Garcia Family UK

Legoland, Billund – Hosted Visit

Did you know that Lego originated in Denmark? I can’t believe we didn’t know this! It’s where it all started. The very first Legoland park opened in June 1968 in Billund, and sits just by the original Lego factory.

As you may have guessed, we are huge fans of Lego and Legoland theme parks! We have annual passes for Windsor and have also visited the Legoland in Dubai too. So when we were invited to check out Legoland in Denmark, we were very excited. Last month we took a short plane journey to Billund, to check out the very first Legoland resort.

Getting There

We departed from Stanstead, London and we were pleasantly surprised to find out that Billund is just less than an hour away. We flew with Ryan Air and our flights cost us only £30pp thanks to Skyscanner.

We picked one of the first flights of the day (if not the first) because we typically find that there are less chances of this flight being delayed. As we were going for only 2 nights/ 3 days, we wanted to make sure getting there went as smoothly as possible.

Since we were only travelling for a weekend we decided that we would just take rucksacks, rather than incurring fees for bigger luggage. This worked out brilliantly for us. It made getting around that little bit easier and it made me realise how unnecessary the amount we bring away usually is.

Billund is very small which is very convienant when it comes to getting around. The airport is very close to the Legoland Resort too at approximately 10 minutes by cab. This journey cost us £11, however during the summer months there is also a free shuttle bus that takes you between the airport and Legoland.

Legoland Theme Park

As we were visiting over a weekend, we were expecting to find the same or at least similar levels of crowds as Legoland Windsor. We were completely wrong (possibly the first time we have ever been happy to have been so!). The queues were far less than we have experienced in Legoland Windsor for example, and even the most popular rides had a short wait time of only 20 minutes. Many of the rides we simply walked on and I have to admit, this made a big difference to our experience.

The theme park is very much suitable for small children, with many rides specifically designed for the use of a family. As a trio, we often find that one of us has to sit on our own but we found this was only applicable to a few rides here in Legoland Billund. As well as catering for smaller children, there are plenty of bigger rides too for those who love an adrenaline hit!

One thing we noticed was that there were Lego stations spaced out in the queue lines. This is such a great idea. The children were happy to queue because they had something to distract them and this meant that parents didn’t feel so impatient too. Little things like this demonstrated just how child focused the park was, not just child friendly.

The princesses were walking through the park, happy to stop and talk or take photos with visitors. There was some signs for meet and greets but unfortunately we didn’t manage to see a character.

The park reminded me quite a lot of Windsor. It had many similar rides but typically our favourite cant be found in Windsor. The Eagle is worth the short queue and if you do visit, we highly recommend this roller coaster. Ita’s favourite was the UniKitty’s Disco Drop, just by Lego Movie World.

On Brick Street you will find Duplo Fun and the Creative Workshop. These are much like the Lego centres over here and Ita really enjoyed spending time in here creating things out of Lego. Also on Brick Street you will find the Aquarium too. I have to say, we really enjoyed The Great Lego Reef centre and found it was a great place to head to when it was raining. The Creative Workshop is totally free, where you can learn some tips and tricks for your builds.

Currently the Brick or Treat event is on for Halloween and next month sees the Christmas event running from 26 November – 31 December.

Hotel Legoland

This hotel is an absolute dream. I initially put a child’s dream but decided to change that because in fact it was brilliant for adults too!

There are various play areas around the hotel, this includes Lego making points as well as Nintendo game areas too. We spent more time in here than I thought we would, but Ita really enjoyed the Lego points especially.

The hotel lobby is completely themed with a huge Lego brick Ollie the Dragon in the middle, which can be climbed and is interactive, then there is a nicely sized Lego Shop where you can obviously purchase a lot of Lego sets but some snacks and drinks too.

We stayed in a Lego Friends themed room which was spacious as well as beautifully decorated. When you stay in a themed room, your kids will receive a free gift (Ita received a Raya the Last Dragon Lego set and was very happy).

Also all kids in the hotel are able to take part in a daily competition too. They have to find clues around the hotel that will answer a question, you then place your answer into a post box in the hotel lobby and a child with the correct answers has the chance to win some Lego goodies.

