Great Wolf Lodge is such a fun place to do a getaway with your family.
With the indoor waterpark and activities like bowling, mini golf, a ropes course, and their interactive MagiQuest game, everyone in your family will have an enjoyable time, no matter their age.
With so much to do at Great Wolf Lodge, it can feel overwhelming to plan a trip. After multiple visits to Great Wolf Lodge, we’ve figured out what you definitely need to know, and also some money-saving tips.
Below, you’ll find the best Great Wolf Lodge guide and tips to make the most of your stay. So, let’s dive in!
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Tips To Make the Most Out of Your Visit to Great Wolf Lodge
1. Arrive As Early As You Can
One of the biggest perks of staying at a Great Wolf Lodge is that you can start using the waterpark and all of the activities the minute you check-in.
Even if your room is unavailable, you can still splash around in the park or do one of the many paid activities. If you need a place to store your stuff, utilize bell services or leave your luggage in the car until your room is ready.
Great Wold Lodge waterparks typically open at 9 am, so the earlier you get there, the more time for fun!
2. Pack a Separate Swim Bag
As noted above, you can start using the waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge the minute you check in.
To make it easy on yourself, so you’re not rummaging through your suitcase, pack a separate bag with anything you’ll need for the waterpark, including water shoes and swimsuits.
There are changing rooms inside the waterpark if your room isn’t ready yet. There are also lockers if you want to store small items.
3. Download the App
The Great Wolf Lodge app is a useful tool to have during your stay. The app has information about your reservation, like your room number and charges you’ve made to your account.
It also has a schedule of FREE activities for the day, the hours of the waterpark and paid activities, all of the dining options, and a map of the resort. We utilized the app frequently during our stay, especially to order food.
4. Order Food Ahead of Time
As noted above, you can order food ahead of time on your phone via the Great World Lodge app or using the QR codes available.
This a great option to save you time during the lunch and dinner hours when the restaurants are at their busiest.
We ordered dinner while we were finishing getting cleaned up from the waterpark, and it was ready for us within 20 minutes. The line to order was out the door, but we walked right up to the counter and could get our food right away!
5. Make Dining Reservations
Another time-saving tip is to make dining reservations as soon as you arrive at the hotel.
Typically, at least one of the restaurants at Great Wolf Lodge will accept reservations that can be made via the app or in person with the host. We made reservations for breakfast at the table-service restaurant so we didn’t have to fight the crowd at the buffet.
6. Pack What You Need
There is a lot going on at Great Wolf Lodge, so you’ll want to make sure you bring everything you need.
For the waterpark, you’ll want at least two swimsuits, water shoes or crocs, a cover-up, and even your own towels.
There are so many fun dry activities available at Great Wolf Lodge in addition to the waterpark. Make sure you bring closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing if you’ll be doing the ropes course or bowling.
Our printable packing list has everything you’ll want to bring!
7. Bring Multiple Swimsuits
It’s mentioned above, but it’s worth repeating.
You’ll most likely be in and out of the waterpark multiple times during your stay, so it’ll make life easier and more comfortable to bring at least two swimsuits per person. That way you won’t have to put on a wet suit. Because no one likes that feeling!
8. Plan Rest Breaks
Great Wolf Lodge is a lot of fun! But it’s also very tiring, especially for little ones. The noise and chaos of the waterpark and hotel can start to wear everyone down.
If you are arriving first thing in the morning, try to plan some downtime in your room mid-day. It’ll make everyone happier!
9. Book the Best Room For Your Family
One of the nice things about staying at Great Wolf Lodge is the large, family-friendly suites. Most rooms can accommodate up to six people, which gives you room to spread out. It’s especially nice if you have a larger family.
The standard rooms usually include two queen beds and one pull-out. However, if you want a little more privacy, consider booking one of the themed rooms. They have a sectioned-off area with bunkbeds that give a little separation between the kids and grown-ups.
Although most Great Wolf Lodge resorts have these rooms, they may differ in options and design. Take the time to look at what’s available and make the best choice for your family.
10. Utilize Late Check Out (Maybe)
First, you don’t have to have a late checkout to use the waterpark all day on your check-out day. However, having a late checkout might be worth it for a few reasons.
Late check-out is not cheap. It can be anywhere from $80-$120 extra to have your room until 2 pm. You’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of having them room until then.
- One of the pros is having your own bathroom to get cleaned up in before you leave.
