Legoland Windsor shut its gates around lunchtime on Oct. 11 after a burst water main disrupted the site, with visitors asked to get off rides and leave the park.
For people who had already made the journey and checked into a hotel, the problem ended the excursion almost as soon as it began.
Here's what to know
According to the BBC, guests already inside had their day cut short when the whole resort closed.
To stop further flooding, Thames Water shut down the broken main near St. Leonards Reservoir. The company noted that some nearby homes also had flooding in their yards.
Merlin Entertainments, Legoland's operator, noted that the park remained closed as Thames Water worked to bring service back to normal.
"We apologise for the inconvenience and thank our guests for their patience and understanding," said a Merlin Entertainments spokesperson.
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More background
Speaking to the BBC, a visitor explained she had traveled from Cornwall with her children and planned to stay overnight at the hotel. The closure sent the family back home the same day. She described the experience as "surreal."
"We were queuing for a ride and had got right to the front when, all of a sudden, everything stopped moving," the visitor told the BBC. "Then they came out and said, 'Right, come on, everybody off.'"
"Over the announcement system, they said there had been some sort of Thames Water disruption in the local area and they didn't have any water."
What's being done?
Repairs to the burst main continued even after water service was restored, Thames Water told the BBC. The utility apologized for the disruption.
Merlin Entertainments said it was still working with local partners to resolve the situation. The resort was expected to reopen under normal operating hours on Oct. 12.
"It's a good five-hour drive to come up for a nice day, only to come back after half a day," the guest from Cornwall said.
Where can I learn more?
Water problems and visitor behavior can throw off a trip in very different ways.
• In North Carolina, rising seas are tainting freshwater supplies in a favorite coastal vacation spot.
• In England's Lake District, disrespectful tourist behavior is leaving locals angry and cleanup crews busy.
• At a state park, a historic cabin was vandalized as visitors ignored leave-no-trace basics.
• In Yellowstone, tourists stepped off the boardwalk near hot springs despite basic safety rules.
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