Great Wolf Lodge is a great destination for families looking for a staycation or an evening away. Families will discover a range of activities that appeal to all ages. I’m sharing tips to help you make the most out of your visit.
How to Save on Your Stay at Great Wolf Lodge
Check the website for featured deals before your booking.
Many of the special deals on the Great Wolf Lodge website offer additional savings for advanced bookings and discounts for local attractions in the area.
Also check deal sites like Groupon and Living Social for additional savings.
Come Early, Stay Late at Great Wolf Lodge
Maximize your time at the waterpark both days to make the most of your visit.
Check-in time begins at 4pm but you can get your wristbands to use the day of your arrival as early as 1pm.
Your wristband also doubles as your room key which is extremely convenient. You can choose how many people in your party have the option to use their wristband as a key.
The day you checkout, you can still swim at the waterpark until close.
Pack a Day Bag
If you are maximizing your time at the waterpark, you will want to pack a daybag with a swimsuit, flip flops, and any other essentials to use before your room is ready and after you check out.
I like bringing my own beach towels because they are larger than the ones provided inside the waterpark.
Great Wolf Lodge does have lockers available for rent and there is a gift shop if you discover that you forgot something at home.
Save Money by Packing Snacks and Drinks
Our room had a mini fridge and a microwave which was great for reheating leftovers from our dinner at the Lodge Wood Fire Grill.
We packed extra snacks and drinks for our family to enjoy in between meals.
You can bring coolers to the lodge but you are not allowed to take them into the waterpark.
Determine What Type of Room You Need at Great Wolf Lodge
During our visit, we stayed in the Standard Family Suite. We spent the majority of our time at the waterpark during our visit but it was nice to have some room to spread out when we returned to the room.
Our suite included two queen beds, a living area with a full-size sofa sleeper, a Security safe, Microwave, Mini-fridge, Coffee maker, 32 inch TV, and Hairdryer.
The Waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge
The waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge appeals to all ages.
There are designated spaces with younger kids in mind along with fantastic tub slides to get your heart racing and everything in between.
The temperature inside the waterpark is 84 degrees which makes it a wonderful destination year-round.
The highlights for my boys were the waterslides, water basketball area, water coaster, and the wave pool.
We didn’t bring anything valuable with us to the waterpark when we swam, so we didn’t feel the need to get a locker.
It was also nice to enjoy a break from our phones. The pool chairs are first come, first serve, but I wouldn’t be concerned about getting a lounge chair because it’s highly unlikely that you will be staying in one place for a long time unless you are enjoying the outdoor pool.
I should also mention that there is a bar at the outdoor pool and one near the wave pool too.
Special Activities for Younger Kids at Great Wolf Lodge
Check the daily to make the most out of your two days at Great Wolf Lodge. There are a lot of special activities offered daily that are geared toward younger kids that are included with your visit.
The nightly story time is very popular and a great way the end a long day of activities.
Families with younger kids will enjoy helping create a furry friend to bring home and use for the Clubhouse Crew game.
Activities for families with Older Kids at Great Wolf Lodge
Families with older kids will still find plenty of things to do outside of the waterpark.
If your kids love fantasy worlds, they will really enjoy playing MagiQuest. I was told that the games can take anywhere from 30 minutes to -3 hours depending on how many breaks you take.
You can take your wand home as a souvenir and reuse it with the purchase of new adventures during future visits.
Younger kids who play will probably need more parental assistance to follow the directions and show them where to go throughout the hallways and floors.
Save Money on Multiple Activities With the Paw or Wolf Pass
You can save up to 37% off the retail price with a Paw or Wolf Pass Package
Paw Pass Package Includes
- MagiQuest game or ShadowQuest game
- Choice of classic or colored wand, standard topper or Magi belt
- One Creation Station animal (outfit not included)
- One 12 oz. candy cup
- One Clubhouse Crew Adventure
- One pair of Great Wolf Lodge goggles
- One Glitz Glitter Tattoo
- One Leather Treaty wristband
- One Paw Points game card ($5)
Wolf Pass Package Includes
- MagiQuest game or ShadowQuest game
- Choice of classic wand, standard topper or Magi belt
- Compass Quest game (compass included)
- One Creation Station animal (outfit not included)
- One 12 oz. candy cup
- One round of Howl at the Moon Glow Golf
- One game of bowling at Ten Paw Alley
- One pair of Great Wolf Lodge goggles
- One Leather Treaty wristband
- One Glitz Glitter Tattoo
- One single scoop of ice cream at Bear Paw Sweets & Eats
- One Paw Points game card ($5)
Activities for All Ages
Families of all ages will enjoy the Arcade, Howl at the Moon Glow Golf and bowling at Ten Paw Alley.
Our family really enjoyed bowling together and the boys had a blast in the arcade.
Dining Options at Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge offers several different restaurant options for guests. There is a cafe inside the Waterpark area called Buckets Incredible Craveables, there is also a restaurant with a buffet called the Loose Moose Cottage for breakfast and dinner.
(If you have teenagers who eat a lot, the buffet will be your greatest value.) The Lodge Wood Fire Grill is a nice option for a sit-down experience. The “Backyard BBQ Platter” (Hickory-smoked St. Louis ribs, hardwood-smoked brisket, smoked sausage, mac & cheese, lodge-made pickles, and coleslaw. Served with warm cornbread) was a table favorite.
You can also order pizza and pasta from “Hungry as a Wolf.”
Don’t forget a sweet treat at Bear Paw Sweets and Eats or Dunkin Donuts. The color-changing spoon with our ice cream was an added bonus.
Get your hair wet and make memories
My kids are getting older so we allowed them to have the freedom to enjoy what they wanted to do independently at the waterpark but we also enjoyed riding waterslides with them when they were willing to hang out with us.
My advice is to enjoy the experience and make time to play with your family.
Thanks again to Great Wolf Lodge Mason for hosting our visit.
