Any one been to centre Parcs since it reopened?

[Paperyfish]

Hey,

As title- has any one been to centre Parcs since it reopened following lockdown? We’re booked to go to elvedon on one on Friday for long weekend. We only get two swim sessions of 2 hours each and we had to pre book them.usually the kids would want to swim for at least two hours every day! Could any one tell me...how do they run the pool? Does everyone get out after each session? Doesn’t that create huge crowds? Or is there a band system or something? Did they off the opportunity for any more sessions if they had availability on the day etc?
Thanks!

We went to Elvedon a few weeks ago. There is a queue system to get in (before enter changing room area) and you are given a band. We only had our 2 sessions and our 2 knew before hand had to get out etc. As you only put 10p down as a deposit I doubt people will bother cancelling if they aren't going to use session so probably no extra availability but may be worth asking at customer serivces.

Our only issue was crazy golf and pool we normally just pay and play but these also needed prebooking and crazy golf was full all weekend! So my advice would be to prebook all activities/restaurants.

Restaurants all worked well and you could still pop into spots bar for a drink without booking - you ordered on an app which I preferred as meant one of us want't stuck queuing up.

We had a lovely time and I'm sure you will.

Thanks for replying @sotired2 how do they police the band system? Surely the pool is too big to do announcements? What if you’re on the rapids? Or in a queue for the flumes? I can’t see how it could work! I don’t want to have to take my watch or phone in with me!
We have booked everything! They were running really low on bikes- which seems odd to me if they are running at below capacity- but we did manage to get some.

Bump

@Paperyfish just got to the Woburn one today so will update after our swimming session tomorrow 👍

I went in November last year (the last break before lockdown) with swimming your wear a band and they announced which colours were due to exit the pool every 15 minutes, they also had a board near the entrance and lifeguards were on the lookout for any late people.
The sessions are a lot smaller though so easy to spot one I guess!
We did ask about any spare spaces but they said they were all full, no harm in asking though.
The bike issue maybe due to less staff possibly? I'm guessing they don't want huge queues every changeover day.
Also if you're going to Elveden it is v v hilly! Depending where your villa is you may prefer to use the train, all free and quite safe as fairly open, they run every half hour I think.
No problem with restaurants either we mainly just walked in.

are the check in and check out times back to normal yet? The new times really cut short the break when going for a weekend

Does it make swimming nicer, with fewer people?

We just got back and I much preferred it, far less chaotic and two hours is plenty for us

It's a band system with colours and every 15 minutes a new board is put out saying 'orange bands your time is up' etc

I did see life guards having a word with people who had stayed too long I guess that's the only 'enforcement'

Thanks- that sounds great. Pleased I won’t have to take phone in or anything to know when to get out! Am so looking forward to getting away for a bit!

I can’t get over that they’re charging the same prices with such limited swimming. When we go, we swim several times a day. I couldn’t bring myself to pay all that money for a couple of short sessions so I’m really hoping that they go back to unlimited swimming when restrictions eventually are all lifted (whenever that might be!) I do feel worried they’ll stick with with the timed slots since they can clearly make just as much profit that way and it probably pushes up how much people spend on other activities there. The swimming is the big attraction for me!

@swapsicles

I went in November last year (the last break before lockdown) with swimming your wear a band and they announced which colours were due to exit the pool every 15 minutes, they also had a board near the entrance and lifeguards were on the lookout for any late people. The sessions are a lot smaller though so easy to spot one I guess! We did ask about any spare spaces but they said they were all full, no harm in asking though. The bike issue maybe due to less staff possibly? I'm guessing they don't want huge queues every changeover day. Also if you're going to Elveden it is v v hilly! Depending where your villa is you may prefer to use the train, all free and quite safe as fairly open, they run every half hour I think. No problem with restaurants either we mainly just walked in.

Elveden isn't hilly and doesn't have a train, you are thinking of Longleat.

Companies can get away with allsorts now but, whilst they can try in future, people simply won't accept it when more normality returns. Just like you, they simply won't book if they don't get the things they enjoy.