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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

97 replies

Aldibaldi555 · 24/09/2019 12:46

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?!

OP posts:
MinnieMouseMaze · 25/09/2019 06:13

Absolutely disagree that CP isn't for
Toddlers Hmm. It's perfect for toddlers as is the during school term price and we intend to make the most of it until our little one is at school! And the comment about getting your child to sleep for longer is just Angry but you know it of course..

I agree OP it should open earlier very frustrating but do look at baby dolphins. Just be aware they usually section of a very small area for this so you are all huddled in the same space which is also very busy! And as it is for little ones the pram and big changing room situation doesn't change much Grin

Depends where you are but the soft play is a good bet generally and some of their restaurants have their own play areas too. Otherwise we go for walks with our little one, feed the ducks (or squirrels!) go on a boat ,
Do pottery etc but it is hard with a baby and the rain. Hopefully the weather perks up for you a bit

Intheupsidedown · 25/09/2019 06:20

Is there soft play at woburn? If so can anyone tell me where it is?

I couldn't find a soft play at longleat. The only one was in a pub and was too big for my little one.

Also..we took our year old last year. Just took a box of toys and she was happy. This year I have booked her into some of the younger activities and she will be fine. Just like home from home. And going with family means I can have a massage etc knowing she is in a safe environment.
Also doing the safari parks takes up a day and is only the same cost as doing an activity (cheaper if you use tesco vouchers)

Yes somewhere like blue stone or haven are cheaper but centre parcs I have always felt has a nicer atmosphere and feels cleaner.

minesagin37 · 25/09/2019 06:23

It's all on their website. All the classes are listed including the ones in the pool before 10am.

kittlesticks · 25/09/2019 06:25

Sorry you're there in this bad weather but just wanted to chime in to say I love it for toddlers. We are going again in December - we will have a 2.5 year old and a 5 month old. In the morning before the pool opens we will probably just feed the ducks or go to one of the outdoor play areas. Last time we went our accommodation was far from the pool and the main square so it took about half an hour to get back to it. Did make it tricky for naps. This time I have booked a lodge much more central although not on a main road so we can pop back for naps. To be fair, our toddler won't tolerate swimming for more than 45 mins so there is time for lunch and naps around that.
I think the forest atmosphere helps you slow your pace a bit, and your kids will be amused by the outdoors, a little train ride (if at long leat) the ducks, a cake in Starbucks... etc! Enjoy.

SimpleAndPlanned · 25/09/2019 06:34

I think it's nice that it doesn't open until later. My kid gets up about 7:30 and on holiday night sleep until 8:30/9. Therefore I don't want loads of people outside making noise on their way to the pool tbh.

Landlubber2019 · 25/09/2019 06:49

When we went with toddlers to Sherwood years ago, we did the dolphins swimming and found the pool and water too cold. This was at 9.30am, like you I thought opening at 10am seemed late but I can't imagine how cold it would be at 8am when we were shivering at 9.30am.

YobaOljazUwaque · 25/09/2019 06:54

I've never done CentreParcs but this thread has put me right off - I hadn't realised it would be like this.

We tend to holiday in places that are small clusters of 20 or so self-catering holiday homes that have a small shared pool. Generally the pool is only between 10 and 25 m and obviously no slides etc. There's never a life guard and generally big notices saying no solo swimming, and you are here at your own risk. Some places allow 24hr access, some lock it overnight but just 23:00 to 06:00. That's what I need of a holiday swimming pool - either going with the kids before breakfast while DH sleeps, or going on my own late at night after kids are asleep.

I have often toyed with the idea of doing CP but it is so much more expensive with even 3 nights costing more than we normally pay for a week. No way am I paying that much if I can't even swim when I want to!

Bellasblankexpression · 25/09/2019 06:57

I’ve been once and the pool seemed to be constantly busy but it was Woburn and the pool was smaller than others apparently.
To be honest I don’t get the appeal of CP, and some of the comments on here make me wonder why people continue to go!

I agree with you OP, and for the price they charge there should be multiple pools - one for activities and classes and another that can be open all day so people can come and go as they please. I found it frustrating that the pancake place didn’t open til late as well.

boptist · 25/09/2019 07:02

YANBU I think the pool and shops and pancake house should all open earlier than the do. Sunday mornings especially can be a drag.

Ithinkwerealonenowtiffany · 25/09/2019 07:12

Center Parcs isn't catered just for you. We like it as the pool is open till 9pm as my kids are older.

The fact that your kids are early risers, it doesn’t mean CP is responsible for entertaining them from 6am.

But whatever you do with them, make sure they aren’t noisy!

Original poster
Aldibaldi555 · 25/09/2019 07:47

We’ve not found the water cold at all, our one year old was in for almost 2 hours and loved it. No wetsuit.

OP posts:
HappyParent2000 · 25/09/2019 07:53

Been to CP at both 2 and 3 YO.

