Pettits a good choice for young family members - Bring a pic nic (Pettitts Animal Adventure Park)

Member Name: gofroggy123

Product:	Pettitts Animal Adventure Park
Date:	17/01/09 (502 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good staff, no crowds, suitable for the very young, clean facilities

Disadvantages: Not suitable for teens or near teens, some pay rides, little to do if wet

Pettits is located in a rural location south of Acle and close to the Broads, it can be relatively hard to find and involves the use of "B" roads. Visitors coming from the South can include a crossing on the Reedham ferry en route. Theres an attractive pub on the North side of the crossing. The crossing is about £4 (2008) for a typical car which is costly but a novel experience.

The park itself is small, clean and aimed at young families. I've been going there for the last 8 years as my children have grown up. My 11 year old has only this year finaly grown out of this park but she is a genteel kid. In reality, few children of 10 or older would find much of interest here as there is nothing that even approaches white nuckle here.

There are about 8 actual sit on rides and these are all suitable for very young children. I would just warn you that the mini roller coaster is increadibly bumpy and a rough ride for tiny tots who find their faces at about banging height on the safety bars. I had to hang on to my youngest to prevent him getting tossed about on what is still a very tame ride.

The staff are largely seniors who are considerate and keep a good watch over the children. In many ways they come over as grandfatherly figures and are quick to stop any rides if the children are in any way unhappy. Common sense prevails but you need to be aware that at some times of the day one operative will be looking after 2 rides (though only 1 will be going at any time)

Besides the rides there are a number of static playground facilities, slides, tabogans, climbing frames, ball pit and a really good fort like adventure playground.

The park is liberally populated with animals of the cuddly type. Rabbits, peacocks, pigs, Lamas, ponies, chipmunks etc. There are also a range of zoo cages housing owls and raccoons. Feeding time should be avolded for little ones as the owls are fed on dead chicken chicks and these remained on view for quite a while as the owls did not appear underfed.

The park provided on stage entertainment from Bingo the clown or his helper 3 times during the day. The show is fine for little children but watch out for Bingos attempt to fleece you of £3 for a bit of paper at the end. Its an attempt at humour the kids wont understand and he uses it every time. Having said that, my children would pester me to attend all 3 shows.

Sadly there is the obligatory range of fruit machines and overpriced souvenir shops but these are out on a limb and can be easily avoided by prepared parents.

There are many attractive picnic facilities all around Pettits but the car park is a good 200yds from the park entrance. There is no formal re-entry facility so you just have to tell the entrance staff your popping back to the car to get your picnic and hope they remember you on your return.

Pettits has a petting area with rumbunctuous goats that you can feed or pat. The goats get very excited and I always see little children in tears having been attacked by a gang of greedy goats, jumped on and robbed of the feed (less brave kiddies can feed coi carp or ducks instead). The park provides a "safe" area where children can feed goats who pop their heads through holes in a fence to be fed which is useful provided the goats dont escape into that area, which they do. Be careful! Washing facilities are provided by the goat stall.

Toilet facilities are excellent, always clean and available at various points around what it a very compact site anyway.

The park provides a good range of in house catering (no franchises) offering burgers, pizza etc at reasonable if high end of the market prices. The park has never been full enough during my visits to warrant all the possibe eateries being open!

There appears to be no such thing as a queue at Pettits, the park is not that well known and never becomes too full, which is possibly why it is quite expensive at £38 (2008) for a family of up to 5. For that you get around 6 hours in the park and we've always stayed for the full 6 hours opening and needed chucking out, though its more a case that everything gets turned off than there being any actual chucking involved!

Pettits is a definite No for families with teenagers, they will be bores stiff. For young kiddies, say 4-9, its a little gem.
Compared to premier league football its a bargain but it does not compare to bigger parks in terms of how much you get for your £

One negative with Pettits is that there are some pay again rides, the little bumper cars or the model boat racing for instance which require another £1. Having paid nearly £40 to get in, I dont want to have to pay anything more and the kids dont understand about that, they just jump on the ride on tractor and want to drive it around the circuit. This could add a fair bit if you have 3 kids so get them prepared to avoid anything with a slot in it, in all thats about 5 things if I remember correctly.

Overall I feel very positive towards Pettits but my children have now moved on to bigger things like Pleasurewood Hills and Alton Towers. If you are looking for a nice day out with really tame gentle rides, some cuddly animals and a kid friendly clown show then this could well be a good choice for you. Pick a nice day as there really isnt anything to do in the rain here and precious little shelter.

Summary: A full days gentle fun for little children and their stressed out parents