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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think centre Parcs are money grabbing disablist idiots!

107 replies

lisad123 · 29/11/2011 09:28

We have gone to CP every year for last 4 years with my two girls who both have autism and my mum and dad normally come and help too.

We dont normally have too much of an issue with my girls and dont tend to ask for anything ontop of normal package.
However, my mum had a major stroke at Easter this year. This has left her with mobility problems, lose of 50% of her sight, cant manage large crowds and having fits.
With this in mind I asked if they could move us to a closer villa, because shes not able to walk far at all so will be in a wheelchair (and those that know CP, its quite a walk from some villas to the centre). We also asked for a slightly earlier check in, so that she can get in and rest especially if shes been having fits (which at the moment she is having almost daily)
They have refused both of these requests. Angry

They have said we could have a closer villa but it would be £180 more!! Oh and they told me that they have to limit the early check because of cleaning BUT if i wanted to pay for early check in suddenly that isnt an issue Hmm

Should add, that i wouldnt mind paying for early check in, BUT comes with 2 bikes which we cant use because of mum and her wheelchair!!

I am never booking with them again, I am shocked that such a large company is willing to charge people extra for services they need because they are disabled.

I will be writing to head office but think this is something that needs to be public knowledge.

OP posts:
Original poster
lisad123 · 29/11/2011 09:29

should say we booked before mum had the stroke

OP posts:
GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 29/11/2011 09:34

Did you have issues with them before? I remember a thread like this and being shocked at how unhelpful they were.

I love Center Parcs, have been going for years but we're fortunate enough not to need any help from them. The posts I've read about their treatment of people with additional requirements has opened my eyes.

Angelswings · 29/11/2011 09:35

Sorry you had a negative phone call. I have asked for early check in before due to health problems and have had to pay. TBH, how do they know all the people who call are genuine? They must get quite a few as on the whole CP is disabled friendly.

Can you not travel later so she is not away from a bed for so lomg.

Have you considered getting a camper for your mum? We have one so that I can rest on the bed when needed without having to go home. You can pick second hand ones up for same price as a car but they do cost more to run and tax

Hope you have a good holiday in the end

Original poster
lisad123 · 29/11/2011 09:36

yes posted earlier this year as asking for closer place and got no where, now with early check in issue plus the fact they have moved our villa as aswell has just broke the straw, iyswim.

OP posts:
SnapesMistress · 29/11/2011 09:36

Do they not have any special disabled villas?

LRDtheFeministDragon · 29/11/2011 09:37

I'm so sorry to hear about your mum's stroke.

I would be cross too. They are a large company, they could I think have made a goodwill gesture, and the suggestion you pay extra and get two random bikes just comes across as rude - as if they didn't bother reading what you said.

I know they're a business and need to make money but there's ways of communicating that could have made you feel less unwanted.

thisisyesterday · 29/11/2011 09:38

is your current villa so far away that you won't be able to get around even with the wheelchair?

thisisyesterday · 29/11/2011 09:38

i've never been, so don't really know the layout of the place

Original poster
lisad123 · 29/11/2011 09:39

but why the hell should we have to cut our holiday short because they arent helpful? We had paid for 5 day holiday and i dont see why we should miss pretty much the first day.
I will happily provide them with proof from her GP if they wanted it (think this is a good idea anyways)
As for the camper, my parents are retired im pretty sure they dont have funds to run something like that, they only have a 800cc little thing as it is and struggle with petrol as it is.

OP posts:
Original poster
lisad123 · 29/11/2011 09:41

current villa is 12-14 mins walk at normal pace (which wasnt a problem previous to the stroke) but they just say, well we run a shuttle bus so whats the issue?? Hmm

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 29/11/2011 09:42

can you not use the shuttle bus then?

GypsyMoth · 29/11/2011 09:44

So they will move you nearer/ check in earlier? You just have to pay?