- You’ll have a quiet place to escape if you have a younger child who needs a nap.
- You don’t have to store your belongings in your car or with bell services.
- If you bring food for lunch, you can keep it in the fridge and eat it in your room.
- A major con is the price. Great Wolf Lodge can be expensive, and the extra cost might put you over your budget.
- Remember, you don’t need your room to get cleaned up after swimming. There are showers and changing rooms in the waterpark.
Money Saving Tips For Great Wolf Lodge
11. Stay During the Week or Off-Season
Like many hotels, prices go up on the weekends and holidays. Saturday night at Great Wolf Lodge is always the most expensive. You can save yourself up to 50% off that price by staying Friday or Sunday night. We’ve taken the kids out of school early on a Friday to stay over and still had plenty of time to enjoy everything.
Also, Great Wolf Lodge is the most expensive during the colder months. However, if you stay a Saturday night in July, it’ll be almost half the cost of staying in February. And you’ll have access to the outdoor pool!
12. Utilize Their Discounts
Great Wolf Lodge always has a deal going. You can sign up for their emails to get first notice, but often, the website will have the discount on the homepage for you to use. Never book a room at Great Wolf Lodge without using a code!
13. Take Advantage of the FREE Activities
Every day, throughout the day Great Wolf Lodge offers activities included with your stay. These activities include yoga, bingo, storytime, and a dance party. There are also meet and greets with the wolf characters throughout the day.
Download the Great Wolf Lodge app for the daily schedule. It’s also posted in the lobby.
14. Don’t Buy the Activity Pass (Or At Least Do the Math)
There are many fun activities that are available for a fee at Great Wolf Lodge. One of the most popular is the MagiQuest game, where kids can solve challenges during the course of their stay.
If your kids are interested in these activities, you might be tempted to buy one of the passes they have available. However, before you buy one, do the math to see if it’s worth it.
On a recent stay, our kids had Wolf Passes that were $84.99 per person. However, they didn’t want to do some of the activities on the pass. The ones they ended up doing would have only been $69, and they only did some of them (like the mirror maze) because they had the pass.
If you know your kids will do everything available to them, then the passes are a great deal. But otherwise, it might be cheaper to pay for the activities individually.
15. Don’t Forget Your MagiQuest Wand
One of the activities that we think is worth every penny is the MagiQuest game, especially if you have older kids.
You are presented with various challenges and have to find certain items located throughout the resort. You “collect” those items with your wand to complete the quest.
On your initial visit, you’ll have to purchase a wand along with the game. The game lasts the length of your stay. But the wand is yours to keep!
When you return to Great Wolf Lodge, you’ll have to purchase a new game, but your wand will “remember” what you’ve accomplished so far, so you can continue where you left off!
16. Bring Your Own Snacks
Food is expensive at Great Wolf Lodge. It’s a great idea to bring some of your own snacks to enjoy during your visit. They have a refrigerator in each room where you can keep fresh fruit or sandwiches.
And even though it’s Great Wolf Lodge’s policy that outside food is not allowed in the waterpark, we’ve brought in small snacks and our reusable water bottles without any issues. I just wouldn’t bring a full cooler of food as you might get told to put it back in your room.
17. Visit Just For the Day
The best money-saving tip is to visit for the day!
If you’re not interested in two days at the waterpark (because you can easily do everything in one day), then buy a day pass. You could save $100-$200 depending on how many passes you are purchasing. Kids under two years old do not need a ticket.
Common Questions About Visiting Great Wolf Lodge
How much time should you spend at Great Wolf Lodge?
You can easily see and do everything at Great Wolf Lodge with a one-night stay since you have the entire day of check-in and check-out to use the waterpark and other activities.
Should you bring towels to Great Wolf Lodge?
You don’t have to bring towels to Great Wolf Lodge, but having your own for the walk back to your room is never a bad idea.
What food to bring to Great Wolf Lodge?
The best food to bring to Great Wolf Lodge is snacks like crackers, fresh fruit, cheese, and applesauce pouches. You have a small refrigerator in the room for perishables.
Wrapping Up the Ultimate Great Wolf Lodge Guide
Great Wolf Lodge can be a lot of fun and a great getaway for you and your family. And even though it can be expensive, especially during the weekends in the winter, these tips can help you make the most of your visit and maximize your fun.
Don’t forget to pack everything you need, including extra swimsuits, clothing for activities, and anything you’ll need in the waterpark. Our printable packing list will keep you organized and ready for fun!
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