A couple of years ago, our family visited Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine over Mardi Gras Break. We had a great time, and I was super shocked when my kids asked if we could come back again next year for our family vacation. My wallet was all too happy to fulfill that request, as it is substantially cheaper than our typical trip. Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park with locations across the United States and is an ideal destination for families. Here are some tips from our most recent two visits to help you plan your trip.
Look For Great Wolf Lodge Deals Or Stay In the Off Season
Great Wolf Lodge is less expensive than many vacations, but it is still more costly than some. I suggest looking for one of the many deals they advertise online and subscribing to their mailing list. The other suggestion is to try booking off-season. Mardi Gras was a perfect time. Rates were low, and the crowd was moderate.
Great Wolf Lodge Activities
Great Wolf Lodge offers many activities beyond MagiQuest and the water park. There is a bowling alley, movie theater, arcade, meet and greets with characters, mini golf, a build your own character station, and more. Your days will be packed full of fun things to do. We found that swimming in the indoor pool/waterpark all day was our best bet. Then we would take a break and do MagiQuest at night.
Don’t forget me time for you and the other adults in your group. My husband would sneak away during pool time, and I would take a break at night during MagiQuest.
Buy an add-on on Pass.
This is essential if you have children. There are three pass levels: the Pup Pass for younger kids, the Paw Pass, and the Wolf Pass for older kids. The passes include a starter pack that lets you try all the activities at the resort. We got the Wolf Passes both times, and I felt they were a great value at $89.99 per kid.
MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge
I would describe MagiQuest as a sophisticated scavenger hunt on steroids around the hotel. My kids absolutely thought this was the best part of the trip. There are wands you can buy for the game that make certain items do things like open a treasure chest. TIP: The Paw Pass and Wolf Pass include a MagiQuest game and a wand. The game takes time to complete, and you will need a few days. If you are booking for just one night, you likely won’t have time to play MagiQuest.
What to Eat At Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge sometimes includes some food deals when booking. We selected the breakfast add-on on our last visit, as we typically eat breakfast at the resort. The add-on is $19.99 per person per day. For lunch, we either eat by the pool at the snack bar/restaurant, or one of us will go off-site to get lunch. Dinner is usually at an off-site restaurant; however, Great Wolf Lodge has a restaurant on-site where you can also eat. The rooms include a mini-fridge and microwave, so you can bring your own food to save even more money.
Indoor Waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is known for its indoor water park. It’s the main attraction and is reserved for resort guests only. This helps keep the lines down for everyone. I personally loved going during Mardi Gras. The kids were super excited to swim since it had been so long since summer.
The water parks feature several waterslides and special areas, including a splash pad for young swimmers. Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine also has a lazy river and wave pool. There is something for everyone here.
Towels and a life vest are provided, but must be returned before leaving the water park. Guest may also bring their own towels and life vests. No inflatable water toys or coolers are allowed in the waterpark, and everyone must wear a wristband to enter.
Explore The Area Around Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge locations are usually near a large city, making it a great way to have tons of family fun and explore a new city. For instance, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, North Carolina, you can explore NASCAR Race Team Facilities, or visit Discovery Place in Charlotte, North Carolina. While staying at the Grapevine Great Wolf Lodge, we also booked a few nights at a hotel near the Dallas Galleria and visited the American Girl Store and the Perot Science Museum.
For deals in the area you are visiting, check out CityPASS. CityPASS offers passes to many local attractions in various cities for one low price. This allows you more ways to explore while you are at Great Wolf Lodge.
We had a great time at Great Wolf Lodge and look forward to visiting again. Have you been? Do you have any tips for visiting Great Wolf Lodge?
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