When you book a room in the Legoland Hotel, you have access to a really good fitness centre, a sauna to help you relax and a really lovely restaurant and bar where you can have a drink at the end of a busy day at the park!

Also when you book a room at the hotel, you automatically have your breakfast included. The buffet breakfast was impressive, with a huge array of different types of food, from cereals to hot food, cold meats, cheese, the most amazing Danish breads and also of course Danish Pastries.

Another huge benefit of staying at the Legoland Hotel, was the walkthrough to the park. You follow a pathway at the hotel lobby that takes you to an entrance in the theme park. You can enter the hotel at any point in your day and come back to the park at your leisure (provided the park is still open I of course). We did this on the second day of our trip and enjoyed some chill out time in the hotel lobby.

We cannot wait to visit again!

To see a tour of the room head over to our Instagram!

Keeping Active this Summer! With Everyone Active

Let’s be completely honest, the summer holidays are a real financial expense and source of anxiety for many parents. Even the most organised of parents will factor in days where children will spend a lot of time in front of the television or on the iPad. Now, some screen time is absolutely fine. In fact it is necessary for parents to work and frankly, gain a rest! However, it is really important to consider that these days children are not as active and so with this in mind, last week we embarked on a 5 day campaign to ‘keep active’ as a family.

Wall Climbing

We started the week by taking a ‘wall climbing’ class with Toni at Westminster Lodge in St Albans. This was a class that we tried last year and it was something that Ita was eager to do again. Everyone Active follows NICAS (National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme) sessions. NICAS is a structured programme aimed at progressing beginner indoor climbers through a series of levels. NICAS Level 1 begins with teaching the climber how to put on a harness, tie their climbing knot and belay safely. As the climber progresses through the NICAS levels they will learn a range of climbing movement techniques, set their own goals and develop autonomy within the climbing wall. The session lasted an hour and took us through all health and safety aspects before embarking on climbing! We were so impressed by how much further Ita could climb. It became a bit competitive between a certain father and daughter… but of course, daddy backed down and Ita was victorious!

The wall climbing classes are suitable for children as young as 5-6 years old where they can take part in ‘taster’ sessions for 1 hour. Then there are courses specifically aimed at 7-15 year olds too.

Prices start from £12.50 a session.

Trampolining

Ita then enjoyed a fun and energetic trampolining session. From the very first lesson, you learn the basics in maintaining rhythm, perform tricks and learn how to stay safe whilst on the apparatus. Ita really enjoyed the class – she said she felt exhausted after which is a good sign! Even when we came home she wanted to head outside to her own trampoline to practice her new skills.

There are classes for adults, teens and children as young as four and all sessions are held in a safe, friendly environment and run by fully-qualified British Gymnastics coaches.

Swimming

At the Everyone Active centres, you can participate in group or private swimming lessons, as well as enjoying the pool in your own leisure. We love visiting and using the pool facilities as a family, and we find the pools spacious and clean. At Westminster Lodge especially, there are 3 pools. One is a small ankle deep pool for babies and toddler where there are small slides to enjoy too.

Home Activities

Home days or ‘no spend days’ are really important during the holidays too, so we applied keeping active whilst in the garden. We set up a really fun obstacle course using items from around the house – including balloons. This kept us all busy for about an hour and we actually had so much fun as a family. The suggested activities from Everyone Active included a balloon keepy-uppy competition which was so much harder than you might imagine! This is something we will definitely do again because it seemed to be something Ita really enjoyed.

Healthy Food

There are lots of home cooking classes on offer with Everyone Active and we chose to make healthy FroYos since the weather has been so warm recently! It was such a quick and easy and tasted delicious!

Ingredients

2 small handfuls frozen berries of choice

6 tbsp Greek yoghurt

1 tbsp honey

Instructions

Put the berries and yoghurt into a food processor with a squeeze of honey.

Wizz up until smooth

Eat straight away or make a larger batch and store in the freezer!

You can find the link to our nutritious FroYo below!

