Kim C.
Yelp
We have visited a couple Great Wolf Lodges and were very excited for one to open a bit closer to home. We visited for one night for my daughters birthday.
We had 2 adults and 5 children and booked one of the family suites.
Driving up, we noticed this was much smaller than other properties, which aside from the suite and outdoor pool, you didn't notice as much inside.
We arrived around 11am to use the water park, knowing our room shouldn't be ready until around 4pm.
The lobby was packed, we joined the long line to check in, after a few minutes an employee told us that we could check in at the kiosk instead. We went over, and checked in, our wristbands printed from the kiosk where we were able to select who could make charges from the kiosk and who could use it to open the room.
In the past, we got our wolf ears from the check in, but the kiosk didn't mention anything. It took bit to find an employee (aside from the four at the counter, very busy helping other guests) to ask about it. We were told to go into the store. We went in and grabbed ears for our party and headed out to the water park.
While smaller than other GWLs we have visited, this one has much much more to do, everything at an extra cost. Previously we had purchased additional passes, we did not this time, so I can not comment on the ropes course, mini golf, or bowling, except that they are very small, very crowded, and all kids doing them looked like they were having fun.
We got in line to head to the indoor water area, kids got their heights checked and got their slide wrist bands, for the kids that needed them, and we headed in to change. The bathroom/showers in the pool area are huge and were kept very clean.
Our older kids went off to ride slides over and over again, and my husband and I kept the younger one going between the three areas that were easy for smaller kids. It was easy to find each other, while it is crowded inside, there is a lot to do, so it never felt like you were waiting too long. The kids are used to places like Aquatica where you are waiting an hour for the slide you want, so they were happy to wait the 10-15 minutes for this slides.
I grabbed a drink at the outdoor bar, charging to the room was quick and easy.
The outdoor pool is pretty hotel standard, there were no slides outside, unlike other properties. It was a much calmer, more relaxing environment. Huge contrast to the excitement of the indoor water area. We have a pool at home, so we probably only spent a half hour of the trip at the outdoor pool. It is nice if you want to actually swim, rather than play in water inside. There were a few lounge chairs in the water on a shelf that were very nice.
Around 2 we got a text that our room was ready early, and included our room number. By about 3, I rounded everyone up and we grabbed our stuff from the car and went to find the room. We had paid for the top (of 3, relatively affordable, but still pricy) birthday package that included a cake, a dining credit to use during our stay, but the main reason was decorations to surpise my daughter.
As we walked to the room she saw the huge door banner and her eyes got wide, she was so excited. But no, that was the room across the hall, ours was empty. We went inside and no balloons, I left the husband and kids and went to get in line at the desk to ask. I waited about a half hour, the employees at the desk were hustling, there are only 3-4 it changed a couple times, and as far as I could tell the only way to ask questions about anything at the resort is at the desk or through the ap.
I wanted to know then if we were in the wrong room, so I wanted inline. While in line I did chat through the app, but it seems to be a real person answering, so answers were on a delay.
At the front, she said that we just had to wait for the birthday stuff someone would bring it. Ok. I went back to the room, kids started getting ready for dinner.
About 45 minutes later two employees came and handed me the door banner and my daughter her card and balloons and said happy birthday. We decorated. It was all fine, but I would have much rather waited until the room was ready for the surprise than get into the room early and it feel like it fell flat.
We ate in the tree top buffet for dinner. Everything was delicious, our server was wonderful, and it was pretty to eat under the "trees" our little one loved watching the screens in the trees to see how they changed.
We have a couple allergies, and a couple picky eaters and everyone was able to find lots of options at the buffet. I don't know if it changes but we had an Italian leaning meal with orzo salads, chicken parmigiana, salmon picante, cannolis, soups, salad, and some stand bys at a kids resort like chicken nuggets and Mac and cheese. Pepsi products throughout the resort.
Plesent surprises kids under 17 are kids prices for buffet (awesome!) the 7 of us including tip, was just over $150. We had prepo