Anyone been to Great Wolf Lodge?

[karensi]

Hi, we (my DD, son in law and I) are thinking of going to Great Wolf Lodge, Poconos, PA to celebrate my grandsons BD. The kids will be 6 (BD boy) 4 (also celebrating a BD) and 2 when we go in Feb.
We've never been there, but have heard good things about it.

Anyone have any info, personnal experiences, about this resort?
Do you think 2 nights is enough....maybe arrive on a Friday morning, check out Sunday. Would that be enough tiime for the kids to enjoy it all? I'm thinking yes, because they are still little, but I think my DD is wondering if we need to stay maybe 3 nights. What do you think

Anxiously awaiting any info from my Dis friends

Thank you,

Karen

 

[RachelNinja]

I've never been there myself, but I've seen pictures because the 8th grade class at my school goes there for their senior trip. It's a small class so not many chaperons were needed. I WISH I could have gone ... instead I had to stay back to teach! Haha.

Anyway, they really love it there and the other grades are jealous when they go. They go for pretty much a day, stay overnight, then the next day they go to Bushkill Falls and go for a hike to see the waterfalls and such. I'm sure they would love to be there longer, but it's just not feasible. They did go on a Monday and Tuesday so I don't think it was really crowded since school was still in session. I don't know how crowded it gets there, but the amount of time you stay there may depend on that.

 

[Kim&Chris]

My sister took her kids there last year, and they had a blast. The kids still ask when they're going back

They only stayed two nights and I believe that was plenty.

 

[DVCisME]

Been there, done that! The kids will love it!!! There is a lot to doin the water park area, there is an arcade and my kids love ethe magiquest. I think it was $25 for the wand and there are adventures for them to do that take them around the whole hotel.
Two night is plenty because they will be exhausted. And you can stay the whole day of checkout. If you have any more specific questions just let me know.
There is usually a promo code too, seem to always find one in Family Fun mag.

 

[karensi]

Thank you all for your responses.
We have decided to go the first week of Feb. I called, got info and will send in a deposit this week.
As I posted in my OP the kids are still little (6, 4 and 2) but it sounds as if they will still be able to enjoy alot of the things there.

DVCisME, or anyone with the info, could you please tell me about Magiquest??
Anything else I should know about?

I feel like a "newbie" must feel on their first trip to WDW. I,well really we (my family included) really know very little about Great Wolf Lodge. Have just heard really good reviews.

Thanks,

Karen

 

[aprilgail2]

I have been to the one in the Poconos many times- just be aware that though they tell you that you can use the water park after 1 on the day you arrive, thats not true, you can pre register anytime and use the park when it opens int he morning, we would get there at 9 and pre register and use the park right from opening time that morning. Depending on how booked they are we got our room twice before 10am- the other times anywhere from 3-6pm. They tell you that check in is anywhere from 3pm on as rooms are available and that is no lie LOL--- I was not happy the time we didn't get a room till 6!

 

[donaldduck1967]

I've been to the one in Pocono and yes 2 nights is mor ethen enough. You do not need 3 nights believe me. Check what tiem you can check in though, I believe you can not check in prior to 1:00pm. The place is alot of fun for what it is. We had a really good time and are looking forward to going back again. I've heard mixed reviews about the food. When we went we stayed 1 night and the only meal we had there was breakfast and we all really enjoyed it. I know people who loved lunch/dinner and those who hated it. There is a Burger King and Wendys about 5 miles or so from the place.

 

[karensi]

Again, thank you all for replying.


Any info on that Magiquest?
I don't really know, but in our situation, with 3 little ones, the water park may be all we/they would need.

Have any of you been with little kids? Pre schoolers?

Also, we will be 3 adults (DD, Dson in law and me) plus the 3 little boys .
We have decided to stay in the kidkabin suite. Any info?
Has anyone stayed in any of the suites?
Once again, thanks Dis friends

Karen

 

[donaldduck1967]

Magiquest is fun but you have to read the samall manual they give you to really understand it. I didn't do that until I got home and we missed out an a lot of stuff. My daughter was 6 and she loved the water park. She enjoyed Magiquest but she didn't knwo there was more to it then just basic stuff without doing the quests. We stayed in a reqular room not any suites. You're going to have a lot of fun.

 

[DVCisME]

I have stayed in the family suites and the wolf den suites. In the wolf den the kids have bunk beds and their own tv.
Magiquest is an interactive, adventure game. It is kind of hard to explain, so bear with me. The kids get a wand and booklet when purchased. They have an area for "training". Throughout, I think, 3 floors there are items that have to be found during a quest. The booklet helps in the quest. When you point at the object with the wand it "magically" does something. My kids are 2 and 5 and both loved it. The two year old didn't get it but loved it just the same. They even have the objects in the restaurant. If you want more info. I can try to dig up the books. I'm sure you will have a great time!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Your kids are a little on the young side for Magiquest. You buy a wand and they activate it. Then you go to a computer screen and they tell you what items you need to find. They are in the form of riddles and you run around the hotel looking for the answers to the clues. You wave your wand at the itmes (paintings, boxes, sculptures etc) and they are credited to your account as found. They set it up so you are pretty much going up and down to different floors and each side of the hotel for each group of clues. Very tiring for the grown ups trying to keep up with the kids!

Your 2 and 4 year old really won't "get it" and will just want to wave their wands at everything. The 6 year old may get it, but will need adult help to find the correct locations. The game takes a lot of time, there are many little "quests" they have to do finding the clues. Chances are good that they won't finish in 2 days. Not necessarily a bad thing unless they get it in their head that they have to finish.

If your boys are really into magic, Harry Potter, wizards and that kind of stuff they may really enjoy it. And there is an entire gift shop full of the wands, decorations for the wands and costumes. $$$$$$$


Here is the website for it: http://www.magiquest.com/

We have stayed in the suites--they are great and a lot of fun for the kids. Lots of great little details. They will have their own little area with bunkbeds on one side and a single bed on the other, and their own flat screen TV. I think it also has a game system hooked up but you have to pay for the games. There is a refrigerator and a microwave in the room which is very nice. You will all have a great time. I think Great Wolf is a great place for kids the ages of the ones you are traveling with. There is a large area of about ankle deep water (adult ankles!) with lots of fun things for the little ones. And they have life jackets in all sizes for the kids and adults.

I assume the one you are going to is just like the one in Williamsburg. Make sure you check out the schedule they will give you when you check in. They have a pajama Bedtime Story time, a little show at the clock tower a few times a day, free arts and crafts, an informational session for kids about wolves, and a Character Breakfast on some days.