Bathsheba · 29/11/2011 09:46

Hi Lisa

Whilst I'm sorry you are having this problem, I don't really see how CP are being "disable-ist" in it - all they are doing is treating you the same as they treat everyone else.

Yes you can move to another villa, but it is a more expensive villa, in a better location, so you would have to pay the upgrade money.

Yes, you can check in early, but you need to pay for their early check in package, like anyone else needing to check in early would need to do.

Center Parcs is very popular with disabled groups and is very disabled friendly - whilst I can fully understand that you want to take your Mum on holiday it may be the case that simply, at the moment, the journey to C enter Parcs is too much for her and she would be better having a break that is more in line with her current capabilities.

Bathsheba · 29/11/2011 09:49

At Center Parcs you don't pay for a 5 day holiday - you have paid for a 4 night holiday. You will be there 4 nights. You can arrive any time from 10am, however you will not be able to access your villa before 3pm unless you pay for an early check in.

Honeydragon · 29/11/2011 09:52

Lisa

the one with the shuttle bus infuriated us! I was told the same with MiL and it never ran!! After 4 days of complaining they said that the had a taxi service she should call which would take her and 3 other passengers--- she just had to call Angry We explained we asked about it but she was not eligible as we were not in an OFFICIAL disabled lodge Hmm, we would've liked to have been but had the dog too. Dogs (including service dogs!) are not allowed in disablilty lodges as it makes extra cleaning Hmm (despite a £50 surcharge to bring the dog)

We were made to provide all her disability information on booking, and on checking in and had been effectively forced to pay extra to get a lodge near a shuttle stop. The shuttle ran once a day and that was it.

YANBU they totally exploit the disabled

thisisyesterday · 29/11/2011 09:53

so you could get there at 10am, have a nice day there. then go to the villa in the afternoon?

thisisyesterday · 29/11/2011 09:54

gosh honeydragon that really is awful!

Honeydragon · 29/11/2011 09:55

btw the staff were lovely at CP.....all the above bollocks came from a higher authority in a call centre. In fact one night the manager got her own car and drove MiL back Smile

Honeydragon · 29/11/2011 09:57

thisis

I don't know whether its changed it now but I was Shock at the service dogs. It meant they were allowed anywhere on site but had to be booked into a dog villa...which are deliberately put on the outskirts of the village Confused

Original poster
lisad123 · 29/11/2011 09:58

I have always found the staff on site very helpful indeed.
Oh honeydragon, thats terrible, now im really in a panic.

Thisisyesterday, no we cant get there at 10am and hang about for 5 hours, where would my mum sleep if she has a fit? if shes having a bad day all she does is sleep, and im not quite sure how we would manage, my mums wheelchair, dd2 large pushchair, another with autism, my dad with his walking stick and 2 dogs!!

OP posts:
Original poster
lisad123 · 29/11/2011 09:59

It hasnt changed honey dragon :(

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 29/11/2011 10:01

Maybe you are taking too much on?

thisisyesterday · 29/11/2011 10:01

that's so ridiculous!

so if a blind person wanted to visit they'd have to take their dog to a special dog villa and then get back to their villa and spend the night/morning without their dog?????

i'm astounded.

Original poster
lisad123 · 29/11/2011 10:10

no thisisyesterday, if you have a dog, you have to have to stay at a dog villa, which are normally furthest from the centre.
Most of their disabled villas are quite far from the centre and no one is allowed to bring their car on site unless the DRIVER is disabled!

OP posts:
Bathsheba · 29/11/2011 10:16

The dogs are not allowed in the buildings at Center Parcs other than the villas which are designed for dogs (and are cleaned as such etc - they are also near the dog toilet areas). So while you are in any of the main buildings (like the swimming pool etc) you will need to have someone either walking around outside or remaining in the villa with your dogs.

I think that Center Parcs isn't really the holiday for your family group with the dogs - there is no great conspiracy in it, or any great prejudice, just that with the family grouping, and the inclusion of 2 dogs into the mix, then you will have to look elsewhere, probably closer to home, for your break.