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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To sneak an extra child into centre parks ??

87 replies

catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 11:55

Hi
Posting on behalf of a friend (she can't easily get to Internet ATM )

She's booked a centre parks holiday in a lodge that sleeps 4.

Posting on behalf of a friend , shes in the back of beyond , no internet.

She's booked a holiday at centre parks.

Her exdh agreed to take their sn dd leaving her to take their 3ds.

All good , mum gets a break, dd gets to spend time with her dad ( at the dd request)

Based on the fact that she would have 3 dc with her she booked accommodation for 4 in total.

Now exdh has refused to take dd ( don't know all the details ) and has buffered off with new gf.

She is due to leave tomorrow for two nights.

Dd won't / can't stay with anyone but mum or dad due to sn issues.

It's too late to change the booking , no bigger lodges free anyway. Even if she could afford it.

Do you think she can get away with sneaking 4 kids plus her into accommodation for 4 ???

What about going into the pool ??

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
DozyDuck · 01/01/2013 11:56

Can she not
Ring and explain?

Original poster
catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 11:56

Sorry about "repeating " myself there, posting from phone , gggrrrr

OP posts:
Original poster
catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 11:58

She's worried that if she asks they will say no abs then be "on the lookout" for an extra child.

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 01/01/2013 11:58

I would ring them and see what they say.

Original poster
catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 12:00

You're right, I could ring and ask ( but not give her name) and see what they said. Would put her mind at rest.

OP posts:
TraineeBabyCatcher · 01/01/2013 12:04

Just out of interest, which child will she be hiding en route in?

We have done it before for 1 night on a week long stay. But we arrived in 3 cars so it was easy. Maybe it was wrong, but they got more money out of us than if we didn't as we paid out for extra activities on that day.
Knowing the cost of center parcs I feel no guilt. And tbh would do it in your friends position.

SavoyCabbage · 01/01/2013 12:04

Ring a different one then and see what they say.

They definitely counted all the people when I went as I had my nephew in my car and he was on my sisters booking. She was in the car behind do all was well but it was like being at a check point.

Inertia · 01/01/2013 12:04

She won't get away with it, they count the car occupants as you go in and check against the list of names. She should ring to explain and see what they can do to help.

Pineneedlesandsuch · 01/01/2013 12:05

At centre parks they give you bracelets to use the pool, you're friend will have been given 4, 1 adult and 3 children, so the kids wouldn't all be able to go to the pool at the same time, she's have to send them off in pairs :/ x

PicaK · 01/01/2013 12:05

Well the pool won't be a prob cos no one checks adult kids ratio.

But they look in the car when you check in at the arrivals lodge. Could hide one under a blanket but it's a long wait.

Then there's the fire risk of over crowding the acc. Are any of the kids under 2 cos they don't count as a full person so she wouldn't be breaking the rules.

Whatevertheweather · 01/01/2013 12:05

It is quite easy to 'sneak' people in to CP once you have done your initial booking in however they do do a head count when you first arrive. We went at Christmas and my dad came in for the day on the Saturday - we just drove out, collected him and drove back in but we couldn't have arrived with him on the Friday iyswim. Once in there will be no problem. How old are the dc's? 4 person lodge will be a 2 bed normally 1 double and 1 twin room but the sofa's are big enough. There is also a cot in addition to the beds.

Could 1 dc hop in the boot at the end of the driveway until you're in?!

TraineeBabyCatcher · 01/01/2013 12:07

Which center parcs ie that Pineneedle?
We've never had them before, just a sticker for the car.

TraineeBabyCatcher · 01/01/2013 12:08

*is

foxache · 01/01/2013 12:10

We've never had wristbands for the pool either. I think it'd be quite easy to get another child in but like others have said, there might be a bit of a wait under a blanket when you drive in.

Original poster
catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 12:10

Just rang , no joy , can't just "have one sleep on the floor".
Sad

Not sure if she will need pool bands

I think she will have to give it a go.

No holiday at all otherwise.

OP posts:
Pineneedlesandsuch · 01/01/2013 12:13

Blush Sorry I was thinking Butlins!

dorapeppageorgenoddy · 01/01/2013 12:14

Not sure if this helps but we booked for 4 - 2 adults and 2 children but 1 of the adults was there for first 3 days and the 2nd adults came the last (my mum then oh) anyway I was worried they would think we are sneaking in an extra adult and not let OH in etc so I rang and (this is the bit that may help) they said a 2 bed room allows up to 3 adults and 2 children or 2 adults and 3 adults cause and each cabin has a max capacity which is not just a simple 2 and 2 solution - he also says depends on ages of children - so I think it is worth a ring or ask her to give you the cabin code and on their site it will give max occupation -

Never heard of wristbands in the pool I think that's just day/spa guests -

Sure it will work out Grin

MummytoKatie · 01/01/2013 12:14

How old is the youngest child? Under twos don't count. The place where they check is when you enter the park. After that they don't count at all. (I guess she may have a problem with the pool if too many kids to supervise safely but that has nothing to do with the whole lodge thing.)

So she either needs to register one of the kids as 23 months (and stick a dummy in their mouth as they go through the entrance) or hide one on the way in.

Or see if she can pay a few pounds extra to have one sleeping on an air bed in the lounge.

TraineeBabyCatcher · 01/01/2013 12:15

Carfourfeet- in your friends position I really would just go ahead and do it. It's paid for now, she needs the break, the kids do and they will enjoy it.

Himalaya · 01/01/2013 12:16

You can get day passes for Centerparcs. I'm not sure they check that you leave.

dorapeppageorgenoddy · 01/01/2013 12:17

Agree with pp it's an age thing with the children too - as each cabin has a cot so that adds one to the capacity a bad the sofa can be used as a bed but you may be able to pay a lined surcharge -

If all children are over 11 it may be a problem but younger it should be ok -

Original poster
catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 12:18

Would only have some leway if one if kids was under 2 , but they are 6,8,10,12

OP posts:
TraineeBabyCatcher · 01/01/2013 12:20

One will be fine on the sofa, we've been in the sofa bed ones before and the bed has never been pulled out the occupant has just slept straight on the sofa (adults).

Her only concern would be getting the child in.

Original poster
catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 12:33

I could drive down in my car whilst she gies in her car , keep one of her dd with me out side centre parks , then she could drive back out with 1 ds and dd leaving 12 year old ds to sit in a cafe in centre parks for a bit.

Would that work ??

OP posts:
TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 01/01/2013 12:34

Could one of the DS's be dropped off later by someone else, avoiding the counting on the way in problem?

Would one of the DS's like to stay with a friend instead (tough if they have all been loookjng forward to it but it might suit one ok)

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