Delicious Instant Frozen Yoghurt

One thing that we really like about Everyone Active, is how many different things are available to try. Tennis, ice skating, climbing, gymnastics, skiing and trampolining to name only a few. Membership is also on a pay as you go style basis and this is another thing that as a family, feels like a big perk.

‘Everyone On Demand’ also gives you access to the widest range of fitness and wellness partners on the market. From fitness and personal training to mental wellbeing and prescribed exercise, there’s a service or session to support everyone, no matter how you feel, every day of the week.

There are over 200 centres nationwide so to find your closest centre, check the link below!

https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi-Ki0Oi3-QIVTgUGAB10Vg_yEAAYASAEEgKb_fD_BwE

Shows at Disneyland Paris (30th Anniversary Addition)

With the 30th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris in full swing, there are so many new and fantastic shows in both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studio Parks.

We are going to run through the shows that are currently available to watch, where to watch them and which ones we would highly recommend (HINT: all of them are awesome!)

DISNEYLAND PARK:

The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands show (Pre-Booking Required and Additional Fee)

If you love The Lion King (who doesn’t), and you love the music from the film, this show is right up your street. It is a 30 minute show full of singing, music and dancing, it takes all the iconic moments from the film and translates them to a stage show!

We saw this show in October and we loved it, it was so vibrant and the acrobats were spell-bounding! We would highly recommend paying the extra £13.43 per person (if you can of course). The show are on everyday at 12.00, 13.00, 15.35, and 16.35 and they are a really good way to split up the day!

The show can be booked using the Disneyland Paris App.

This show takes place in the Frontierland Theatre, which is located in Frontierland and can be found fairly easily with all the Cast Members there to help and give directions.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

If you are like us, and you love 4D Cinema experiences, you and the kids will love this. It stars Donald Duck and a whole host of characters from your favourite Disney films, including Beauty and The Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Peter Pan, Aladdin and new from July 2021, Coco.

Expect wind and water to be splashed on you

We saw this show in 2019 and we really really enjoyed it! We did not manage to watch the show on our last trip, but it is 100% on our list for our next trip. The queues are fairly quiet and you shouldn’t have to wait long which is also a plus.

This attraction can be found in Discoveryland right next to the Star Wars Starport and close to the Star Tours attraction.

Dream… and Shine Brighter (30th Anniversary Day Time Show)

This is a day time show, which celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris.

It takes place 4 times a day and lasts for around 30 minutes and starts on Main Street U.S.A. and finishes in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. HINT: From what I understand, you try your best to get a good spot just in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle as the show ends there and the characters alternate between 4 or 5 stages!

It features an array of characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto, Goofy, Woody and Jessie (Toy Story), Miguel (Coco), Judy Hoops and Nick Wilde (Zootopia), and Joy (Inside Out).

It also has the most catchy song, amazing new outfits and awesome dancers! It is a must see and we can’t wait to watch the show many times over!

Disney Illuminations

We can’t do a blog post about shows at Disneyland Paris without talking about the Illuminations. They take place every night at 23.00 (which is really quiet late) but might be worth doing if you can.

It is a spectacular show and something you have to watch at least once!

WALT DISNEY STUDIO PARK:

Mickey and the Magician Show (Pre-Booking Required and Additional Fee)

This a new and limited show that has come to the Studios for the 30th Anniversary!

It features Mickey (of course) and a host of other beloved characters such as, Genie (Aladdin), Lumiere (Beauty and the Beast), Rafiki (The Lion King) and Elsa (Frozen) to name a few.

We have not seen this show yet, but we have it already booked for our next trip. Just like The Lion King show, you have to book in advance and it costs £13.43 per person. The show is approx 30 minutes long and there are lots of tricks, songs and dancing! We are really looked forward to watching this show and we know our daughter is going to love it!

This show is located in the Animagique Theatre (right next to the Monsters Inc. photo opportunity) and there are 5 shows every day, at 12, 13.05, 14.10, 16.25 and 17.30.

The Disney Junior Dream Factory

This is a fairly new show to the Studio’s, we were lucky enough to see it last time we went to Disneyland Paris and wow it was so so good.

It is a fun packed show and has some really cool characters taking part which include Mickey and Minnie, Timon, Vampirina and Fancy Nancy.

