Y’all, I have been wanting to go to Great Wolf Lodge for yeeeears. And we finally made it happen!! I was invited to attend a family media event for the weekend, and even though I was beyond excited, I really had no idea what to expect besides waterslides. Let me tell you: it more than exceeded every single one of my expectations. We were just blown away. As we were driving away, we were already plotting our next trip back. But there are a few things I wish I had known before going! So, today I’m spilling about our experience and sharing my top Great Wolf Lodge tips for your next vacation!
Subscribe for email deals + Check Groupon!
If you’re looking for a deal, be sure to subscribe on Great Wolf Lodge website to learn about deals first! They are currently running a deal where you can save up to 50% off when you book at least 60 days in advance! They also offer discounts for Howling Heroes (military, fire, medical emergency personnel, police officers, 911 dispatchers, and correctional officers)! Great Wolf Lodge also routinely works with Groupon!
Arrive early, stay late
Check in may not be until 4pm, but you can arrive anytime after 1 pm and get access to the water park! We stayed two nights but didn’t arrive until around 7pm the first night. It was so difficult to fit everything in! Next time, we’re going to take advantage of the extra day with early arrival! (Just be sure to pack a day bag/swim bag separate from your luggage to make things easy!)
Similarly, check out is at 11, but you can stay and play at the waterpark until closing that day as well! So, even if you only stayed one night, you could get two full days of play in! There is so much to do, you’ll want that extra time!
It’s more than just a waterpark!
This was the big takeaway for me after our weekend! There is so, so much to do. Great Wolf Lodge offers attractions like Howl in One Mini Golf, Howlers Peak Ropes Course, Ten Paw Alley Bowling, Northern Lights Arcade, MagiQuest, 4D World, Creation Station (where you can build a stuffed animal), and so much more. They also have free daily activities like character appearances, The Great Clock Tower Show, Story Time, morning yoga, craft time, and pajama dance parties!
There are plenty of restaurants on-site so that you never have to step foot off the property! We loved the Hungry Like a Wolf Pizza and Loose Moose Bar & Grille! There is also a Dunkin Donuts that was poppin’ all morning long, Bear Paw Sweets & Eats, and Buckets Incredible Craveables.
The best part is that there truly is something for everyone. For adults there is a spa, hot tub, bar, and Wine Down service, where a bottle of wine gets delivered to your room after the kids go to sleep. Teens will love the big water slides and attempting to surf on the Wolf Rider Wipeout! Younger kids will love seeing the characters and playing in the Cub Paw Pool. And really, who doesn’t love a good float on the lazy river?!
Take advantage of the packages!
Although there are plenty of daily activities included in your stay, the attractions (other than the water park!) are at an additional cost. If you want to take advantage of everything Great Wolf has to offer (and trust me, you DO!), check out of the Paw Pass package! It includes one MagiQuest game (that will last your entire trip!), one Great Wolf Lodge character at the Creation Station, one round of bowling at Ten Paw Alley, one admission to the ropes course, Paw Points for the arcade and so much more. There is also a Pup Pass that includes attractions geared for younger kids!
There are also dining packages available, which make your stay so convenient. Of course you can always pack a few easy meals like PB&J’s or small breakfast items. There is a microwave and mini fridge in each room! But outside food is not permitted within the water park. The dining packages are super-affordable and include breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Having all of our meals taken care of made things so stress-free.
Consider booking a Themed Suite or Premium Suite, especially for larger families!
One of the awesome parts about Great Wolf Lodge is that they accommodate larger families. So while you may be used to having to book two separate rooms, there are so many options for bigger groups! Even if you just have a family of four, you may want to consider booking one of the themed suites. Each one is themed for kids with bunk beds. The KidCabin was so cool, I even wanted to sleep in there! For larger groups, many of the premium suites comfortably sleep up to 8!
Pack Light!
When it comes to attire, casual is where it’s at! Basically plan on living in your swimsuit, pjs, and comfiest clothing! Once dinnertime rolls around, you’ll see plenty of guests in their pajamas. Although I’m normally not into wearing pj’s in public, I quickly changed my tune and was wearing them with my slippers after 6 pm! ?One thing I wish I had remembered was a swimsuit cover up. It wasn’t an issue. There were plenty of people without them, but I would’ve preferred having one personally! Also, leave towels at home. There are more than enough supplied in the water park area!
Take advantage of the lockers, especially with younger kids!
I absolutely loved that Great Wolf Lodge had lockers available within the water park. They were invaluable, especially as a mom to one in diapers! I liked not having to worry about where our diaper bag was or keeping an eye on it while we stepped away! They also can be reserved for the entire day. You can come in the am, take a short break, and come back and use the same locker!
Take time to celebrate!
We made our visit during Snowland and we loved every moment of it. From the giant decorated trees to the life-sized gingerbread house to visit from Santa, it was just magical. But Snowland isn’t Great Wolf Lodge’s only seasonal event! They also have Howl-O-Ween during the fall, and Spring-A-Palooza! It’s also the perfect place to celebrate birthdays!
I loved seeing all of the children celebrating their birthdays wearing their special birthday ears. There are also special packages you can purchase that include pizza, a birthday cake and more.
Have you ever been to Great Wolf Lodge? If you have, leave any other tips you may have!
I’m so glad I hopped over to your blog as we are going to Great Wolf Lodge next week! This was super helpful! I check in with you via Instagram and Insta Stories but I haven’t been reading your actual blog as much, so I am super glad I did!!!
Can you do another Q&A session soon pleaseee?! Those are the best! Lol