Center Parcs Elveden- hints & tips?

[Thismummyruns]

After posting for advice a while ago we decided to book CP and are going next week!

First timer here, I've just booked 2 activities for my nearly 6 YO and booked dinner for 2 nights.

I've got so many questions, can anyone help?

What do you want to know? We've been going twice a year for 14 years

How exciting!
Are you taking or hiring bikes?
Where have you booked dinner? Hucks and The Forresters have play areas for kids.

Check in online before you get there.
Download the app before you go, too. It’s really handy for finding out what’s on, pre-booking and paying for activities before you go, and remembering what’s on your itinerary once you’re there. There’s free Wi-Fi in all of the main buildings, so you can still download it when you get there.
Don’t feel pressured to book too much before you arrive. You don’t want to spend the whole time looking at an itinerary finding out where you need to be in 10 minutes time! If there are things you absolutely, desperately want to do, then book them but otherwise, wait to get there and see what takes your fancy. I would say that planning to book half your activities is probably a good balance as things can get busy and you don’t want to be disappointed. By doing this though, you leave yourself some time available to do something you see when you’re there that you really want to try but hadn’t thought about it until you saw it…
You can’t get in to your lodge until 3pm, but you can use the facilities on-site – namely the swimming pool – from 10am onwards. Pack all your swimming stuff separately so that you can park up, load up your buggy with all your bits and spend the morning swimming. Then you can send the other half back to the car to drive it onto the village and up to your lodge with all the rest of your gear in, while you saunter over there all casual.
Don’t hurry off to bring your car up to your lodge at 3pm if you don’t have to. Let the rush die down a bit and then go, and you’ll beat the crowds and get a bit more time in the pool.
Bring the bulk of your booze with you, so that you can empty it into your lodge now – while the car is parked outside – rather than having to lug it all home from the ParcMarket, which is the on-site supermarket. You can stock up there when you’re running low.
When you drive your car back to the car park – where it’ll stay until you go home – text yourself the location, or write it down if you’ve got no signal. That way you won’t have any delays when it’s time to check-out at the end of your holiday.
You can leave the site at any time to explore the local area or to do a top up shop. Just let the staff know so you can get a badge for the car to let you back in.
Pack a bucket and spade - every village has a small, sandy beach on the lake.
Take a packet of toilet rolls – you’ll only get one roll provided in each of your toilets.
Take beach towels for the pool. There are plenty of towels at your lodge, but you’re going to want them for baths and showers.
Don’t worry about packing buoyancy aids. There are racks full of buoyancy jackets in two different sizes, and they’re free.
Take washing up liquid. There’s a little sachet on the sink to get you started, but that’s it. As with most things, you can pick up a bottle in the ParcMarket. But if you’re trying to save money it’ll be cheaper to bring it from home. Likewise, bring some extra dishwasher tablets.There’ll be a handful in the lodge, but they won’t get you through your break. On that note, take a couple of extra tea towels, too, as there’s only one supplied.

@Ricekrispie22 I think you've covered everything and more in one fell swoop! Thank you so much!! I've already packed some of what you've advised as we've done a few static caravan breaks in the past and have learnt from our many mistakes!

@Summersunshine2 They're the 2 restaurants we've booked, great to know they have play areas! We haven't booked cycles, we're going to risk it and sort that out there if we think we will. We are taking our eldest's scooter so hoping that will be safe there. We have a 3 month old also so mummy & daddy will have to swap children for various activities. I'm hoping I'll get the baby & head for coffee 

@Todaythiscouldbe I wasn't really sure on what we're supposed to do on arrival and arrival etiquette tbh. Now I know we unload and then pop the car in the car park. Typical first timer here, all the gear and no idea.
I don't suppose you are familiar with the pine area and how long it could take to walk to the centre approx? I'm quite an active person so not an issue just would be handy to know without a stressful first night rushing to get to dinner.
Do you know the minimum age/height for kids on the flumes etc as I will be doing that side of the break with our eldest? Can I ride the flumes with her?
I'd like to take the baby at least once whilst we're there, is there a baby section?

Thanks all again. Very helpful and hopefully we'll have an amazing, well needed break!

