Great Wolf Lodge Question

[nancybotwin]

We are thinking of going. I wanted to do just one night, but if check-in time is 4 and check out time is 11, it doesn't give much time to go to the water park/do things around the hotel. What have others' experiences been? Do you have to go for more than one night?

[karinothing]

Never been but can you stay at the waterpark after check out?

[h]

We did one night and it was fine, but my kids are night owls. We really enjoyed the water park from 7-9pm when it was much less crowded than during the day, and the kids got a ton of turns on the water slides that way. It made a one day stay worth it.

You can also use the water park before you check in and after you check out, but you have to deal with the logistics of not having a room to change in.

[jaycee]

With those types of resorts, its common to be able to get a waterpark pass as soon as they open (9 or 10am) on your check in date. You may not have access to your room until late afternoon, but you could use the common area lockerooms.

[nancybotwin]

Thank you all - super helpful.

[AmyRI]

You can use the water park all day both days. You just won't have your room available the whole time.

There was plenty for us to do for another day but everything is super overpriced.

[jinkies]

You can start using the water park at 1:00 on check in day, and you can use it all day on check out. There are locker rooms to shower/change before heading home.

My kids looooved it, but it seemed like 3 hours in the waterpark each day was plenty for them. We spent the other time doing magic quest, storytimes, getting ice cream, etc. We left around 3 or 4 on check out day. It was plenty of time for us.

[jeaniebueller]

Also, there should be a mini fridge in your room and bring your own pop and snacks, as food and beverage prices are outrageous. Don't let them nickel and dime you on all of the extras when you check in. You don't need them. Evening storyline is free and between that and the water park, you will be fine.

[rosebud]

Do a Pinterest search on Great Wolf...Tons of tips and ideas (i.e. Bring your crockpot to cock dinner and save the money). We did 1 night to see what it was like last month and then made a reservation for school vacation week in February.

[jinkies]

I got a decent room rate on groupon. For dinner, we got burgers/chicken fingers from the takeout section in the waterpark. We didnt find it to be out of line, price-wise, but maybe the sit down restaurants are worse? You can always go off site if you really cant do their food prices.

Honestly, when you consider the cost of taking a family of 4 to any theme park, plus an overnight, I really didn't think Great Wolf was exorbitant. (Disclaimer: we went on a weekday during the school year-- I probably would feel differently if we'd paid weekend rates)

[Deleted]

You can use the water park I think starting g at 1 or 2 day of check in until close 8/9 the night of check out. They had lockers we could keep our dry clothes in to change after while we kept our luggage in the car.

[VillainV]

Interesting. A GWL is being built in our city, and apparently they don't do day passes for townies. But being able to pay for one night in a room and use the pool almost a day and a half sounds like it could be pretty awesome, especially considering it's close enough that we really won't need to worry about food, changing facilities, etc.

[soozy87]

We went and they let us check in early.

[pugz]

VillainV I don't think any of them do day passes. Although I've had friends go to the one locally and bring guests with guest passes they had.

I want to check it out sometime for a staycation, although a friend's husband fell off a platform there a couple of months ago and fractured his skull and her daughter broke her foot. So scary but it could happen at any pool. GWL is covering their medical expenses.

[aspentosh]

Just saw this and haven't read the other responses, but you can start using the waterpark at 1pm on the day of checkin and until closing (9pm for ours) until the day of checkout. We did one night and took advantage of these hours just a couple weeks ago and it was perfect.

[aspentosh]

Jul 4, 2016 14:53:54 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Interesting. A GWL is being built in our city, and apparently they don't do day passes for townies. But being able to pay for one night in a room and use the pool almost a day and a half sounds like it could be pretty awesome, especially considering it's close enough that we really won't need to worry about food, changing facilities, etc.

They say no day passes because they want it to be for people staying at the park. I like that idea since it keeps crowds down. 

[jeaniebueller]

Jul 4, 2016 14:53:54 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Interesting. A GWL is being built in our city, and apparently they don't do day passes for townies. But being able to pay for one night in a room and use the pool almost a day and a half sounds like it could be pretty awesome, especially considering it's close enough that we really won't need to worry about food, changing facilities, etc.

Sign up for their emails because they will email you with they have specials and you can usually get a decent deal on a room at off peak times.

[Deleted]

Since you have to pay when booking I booked with one code then they came out with a better code a month later and they happily returned the difference to my card. For my kids 1.5 and just turned 4 one night was plenty.

[VillainV]

Jul 4, 2016 18:20:33 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Jul 4, 2016 14:53:54 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Interesting. A GWL is being built in our city, and apparently they don't do day passes for townies. But being able to pay for one night in a room and use the pool almost a day and a half sounds like it could be pretty awesome, especially considering it's close enough that we really won't need to worry about food, changing facilities, etc.

Sign up for their emails because they will email you with they have specials and you can usually get a decent deal on a room at off peak times.

This is what I was hoping for! Off peak is fine for us because we don't actually have to go anywhere or take time off from work :-). But it might be a year or so before the little guy will really be able to take advantage of all of the fun stuff.

[rosebud]

Jul 4, 2016 19:20:33 GMT -5 @jayhawkali said:

Since you have to pay when booking I booked with one code then they came out with a better code a month later and they happily returned the difference to my card. For my kids 1.5 and just turned 4 one night was plenty.

The code they sent me after we stayed last month did NOT require you pay at the time of booking.

[Deleted]

Jul 5, 2016 5:54:11 GMT -5 rosebud said:

Jul 4, 2016 19:20:33 GMT -5 @jayhawkali said:

Since you have to pay when booking I booked with one code then they came out with a better code a month later and they happily returned the difference to my card. For my kids 1.5 and just turned 4 one night was plenty.

The code they sent me after we stayed last month did NOT require you pay at the time of booking.

Hmm maybe because it was a month after grand opening for our trip

[hocus2]

At the one near me you can swim and even get your room "key" (which is a wrist band) before check in time. They text you your room number when it is free. You can stay as late as you want on check out day and there are cabanas that folks rent so they have a better place to hang out.