What's Center Parcs like these days?

[Pirri]

We first took DC1 as a baby in 1996 and went pretty much once a year for the next 18 years.
Going for a weekend with now grown up DC and their partners soon. I used to have the whole routine down to a military operation but having not been since long before covid I wonder how it's changed.
I've pre-booked restaurants and badminton etc.
Is the car park still a scrum or have they improved it? (Sherwood)

I don't remember the car park being too bad when we went.

The restaurants are hideously overpriced now though. They've always been pricey but the quality is now really poor too. We've decided not to bother with the restaurants and take some nice ready meals when we go this time.

Not sure where you're planning to stay but apparently all of the maple lodges have recently been refurbished.

I think the restaurants were always overpriced rubbish but there's zero chance I am cooking so much as a ready meal!
I remember the car parks as being very full of huge SUVs and hard to negotiate round, lots of queuing.

Also wondering about the pool.

The last 3 times my SIL has been they’ve all had norovirus and have said they won’t go back as it is the only occasions they e had d and v in the last 10 years so it’s not a coincidence

There are a couple of very active Facebook groups for CP/sherwood. You can search past posts as well for info on the pool etc. you'll probably get more help on there.

Spontaneity has gone. Everything ( food and activities) needs to be pre booked unless you want to eat very early/late.It's always been expensive but I like it and it suits us!

Yes I know it's expensive to eat out, but honestly for 6 adults in accommodation with 3 ensuite and a pool etc I don't think the main outlay is bad. I've paid more for a nice cottage in Yorkshire which doesn't have access to all the indoor activities that make a UK holiday in November bearable.

I wasn't expecting to go again once DC grew up but they were very keen to go and DS2 has been with a group of friends and enjoyed it.

We're just back from a weekend at Center Parcs Sherwood. Car park was fine but my god they have put prices up. Lunch at the pool cafe for 2 adults and 2 kids (chicken nuggets etc) came to £75!!

Extremely overpriced, tired addomodation.

Really enjoyed our Elveden break overall last winter as the Christmas village/lights etc were reslky good and my son was only 2.5 so perfect age for it really, he loved all the soft plays and disco.

The pool was really cold though! I swear it actually used to feel tropical in there and it was def more local leisure centre vibe, sadly. We used to be in there for hours.

We're still going every year 20+ years later with adult DC and there's no reason you won't enjoy it if you enjoyed it then. We go with other families and all the "kids" still say it's their favourite holiday despite having travelled a lot! We just try to ignore the cost and enjoy not cooking, playing sports, the pool (if you time it well it won't be so busy - early morning, lunchtime or early to late evening tend to be less crowded) and just spending time together without having to think too much about where to go. Enjoy it.

We went to Sherwood last year, no problems with the car park, yes busy but nothing different to parking in a normal car park?

We don't eat out there because it's expensive, and our kids are fussy. We got a takeaway from the Indian restaurant there, that was fine - nothing spectacular but a perfectly nice curry.

We are off to Whinfell in a couple of weeks because it's a bit closer to us. I love a center parcs trip.

@AliMonkey that's great.
My DC travel a fair bit and have partners now as well but still enjoy the odd UK short break with us. I think this will work for us all. They are all sporty so will play squash, badminton etc. We'll go out to eat and then do board games back in the cabin (or whatever they are now called).
Sherwood is an hour or less for everyone to get to.

The pool was lovely and warm at Sherwood last weekend! Pool side was actually too warm for me, dd was just in a nappy when she came out pool.
We were in a woodland new style and it was lovely, no issues at all. We stayed in one last year that felt more run down.