Great Wolf Lodge-CA Thread

GatorChris · Apr 20, 2016

I've seen nothing about the Great Wolf Lodge mentioned on this area of the forum, and very little over in the DL forum. So I'll leave it to the Mods to leave this here or send it else.

I'm trying to get as much info on this place. It looks really great! My kids will no doubt love it. But I've heard some negatives, too. Like it's too much like a warehouse compared to other GWLs. I'd love to hear when things get updated.

Also, my wife has skin allergy to cold water (I know, weird). So I'd like to know if this is a place where she will me miserable or can actually jump in and have fun with us.

Let the sharing begin!

wanderlust7 · Apr 20, 2016

We were there over spring break. The kids loved it. I'm hoping to put together a mini trip report. The temperature of the water was very comfortable when we were there. I read some TripAdvisor reviews complaining about cold water, I think probably something wasn't working. but they must have fixed it by the time we got there. I haven't been to any other GWL, so can't compared, but it didn't feel like a warehouse to me.

GatorChris · Apr 21, 2016

wanderlust7 said:
We were there over spring break. The kids loved it. I'm hoping to put together a mini trip report. The temperature of the water was very comfortable when we were there. I read some TripAdvisor reviews complaining about cold water, I think probably something wasn't working. but they must have fixed it by the time we got there. I haven't been to any other GWL, so can't compared, but it didn't feel like a warehouse to me.

Please let us know when you do the trip report! Share the link for sure.

GatorChris · Jun 23, 2016

Finally booked here, even with out DisBoard approval or research. The place looks like too much fun to pass up! So we're going in Feb where we got a rate that's almost the same price as Park Place Inn. Just a normal suite, but still a good price for being able to sleep in comfort and hit water slides all day. And of course, I couldn't be down there at not go to DL - especially with APs. So we booked a few more days to take advantage of those beautiful trees that bloom that time of year.

I'd still love to hear some experiences.

wanderlust7 · Jun 24, 2016

GatorChris said:
Finally booked here, even with out DisBoard approval or research. The place looks like too much fun to pass up! So we're going in Feb where we got a rate that's almost the same price as Park Place Inn. Just a normal suite, but still a good price for being able to sleep in comfort and hit water slides all day. And of course, I couldn't be down there at not go to DL - especially with APs. So we booked a few more days to take advantage of those beautiful trees that bloom that time of year.

I'd still love to hear some experiences.

I had the mini trip report half written, your post reminded me to finish it up. It's here:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/great-wolf-lodge-garden-grove-mini-tr-photo-heavy.3521339/

Hope it's helpful. Feel free to ask any specific questions. Hope you enjoy your stay!

GatorChris · Jun 24, 2016

wanderlust7 said:
I had the mini trip report half written, your post reminded me to finish it up. It's here:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/great-wolf-lodge-garden-grove-mini-tr-photo-heavy.3521339/

Hope it's helpful. Feel free to ask any specific questions. Hope you enjoy your stay!

Thanks! What days did you go on? We are checking in on a Monday and checking out Wed, hoping that there's not a lot of people. Then again, we're there for several days so I'm sure we'll get to do everything over and over.

Also, what's the temp of the water like in there? I've heard they keep the air temp around 85 degrees, but I've heard the water can be cold. My wife has some skin problems when it comes to cold water, so it's something I have to keep in mind.

wanderlust7 · Jun 24, 2016

GatorChris said:
Thanks! What days did you go on? We are checking in on a Monday and checking out Wed, hoping that there's not a lot of people. Then again, we're there for several days so I'm sure we'll get to do everything over and over.

Also, what's the temp of the water like in there? I've heard they keep the air temp around 85 degrees, but I've heard the water can be cold. My wife has some skin problems when it comes to cold water, so it's something I have to keep in mind.

We checked in on March 29, which was a Tuesday. It was spring break, so pretty crowded, but I imagine the weekend was much worse. Lines for the big slides were about 10 minutes.

