Families attending a ‘dinosaur day’ at a theme park say they were ‘disgusted’ after finding one solitary dinosaur.
The day at Funland Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset was billed as ‘a day of everything dinosaur related with lots to see and do’.
But parents said their children were left in tears when they turned up to find just one small T-rex called ‘Titch’.
Parents bombarded the event’s Facebook page with angry messages.
Parents and children were left bitterly disappointed after one lonely T-Rex called ‘Titch’ (pictured) was at a day billed as ‘dinosaur day’ by Funland Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
Several said their young children had been bitterly disappointed at the lack of dinosaurs and some vowed never to return to the park.
Mum Charlene Harris wrote: ‘Dinosaur day would suggest more than just one small dinosaur! Very disappointed.’
Richard Pead commented: ‘Very poor. One dinosaur. Just a ploy to get you to Funland and waste money on tokens. Nothing dinosaur day about it. Don’t waste your time visiting.’
Lucy Attwood said: ‘What disappointment! We drove all the way here!! For one bloody dinosaur- ridiculous!! My 3 year old was very upset.’
Charlie Rayner said: ‘Wow! What an absolute waste of time, disgusted that no one could even be bothered to tell the public that there is only one dinosaur.
‘So many disappointed children with dino t-shirts on. Brought my dino-mad 5-year-old as a well done for his school report but you left him in tears he was so upset! I’ll never be back to the Tropicana again!’
The park apologised saying that part of their dinosaur exhibition were unable to attend due to last-minute transport issues.
But it admitted their advertising might have ‘bigged-up’ the event too much.
They said guests who complained in at the park were offered free rides.
Wendie Smith from Bristol said she had made the 50-mile round trip with her two grandsons, aged 3 and 7, to Funland Tropicana for Dinosaur Day.
‘They were so excited, we had a sleepover and then went to see the dinosaurs.
‘When I got there and there was just one, I thought we were too early and they hadn’t set the rest up yet.
‘I’m quite cynical and I said to my partner, ‘I bet there’s just one, to get us here’.’
But Wendie said that when she found out there really would be no more dinosaurs she had to break the news to her grandsons who were ‘gutted’.
She said: ‘The eldest one was absolutely gutted. I think it’s disgusting, I won’t be going back,’ she said.
The event was itself was free entry but the park has a number of rides such as the Waltzer, a Carousel and Dodgems which require you to purchase tokens.
A member of park management said it was just an unfortunate accident, not a ploy, and they were sorry visitors had been let down.
‘Titch’ the T-Rex was the only dinosaur at the fun day. The manager at the park said they tried their best to deal with complaints by offering free rides
They said: ‘It was an absolute disaster, from our point of view. We really don’t like disappointing people.
‘We had three dinosaurs booked. One, which was local to us, turned up but the others were coming down the M5 when the van pulling their trailer broke down.’
He said the van had to be recovered meaning the dinosaurs couldn’t be delivered.
‘We were just stuffed – we didn’t hear they couldn’t make it until just before the event was due to start. We were as disappointed as the customers to hear that they weren’t coming.
The manager said he understood people had come from a long way-away and staff had tried their best to deal with complaints made to them on-site, offering free rides to people who complained.
‘Our advertising this year probably bigged it up a bit too much,’ he admitted.