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?!

@newname25432 the bowling softplay at Sherwood is only set up at certain times so check when you get there.

The one in the sports bar in Jardin des Sports isn’t huge but is ok for a quick play while you have a drink. We took a 2 year old and 3 month old in june and it rained the whole week. I was underwhelmed at the soft play opportunity, although I do understand that if they did have a big soft play area it would likely just end up being packed on a busy day.

As for swimming- We found the pool a little cold, especially the big wave pool, but the pirate toddler area was warm. I recommend swimming at 3/4pm rather than in the morning as it’s a lot quieter. We did activities in a morning (toddler football, bowling, paint a pot) and then swam in afternoons.

Take some bird seed to put on your patio and all the ducks and geese will come right to your window.

Food wise we used Haucks, Sports Bar and country club. To be honest all were overpriced reheated rubbish. Better to buy something in the mini supermarket (which others had told me was very overpriced but I didn’t find it too bad).

We’re in CenterParcs right now...weather yesterday was horrendous-torrential rain but didn’t stop us having fun!
Typical day is:
1yr old DS awake 8.30/9am, breakfast, sit on the patio feeding the ducks and squirrels, get dressed and go for a walk, Pancake House for lunch at 12.30pm, walk back to Accommodation for DS to have an afternoon nap. Light tea when he wakes at 5ish. Bike ride, then swimming, 6.30-8.30pm and snacks/milk before bed at 9.30/10ish!
We’re on holiday so bedtimes are just whatever works - swimming in the pool at nighttime is gorgeous and so quiet.

We've been going to CP Longleat with ours since they were toddlers; the eldest is now a teen. We've always found plenty for ours to do in all weathers, and they love it. We take bird seed and food for the squirrels, and spend the first part of the morning watching the wildlife and having a lazy breakfast. We spend most of the day at the pool, and take picnics to eat there, and then walk back via the play areas.

Time to book another holiday, I think.

Just remember not to feed the wildlife bread

Well we are back from our first week at CP. in summary:

The good -

Traffic free environment - great for kids leaning to cycle

Soft play, although tiny, was surprisingly quiet

Customer services were actually pretty helpful when we needed them

Pool is great (although too busy)

The cakes / treats in the bakery section of ParcMarket are lush

Lodge was satisfactory- not luxury but perfectly fine

Lots to do in the local area (Sherwood) eg White Post Farm kept DC entertained for hours, Sherwood Forest has nice new visitor centre and cafe, Rufford Abbey, Newstead etc

The bad -

Queue to get in on arrival day & queue to leave on leaving day

Car park too full - when we went on day trips we spent ages driving round trying to find a space on our return

Pool crowded at all times we used it, doesn’t open until 10am, Tropical Cyclone ride not always open, changing rooms ridiculously busy - getting out the pool with a cold upset baby and having to wait in line for a changing cubicle then squeeze into a tiny one without a baby changing unit

Pressed post too soon

No washing machine in lodge / limited places to dry wet clothes, no drying rack or anything

Check in 3pm & check out 10am so 5 day break only really 3 days (although you can use the pool etc on arrival and leaving day)

• - -

Can’t comment on restaurants & pre-booked activities as didn’t use them.

Our verdict - we would go back again if we got another cheap deal, but would no way pay the peak price tag.

Last time we were at Centre Parcs they were shooting red squirrels 😢

@Aldibaldi555 based on your likes and dislikes you would definitely prefer a Haven next time. Especially one by the sea with nice weather. No expensive price tag either but just as nice.

On holiday I'd be dragging my kids out of bed to get ready for 10! Mornings tend to be leisurely at the caravan or whatever then afternoon and evening out until bedtime. It must be hard having early risers. As for no such thing as bad weather, there is. Today being an example. I don't want to go out when it's peeing it down and get cold and wet. Warm dry days are much more pleasant for being out.

We didn't have to queue in or out? We got there early and swam. Must admit we didn't leave at all.

I also discovered the female changing area, which was empty each time. Yes, there weren't cubicles bit that's fine with me. Plenty of space though.

When I do CP I do pool over the lunch and dinner period and late at night. But ds isn't a toddler now. He is however an early riser!

So we'd have breakfast at 6.30 ish and then out at 7.30 for a walk/cycle. Back to room for 'lunch' at 11 and then swim from 12-2. Afternoon walk and cake/coffee in cafe on site and swim 4-6. Then dinner and bed!

You can then cook something for you or one of you can go get a takeaway!

My ds is older now but we still swim 12-2 and then usually 7-9. We go for something like pancakes in the afternoon or he does an activity.

If you use the booking points on site you'll find the activities and can book them.

Hopefully this advice not too late as you've been there for days but hopefully useful to someone!

Re the queuing and no car parking spaces on arrival. Although you cant get into your lodge you can still use the facilities so we get there about 12 and register for our door keys etc then go off for a walk and lunch. Then when we can get in my dh gets the car and drives round to the lodge and we unpack.

On day of leaving we tend to want to get home but again you can check out and then use the facilities..just have to be out of the lodge.

I think the whole point of centre parcs is that once you are in you are in iyswim, i have been many times and have family and friends that have been multiple times and non of us went out on day trips!

Center parcs is hell on earth at 10am or any other time day or night! Pool is super revolting, germ soup

@Intheupsidedown at Woburn there are soft plays in Hucks, the bowling alley/bar, Cafe rouge and the sports bar.

Can't you just chill out in the lodge? Did you take any toys with you? Could you stick cbeebies on?I recently went with my then 1.5 year old and she just pottered around the lodge.

I don't fully understand this need to be doing something all the time. I am guessing they have concluded it's not a good decision financially, they would have to pay a large number of staff for two more hours. There's a lot of lifeguards at any one time. So I can see why they don't do it.

I’ve just got back from Bluestone and the pool opens at 9am and was lovely and quiet until about 11am. There was so many free toddler based activities that we didn’t get around half of them in the weekend. I have preteens as well though, totally different set of requirements there so it was a busy weekend for me!

@georgialondon

That's great thank you. Only found the one in bowling alley so will hunt out the others.

We did the "family quiz" last night. Was terrible. Questions were not taxing. Didn't fit on the screen and for the first few rounds our tv was out of sync so we weren't getting the answers in quick enough. Ok for a bit of a laugh but frustrating.

First toddler activity tomorrow so will see how that goes!

We took the Amazon firestick with us, easy relaxing

I'm at CP just now, been up since 4.40am with the 1 year old. If only I'd thought of making her sleep longer!

We'll go to the pool about lunchtime, older child is booked into the mini jet skis at 12 so we'll go in after that.

Can't you just chill out in the lodge? Did you take any toys with you? Could you stick cbeebies on?I recently went with my then 1.5 year old and she just pottered around the lodge.

I don't fully understand this need to be doing something all the time.

I fully agree with you.

Unfortunately 1.5 year old DD absolutely does not and wants to go out as soon as she's up. She's the same at home.

I think perception of centre parks also varies by where you live. I’m quite rural so was underwhelmed by the ‘forest’ at Woburn. I’d be open to trying Longleat but my husband’s view is why would we pay to stay somewhere with a smaller forest than we have locally, crappier restaurants and a busy pool when we could stay at home and do the same activities or go abroad instead.