Did join frenzy day to book Baltic Wharf for the Balloon Festival in August. Booked a full week, not just the 4 days of the BF. Checked on Friday before the CC website was down for a re-build and there were vacancies at BW through the year and the week of the BF. As family are in Bristol and fil is rather ill, we are hoping to make it a family event, hence the desire to book on frenzy day.
That will be our 3rd visit to BW. The first in October was booked on the Sunday before arriving on the Friday for the weekend. The next was booked late October for the forthcoming February halt term second weekend.
We got into Chatsworth the first week of the school summer holidays this past July, booked 3 weeks prior to arrival. We had a super serviced pitch that in our row only had 56% occupancy in the school summer holidays. Rest of the site was 80% occupied over the time were were there.
We got into Cheddar for Easter weekend booking 2 days before arriving after we realised it was Easter.
Bladon Chains for the last May BH weekend, booked 2 weeks before arrival.
Whilst we use CC sites, we use CL's and commercial sites more. Found some gems, particularly at peak family holiday times without the need to book on a single day up to a year ahead of arrival. Maybe, like the acceptance of poor quality caravans over decades made from common parts thrown together; the CC membership are indoctrinated into accepting things as they are and not want to change or do something different year after year after year.
As a family tied to school holidays we find the CC to have the highest prices, for less facilities and with the exception of specific family reasons we tend not to use the CC in peak times, as we know we can get into 'better' sites for less cost and at times that suit us without wasting a day on frenzy day.
There is an awful lot of choice out there beyond the CC