wmsp.co.uk
Our Annual Pass Plus' have just expired.
Our Annual Pass Plus' have just expired.
We live about an 1hr 15mins away and I the annual passes last April, for myself and my son. We have been 5 times (it was extended because of Covid).
Our first four visits were okay. The only hiccup was on our second visit my son fell on Bojs Park and grazed his neck quite badly. I carried him up to the Helter Skelter ride to ask for assistance form first aid, which they radioed through and was told my only option was to carry him to the first aid station by the animal discover hut. This wasn't great as I had a screaming five year old to carry and he isn't the lightest. Wasn't ideal and I think the staff could have helped more.
Our fifth and final visit was very disappointing. We went Saturday 19th September. This time we took my mother, who has mobility issues. She doesn't use a wheelchair in general but needs to to visit places like this.
We were advised to join the Safari by the entrance staff 'before it got too busy' (about 11am) I challenged this as I could already see the the queue and was told that if we waited any longer we'd be in for over two hours. I said it already looked like it was over two hours and was assured it wasn't. We went in the Safari and came out nearly three hours later.
My son and I had never been when the park was this busy, so we saw a different side of things. On the safari we queued for ages and finally got near the dear. We stopped to feed one and a ranger came and chased us forward, particularly annoying as we hadn't actually come near an animal for a good 25 mins at that point. We then saw a ranger actually bump into a deer in one of their Jeeps. They were driving around like lunatics chasing the animals away from the cars to keep the queue going. Spoilt it really.
It was a shame the Giraffe and Zebra were penned in, it was much better when they were free roaming.
Just before six we went to the food kiosk by the wristband ticket office.
They only had a few bowls of chips left, so I tried to buy those and was told we'd be better going to the main plaza as they were open til 6.30. I said it was okay, that we'd just take the chips and the lady insisted that we went to the main plaza. We got there and it was only the waffle shop and sweet shop open. We were all a bit upset as we were starving at this point.
If my first visit had been like this, I wouldn't have bought the annual passes, and due to how poor this visit was, I won't be renewing as planned.
Tips:
Go on a weekday.
Buy the wristbands only if children are above 1.2 metres.
Go to the loo before the safari. Also take drink and snacks.
Take drinks and a picnic. The food is overpriced and not really that nice.
