Center Parcs essentials and tips

[MadamPomfrey]

Posted on another category but got almost no responses so reposting here for traffic!

We're going away to Center Parcs (Longleat) in just over a week with our two DC (2.5 and 4 months). I have been before when I was a child, but never as an adult! I am SO looking forward to it as have such fond memories myself and think my DH will love it too (he's never been). I am in list writing mode trying to think of everything I might need.

Please can you CP veterans please give me any useful tips or a list of things I should bring with me that I may not think of?

Also, we have a seat on the back of a bike for 2.5DS, and I've ordered a children's trailer, but how do we transport my 4.5 month old DD who can't sit up by herself yet??

Thank you!

Lucky you! Extra dish washing tabs and sponges.

birdseed for outside your sliding doors so wildlife comes right up.

Gin and tonic tinnies!

When mine were tiny I cycled with them strapped to me in a sling. Have a great time!

I'm going in September so watching with interest!

I've also been told to take extra dishwasher tabs as pp advised, and if you want to use the brick bbqs that some lodges have, you need to take a disposable bbq with you (or buy one at the shop). Also been recommended to book restaurants/activities early on as they fill up quickly.

Book a Click and Collect at the nearest supermarket an hour before you’re able to get in to your accommodation, it’s so nice to drive up and have everything without worrying about it going warm in the car on a longer journey.

Book your restaurants and activities in advance. If the weather looks crap the next day book bowling, if it rains you’ve got no chance of a walk in!

YY to birdseed!

Oh and the Parc Market is a rip off, avoid if you can (see Click and Collect suggestion above).

<giving myself a gold star for not making a joke about anal 😁>

Try the katsu fries in the Sports cafe!

Pack each of your children's entire outfit in a zip lock bag. Take more changes of clothes than you expect.

Wow do people actually do this.
my children don’t have outfits they just have clothes 😳

We’ve just got back from Longleat yesterday. I’d take the following:

Extra dishcloths for wiping down/cleaning
Dishwasher salt, rinse aid and dishwasher tablets (we found the dishwasher cleaned really poorly so salt and rinse aid may have helped)
Extra loo roll
Lots of towels for swimming
We bought a suction bird feeder and stuck it on patio doors and the wildlife was amazing! We had squirrels, birds, deer, rabbits all outside the door!

chalk For the door (to play games or kids to draw)

we froze steaks and chicken and took pre cut veg etc for easy dinner and it was still half frozen when we booked in

pack a bag for the pool separate to your main travel bags so you can go straight to the pool on your first day

we took towels but dh ended up using the lodge ones

a scented candle for evening and firelog

we didn’t take too many clothes and were fine

If it's not too late, can you upgrade to a lodge next to the plaza/pool? We went years ago with a similar aged baby and our lodge was right across the other side of the valley from the pool and it was a serious pain in the arse to push the pushchair everywhere.

It's really hilly and we gave up on bikes as was easier to walk.
Take dishwasher tablets, loo roll, clothes which go on easy after swimming. Enjoy

We now take our own alcohol, and basically any food that does not need keeping cold. Parc Mart is quite pricey so we avoid it other than for refridgerated items and the odd snack.

Lubrication, lubrication, lubrication.
🐧😉😉😲😲😁😁

That took a while - I was getting worried MN was slipping

Thanks everyone! Super helpful stuff!

@Riapia I only came on here to see if that was anyone else's first thought

@Riapia

Haha I'm only here for that comment! We show our age 😆

I’ve just been to the one at Woburn and you don’t need to take loo roll. If you need more, you call guest services and they deliver some to you. Same with dishwasher tablets and towels etc.

If you are on Facebook join the Facebook page it’s really useful! Have the best time we love Center Parcs

If you are planning a takeaway you still have to book a slot, as you would a restaurant. Well- we weren't able to get a takeout last time due to this, so will book in the future.
Have a wonderful time- it's brilliant!

You don't have two items that belong together?

I would make sure u book activities as soon as you can as they go pretty quick. I go Whinfell forest and stuff books up quickly. Ovens aren't great so try using hob/ microwave/ bbqs as much as possible for foods

We take cards, board games etc for evening.
It's great for toddlers - play areas in all the restaurants/cafe's/bars as well as outside. Your armband keys also open the lockers in the swim changing rooms and the lockers aren't very big for toddler/baby extras so you will probably need two. If you forget your locker location (which we kept doing) you can check it in the changing area. You need to pre book the pancake house the day before.

Only pyjamas

Same 😂