It takes place at the Production Courtyard and lasts around 20 minutes and we would highly recommend taking the time out to check this show out.

Stitch Live!

This attraction is such an underrated experience! We have done this a couple of times and loved it every time!

Stitch chats to the audience via a satellite link and deviates from the scripted lines by interacting with the guests. It is such an amazing experience, we highly recommend it.

The best thing to do, is to check out the show times when you arrive into the Park and then make an a point of putting aside 30 minutes to do this show!

Our daughter loves Stitch and I am convinced it is partly because of this show!

Frozen: A Musical Invitation

If your kids are fans of Frozen, then this is the show you have to go and see!

Your experience starts in Kristoff’s Barn, where you will be greeted by Sven and Kristoff singing and performing, then be met by Anna before having an opportunity to have a sing-a-long with Elsa.

It is a really amazing experience and would definitely recommend doing it! Afterwards if the queues aren’t too big you can meet Olaf too, which is a great way to finish off the Frozen experience.

We booked another Disney Cruise!

Last year we embarked on the Magic at Sea Staycation Cruise and well, we just knew we did not experience the full magic of a Disney cruise. It was always our intention to do another one, but in all honesty we just weren’t sure when. We had thought it would be a few years off and most likely be one of their amazing Barbados cruises. But then only a few weeks ago, Disney Cruise Line announced a few Summer Sailings from the UK, set to sail in 2023!

Admittedly, I was quite surprised and totally unprepared for their announcement but the 4-Night UK Sailings to Spain or France seemed quite appealing.

Especially since the cruise is set to take place aboard the Disney Dream, one of the most beautiful ships in the DCL fleet. The one thing holding us back was that everyone over 5 years requires a covid vaccination. I called Disney to discuss this and was told by 2 separate people that this requirement is not likely to be in place by the time we sail. If it is, we have until May 2023 to cancel and up until then we can get a full refund. Our hope is that by Summer 2023, all restrictions will be a thing of the past! This hope doesn’t seem too unrealistic.

These particular cruises depart from Southampton and journey to picturesque La Rochelle in the south of France, and to the enchanting city of Bilbao, Spain. We were quite honest in that the Magic at Sea cruises fell short of our expectations and did not reach the usual standards of Disney, but the pandemic was a significant contributing factor to this. So we decided that we would put a place holder on a room and take a few days to weigh up one of the 4 night cruises.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/overview/uk-4-night-sailings/

Aside from the 4 night cruises, Disney Cruise Line also have a 7 nights Norwegian Fjords Cruise, sailing from Southampton to Amsterdam (Netherlands), Skjolden, (Norway), Nordfjordeid (Norway) and Sandnes (Stavanger, Norway).

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/list/#august-2023,europe-cruises,southampton-england,7

Having sailed previously, this time we were considered silver members which meant we could reserve our cruise a few days before the general public. In typical fashion (do we ever get to book something without issues?), we went to book our cruise and of course my details were all incorrect! I spent 2 hours on the phone trying to speak with someone from Disney with no luck. In the end, I went onto the Walt Disney World app, and clicked the “chat” service. Someone was able to amend my details in a matter of moments and I was then able to reserve our cabin. This is a useful tip – the chat feature on the app is so handy!

The deposit for this break away was a whopping 20% of the total price. For the Magic at Sea Cruises the deposit was only 10% so it is a big whack to use as a deposit. However, the 20% is apparently quite standard for all Disney cruises. Definitely something to bear in mind!

So, what’s included in a Disney Cruise?

Food and drinks including room service (there are certain exceptions), theatre shows, children’s club , movie screenings, character meets, pool access, quiz shows, drawing classes, night clubs, fitness centre amongst quite a few other things.

What isn’t included?

Palo and Remy (adult only restaurant), alcohol in general, the Bippidy Boppidy Boutique, Royal Court Royal Tea, bottled water, gratuity (tips), internet, spa and any port adventures.

