Tips for Centreparcs newbie?!

[suddenlycupishalffull]

We're going to Whinfell Forest out of season (so not half term), I went years ago as a kid to a different one but am going with my own in tow this year (a 1 year old & a 3.5 year old) and have never been to this one. I feel like there's loads of practical stuff I should know? People have told me the cost can really mount up, how can I avoid this? And apparently change over day can be a bit hectic, what are you meant to do? Any tips from people who have stayed at a centreparcs would be so helpful, I'm a complete newbie to it all!

No advice but following with interest as we just booked CP Whinfell for the first time too!

I find the costs only mount up if you have older kids wanting to do loads of the addon activities (archery, paintball, zip wire etc.)
If your two are happy swimming, walking, looking for squirrels that's all included, and some of the activities for little ones are more reasonable.
The onsite supermarket is not the cheapest so if you're self catering I've heard its best to do a shop before you get there.
If you're hiring bikes and trailers it's probably best to book in advance, although you may be ok outside of peak periods.

Put your swim great separate so that on arrival you can go straight to the pool.
Take bird food to sprinkle on the patio for squirrels etc
Book all activities in advance, you dint need to book swimming
Get a lodge near the centre or pool
Have a great time!

Ooooo food for the birds is a great tip thank you I never would have thought of that. Yes hopefully with 2 so young just pottering about will be entertainment enough. So you can get on site but necessarily into your room until the afternoon, is that why people suggest packing your swimming stuff on top so you can park up and go straight to the pool? Is it a massive site? Does it take ages to get between activities? (We're not very fast if going at childrens' pace!). Can you take your own bikes or do you have to hire theirs?

You can take own bikes
Yes, put swim stuff at top so can get in pool whilst waiting for access to lodge
We had deer, squirrels, ducks on patio

Wow how lovely! So what sort of stuff do they have in the lodges? Towels? Do you take your own kitchen stuff like bin bags?

Does anyone have a rough idea of how much activities are? I'd love to take DD horse riding when we go in June but I need to budget all the things to do.

Definately take your own bikes. Have a budget for activities or they can spiral. If you can make a meal for the night you arrive that makes life easier.
I live 10 mins up the road from whinfellso go a bit.
Spa experiance is good for adults. Think it's £40 for 4 blissful hours.
Penrith has a sainsburys morrisons and a booths for shopping.

Look on the website it tells you what is included with each type of lodge. Definitely take swimming towels even if bath towels are provided. Website also has all,book able activities and prices

Shamazeballs. There are some riding places off site that do great rides on the fells. Look at Park foot trekking. And happy horses at Eamont bridge.

If you look on google maps you can see the layout and get an idea of the distances involved.
If you don't want to lug swimming stuff around first thing there's playparks that are free to use

If you do the pottery painting, do it at the start of the week so you can pick them up at the end - otherwise you have to wait for them to be posted. Im too impatient for that.