Centre parks in the rain!

[WhenZogateSuperworm]

Going to centre parcs tomorrow for the week and been looking forward to it for ages. First get away with newborn and 2.5 year old. However the weather has forecast heavy rain all week.

Please make me feel better about being stuck in the packed swimming pool all week as there is nothing else to do in the rain! Newborn won’t even be able to go in the water long.

We had planned on some nice walks, lots of playing on the parks and generally exploring nature with the toddler!

Don't panic, assume the worst and anything else will be a bonus!

We've done CP loads pre-kids, with babies, toddlers and now teenagers. Rain will definitely not hamper play, you'll have a fab time.

Even if you're cabin bound you'll have ducks and geese waddling past, we always gave them names and had whole stories based around them

@WhenZogateSuperworm - hopefully it shouldn't be too busy but I'd be careful about booking restaurants when you're there, particularly if you want a decent time! I'd try and book them before you leave

We went to the longleat one a few weeks ago and Hucks and the sports bar both had soft play x

We always went to CP with 3 young DGC in November because it was exceptionally cheap so it usually rained a lot.
Early breakfast then kids play inside or watch TV. More food about 9.30 or 10 then off to the park. All parks have an adjoining cafe/coffee shop.
Home for lunch then to the pool. Take turns with kids so one parent can go on the rapids.
Book a babysitter asa you arrive. They're lovely local women, usually in their 40s or older.
You'll have a great time.

You can probably look on the website now to see what booking slots are available for restaurants to check whether they are already getting booked up. We made the rookie error of just turning up the first we went. You will probably need to log on under your booking reference. There is also an app, but I don’t know if that only works when you are there

You don't need to go outside to see the wildlife, it can come into you!

@WhenZogateSuperworm
We are at Sherwood now!

Definitely book your restaurants in advance. We have struggled to get in them this weekend with the poor weather.

It's still been brilliant. Lots of big umbrellas and wellies! You'll have a fab time - very jealous as I don't want to go home tomorrow!

@WhenZogateSuperworm

Oh and if there's availability try book a cabana for the pool for a session. Brilliant for breastfeeding

We still talk about the week we had at Sherwood and it rained every day all day and we still had a fantastic time!

Don’t worry, you can still have bum sex.

I assume you have to leave pushchairs outside the restaurants? We are taking the double mainly just to keep toddler dry when walking to the centre etc as it’s looking like constant torrential downpours for the next 2/3 days rather than showers that we could suit him up and make him walk in. Problem then is the double is too big to leave up in an eating place and so we have no-where to put the newborn down while we eat!

If it lashes all the time, you can also book an appointment with mr. Center Pearce himself after the kids are gone to bed. I've fond memories of him.

WhenZogateSuperorm you can take buggies, even double ones, everywhere.

How’s it going OP?

The expression I hate most in life is "there's no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes".

There really is such a thing as the wrong weather.

Yes, you can put on waterproofs but a) no clothing is genuinely waterproof (believe me, I have spent lots of money over the years trying to find out) and b) it's just miserable.

No picnic is fun in the rain, no walk, no mountain view, no day out, no beach.

Rain ruins stuff.

PS - but isn't CP under a big dome so you'll be fine?

Well it’s very wet! Still having a good time but would definitely be much easier and more relaxing if the weather was dry.

We have a double buggy and rain cover, but the toddler hates being under the cover. We can cope with walking in a little rain but at times it really is too heavy to let him walk at snail pace in.

We hit the swimming pool around 11am today; same time as the rest of centre parcs it seems. I expected it to be busy but to be honest it was so rammed it wasn’t really safe. We had to watch the toddler like a hawk as the little kid area was full to bursting. It calmed down slightly after an hour (still no chance of getting a chair though so was trying to breastfeed baby on the floor while everyone around me chair hogged with towels!) so toddler could play more easily. Back at villa now and have another over priced microwave meal restaurant booked for tonight!

We have fab photos of DD jumping on molehills in the rain in sherwood.

Bring good waterproofs - Wellies, trousers and coat.

Plan to get out daily. Go for a walk and Plan to stop somewhere like Starbucks in sports plaza for coffee/feed, them go have an adventure listening to the rain pattering in the forest and seeing what animals are out or what signs of animals you find.

The nature Centre is really interesting too, rangers to talk to, indoor exhibitions to explore and outdoor short trail with rubbings of footprints to do.

Go to the playground in the rain - maybe I the afternoon when you can throw LO in bath/shower back in chalet - and still enjoy the swings etc. You won’t melt - but going back to hot shower and hot choc makes it more of an adventure!

Bring a board game, pack of cards and favorite or new dvd. Use the blackboard to play Xs and Os, and draw things. Bring a pre-packaged cake or buns mix, or even plain buns - to make together and decorate together.

Make it fun and the weather won’t be as important!

Step away from MN right now and get on the CP website to book some indoor activities like bowling, table tennis or whatever! If you leave it till you arrive you'll find they are all fully booked, or the only time slots for anything indoors are 7am or 11pm! Also book restaurants in advance if you want to have any chance of eating at a decent time slot.

@DarklyDreamingDexter we have a 2 year old and a newborn with us so most of the indoor activities aren’t suitable!

We’ve booked pottery painting tomorrow morning and a toddler football session for Thursday. Might attempt bowling later in the week but it’s £20 for 45 minutes and I can guarantee the toddler will hate it after 5 minutes and we won’t get to play.

Plan for next 2 days is morning activity with a wet walk/playground afterwards. Then back to villa for lunch/nap if the toddler plays ball. Then hit the pool later in the day when it’s hopefully quieter. Will be eating in for rest of the week so no need to rush back to get ready to go out for food.

It’ll be fine its all under a big glass bubble.... isn’t it?!

@BlueThursday Nope! Only the swimming pool is, which is where every other person here is also hiding out.

the ads in the 80s had me convinced they were in a bubble

How's it going OP?

Potentially look at what's outside CP and maybe head off site for half a day. You'd escape the crowds at a local soft play rather than inside CP.

Potentially in the afternoon and tie it in with a nicer meal at a local pub/restaurant too.

@PurpleCrazyHorse we actually live 20 minutes down the road so were keen to stay on site otherwise it wouldn’t feel like a holiday!

It’s actually been really good despite the weather. We’ve done an activity in the morning and then the rain has held for long enough for us to have a play on the park and a slow walk back to the villa for lunch and toddler nap. Then out to the pool around 3:30pm when it has quietened down.

It’s a shame it wasn’t sunny so we could picnic and spend more time on the outdoor play areas but luckily because of the ages of the kids we weren’t hiring bikes and going to be doing outdoor activities anyway. Would love to come again but unfortunately can only normally do school holidays so it’s way out of budget!