to think centre Parcs are money grabbing disablist idiots!

[lisad123]

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.

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

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.

If they had been straight with me from the start about not being able to go closer because of the dogs Instead of telling me it would cost loads more and we couldn't be closer because of the dogs, I would have considered putting them in kennels, but too late now

They charge for use of wheelchair and mobility scooter is £50 for the week plus deposit!

"But in the end they are a business, and have to make a profit, they are not a disability charity."

but as Honeydragon says, "The management said they now struggle to hit targets as the booking staff don't care if lodges are left empty"

I'm not asking for charity I just refuse to pay for services I can't use, and for the fact that someone had mobility issues. Its hardly like I'm asking for all singing all dancing villas, just one that is closer. I would happily go down a grade if it meant we were closer.

why do heavily pregnant women and people want early check in???? cant they leave later and arrive later? this is ridiculous

anyway its a massive pain for you, but shit happens I am afraid, clearely they are arseholes in many ways

pay the extra for closer villa .

the medical centre on site should have a bed (you could ask them) so if you she needs to rest before you can check in then go to medical centre.

you need to write to head office - if you cant use the bikes that come with early check in they ought to offer you something else for free instead.

people with disabled children (ie the disabled person is not the driver ) can of course park their wheelchair vehicles on site - but they may have daft rules about only in front of disabled villas

yes ironically its all fancy tree houses, spa villas and "disabled" lodges that are not terribly keen on pets and children near the town centre.

According to the website you only get into accommodation at 2pm rather than 3pm.

Call guest services and ask about the disability coach too as they have an access for all policy on the website. Check whether it can be used as a family so that those that need cared for are catered to.

All of this has to be done through guest services but in my experience they just tried to come up with expensive unnecessary options

Lisa you will have a fab time I promise as long as you get them to promise to deliver the services they say they offer x

Its not all to do with the smell of dog - that's just me. Some have allergies to dog hair.

My ex partner has severe asthma and any animal hair or even slightest trace of it would trigger it off - a health issue in its own right.

Sorry about your mum, must be tough.

Fwiw, we went to CP with my in-laws last year. Mil is disabled but doesn't use a wheel chair. We booked a standard cabin and package, which was fine for us except we realised she was u able to manage the road train. They provided us with a free taxi service for the duration of our stay, to and from the main centre and any activities, at times we chose. This service was free and we were so impressed and grateful. This was at longleat.

I still can't get my head around the early check in issue. You can arrive early and use the facilities on site from around 12pm, much earlier than the early check in. You can arrive whenever you want after this and use as many of the toilets, restaurants or facilities on site as you wish, you just can't get into your villa until 3pm. Why does the additional hour make such a difference?

(genuine question by the way)

unable

Because we arent able to use the services because of the dos not being allowed in. Normally it's not an issue because we arrive about 1pm sit outside for a bit, wander about and then me and dad go and get cars, taking dogs with us. However, mums having fits and we have 2 children with autism. However dh would manage my mum in her chair, dd2 in her buggy and dd1 on his own if mum has a fit. If she's made to wait for long periods, it's still an issue with being unable to do anything if she has a fit, or has had one earlier that she needs to lay down. Their answer was to come after 5pm so no waiting

Why can't you arrive at 5pm? You'll breeze in and be able to drive straight to the villa.

Or could you go earlier, if it's important for you to make the most of the day, and your parents could come later as suggested?

I have 2 kids with SN and a mother who has had a stroke - to me the extra fees are what DLA is all about.

Sadly mum doesn't get DLA yet, in middle of applying, and dds DLA goes on therapy an specialist schooling.
We may end up going early and meeting mum later, not much choice which is a shame as its a family holiday.

But if you pay early check in, you only get into your villa 1 hour earlier. So all the issues you list are still there. tbh I don't see why the hour makes a real difference?

Because while it might seem to be only an hour early it's not. You can sit in that blasted quoins for an hour or longer when everyone is trying to get in at 3pm

When are you going, why is it too late to kennel the dogs?

I thought they were a money grabbing shit-hole anyway.

Because the good ones are all booked out

Okay no-one likes queueing - but why is that more of an issue for your family than for others? Everyone will be in the car in the warm. Surely no worse for your MIL than the drive there?

And I say that as a mum of 4 with 3 of then under 5 who sat in a queue to get into our villa.

You have such a unique set of requirement and I do feel for you.

There have been lots of helpful suggestions on this thread (bed in a medical centre, kennelling the dogs, using the free shuttle buses, going in later etc) but you seem determined that the only solution that will solve your problem is the one that CP charges for as an extra.

Op sorry but get a grip.

They are a buisness. You pay extra for closer facilities. This has always been the case. You also pay extra to que jump. Also always been the case. Just because your family have dissabilities does not mean you are entitled to some freebies.

Ok they provide two bikes free when paying for early que jump, but that is just it, the bikes are a free extra.

Suck it up and pay like everyone else or dont go.