Awhile back my kids saw commercials for Great Wolf Lodge and put it on their list of places they would love to visit. We had plans on going to Disneyland during spring break and I remembered Great Wolf Lodge being not too far away. After doing a little research (a quick plug into maps) I saw that it is less than 2.5 miles away from Disneyland. Thank you to Great Wolf Lodge for making this post possible and hosting us, the opinions expressed are my own.
Full disclosure: going into this trip I was not a fan of water parks. They made me nervous on so many levels (too many kids, not enough supervision, the blazing sun, scorching ground). Great Wolf Lodge won me over right away and made my concerns a non-issue! There are plenty of lifeguards at every attraction. The lifeguards are focused and take their jobs seriously. The blazing sun is not a concern even on the hottest of days as the water park is indoors; no sunburns indoors! Being indoors also meant that the ground was not hot either. Speaking of the ground, most of the water park area has a padded/cushioned ground making it safer for wet feet. A packing tip for those planning, take water shoes to give little feet more traction.
I appreciated that Great Wolf Lodge provided life jackets. My son was taking swim lessons leading up to our trip and the life jackets gave me peace of mind. Our eyes were on him the whole time, but it does not hurt to be extra cautious. There are so many attractions at the water park, you really need to spend two whole days taking it all in! We all had such a great time; the kids did not want to leave. My little guy even started crying when we were checking out. Check out tip: You can check out and still use the waterpark for the rest of the day. Thus, no need to worry if you have a later flight. Just make sure to remember to keep your traveling clothes separate from the rest of your luggage.
Here are my top 5 favorite things about Great Wolf Lodge (other than the obviously awesome water park):
Activities for Kids
There are activities for the kids all day long. And when Great Wolf Lodge says they have activities all day long, they literally mean from when the kids wake up until bedtime. You can start the morning with your little ones doing a yoga class, then you can do various crafts they have set up, they can even hop into a dance party! Later in the evening they can enjoy a tea party with Violet (one of the Great Wolf Lodge characters), family game night, and end out the day with story time. All of these activities I mentioned are included in your stay and at no additional cost.
My kids never once said they were bored. There was always something to do or somewhere to explore.
On-site Food
There are so many great food options sure to please everyone. Here are some of our favorites:
- Buckets Incredible Craveables is the perfect lunchtime destination when you are spending the day at the waterpark. It is right inside the water park area with plenty of seating around. My little pups were super hungry and yet not willing to leave the fun, Buckets was the perfect lunchtime destination!
- The Lodge Wood Fired Grill has a great selection of food even for the pickiest of eaters! I dare you to walk by and not be enticed by the amazing aroma of delicious food!
- Dunkin’ Donuts is onsite and perfect for a quick breakfast before you head out to Disneyland or the water park.
- Wine Down Service is a great way for parents to wind down from a busy day. You can choose from a wine pairings menu with sweet and savory treats and your order will be brought up to your room. Orders must be placed by 8pm.
Paw Pass
The Paw Pass is something we will definitely be signing up for next time we visit Great Wolf Lodge. It is a package where you can save over 35% on their most popular attractions. It includes one MagiQuest game, a wand, a build-your-own-stuffed-animal, 12 oz cup to fill with candy, Great Wolf Lodge goggles, glitter tattoo and a $5 credit to the arcade. You can even upgrade to a Wolf Pass which includes a round of glow golf, bowling, a movie pass and more!
Shuttle Service to Disneyland
There is a complimentary shuttle service that drops guests off at Disneyland. There are a limited number of runs to and from the theme park and are operated on a first-reserved, first-served basis. When speaking to the front desk, they recommended making the shuttle reservation at the same time you book your trip.
The Guest Service Experience Literally everyone working there has a smile on their face and can-do attitude. From the moment we checked in to when we checked out, my husband and I would mention daily how kind and receptive the staff were. And since the resort is truly catering to families, I was not stressing about my children needing to be extra quiet in the lobby
Great Wolf Lodge was a wonderful place for us to spend quality time as a family. The kids cannot wait to help plan our next trip there. Have you ever been to Great Wolf Lodge?
With love,
Shahla
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