Centre Parcs Winter Wonderland

[pinklemonade84]

Dd will be 2.5 next year and I'm thinking about booking one of the Centre Parcs for a midweek break in december next year.

Has anyone been to their Winter Wonderland and what did you think?

Also, any recommendations for which park to choose please? As I haven't got a clue which one to choose

We absolutely love Winter Wonderland at Center Parcs, it's magical! Lights, snow, real reindeer. . .

We always go to Sherwood, mainly because it's the closest one to where we live. It's reasonably flat and not too big so easy to navigate around.

We did a mid week WW a couple of years ago when DD1 was 3 and DD2 9 months and they loved it. I'd definitely recommend seeing Father Christmas! However, we booked quite a few other festive activities for DD1 and I think she got Christmas Fatigue!

Last year as I was back at work and DD1 at nursery we did the weekend instead which was just as good. We only booked Father Christmas but that was enough with swimming and all the festive outdoorsy stuff.

We weren't going to go this year as DD1 is now school age and we didn't want to take time out of school, but luckily her school has a well placed INSET day so we can still do a weekend without any time off school! DD2 will be 2.9 when we go so I think she will really enjoy it this year. I'm so pleased as it wouldn't have felt like Christmas without going to WW- it definitely kicks off the Christmas season for us!

TodayCrosbyToday thank you so much

Sherwood is the closest one to us too, which is a serious contender for us. Which type of lodge do you tend to go for? My husband really liked the look of the executive ones xx

We went to the longleat one before DC1 started school. She was nearly 4. It was very festive and we would go back if it isn't so expensive during the actual Christmas holidays.

We booked the Samoa groto, a reindeer slieigh ride, some story telling session and roller skating. She wanted the festive pony ride when we got there but it was full. The fireworks are free and great.

We stayed by in a new style executive lodge, and paid extra to be in a central location. But longleat is very large and hilly.

pinklemonade84
We've stayed in a New Style Executive before which was lovely but to be honest we normally stop in Woodland Lodges. For how much time we spend in the lodge I can't justify the extra cost! Also, if my memory serves correctly (which it may not!) the exec lodges are quite a way out. The woodland lodges are closer to the centre of everything. If you want to pick a specific lodge you have to pay a bit extra depending on whether it is central, a bit further out or a lot further out (Center Parcs don't use that exact wording!). What we tend to do is book a Woodland lodge that is classed as in the middle zone but that is right on the border of the central zone so we are only 7/8 minute walk in to the centre but we only pay a bit extra because it's technically 'a bit further out. Hope that made sense!

I agree with a pp that the fireworks are great (and set to music!). The first year we had a Christmas carvery at The Pancake House on the lake which gives you a prime position to watch the fireworks. However, DD1 found it rather loud and overwhelming! Last year, our lodge backed on to the other side of the lake so we watched them through the window instead and had a fabulous view!

Ohhhh I'm seriously excited

Dd is probably a bit young to take it in this year. So I will probably make it our main holiday of the year and choose one of the new executive lodges.

I've been reading up on it all day and love that if you have under 5s then things like stair gates and fire guards are included.

I think I've been driving my husband mad as we've got Whinfell, Sherwood and Longleat all within a 2.5 hour drive from us and I can't quite choose which one