Disclosure: I received a discounted media rate for my stay at Great Wolf Lodge, and as always, my opinions are my own!
1. Bring your robes.
They have plenty of towels in different corners of the waterpark and I grabbed quite a few to make sure we had enough to dry us off after being in the water. They don’t want you to take the towels out of the waterpark area (even though I noticed some folks did), but if you’re a rule-follower, you can bring your bathrobes from home for extra warmth as you walk back to your room.
2. Don’t miss the hot tub.
I mistakenly thought that I would not get a chance to relax in the hot tub, as I had two small kids with me who I needed to keep an eye on. But I convinced my kids to come sit for a minute with me. To my surprise, they enjoyed it, and I got 20 minutes of relaxing bubbles and jets to soothe my tired body. (The waterpark wears you out!) At the Sandusky location, there are two levels – the upper whirlpool is for the adults, whereas the lower whirlpool is for the whole family. I look forward to returning to Great Wolf Lodge when the kids are a little older and my husband and I can relax in the hot tub sans kids!
3. Eat dinner early.
We arrived kind of late on Friday (around 5:30) and I was worried that we wouldn’t have a lot of time in the waterpark. But thankfully, the on-site restaurant, Gitchigoomie Grill, wasn’t too crowded and we were able to grab a quick meal. The food and service was great. My daughter has a gazillion food allergies, and once we told our server, she was right on top of it. They cooked all her food first, separately, and let us know how serious they were to prevent cross contamination. When our waitress brought her food out, she had on gloves! I was floored, to say the least. As a food allergy mom (I have allergies as well as my daughter), I’ve had a lifetime of ordering food at restaurants and being wary of getting sick. It is really rare to see that level of dedication, so Great Wolf Lodge gets a huge thumbs up from me on that front.
4. You will need snacks later.
Listen, honey. We were in the waterpark for about two hours on the first day. Between the lazy river, the waterslides, the treehouse/funhouse, the pool and the hot tubs, you burn an insane amount of calories. We worked off that dinner in no time and the kids were, of course, starving! At Hungry As A Wolf, you can order a pizza or other yummy goodies to bring to your room to satisfy everyone’s hungry bellies.
5. Arrange for the maximum time possible in the park.
Water park access is available from 1:00 p.m. on the day of arrival until the water park closes on the day of departure. So technically, you could almost squeeze two full days of waterpark fun out of one visit. Get there earlier than we did and by taking your kids to the park both days, enjoy the feeling of being the best mom in the world. You’re welcome, kids.
Have you ever been to Great Wolf Lodge? What was your experience like?
Great tips! We haven’t taken the kids to Great Wolf Lodge yet, but we have 2 birthdays to celebrate this summer, so we’ll see.
Thanks again!
Give me that hot tub! If I go, I probably wont miss it..lol.
Thank you for the bathrobe tip.. very easy to forget!
Like your tips and information but I can see Great Wolf Lodge is a lot of fun for kids young and old. Hot tubs, play area what more can a family ask for.
I hear a lot about the Great Wolf Lodge but have never been. I heard it is a lot of fun. Thanks for the great tips.
I have never been but it looks fun. I enjoyed water parks when I was growing up but they didn’t have interior ones! A hot tub anywhere is so relaxing!
There’s a Great Wolf Lodge not far from us. Though I’ve never been, it looks like it would be a total blast for the family.
I have never been to Great Wolf Lodge, but this looks perfect for my little family. My baby loves the water! And I want to get in that hot tub!
OMG too funny! I was just literally planning out a trip for late August to go to the one in Williamsburg since we’ll be at Busch Gardens any way. I’ve heard a lot of great things and can’t wait to go
These are great tips Tara! Even as someone who doesn’t have any kids as yet, I can certainly use them. I’m glad you and your family had a great time.
Vashti! You don’t need your own kids to go! This place is a B L A S T! Bring your nieces and/or nephews or go with a friend and their kid(s). You will be remembered FOREVER!!
I have been looking for places to go on vacation with my daughter for this summer. This looks like a great option and it’s not too far from DC. The allergy part is a biggie for me too! It’s great to know they’re so meticulous about that. Thanks for the helpful recap. Now under consideration for a vacation spot…
We are taking our family to the one in Charlotte before the Summer is out. Great tips, I’m sure I wouldn’t have thought about the robe one. I’ve heard so many great things about the Great Wolf lodges, looking forward to our trip and a soak in the hot tub.
Since we have a Great Wolf Lodge almost right around the corner, I definitely need to take the kiddies. Moo has been asking to go for forever and hopefully we’ll be able to squeeze in a trip before the end of summer!
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