Disappointed Center Parcs

[Dawbie]

Anyone else really disappointed with their trip to Center Parcs?
mad a child I remember going and absolutely loving it.
Went last month and was SO disappointed. Accommodation dirty, small and very cramped. We booked a 4 bedroom lodge and feel conned as the floor plan was ‘indicative’ and we got one less bathroom that promised at booking.
basically the floor plan so different to what we booked.
Also the experience called ‘baby owls.’ Completely misleading. The youngest owl was 7 (definitely not a baby) and they have justified it by saying the experience is for babies - despite under 1s not being permitted.

Ive always been a believer in you get what you pay for with Center Parcs that is not the case. NEVER AGAIN.

Ha, I did a nostalgia trip last year and was disappointed but a lot of that was them clinging on to unnecessary covid restrictions like app ordering and pool booking. The lodge wasn’t great but we didn’t pay loads. I never pay for the clubs or classes. The pool used to be loads warmer too though I swear 🤣

We had a wonderful time at centre parcs and were suprised how clean and spacious our lodge was (4 bed exec Lodge). My niece and nephew did baby owls and I assumed it was just for younger children.

We were a bit disappointed in the resturants and how chaotic and slow they were. But hey ho

Agreed. We're gonna try Bluestone in Wales next year instead.

Went once because so many people raved about it and didn't get the hype.

It's overpriced compared to what you can get elsewhere and not that great IMO.

I don't love it but we went this year as it had a lot of stuff DD enjoyed. I think baby owls is obviously for younger children, rather than having actual baby owls.

I think the Owl experience is for young children, not that the Owls are babies.

I love it because my kids really love it.

Did you really get 1 less bathroom than you should have? The floorplan thing changes from villa to villa but one less bathroom is really bad, have you complained?

Baby owls is clearly an owl experience for younger children, not actual baby owls.

Complain about the bathroom issue on twitter. I used twitter when I couldn't get hold of them during covid to rebook and it was sorted in less than an hour!

It wouldn't be for me without children but we have a 9 and 8 year old and they love it. Then enjoying it means we all do. We take bikes and cycle loads! Also swimming, archery, quad bikes, bowling, pancake house!

It’s fucking awful. I’ve never understood why people like it

We went in November and found the staff pretty helpful, did you complain about the missing bathroom at the time? We didn't eat out this time except in the Sports Plaza, which was fine. We did get a takeaway a few times and had no problem with that.
The pool booking system has thankfully stopped.
I'm always in two minds about CP, it's expensive and not entirely fabulous, but it's convenient with everything in one location and it's nice to get away.

Yea complained. Escalated to the highest level and stated floor plans are ‘indicative.’ Shocked by an apparent luxury brand.

Glad to hear they don’t let people handle baby birds. I can’t believe you’re angry that the owl your children were poking at was too old.

You weren’t allowed to touch the adult owls. My child would NEVER poke or prod an animal. I actually HATE using animals for entertainment / profit and only let my child do animal activities with others so they are not left out. I would NEVER purchase zoo tickets.

why not reply in a kind way? Why be so mean??? Hope you got your fix.

It's ridiculously overhyped and overpriced. Wouldn't mind if you got what you paid for but a lot of the accommodation is dated, the restaurants are poor and serve mainly microwaved food, you need a second mortgage just to go in the arcades...
We went a year ago and the kids would love to go back but I can't face it! I've had far better holidays at Haven & Butlins for a fraction of the price.
It seems to have a cult following though. There are Facebook groups where people seem to live for their trips there, go multiple times a year planning the trip in meticulous detail. I don't get it 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have never been disappointed in Center Parcs because I loathe it and if I go my expectations are zero

I'm laughing here- never been to centre parcs but assumed baby owls was a kids activity and the owls referred to the kids participating. So I was confused by the youngest child taking part was 7 and it was a baby activity but under ones couldn't go. I can't believe it's about actual owls and the issue is the actual owl was too old.

I loved going as a kid, but I wouldn’t pay the school holidays prices, the only UK holidays I’ve not felt ripped off have been camping or caravan sites though! We did Dutch CP one year, which was much cheaper and did enjoy that.

I’ve been to baby owls before when Dd was younger and the blurb made it obvious it was an owl handling experience for kids. Dd loved it.

is there evening entertainment at centre parcs?

don’t know- but I bet it’s a hoot 🦉

We go term time so it's reasonably priced then.

Always get an exec lodge which is a higher spec.

Never had a problem and enjoy it.

However if I paid the exorbitant sums they charge in school holidays I'd think it was a rip off.

Ha ha 😂

it's expensive and not entirely fabulous, but it's convenient with everything in one location and it's nice to get away.

That’s basically what I think. It keeps a lot of ages happy for a family holiday (ours are always multigenerational), the swimming is fab and something we don’t get elsewhere, or would be a one-day-only trip with travel rather than on tap daily whenever you fancy it, the spas are really lovely (and means you can escape the kids!) but it is undeniably expensive. I’ve never had a crap time and the accommodation we’ve had is always great.