Center Parcs - Your tips for arrival etc

[cloudybay27]

Going to CP tomorrow for the first time in 15 years...we are going to the Nottingham one and planning to arrive at 10.30/11am ish. Can anyone advise on the best way to approach our arrival / stay? What do we do with the car etc? I didn't reserve a specific lodge so i would imagine we will be a long way out but we have hired bikes and don't mind about that. We are in a New Exec lodge whatever that means.

We go to the Longleat one quite regularly and there you cannot access your villa until 2pm. We get there early, check in (drive through thing - you will get given a map and told where your lodge is.) You then leave your car in the car park as the barrier to the lodges will still be down.
We pack a ‘day bag’ accessible in the car and head straight for the pool. Then we have an early lunch and rent the bikes. Most of us then cycle to the lodge whilst DH gets the car and drives around to meet us so we can unpack. Then it’s usually back to the pool!
We do a supermarket shop before we get there as the Pacmarket is expensive but we always have one of their dining in (takeaway) options on the first night. The pizza is good.
Have a great time!

When we arrive we go and have a pint. Sit and have lunch, read the paper ans then pop to the lodge, DH gets the car. Relax, no plans.

Leave the car in the car park - take just your swimming bags. Go and swim (it's always quieter on change over day) then food at Huckleberry's. One adult gets the car (waits in the traffic jam) everyone else walks to villa. Unpack, take car back. Chill out.