Since booking we haven’t stopped watching vlogs and reading blogs on the Disney Dream ship. It looks incredible. It is well over a year away before we sail but I have a feeling we will be well acquainted with the ship way before we board! One thing we are really hopeful for is to have the full cruise experience without any restrictions or social distancing. When we spoke with Disney they indicated that there are plans to do the Sail-a-Wave deck party, have fireworks and to have pirates night. These are things we missed on our last cruise. So lets just hope it all goes to plan!

Disneyland Paris at Halloween

One of the questions we get asked the most is when is the best time to visit DLP. In honesty, for your first visit I would suggest a warmer month such as June or July but of course seasonal theming is a big deal and its obviously done so well by Disney! The main reason I would recommend those months is because it is quite nice to enjoy the sun. The weather in this part of France is much like England. When it is sunny, its gorgeous. When it rains, well… it pours! Plus I think it is quite nice to get photos without the seasonal decorations unless you are lucky enough to go again! This is simply a personal preference!

We had never visited DLP at Halloween until October 2021. We had the most incredible time! We cant work out whether it is because it had been over a year since we had visited the parks or whether it was down to the spooky fun. It is most probably a combination of both of those reasons but our Halloween visit will forever be such a special visit for us.

Weather

Firstly, as a family this was our first visit to DLP in October but I have previously visited in this month too. The weather on both occasions has been lovely and mild. Cool enough to perhaps require a jacket but mild enough to mean you aren’t loaded with layers of clothing. It is worth noting though that October is one of those months where it can be quite warm or quite rainy. The thing we love about October in general is it is that perfect time of year where you quite look forward to the feeling of Autumn/ Winter.

Decorations/ Theming

The décor as soon as you enter the DLP gates is so striking! It starts from the Town Square and goes all the way down Main Street. We did notice that the décor continues into Frontierland but that there wasn’t much in any of the other areas. This didn’t really bother us because it still felt like there was heavy theming. The castle especially looks fantastic and gets a special make over courtesy of Malificent!

The Coco theming in Frontierland fitted so well. Honestly I cannot describe how perfectly it fitted into this area. We really liked that you get to meet so many characters dressed up in this spot too. It made for the perfect backdrop!

Characters in Costume

One of the first characters we saw was Stitch in his costume and it made Ita so happy! We also met Mickey and Minnie in Frontierland and Jafar in Adventureland.

In Disneyland Studios there is a special Villians meet ( Ita was terrified!!). Here we met the Evil Queen, Jafar, Cruella, Captain Hook, Queen of Hearts and Lady Tremaine. At other times you could meet Gaston and Dr Facilier!

Halloween Snacks

We can honestly say we have never seen so many themed snacks at Disneyland Paris, as we did during the Halloween season! We found lots on offer along Main Street but the best place was in Frontierland. We were spoilt for choice.

We definitely plan on visiting again for the Halloween season.

This year it starts from 1 October and runs through to the 6 November 2022.

Hidden Gems / Secrets at Disneyland Paris

The attention to detail in DLP is really fun and so clever. Every single visit we discover something new and it adds to the excitement of our family breaks. So! Here are our favourite “secrets”…

By the coffee shop on Main Street USA is a window that reads “Piano Lessons”. If you listen carefully, you will hear the sound of someone practising their scales during a piano lesson. We always tell Ita that it’s Marie practicing with her brothers! 🐾

Some other sounds to listen out for on Main Street USA include someone fiddling with the taps in their bathroom (above Victoria’s Style Restaurant) and of course the dentist’s drill next to the Discovery Arcade. In fact, every single time we visit Ita asks whether she needs to visit the dentist and of course we say “depends how many Mickey snacks you have!!”.

My favourite hidden gem is in New Century Notions shop, where there’s an old-fashioned phone on the wall. If you pick it up you can hear funny conversations from the past going on in one of the houses down the street – Ita genuinely believes we’re eavesdropping!!

One of the best things about DLP is the animatronic dragon under Sleeping Beauty’s Castle – it is incredible!! As you stand facing the castle, to the left is the entrance to a cave. According to Disney the dragon isn’t Malificant but say it is anyway!

Upstairs in Sleeping Beauty’s castle you’ll find guards who are under a sleepy spell – listen carefully you will hear snoring!

