Great Wolf Lodge - Review + Travel Tips

I have wanted to take my boys to Great Wolf Lodge for the longest time.  Every time my friends got back from their stay I would grill them with questions and ask if they found it worth the cost. Last fall I finally found a deal online that matched my budget and we booked a last minute trip to one of their locations.  Here is my unofficial, unasked for review and some tips and tricks!
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Overall we were very pleased with our stay.  The boys loved the novelty of the lodge down to every last detail.  There were plenty of activities to participate in and our one night stay was jam packed.  When we checked in we each got wolf ears included in our stay, the boys had bunk beds (and their own TV which they thought was a big deal) in a small section of room, and since we were there for Halloween there was trick-or-treating and other activities to participate in that were included in the cost of our stay.   We also got to visit the water park both days. We went to the water park shortly after checking in and enjoyed that for a while, then we grabbed dinner at the lodge, and participated in other activities.  I took our toddler to a dance party while my husband went with our 5 year old to the arcade (additional cost).  Then we reunited for their short and sweet bedtime story and tucked the boys in bed.  The next morning we went to the water park and stayed until everyone was exhausted. We were able to stay until closing, but our littles didn’t have the stamina and we still had a long drive home.  (Please note this was our experience.  Availability and cost may vary by location.  Their website does a great job explaining this). Our only complaint was that the water park was a bit cold–it was October, so it was not warm outside, but our boys did shiver every time they were out of the water.  This could have been something related to our specific location and it wasn’t miserable–given the chance we would still go back.

Now for the logistics: We all got wristbands at check in. This acted as our room keys and was linked to our account for billing purposes.  We had the option of adding these items to the boys bands which would be nice if they were older.  This was so convenient and easy to use.  





Here are my tips:​

• Bring your own towels–it is convenient that they provide towels, but you cannot leave the water park with them and it makes for a cold walk back to the room.
• Pack a smaller bag for day two–We checked out on our last day before going to the water park.  We brought everything to the car except our small bag with a change of clothes we planned to wear home.  They have lockers you can use so you do not need to worry about your stuff
• Pack a lot of snacks–Food is a little expensive.  Not terribly costly and we enjoyed our nice dinner (and the drinks were fancy), however, for every meal it did add up.   They have several food packages if you want convenience or your budget is bigger than ours!  You can also see their menus online or on their app to help you plan ahead.  It is not hard to leave the hotel so you can also eat off site.
• Set a budget with the whole family ahead of time–there are a million upgrades, games, arcades, a Build a Bear and more that draw in tiny humans.  We explained to our boys on the way there we were going at the last minute, so they might see some things we will not be doing this time!  The good news is there were plenty of included activities, so we didn’t feel as if they were missing out. 
• Pack light–This resort is full of parents trying to treat their children.  One thing I loved was everyone was just in loungewear living their best lives.  You don't need to be fashionable unless that's your preference!
• Pack cute pajamas for your kids–they have an adorable bedtime storytime.  You’ll want pictures and it's perfect for a quick wardrobe change and then off to bed when it’s over.
• Pack slip on shoes–you get up and go around the lodge often plus you’ll be at an indoor water park (and you might want to run to the bathroom at said water park)!

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​Overall, we definitely plan to go again.  There are plenty of activities for a variety of ages and our boys still talk about it.   Hopefully you found these tips helpful to have your best stay possible.   Also, be sure to sign up for their newsletters–they have a lot of special rates if you watch closely!