Dad Goes Mad After Son With Down's Syndrome Is Refused Entry To Legoland Discovery Centre

Legoland Legoland Discovery Centre down's syndrome Ethan Wheale Gordon Wheale

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Aug 16, 09:26 am

Photo: (Photo : Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

A dad is fuming mad after his son with Down's Syndrome was turned away from Birmingham's Legoland Discovery Centre because the young man had recently turned 18, according to ITV News.

Ethan Wheale was refused entry into the famous attraction this week despite having in his possession a Merlin Annual Pass. According to his father Gordon Wheale, Ethan has ADHD apart from having Down's Syndrome. The teen, who plays with Lego every day, has a mental age of about six years old and loves building walls.

He was taken by his aunt to the centre on Tuesday, August 9, but was surprisingly not allowed in. The rest of Wheale's family went on a day out to Harry Potter World but Gordon said that attraction was not of interest to his son Ethan.

Legoland policy blasted by family

Legoland Discovery Centre issued a statement, saying that the policy not to allow groups in without a child is put in place to create a safe and welcoming space for small kids and their carers.

Gordon, who hails from Whittington near Lichfield, said that his wife organized for her to take her eldest son and daughter as well as their two cousins to Harry Potter World. He said that his middle son who has Down's Syndrome was not interested in going there. He decided to go to Legoland in Birmingham instead which he enjoys very much and has been to numerous times.

Gordon said his son got a Merlin Pass, booking it online and a Lego workshop. When Ethan and his aunt got there, though, they were told as he had turned 18 at the end of May that the group had to have a child with them for them to get in, according to Nottingham Post.

Ethan and aunt refused entry to Legoland

Gordon can't accept this logic, saying that his son has got Down's Syndrome and ADHD, and that he has got a mental age of about six. He added that his son is always watching Bob the Builder and he has not got a clue why he was not allowed in Legoland.

What made the whole experience so upsetting for them was that it was the first time Ethan has seen her auntie in two-and-a-half years. She had come from Australia to visit the family and she specifically made the journey into Birmingham to bond with her nephew.

Ethan and his aunt went to the Sea Life Centre instead but they only spent about 30 minutes inside before coming home as his son was not interested in it, according to Gordon. The family contacted Legoland about the issue and they were told the matter would be passed onto higher management.

Gordon did not appreciate that answer, saying this is ridiculous. He said the person that he spoke to was really apologetic and said he could understand the family's frustration regarding the incident, the Daily Record reported.