In Fantasyland you’ll find the Sword in the Stone. Apparently the sword DOES come out every now and again and if you manage to pull it from the stone, the nearest cast member will crown you! (Though, we have never seen it happen).

Head to the graveyard by Phantom Mansion, turn left and then up to Boot Hill Cemetery. Listen carefully and you’ll hear a heartbeat or scratching to get out of the grave! How creepy!

I’m sure there are loads more, why not share them in comments!

Disneyland Paris Q&A – part 1

If you follow us on Instagram, you will have seen that there has been quite a few requests for tips on visiting Disneyland Paris. I have already done quite a few posts but obviously our blog allows us to provide a more detailed narrative!

I popped a questions box up on my stories and decided to break them down into a Q&A style response!

• Who do you book with?

Typically we book with Magic Breaks as we’ve always found them to be reliable but now that we’re annual pass holders, we book everything separately. We will be visiting in the next few weeks and will have booked everything separately so I will do a little cost break down on this visit. Typically, you get some great deals on Magic Breaks and by booking directly with Disney and if we were not APHs then we would still book everything this way!

• What age do you think DLP is suitable from?

Honestly, a baby! That’s the fantastic thing about Paris. There are even lots of rides that they can go on. Ita’s first visit was on her 1st birthday and it was so memorable. Children are free before 3 years (they are excluded from certain things because of this).

• Best places to eat in park/ village and where to get Mickey snacks?

Head over to my DLP guide on Instagram for snacks as I’ve popped information in there previously and it’s quite handy. Aside from character dining, we love the Mickey pizza from Belle Notte (its only about £5) and Earl of Sandwich in the Disney Village! The cafe down Main Street and the Old Mill do some great snacks too including Mickey waffles. We always enjoy the food at Plaza Gardens as its buffet style. The Disney Village has McDonald’s and Five Guys too which is handy for quick service. Actually this might need its own post!!

• Do you think it’s worth visiting without character meals?

ABSOLUTELY – in my opinion, we probably won’t do any more character meals until the Sunday brunch is back in the Disney Hotel. We’ve done them all so many times and enjoyed them all. It’s a nice addition but it’s nothing like meeting a character in the park!

• Best place to watch fireworks?

You will see them from anywhere so don’t worry but if you stand behind something i.e. a bin then you’ll have less chance of someone standing right in front of you – which happens to me all the time! Gotta love being short!

• Is the Studio Park worth visiting?

100% YES! It has our favourite ride there – Ratatouille, as well as Toy Story Land, Cars Road Trip, Crushes Coaster and some good shows too! It’s where Disney Juniors and Stitch Live is shown.

• Any unusual suggestions?

Head to the Studios and do a drawing class – they’re free and so much fun. It’s a great place to head to if it rains! Enjoy character meets in the hotels every evening (around 7.30pm) – anyone can visit!

Under the “Guides” section you’ll find lots of information so don’t forget to follow us on Instagram too!

Legoland, Dubai

Ad – We had such a brilliant day at Legoland Dubai, it totally surpassed our expectations! Where do we start?

We were in Dubai during the week before Easter and we were invited to the Junior Explorers Event which is running until 24 April. The event sees children take on different challenges to collect 4 gold coins which they then trade for a treasure map in order to find their prize – a very cool limited edition Lego set! The challenges included digging for fossils and building an artefact so they were not too taxing and suitable for most children to take part in. The adventure took about 45 minutes for us, but I would recommend putting aside an hour or so if you wanted to take part. There were no queues at all for us to move onto the next challenge which I think sped up our timing. One thing that I really appreciated about this event was that it was in one area and those areas that were covered so it was a perfect rest from the sun.

In fact, most of the theme park is covered which is so needed in the Dubai heat. On the day we visited it was 36 degrees so we visited the Legoland Waterpark first and then made our way to the theme park around 3pm. However, the areas within the theme park are also spacious with lots of shaded areas and seating. Miniland is inside with air-conditioning and is the perfect spot to rest.

