Is Great Wolf Lodge Worth It?

Is Great Wolf Lodge worth it??? In a nutshell…YES! The sheer joy on your kids faces will totally make the expenses worth it! HOWEVER, there are some tips to staying at a Great Wolf Lodge resort that can save you a little money without sacrificing the experience! In this article, you will discover all the Great Wolf Lodge has to offer your family AND tips to maximize your experience WITHOUT maxing out your budget!

My 1st Great Wolf Lodge experience:

I live about 10 minutes away from Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, OH. I had seen so many pictures of times my local friends would take their kids to stay the night at Great Wolf Lodge. It appeared to be a fun place, but when I went onto the Great Wolf Lodge website, I was shocked to see how much a day pass was, let alone, staying the night! I simply could NOT justify paying that amount of money to stay the night 10 minutes away from my house!

However, early this summer I began thinking about a birthday celebration for my soon-to-be two-year-old daughter. I decided that I wanted to do a family experience celebration rather than a formal birthday party for her. I don’t know what caused me to look, but again I found myself on the Great Wolf Lodge website.

This is when I stumbled upon the coupons and deals tab. I found that if you book 90 days in advance that you save 50%!! Now THAT is a price I can live with! So I booked two days, one night!

Although they do offer SEVERAL different rooms, package add on’s, birthday packages, dining packages, etc… I kept it simple with a standard suite.

With my reservation, we were told that we were able to enter the water park as soon as it opened, even before our room was to be ready at check-in time (4pm)! However, when we arrived at 12:30pm, our room was already ready! So we got our FREE wolf ears, settled in to our room and then hit the water park!

I was surprised to discover how many little events that Great Wolf Lodge has on the daily schedule that are INCLUDED in your reservation! There were live character appearances, arts and crafts, story times, dance parties, bingo and MORE! Then there was also an arcade and Build-a-Bear onsite! Great Wolf Lodge really is every child’s dream!

However, it’s also nice for the parents as it wipes the kiddos out and a restful night sleep is almost guaranteed!! My kids slept like bears both nights, as you are allowed access to the water park the WHOLE next day, even AFTER check out at 11am!

Here is a little picture log of out first Great Wolf Lodge experience:

Great Wolf Lodge Locations:

There are currently 19 Great Wolf Lodge locations in:

1. Anaheim / Garden Grove, CA
2. Atlanta / LaGrange, GA
3. Charlotte / Concord, NC
4. Chicago / Gurnee, IL
5. Cincinnati / Mason, OH
6. Colorado Springs, CO
7. Grand Mound, WA
8. Dallas / Grapevine, TX
9. Kansas City, KS
10. Minneapolis / Bloomington, MN
11. New England / Boston, MA
12. Niagara Falls, Canada
13. Pocono Mountains, PA
14. San Francisco / Manteca, CA
15. Sandusky, OH
16. Scottsdale / Salt River, AZ
17. Traverse City, MI
18. Williamsburg, VA
19. Wisconsin Dells, WI

There are also 2 more locations currently in the works in:

1. Baltimore / Perryville, MD (Coming Soon)
2. Naples, FL (Coming Soon)

Learn more about each of these Great Wolf Lodge locations on their site: https://www.greatwolf.com/locations

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park:

If you are from the Cincinnati area, do you miss The Beach Water Park? If so, Great Wolf Lodge is your fix! It’s like all of the BEST from The Beach Water Park all in one space! Less walking then you had to do at The Beach Water Park, but ALL the fun! From the wave pool, lily pad crossing, water slides for all ages, tube slides for all ages, the lazy river, splash pads, pool games, kids pools, hot tubs etc… Great Wolf Lodge really does have it ALL! AND…my 4-year-old’s favorite part…YOU DON’T NEED SUNSCREEN!

Visit the Great Wolf Lodge website to learn more: https://www.greatwolf.com/

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park Hours:

10am-8pm (most parks, most days)

Visit the Great Wolf Lodge website to learn more: https://www.greatwolf.com/

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park Passes:

The park offers FULL day passes and HALF day passes (4pm-CL). Full day passes are only $10 more, so why not?!

Find your Great Wolf Lodge location to book a day pass here: https://www.greatwolf.com/

Great Wolf Lodge Resorts:

All Great Wolf Lodge locations offer:

Included:

• Lobby activities such as: crafts, character appearances, dance parties, Bingo, story time, etc…(view location for current schedule)
• Wolf ears for everyone!

Extras:

• On site dining (view location for dining options)
• On site candy shop &/ ice cream
• Arcade
• Build-a-Bear
• Gift shop
• Featured extras

Visit the Great Wolf Lodge website to learn more: https://www.greatwolf.com/

Great Wolf Lodge Room Options:

There are three main room options at Great Wolf Lodge:

• Standard suites
• Themed suites
• Premium suites

Price and availability vary by location.

Visit the Great Wolf Lodge website to learn more: https://www.greatwolf.com/

Great Wolf Lodge Packages:

Each location offers packages/passes to add to your experience! Packages include:

Passes:

Pup pass– best for toddlers, children

Paw pass- best for teens, children

Wolf pass– best for families, teens, children

Dining packages:

• Wolf Wake up Breakfast
• Breakfast and Lunch Deal
• Breaskfast, Lunch and Dinner Deal

Family passes:

Vary by location and time of year.

Check out all passes/packages by location on the Great Wolf Lodge website: https://www.greatwolf.com/

Great Wolf Lodge Birthday Party:

A birthday party at Great Wolf Lodge can be surprisingly affordable! From only $350 for a party M-F, you get:

• 13 person party (1 adult to every 4 kids)
• Water park access for everyone until close
• 1.5 hour designated party room
• 3 pizzas with drinks
• 1/4 sheet birthday cake
• Wolf ears for everyone

Build your child’s epic birthday party package today!

Visit the Great Wolf Lodge website to learn more: https://www.greatwolf.com/

Great Wolf Lodge Discounts:

There are always deals going on to make your stay at the Great Wolf Lodge more affordable!

My FAVORITE deal is saving 50% when you book 90 days in advance!

See what deals are available to you today!

Visit the Great Wolf Lodge website to learn more: https://www.greatwolf.com/

Great Wolf Lodge Tips:

Top Great Wolf Lodge tips:

1. Book 90 days in advance to save 50%!
2. Know that you can access the water park for the FULL day of check in and check out!
3. You are allowed to leave the resort site so eating on site is NOT your only option!
4. Parking is FREE! Ask the receptionist for the best place to park for easier access to your room.
5. Put the included lobby events that you want to attend in your phone on an alert.
6. Bring your own drinks and snacks! You have a mini fridge in your room!
7. The resort offers life vests so bringing your own vest/puddle jumper isn’t neccessary.
8. If you have young or multiple children bring a stroller! Even better, bring a stroller wagon to help with carting the kiddos along with all their pool things AND for easier loading and unloading of your luggage!
9. Pack a waterproof case for your phone! You’ll want it for pictures and there is water EVERYWHERE!

Highly recommended products for your stay at Great Wolf Lodge:

Discover more fun PLAYces to take the kiddos in and around the Cincinnati area through CincinnatiPLAYces!

Have you been to Great Wolf Lodge? Which location? What was your experience? What do you think?? Is Great Wolf Lodge worth it?