@Ricekrispie22 I can't find the app?

Just found this
“Following feedback from our guests we have made the decision to close down our app. We recognise our app is not currently providing the quality service our guests expect and this will be withdrawn immediately.”
Sorry

Following as also planning to go for this first time!

Ahhh that would make sense, I've tried every combination of potential name searches in the AppStore.
Thanks RE buoyancy aids, went up in the loft to find last holidays swimming ring just incase and panicked when I couldn't find it. I doubt she'll need it but at least there is the option of a vest there.

@Kingtiger101 Have you booked or thinking about it?

Ooh, we're going too! Can you pick up the bikes earlier than 3 as well?

Yes you can pick up the bikes as early as you want. Many people bring their own, I have never seen them run out.
They are always happy to swap bikes or fix them if you are not happy with the one you got. They are also happy to help fix guests own bikes too.
The swimming pool baby area is big and lovely.
Have fun.

Thank you @Summersunshine2!

@Thismummyruns no not booked yet. Have a 2.5 yr old and 8 month old so hoping to go next summer / spring during term time. I had a thread recently about which was the best parc to go to and Elveden seemed to come out tops for little kids.

I take it from your name that you like to run? Me too. I’m hoping to go for runs around the forest in the early morning! Will make a nice difference to the streets where I live!

@Ricekrispie22 thank you! I understand about car parking now!

@Kingtiger101 Oh lovely! I'll update you on my return if you want?
It definitely sounds perfect for little ones.

Yes, just trying to get my fitness back as had to stop at 24 weeks pregnant. It's harder this time around! Planning on at least one run whilst there, just dried my gear from yesterday's parkrun so it's ready to be packed! A lovely scenic run sounds ideal.

The Indian restaurant there is excellent. Well worth a visit.

The smaller flume is 120cm to go down on own, but you can take smaller child on an adult’s lap. Think bigger flume is same.

The water is lovely and warm. I used one of these neoprene baby wet suits and my DS often fell asleep in the water as he was so relaxed. Also stops them being so slippy

https://swimbest.co.uk/products/swimbest-baby-wetsuit?variant=17885686038626&currency=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqt3shfmL5AIVl53VCh2oMwM8EAQYByABEgL7CDD_BwE

Old veteran of CP elveden here too

Weird about the app... I have it and it’s still there on my phone, I use it each month to pay the outstanding amount...

Yes me too with the fitness. There wasn’t long between my pregnancies so I never really got it back! Hopefully will get out later today though.

That would be great if you could update after you’ve been thank you! Have a lovely time!

You'll have a wonderful time!

The food at the Parc shops is expensive and the choice limited. We have found organising a supermarket delivery to our house (or a click-and-collect) as we are setting off is much cheaper and very easy - no need to carry bags of groceries around the park! We pack a cool box and just unload it into the kitchen with all the clothes etc.

If you plan to cook while you are there, do a bag of useful essentials - oil, herbs, butter, etc.. whatever your family usually uses (in our case lots of hot sauce and peanut butter, and a good chef's knife because cheap knives drive me bonkers)

We take a couple of movies to pop in the DVD player when the kids just want to collapse after a busy day swimming too.

Can I ask what coffee making facilities do the lodges have? Do they have cafetières? Thanks

The shop has this year had a complete overhaul. It looks great and they have higher shelves now so much more choice than before. Yes it’s more expensive than tesco.

Depending on the lodge you have, we always have one of those pod coffee machines (that I can’t work!) and give you some pods (more in the shop) and there is always a cafeteria in the cupboard.

Don’t forget salt and pepper like I always seem to do

We went last week for the first time and really loved it. I would also advise waiting until you’re there to book activities. My kids were happiest with the pool. I had booked one activity but changed it when we were there as the kids wanted a different one once the saw the zip wire over the lake.

The one thing I would change is that I brought too many groceries. I found the supermarket to be really good and pretty reasonable - about the price of a tesco metro but with a much better range. Maybe bring some oil/salt/dishwasher tablets but then you can buy when you are there.

Oh the cabin was really clean but both the kettle and coffee machine badly needed descaling - maybe some descaling tablets?