Great Wolf, Grapevine Tx...Just got back...
- Thread starter Beckysc
- Start date
Katy Belle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2004
- Messages
- 4,013
Details! Did you eat at any of the restaurants? What kind of room did you stay in? Weekday or weekend? Crowds? Did your boys do the MagiQuest Wand game?
We've stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, several years ago. We were planning to go this summer, but plans have changed. We are now looking to book at Grapevine, Tx. I'd appreciate any details. How is the location, what is near by? AND directions to the Disney Outlet OF COURSE.
Thanks for your help!
Katy
We've stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, several years ago. We were planning to go this summer, but plans have changed. We are now looking to book at Grapevine, Tx. I'd appreciate any details. How is the location, what is near by? AND directions to the Disney Outlet OF COURSE.
Thanks for your help!
Katy
Beckysc
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2000
- Messages
- 451
Ok...here are the details from my trip. We checked in last Monday. I think the majority of schools in the Dallas area didn't get out of school until Wednesday or Thrusday. It wasn't really that crowded, but it picked up on Thursday. It was me, Dh and three boys, 12, 10 and 5
We stayed in a family suit....bathroom, two queen beds then a half wall and the sofa bed. There was one tv and it swiveled so the boys could watch in while in the sofa bed and then we turned it after they went to sleep and we could see it fine. There was a microwave and a hotel fridge.
We really enjoyed the water park. It was well planned out. Only one of my boys did the big slides with me. I think the height restrictions was 42 for the family raft ride and 48 for the tornado slide. I think my 5 year old was just under the restrictions, but I could have probably taken him if I wanted to. I never saw anyone at the top checking kids. There is one big stair case where you climb up to the different big slides. One side goes to the tornado and the family raft ride...you don't have to carry your own tube up there. The family ride was fun...the tornado was hot, like a sauna. I only did that one once. The other stairs lead to the two other slides. You have to carry your own tube and it can be either single or a double tube. Both of those were fun and we got a workout of the stairs.
As far as the food...we ended up having a little something in the room for breakfast and then had an early lunch at the hotel. There is a snack bar right at the water park....standard park stuff and prices. Hot dogs $3, little personal pizzas for $6, 4 chicken strips for $6, french fries $2. 16oz soda were $1.75 and 20 oz were $2. That about what the had the first day. The second day, we discovered the Pizza Hut around the corner. There, a medium cheese pizza was $12 and a supreme was around $15. The next couple days, we got Pizza Hut instead of the personal pizzas...my husband and I shared the supreme and two boys shared the cheese and we still had to get the other one chicken tenders and fries.
You are not supposed to bring your own food into the water park area. We did see some people do that and they were informed that they weren't supposed to and they were told that there were tables inside the hotel that they could eat at. They didn't actually move, they just kind of ignored the guy and finished their lunch.
Now, about the drinks....they were kind of expensive for soda. We did order some sodas the first day. The second day, I ordered the pizza from Pizza Hut and my DH went up to the room and filled our GreatWolf little plastic cups with soda from the room. I did sneak a couple of cans in my swimming bag that I brought to the pool. We ate outside under the patio. It was a little windy, but the inside park area is kind of humid and pretty loud and crowded...it was nice to get away.
One day for dinner, we did look at the buffet and it looked good, but it was our anniversary and we decided to go out. Also, it was a Wednesday night and the sign said it was $15 for adults and $8 for kids. Thursday night, it went up to $20 and $11, so we did not eat there.
For dinner, we went out every night. Leaving the hotel, if you turn right, it takes you down to Grapevine Mills Mall. There are a lot of restaurants in the area. I remember seeing a Whataburger, Steak and Shake, Bennigans, Rizzos or something like it, Love and War in Texas steak house, I think there was a Chili's, Chuck E Cheese, and a bunch of other places. There is also a Bass Pro Shop right there. At the Mall, there is a Rainforest Cafe, where we went for our anniversary. We were there on a Wednesday and for some reason, the kids meals came up as being $1.99 on our bill....I don't know if it is a special kids night or if our waitress gave us a break because it was our anniversary.
Besides the Rainforest Cafe, we also ate at Steak and Shake in that area. Another night, we went down to the Grapevine historic district and ate at a mexican place called Esparzas. Leaving the lodge, you would turn left and go down a bit...Esparzas is on one of the side streets to the left. It is in a old house and there is lots of outside seating too. The last night, we ate at a Red Robin, but it was a farther away by the expressways and I have no idea how to explain how to get there.
At the Grapevine Mills mall, they also have a regular mall food court....I didn't really look at what was there because I was headed to the restrooom. There is also and DISNEY OUTLET. I did get my youngest son a couple of Phenius and Ferb shirts that were 2/$15 and a few pins.
Now....about the Magiquest. There we a lot of kids running around doing it.