Prior to visiting Legoland Dubai, we had only visited the Windsor resort but it is our favourite UK theme park so we were really looking forward to seeing how Dubai compared. The resort is very big, all on one level and very well designed in terms of layout. There are lots of rides at this Legoland – and plenty with smaller children in mind. Ita loved Wave Racer and was able to finally get her driving licence!

There is so much to do and see aside from the rides too. This is something that hugely differed at the UK attraction. You can visit The Factory to make your own Lego brick which is completely free and makes for a little souvenir. You can also meet lots of Lego characters including Ollie the Dragon! Yes you can meet characters in Legoland Windsor, but we have found that you can normally only meet Ollie at the Legoland Hotel in Windsor so this was a nice surprise. You can also watch the fountain show at The Burj model display (inside Miniland). It was so clever!

When I posted about our visit to Instagram, I had lots of messages about visiting a theme park in such great heat. We were informed upon entering that the heat meant 2 rides were not working – this is something to bear in mind because extreme heat or cold can cause problems for the mechanics of the rides. One thing that I was slightly put off about was the potential queuing for rides. However, during our visit he theme park was so quiet that there were no wait times (literally walk ons) which made our experience even better. It may be because of Ramadan, as we know someone who visited the week before us and they also said it was very quiet too. However, upon speaking to a friend who resides in Dubai, she said that a lot of places tend to be quiet during the days since the heat is off putting and Dubai culture typically sees people going outside in the evenings.

One thing worth mentioning is that Legoland Dubai, Legoland Waterpark, Motiongate Themepark and Bollywood Dubai are all situated in a complex called Riverland and are all within walking distance too.
Within this complex there is a Mc Donalds and Costa as well as a Fridays (TGI Fridays to us in the UK).

Prices start at 295 AED per person for the theme park and we would definitely recommend a visit.

Wind in the Willows, Immersion Theatre Company

Immersion Theatre have just started touring with their new show, The Wind in the Willows, and we were fortunate to have seen it a few weeks ago in Harrow.

Pack your picnics and join Ratty, Mole, Badger, and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime culminating in a colourful battle to save Toad Hall from the mischievous weasels.

We often go to the theatre and children learn so much from these experiences. I know many who often worry that their child is too young or won’t sit through a show. However this show was almost panto-like with so much interaction. I really liked that the actors, despite being in character, noticed when the audience was engaging more and played on this. There is so much audience participation which the children especially really enjoyed, but it was evident that adults did too. Children were encouraged to learn songs during the show to later sing along too.

The energy from the actors was so strong that it was easy to take for granted that there were only 5 in the show! The costumes were so cleverly put together that even though one actor would be playing various roles, it wasn’t obvious. Mr Toad especially was incredible. I don’t know how he has so much energy but I’d like to!

Ticket prices seem to vary depending on the location and theatre but average about £15 per adult and slightly less for children.

The show is touring the UK up until the end of April. (Link below to see where they are performing).

Wind in the Willows

The show is 90 minutes long with a 15 minutes interval too.

Zog and the Fly Doctors Theatre Tour

We had such a fantastic trip to the theatre this afternoon to see Zog and the Flying Doctors. So much so, we felt it deserved a blog post!

The story remains true to the original in that Zog, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout go on a flying adventure to tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, the King (Princess Pearl’s uncle) has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she’s soon locked up in the castle! An adventure pursues in order to free the princess and unite the medical trio!

I have to say, @freckle_productions have done a brilliant job with this immersive production. The show is for younger children, the recommended age is from 3 years though a smaller child could easily enjoy this show. With that said, the last few years, specifically the numerous lockdowns and event closures, means the youngest children have really missed out on many social experiences let alone theatre ones. Even at a childrens theatre show the general expectation is that a child sits through the show without distracting anyone else, but Freckle Productions changed the flow of the show by deliberately including children. Talking directly with them, instead of simply putting on a play. This was genius. That simple modification meant that even those who are unused to the theatre, was able to completely enjoy it. The show was perfectly created to engage the children whether to reintegrate them back into the theatre world or to introduce them to it! 👏🏻

The show is touring the UK until the end of August so head to http://www.Zoglive.com to find your closest theatre.

https://zoglive.com/zogandtheflyingdoctors/