He is in love with Fireman Sam and they had a fire engine ride there. We did have to queue for about 40 mins for that and another 40 min wait for a little boat ride where you see lots of animals (legoland style). Other rides were more like 20 mins.

We took sandwiches etc. for lunch and just bought a couple of ice creams, cups of tea etc. although there are loads of eating places there.

The models made of lego now include the city of London with the Swiss Rae building (gerkin), ports, trains, villages, buckingham palace with little soldiers changing the guard...fantastic.

You can get QBOT which basically allows queue jumping but it is £15 per person so this is on top of your entry fee I believe.

Parking is £2.

Make sure you get one of the many deals, we had buy one get one free and my husband paid for grandson with his Nectar points as you get double what you would get using them in Sainsburys.

We have a lovely day the only quibble we just couldn't get round it all in the time. Expensive but very nice.

sooty&sweep

Hi

We're planning to go into Legoland during the summer hols.
Am I right thinking that if you go in and you want to go back next day they offer some good deals to upgrade your ticket to two days ?

Thanks

Jen

ellay864

When you arrive at Legoland you go into a concourse area and then over to the left corner is the entrance into the park itself. If you get there just before or at opening time they rope across the path so everybody heads off into the park in a large mass. There's a train that goes down into the park and it's really tempting to go on that and kids will always ask to go on it...SAY NO!!! Chances are you won't get on the first train down and by the time you've walked it you could be in the park. Walk down the hill, ignore the main 'model village' area that you go into and head over to the back of the park...that's the bit that gets busiest so if you get there early you avoid the queues. Then work your way back into the park afterwards.
There is a train that runs around the park - if the queues aren't too bad for it it's worth going on as there's loads of models in the ground that you can't see other than from the train. There's a stunt show in the harbour that runs a few times a day. We would always grab our lunch when that was on, sitting to watch the show at the same time.
I went 10 years in a row with my kids when they were younger and could happily go back again!

Trixie102

Hi,
We went for the second time earlier this month and got their for 9.30am (year before got there just after 10am and waited ages to park, then ages for ticket booth)- so advise get there 1/2 hour before opening time. Walked straight in (no cheques at the ticket booth or queue for the car park). We paid extra (think £8) for the nearest car park as after a long day of walking about just couldn't be bothered with the potentially long walk back to the car park!!!
When got into the park went straight away to the right hand side (near the large food place/ car zone building) and went into queue for the 10am opening. Went straight to the Viking Zone and onto the water ride (big queue later in day), then onto Pirate Zone for log flume- two water rides so expect to get wet but family walk in driers nearby if needed. These rides get busy later so do them first, when we went first time never got on them due to queues!
Took packed lunch and ate it while watching the noon pirate show in City Zone. Saves wasting time later. Didn't eat as thought seemed expensive and very busy. Did buy the refillable drink bottles as on a hot day were a God-send. Can re-fill as many times as you want as numerous drink stands.
We did see on here before we went that children can ask members of the Legoland staff for special collectable badges (they hand them out free). Not all staff have them but my son managed to get 4 which he now treasures. Staff tend to have them clipped to their lanyard around their neck.
Have a great day and enjoy- very tiring day but great fun.

mew

If your son has a 'disability', Then head to guest services when you arrive and you will be able to get ride exit passes. The passes allow you to minimise queues by using the ride exit. After you have been on a 'big' ride (roller coasters, boating school etc), you will be given a time (equivalent to the queue time) before you can use the exit at another big ride, however during this waiting time you are allowed to use the exit pass on smaller rides (pirate ship, sky ride, 4D cinema etc).

There are some conditions etc, the main being you can only use the exit pass for your family if the child with a disability goes on the ride. You also may need some proof of disability such as a doctors letter or hospital diagnosis etc.

catnia

Thankas everyone, much appreciated.

@Mew, I had read about the ride exit passes and wondered if it would apply to our son... our 3 year old is oxygen dependent so will be attached to me/his Dad all day via a portable tank that we will carry. I wasn't sure when I read the Legoland info on guests with disabilities if the ride pass would apply to him - it seemed more geared towards people with disabilities like Autism/Aspergers that don't understand the concept of waiting/queuing etc. Our little boy is like every other three year old in that he will probably have difficulty waiting but it isn't because of his condition per se, just his age lol! It will be problematic if we have to queue in the heat though - if it's really hot we just won't be able to and will have to find something else to do. I will have a letter with me though from his consultant confirming his diagnosis so I think I will just go to guest services and see what they say.

Thanks again for everyone's help.