The water was very comfortable. If you read about cold water in online reviews, you should see if they were clustered around a certain day, maybe the water heater wasn't working right.

beachdreamr1229 · Aug 24, 2016

Resurrecting this thread for a minute, hoping someone has gone that can tell me how early we can check in. We just booked a trip in October for only 1 night (at $149, or $200 with fees and everything), but we want to maximize our use. If we show up around 11AM, would we be able to use the water park or access any of the other things?

Darkbeer1 · Aug 25, 2016

Yes, based on what I have been told and visiting a different GWL, they allow you to check in anytime you want and will hand you water park and resort credentials, even though your room is not yet ready. And there are changing rooms available for use.

dotfurio · Sep 4, 2016

We followed what the website said and arrived at 1 p.m. to use the waterpark. You could also use any of the other things at any time - they don't check that you are a guest for the arcade, bowling, etc. They texted us when our room was ready around 4:15.

Mrs. George · Sep 6, 2016

Just adding that if you get a private cabana, you can hit the waterpark at 11 am on your check-in day. The cabana was definitely worth the extra price.

Flickor · Sep 13, 2016

Any food reviews? I'm not sure about the options there, I know it's huge

Darkbeer1 · Sep 13, 2016

Not sure of the few on-property choices, but within walking distance.

I have eaten at the Harbor Seafood Buffet (Good for what it is, an oriental buffet).

Lee's Sandwiches and the Flasme Broiler are good quick service options.

Red Lobster is also what it is, but still good.

DLgal · Sep 13, 2016

Flickor said:
Any food reviews? I'm not sure about the options there, I know it's huge

The food is pretty good at Buckets, the fast food spot inside the waterpark! It is all made fresh and higher quality than you would expect.

The breakfast buffet is also very good. It is $14 per person and much better than any Disney buffet.

If you want good bbq nearby, go to Lucille's. It's a 5-10 min drive away.

kuhltiffany · Nov 29, 2016

How close is this hotel to Universal? Trying to decide if it would work to make this a home base for a weekend with a day trip to Universal. We've never been to California before and I keep hearing scary things about the traffic…

Darkbeer1 · Nov 29, 2016

The drive to Universal Studios is about a hour drive, could be more with heavy traffic.

kuhltiffany · Nov 29, 2016

Thanks! I finally got a map I could figure out, I think now maybe we should plan a split stay in the opposite direction near Universal…

Now to find a hotel with 3 beds for a price that won't kill my budget!

Darkbeer1 said:
The drive to Universal Studios is about a hour drive, could be more with heavy traffic.

Iggswald · Nov 30, 2016

We've been here several times this year and our kids love it. The website says to arrive by 1 pm but we have checked in earlier than that and still got into the water park early before our Room was ready. there's a red Robin up the street and also a really good Italian food place, I think it's called Carolines.

bumbershoot · Nov 30, 2016

beachdreamr1229 said:
Resurrecting this thread for a minute, hoping someone has gone that can tell me how early we can check in. We just booked a trip in October for only 1 night (at $149, or $200 with fees and everything), but we want to maximize our use. If we show up around 11AM, would we be able to use the water park or access any of the other things?

Nice thing about GWL is that they are open about their policies. The faq covers checkin and checkout.

Checkin: "Check-in time begins at 4 p.m. or as rooms become available. However, you are welcome to play in the water park as early as 1 p.m."

kuhltiffany said:
How close is this hotel to Universal? Trying to decide if it would work to make this a home base for a weekend with a day trip to Universal. We've never been to California before and I keep hearing scary things about the traffic…

For us GWL was a destination place. (We've been to the one in WA; I personally wouldn't go to one near other tourist stuff because of that opinion) I wouldn't eamt to leave all that I'm paying for to go to another place.

For USH in the future I will try to just book one of the hotel's right there in walking distance form universal.

Great Wolf Lodge-CA Thread

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