We stayed for 2 nights last month during the rehab of the big pool water play area which we didn't know was happening when we booked. I complained at check in about the ridiculous parking fee for an additional car. Nick hotel is for larger families, but don't you dare have more than 1 car or you have to pay $17 per night to park. Somehow magically after I said I was writing a letter to corporate I got upgraded to a sponge bob suite.
We didn't do the buffet breakfast but noticed there was an option to pay an entertainment charge if your kids or gastric bypass non-eater types don't want to eat. It never seemed to be that busy. We didn't see many kids activities happening, even though there was a schedule perhaps because of the cold. Everything there has a fee attached except the simplest of crafts.
It was not the best experience as far as customer service. The room was clean, no mildew smell this year, and it wasn't very crowded due to it being january and people not wanting to swim in the cold. And I think it is horrible at a water park to have to sign out towels and return them or have to pay a lot of money for them. But that may be customary, I just am used to Disney hotels with unlimited towels.
We received an offer to extend our stay for $25 per night, with the resort fee additional. We didn't take them up on it because we had enough.