to think it’s daft Centre Parcs’ pool doesn’t open until 10am

[Aldibaldi555]

DC get up at 6am, as do lots of kids. Our local pool opens early so on weekends we often go swimming at 8am.

But Centre Parcs pool doesn’t open until 10am. Then when it opens everyone piles in (it’s raining hard so everyone heading to pool) and it’s insanely busy. Changing rooms were hell.

Whereas if they opened at 8am we would’ve swam then and been done by 10, the pool would be much quieter as people would stagger their visits rather than everyone descending on the pool at 10am.

It’s open until 9pm but that’s no good for us with small DC in bed at 7pm. I imagine a lot of people are similar.

We’ve done soft play already (while waiting for pool to open) but the soft play is small and toddler area very limited.

What else can we do in torrential rain with 15 month old?!

It's because the do other activities before 10am - mini jet skis, those things you hold onto and go round the lazy river.
There's usually a baby dolphins one morning (suitable for under 3's) and that's free and you don't need to book.
I don't think it's that busy usually at 10am.

I think they run classes there before 10 am.
We’ve been and just went for a walk in a rain but I don’t know if it’s constantly torrential where you are.

Oh thanks - first time here and when I asked I just got told it opens at 10 - no one mentioned the Dolphins club etc .

Will check that out.

Yes really ridiculously busy. No room for all the buggys under the buggy shelter, really too busy to be very enjoyable (in my humble opinion).

There is a crush at 10 am for sure. We've been up for hours by then.

Tend to do other stuff in the morning and swim in the afternoon now.

Light a fire and pop on a movie, we would always take a big aqua doodle mat for the kids when they were that sort of age too for rainy days. You could also build a den in the forest under a tree canopy that'll stop some of the heavier rain getting through.

Which Center parcs are you at?

It is very annoying! Even 9 would be better, the pancake house doesn't open till later either which is also stupid when you have young children that are waiting for breakfast 🤔

Is the pool quieter in afternoons?

Appreciate hideous weather will make pool much busier.

Pick up one of the activity leaflets that are everywhere. It usually details what's on the pool first.

We did activity dolphins or toddler swim or whatever it's called. It's free or we wouldn't bother, but it allows you to beat the rush to the pool and bagsy chairs etc!

They do open earlier, for classes and stuff. Plus it's open until late at night, about 9pm I think. They need some time for cleaning and maintenance.

Usually quieter over meal times if that's any help!

Oh yes. Found a leaflet that says about the Dolphins. It’s 9.30am but not on every day.

We always swam in the afternoon when DC that age, as otherwise they nap all afternoon and never go to bed haha! It does get very busy when it opens, especially in the rain.

Its been years since I went to centreparcs (whinfell) but I thought the toddler pool opened at 9 or 9.30 for those with young kids with the main pools opening at 10 with the flumes etc opening shortly after that?

It may have changed, or maybe I'm not remembering correctly.

If you swam 8-10 what would you do after 10am?

Have been going to CP for 15 years, the pool always opens at 10 and yes I think it should open at 8 for everyone.

If they want to do activities, build a new pool solely for that. Not like they can't afford to plus it would see more people book in for things rather than the limited first thing in a morning session.

But suitable clothing, such as waterproofs should see you out in all weathers. We have been when it has snowed and swam outside. We always had wellies plus waterproof trousers and coats. Also essential for the school run, well it was for us as we always walked it.

I've been to various places (not CP) where the pool has been open for quiet adult-only swimming early in the morning, and then general from about 9.

10am does seem a bit late, although if they stay open that late in the evening, perhaps it is to do with lifeguard working hours etc. They wouldn't want to pay them to be there if hardly anyone is in the pool.

Most holiday places pools don't open until 10. It's standard.

I tonight that too @MyDcAreMarvel.
OP there is no inappropriate weather, only inappropriate clothing.
Get all the waterproofs and wellies on and get into the woods puddle jumping. Or make paper boats and find a big puddle to sail them in. Or get a couple of big sticks and draw in the mud.
LOADS to do in the (hardly) torrential rain.

YANBU. We were there last week and found the same. DD sleeps 12-2 roughly, so we needed to be heading back to the lodge around 11 to get her lunch and put her down. Opening at 10 was useless for us, we just went in the afternoons.

The two best times to visit the center parcs pool is between 12 and 2 when everyone is at lunch and between 5-7 in the evening. It's super quiet then.

We found 12-2 quieter in term time as most young children were heading off for dinner or naps.

We used to get to the changing room at about 11.30 and so got a cubicle before everyone started coming out at 11.45. That way you got 10 mins of busy and then it quietened down.

When i went the pool didn’t open till later as we were doing a basic Padi diving course

We are generally in the ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather’ camp and have been walking loads of times in the rain, but the way it’s raining here today, there’s not a chance I’d want to go out if I didn’t have to. It’s probably the only time my house will ever resemble a castle - we currently have a moat running around us and the thought of the school run is filling me with dread!
We are well past having to entertain dc as the sun comes up, but I do remember struggling to entertain them in the hours before the world got going and it is hard going. I’m assuming you have taken games/activities with you?

OP there is no inappropriate weather, only inappropriate clothing.

see that spouted soooo many times on here . I am on holiday, I don't want to go out in cold windswept torrential downpours, let alone dress up kids in 26 layers and persuade them to go out too, along with a husband who wants to kick back and enjoy a week off work, not get wet and muddy

(the outer layer always gets wet and muddy and still has to be dealt with by somebody who is supposedly ON HOLIDAY... and that is not fun)