Community Discussion
Topic: The Baloos Halloween Vacation - Legoland & another

#	Author	Message
1	davewasbaloo Sun 11/1/2009 3:26a	Hi folks, Not sure if many are interested, but we were away earlier this week. There is a lot of heavy stuff going on with my family at the mo, so we decided to run away and spoil the kids this October Half Term Holiday. We used our hotel points I earn through business travel and our Merlin APs (access to Legoland, Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park, Warwick Castle, the Dungeons, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and the Sealife Centres) to take the kids away for 5 days. We spent 2 nights at the Heathrow Crown Plaza (so we could have a 10 min drive to Legoland and swimming facilities) and then stayed 2 nights in a kids suite in the Holiday Inn at Chessington (a little like old school knotts crossed with a little zoo). Despite being in pain from dental surgery, we had a fantastic time. The fireworks at Legoland were top drawer, equal if not better than Disney's. Jonathan Rhys Jones reprised his role as Sallah from Raiders of the Lost Ark especially, and seeing pyros launched to the music of the Indy films was great. They also had the usual Halloween Lego activities, an INdy Lego movie, An indy inspired race game, an archeological dig, entertainers, and creepy crawly sessions where we held snakes, cockroaches and stick insects. We had a real blast. I will write more on Chessington when I put those pics up. Here are the pics from Day 1: http://www.facebook.com/album....a9036c92
2	davewasbaloo Sun 11/1/2009 3:54a	Day 2 - we did a little scavenger hunt and the kids got given some little presents by the hotel, and it was then off the park so we could get our free commemorative lego brick (they had run out the day before). The park was heaving, so we concentrated on the lower crowd or special activities. Then we found a spot 2 hours before the fireworks down in the Harbour, which as an even better view. AMAZING. http://www.facebook.com/album....ab65eadb http://www.facebook.com/album....ab65eadb
3	davewasbaloo Sun 11/1/2009 4:23a	After having a little lie in, we had some cereal bars in the room and then went for a swim. It was called a little short because the elderly has an aquarobics session, but we enjoyed an hour of watery fun, then checked out. Off to Harvester for lunch. The kids (who didn't know we were going to Legoland let alone anything else) were oblivious. THey thought we were going home after lunch. Little did they know when we pulled up to the Holiday Inn Chessington. This is an african themed 4 star near the gates of the park. We checked in, had a little rest, and then went in to enjoy the park after dark. They loved it, though Mikey was scared on the pirate Ship, his little sister squealled with joy. We won some cuddlies on a darts game (I won two little cows and pigs for the kids, mama was the better shot and won herslef a bigger pig - I felt so emasculated ;-) We closed the park down with multiple (lost count) rides on the runaway mine train in the dark. The decore was fab, the music was excellent (Nightmare B4 Xmas, Friday the 13th, Tales from the Crypt, Beetleguise, Addams Family, Munsters, Monster Mash, Purple People Eater, Edward Scissorhands, Tubular Bells etc.), and the fiery Fawn was impressive - great story telling, fire eating, magic and fire breathing. We finished off with a late buffet dinner which was of excellent quality - curry, sag aloo, sweet and sour, stir fry, chilli, and all the more english/american stuff too. Knowing I might be diabetic, I raided the dessert buffet too - might be the last chance - profitorols, apple torte, devils food cake, Black Forest Gateau etc. Shame my mouth hurt too bad to really enjoy it. Kids were fast asleep ready for Early entry (hotel perk) the next morning. http://www.facebook.com/album....cce95907
4	davewasbaloo Sun 11/1/2009 4:48a	Day 2 at Chessington was great, we got to ride about 6 attractions before the park opened to the general public, see a baby gorilla, a baby lion on cctv (2 weeks old) and see the tigers fed. I was able to sort out a little homesickness by having a taco for lunch and seeing sea lions - lol. We then went for a swim and did our faces up to enjoy the evening in the park. But 4 days of parks (even when taking it easy) kills the kids. Jess fell asleep in the restaurant which made for an interesting hike in back to the hotel. Sarah asked if we were bad parents for not using strollers for a 4 year old. I said, I thought that made us good parents. Lol. http://www.facebook.com/album....3ae85da3
5	davewasbaloo Sun 11/1/2009 5:01a	Last day was about soaking in the details and doing the last few things we had saved. We skipped going swimming because everyone was so zonked and left the park at about 4. Sadly we got caught in horrid traffic, so it took us nearl 4 hours to make the 98 mile journey home. Lol
6	davewasbaloo Sun 11/1/2009 5:02a	Here are the last day pics if you are interested: http://www.facebook.com/album....370a03bd
7	u k fan Sun 11/1/2009 8:37a	Looks like you had great fun. Jess is getting so big! Which did you prefer? I haven't been to Chessington in over 10 years. The lack of decent in the UK is part of why we're at DLP so often. (Fingers crossed we'll be going in December as a surprise treat to Sis and her kids). We considered Legoland this year, but the prices are super scary for a large family. We could use Tesco vouchers, but we prefer to save them for channel crossings!!!
8	davewasbaloo Sun 11/1/2009 10:09a	Hmmmm, hard call. They are not Disney parks, but I do urge you guys to give Legoland a try, I think you would love it. It is more about looking around and experiencing than rides, and some is aimed at kids. But I love the place. Chessington, hmmmmmmm, definately not as good as the other parks. Fun stuff, especially with Merlin passes, and if you want to see animals. But attraction wise is lacking, especially for big folks (there were a number of things I could not ride - still, much better than Thorpe Park on that front).
9	u k fan Sun 11/1/2009 11:50a	That's one of the reasons we haven't bothered with Alton Towers in years, I doubt I'd fit on much!!!
10	disney pete Sun 11/1/2009 12:20p	Dave sounds like a great trip was had i saw some pics earlier today on FB but my pc kept crashing will try again tomorrow

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