Both times it was fantastic and so much to do. Prices for activities for 1-4YO are crazy cheap!

BeanBag7 · 25/09/2019 08:02

Yes it is silly. We were hanging around in the morning with 2 toddlers waiting for 9.30 so we could head down.

boptist · 25/09/2019 08:34

Center Parcs isn't catered just for you. We like it as the pool is open till 9pm as my kids are older.

Wow, is that you Trump? This isn't a zero sum game you know. It's possible for the pool to open from 8am for the little ones and stay open 'til late for the older ones. Which is good, because otherwise you'd have to be responsible for entertaining them yourself, wouldn't you?

boptist · 25/09/2019 08:37

Yes it is silly. We were hanging around in the morning with 2 toddlers waiting for 9.30 so we could head down.

This. I think it comes as a surprise the first time as most peoples lives get going earlier than 10am and of course the pool is the thing that most children are excited about. Once you know, you realise you are thinking about getting a playground or bike ride or walk planned first.

StarlingsInSummer · 25/09/2019 08:47

Do lots of kids really get up in what is essentially the middle of the night though? 10am is plenty early enough. Can’t you get your children to sleep longer?

Ahahahahahahahahaha!

If you work out a way to make small children sleep later, do, please please do, share it with the world. You'll make your millions and make millions of parents happy.

OtraCosaMariposa · 25/09/2019 08:56

Can’t you get your children to sleep longer?

And the prize for the stupidest comment goes to....

Chocolateandcarbs · 25/09/2019 10:14

We go to CPs most yrs (Sept and/or Jan usually) with our preschoolers. Agree the buggy park (are you at Sherwood?) is tiny - we just always cover it with the rain cover and it’s fine parked outside it. Can be a hassle with all the baby kit and inflatables though 😬. 10am opening isn’t ideal for us either so highly recommend booking onto early activities (we did things like roller skating, swimming lessons, there’s a parent and toddler morning when the opens early, etc) to fill the early hrs. Kids also love just exploring, feeding the ducks etc or going out for breakfast (bar type areas open earliest). There are also sometimes children’s entertainers in the mornings. Guest services may be able to point you in the right direction, but you’re right... it doesn’t really work around toddler hrs some days! We took packed lunches into the pool area to maximise the quiet lunchtime swim. On really damp mornings, we just put out food for the squirrels and watched them whilst kids played play doh and drew. Hope your week improves!

newname25432 · 25/09/2019 10:20

Glad I read this thread we are off to Centreparcs next week. Luckily DD (also a toddler) is not an early riser. We are going to Sherwood can anyone tell me what their soft play is like? We have already booked a couple of morning activities for DD. Think I will book a couple more and go to the pool in the afternoon from the comments on this thread. Confused

honeybeetheoneandonly · 25/09/2019 10:33

It's been a few years since we went to CP whinfell but they had 3 -4 softplay areas. The biggest was at the lakeside pub which also had a mini toddler area; one was in the back of a bar at the sports complex and there was one in the dome, that nobody seemed to know was there. I think the stairs leading up to it are next to cafe rouge.
Not sure if it count's as softplay, but there was also a play area for little ones near the bowling alley.

stucknoue · 25/09/2019 10:58

9pm is not late - not everyone has small kids, I would be annoyed at that. Last time we went to a park type place they had adults only from 8-9am and aqua aerobics etc after that. Still not sure why people let their kids dictate their hours, mine stayed in bed until 8 or 9 on weekends/holidays even as infants, but ours stayed out with us, they loved evenings out

stucknoue · 25/09/2019 11:03

@OtraCosaMariposa

Why is it stupid? my kids never got up at 6, 8am was a struggle on nursery days. We established a routine that suited us rather than letting them dictate. It meant we could have nice family meals on holidays then go back to our accommodation about 10pm, they would then sleep to 9 or 10am.

OrangeSamphire · 25/09/2019 11:12

I’d love it if the pool opened earlier at CP. I like an early morning swim and I imagine with tiny ones who need lunch early and a nap it would be extremely useful to have the pool open from 8am.

Mine are now older and probably wouldn’t be up on time, but the crush at 10am with buggies everywhere is quite stressful when trying to get DS in and changed in his wheelchair. If the tiniest ones had already swam it would free up the pool for others later.

I’m not sure why they don’t do it TBH.

Chocolateandcarbs · 25/09/2019 11:26

@newname25432
The soft play at Sherwood is lovely. There’s one at the Jardin de Sports (by a bar where you can buy breakfasts) and another smaller one in the village square in the same building as the bowling. Neither are huge, but they keep my children happy! Whenever I’ve been (term time) there’s activity availability most days so don’t worry too much about pre booking unless you can only do particular times.
Tip - the buggy parks aren’t great - take a bike lock so you can just lock it up!

newname25432 · 25/09/2019 11:58

Thanks a lot @Chocolateandcarbs it's our first visit to Centreparcs really looking forward to it Smile