Center Parcs?

feclmum

Veryskint wrote: »

I know this is an old thread but it seemed the most appropriate for my question, hope that is ok.
We are thinking to go to CP next week, there is still some availability - my concern is if it pours down all week, will I have a bored 5 and 7 year old, or will I have to splash out on lots of extra activities, and end up paying more than if we just took them to disneyland for a week...?
thanks very much

We have been with a 5 & 7 yr old when it has rained every day and still had a great time without spending loads!! Mine love the swimming which is free and indoors but also enjoyed putting waterproofs & wellies on and going for walks and playing on the parks..

moneypooh

No, you'll have great fun. Which CP are you going to?
You'll be able to take advantage of all the young children play areas both inside & out. The pools will keep them busy.
There is quite often children's entertainment and a disco that's free early evening.
You should have a DVD player in your villa.

But this time of the year is great, autumn leaves in the woods. As long as you're prepared for the weather it's not a problem.

Veryskint

Ah thanks for the replies! So its wellies, umbrellas, dvds, and big up rollerblading as a paid option.

I was worried the soft play might be little kids only, but sounds like its ok for bigger kids too - mine are both full of energy and quite nuts, so swimming and soft play will be heaven for them.

We are going to longleat as its nearest, just planning to book today, but not sure what accom to go for.

We have the choice of
Comfort 2 Bedroom Villa
Comfort Plus 2 Bedroom
Exec 2 Bed Apartment 2 storey

for much the same price, or for an extra £60 we can go for Woodland Lodge 2 bed

any ones to avoid/jump at?
many thanks

pinkmami

Well re the soft play (only speaking as an "expert" at Whinfell!!) theere's a pub there & the soft play there is aimed at the older kids with a section for the smaller ones. Bowling is also a rainy day option but book in advance.

Re accomm - I've stayed in the basic Comfort lodges & they've fine - home from home. Also stayed in the New Style upgraded ones & they were nice. but in all honesty I think the comfort ones are great - not much difference in the plus ones so I believe apart from the added extra like a dishwasher etc.

I'm going 2 weeks next Monday & the kids have no idea that we're going!!!

moneypooh

Veryskint wrote: »

We are going to longleat as its nearest, just planning to book today, but not sure what accom to go for.

We have the choice of
Comfort 2 Bedroom Villa
Comfort Plus 2 Bedroom
Exec 2 Bed Apartment 2 storey

for much the same price, or for an extra £60 we can go for Woodland Lodge 2 bed

any ones to avoid/jump at?
many thanks

I'd go for the nearest to the main plaza if you can, although the land train running every 20 mins will help with tired legs.
I'd go for the 2 bed exec or woodland lodge. Don't go for a comfort!! they are very old at longleat and along way from the main centres. IIRC the apartments are in the village square or next to the main plaza. We're staying in the Redwood ones in December for a couple of nights.

There are great outdoor play areas, one down by the Jardins de Sports and the other outside the pancake house. My DS played on these until about age 11yrs. (zip wires and large tree frames too)

Soft short tennis and badminton is always a great cheaper option too. Mine loved playing even at that young age, hilarious fun.

hethmar

The Comfort Villas are the only ones where you can take dogs with you - so I guess Im stuck with those then.

Spendless

I went to CP(Whinfell) last week with a 7yo and a 10yo-taking advantage of the 2 inset days I mentioned earlier and it rained several times. We swam, attended the kids disco in the evening at the leisure bowl, watched the firework display. Spent time in the Sports plaza, with DS learning to play pool. On a dry day went to one of the outside play areas. 7yo went to a Time Out session.

As to no chavs. :rotfl::rotfl: Arriving at 4pm it was darker up there earlier than at home and we were trying to find way to our accommodation, DH realised at least minute he needed to turn opposite way and in order to get the angle reversed, without looking and banged into car behind! Our fault, we were always going to admit it-car is a company one and the most hubby would get is a smacked hand. The driver in his 50s got out and started shouting 'You f-ing c-word' over and over again.

Yep you def get a better class of people there.

I also said I'd update on our Butlins trip in Aug and never did. Our accom was basic but fine (silver - very slightly better I'd say than the comfort lodge we stopped in at CP). When there was a mess at Butlins, eg walked in the loos one day to find paper all voer the floor- my 1st reactionw as aren't people messy-closer inspection found that the bins were overflowing and hadn't been emptied-it was due to the lack of staff rather than the people.
The shows were great since they are included in the price, but be prepared to wait.
The fair was tired but ok but inbetween the free rides are intermingled with expensive ones! The amusement arcade can also cost a pretty penny.

BTW -I don't know if this is the same at all the CPs but the one cash machine they had was not working and we could not get cashback as our debit cards are visa one, not delta or maestro and though we were told we could buy anything on a card, for some thigns like a daily paper you don't want to and for others like the kids playing air hockey etc you needed cash. Our other option would have been to go and get the car and go to the nearest place for a cash machine. In future I am making sure I have a cash-flow on me!


I also said I'd update on our Butlins trip in Aug and never did. Our accom was basic but fine (silver - very slightly better I'd say than the comfort lodge we stopped in at CP). When there was a mess at Butlins, eg walked in the loos one day to find paper all voer the floor- my 1st reactionw as aren't people messy-closer inspection found that the bins were overflowing and hadn't been emptied-it was due to the lack of staff rather than the people.
The shows were great since they are included in the price, but be prepared to wait.
The fair was tired but ok but inbetween the free rides are intermingled with expensive ones! The amusement arcade can also cost a pretty penny.

moneypooh

At all the CPs the parcmarket will do cashback with sales. I know there are at least 2 cash machines at Elveden (was there half term).

I see the F'ing Fulfords were at CP then, what class

Spendless

moneypooh wrote: »

At all the CPs the parcmarket will do cashback with sales. I know there are at least 2 cash machines at Elveden (was there half term).

I see the F'ing Fulfords were at CP then, what class

Whinfell has ONE cash machine. That was out of action from at least Tues night last week till Thursday lunchtime. I asked at guest services if there was another and was told no. Also the cashback is only maestro or delta, we both have FD bank accounts which is a visa debit card, which they don't do cashback on. Why, I have no idea, you sign your name still there, rather than tap in your number. We couldn't get cash at all.

moneypooh

They are a bit behind there, that others take the visa debit but not with pin, but signatures. In fact most places did, only a few did chip and pin.
My DD couldn't remember what her signature was and asked to have the card back to quickly check