For those that haven't stayed there before, they have a magic quest game spread out through the hotel. You pay $15 for a wand and $10 to activate it. They give you a little book that explains where to go and what floor the different objects/pictures are. On the upper floors, were the hotel rooms are, the clues are right by the elevator landings, so they aren't going past anyones room. The wand keeps track of the quest and what objects you've found. Once you finish one part, you have to go to a special station that records what you've done and will then let you go on to the next part.
It was a lot of fun, but a work out. The clues have you running from floor to floor....ok, now up to the 4th floor, we found that so now we have to go up to the 6th floor and then back down to the 5th. They ask that the magi quest people use the stairs and not the elevator....so it was a work out. It was nice to see that quiet a few parents did the quest with their kids. When you finished the quest that came with the book, then you are able to fight the dragon. Also, after that, there are a couple adventures that you can do that doesn't have a book of clues so they are a little harder. We got our wand Thursday afternoon, did some quest, went off to dinner, and did some more. We were able to finish it our Friday and they slayed the dragon. We also did the other three little adventures. At the final thing for one of them, we weren't actually able to do the last task, and the line to try again was long, so we decided to leave and didn't actually finish that quest.
We didn't get a wand until Thursday and we checked out Friday. Also, we just got one wand for the boys to share. We stayed together so there was no reason for everyone to have their own wand.
We did check out the Cub Club. The do different little crafts and stuff through out the day. We went to free bingo and one of the boys won a sun catcher that we got to paint and the next day, one won a bank that we painted. It was a nice little break from the pools.
A little about the water parks...the lazy river was fun, but nothing like the one's at the disney water parks. It is in one small area with the life guards walking around in the middle island so they can see both sides. There is only one exit, so I didn't have to worry about the boys leaving it. Most of the areas have one main enterance and then a way out the back. On the tower where the water squirters are, there is one main stairs in the front....but there is another stairs down the back part....we usually just went down the way we came in, but be aware that there is a different exit. The baby pool has the main open are in the front, but there is some steps off to the side that go to a seating area....my youngest never left the area, but he could have.
They had pleanty of life jackets for the kids, and they also had towels at the waterpark, but you were not allowed to take those towels up to the room. I just took a bag with a cover up to slip on....and I also had sunscreen for if we went outside, and googles and a swim mask for the boys and an extra soda for lunch.
We had a really good time and plan to go back.......if we can find a good code.
I'll try to check back to see if anyone has any questions.
We stayed in a family suit....bathroom, two queen beds then a half wall and the sofa bed. There was one tv and it swiveled so the boys could watch in while in the sofa bed and then we turned it after they went to sleep and we could see it fine. There was a microwave and a hotel fridge.
We really enjoyed the water park. It was well planned out. Only one of my boys did the big slides with me. I think the height restrictions was 42 for the family raft ride and 48 for the tornado slide. I think my 5 year old was just under the restrictions, but I could have probably taken him if I wanted to. I never saw anyone at the top checking kids. There is one big stair case where you climb up to the different big slides. One side goes to the tornado and the family raft ride...you don't have to carry your own tube up there. The family ride was fun...the tornado was hot, like a sauna. I only did that one once. The other stairs lead to the two other slides. You have to carry your own tube and it can be either single or a double tube. Both of those were fun and we got a workout of the stairs.
As far as the food...we ended up having a little something in the room for breakfast and then had an early lunch at the hotel. There is a snack bar right at the water park....standard park stuff and prices. Hot dogs $3, little personal pizzas for $6, 4 chicken strips for $6, french fries $2. 16oz soda were $1.75 and 20 oz were $2. That about what the had the first day. The second day, we discovered the Pizza Hut around the corner. There, a medium cheese pizza was $12 and a supreme was around $15. The next couple days, we got Pizza Hut instead of the personal pizzas...my husband and I shared the supreme and two boys shared the cheese and we still had to get the other one chicken tenders and fries.
You are not supposed to bring your own food into the water park area. We did see some people do that and they were informed that they weren't supposed to and they were told that there were tables inside the hotel that they could eat at. They didn't actually move, they just kind of ignored the guy and finished their lunch.
Now, about the drinks....they were kind of expensive for soda. We did order some sodas the first day. The second day, I ordered the pizza from Pizza Hut and my DH went up to the room and filled our GreatWolf little plastic cups with soda from the room. I did sneak a couple of cans in my swimming bag that I brought to the pool. We ate outside under the patio. It was a little windy, but the inside park area is kind of humid and pretty loud and crowded...it was nice to get away.
One day for dinner, we did look at the buffet and it looked good, but it was our anniversary and we decided to go out. Also, it was a Wednesday night and the sign said it was $15 for adults and $8 for kids. Thursday night, it went up to $20 and $11, so we did not eat there.
For dinner, we went out every night. Leaving the hotel, if you turn right, it takes you down to Grapevine Mills Mall. There are a lot of restaurants in the area. I remember seeing a Whataburger, Steak and Shake, Bennigans, Rizzos or something like it, Love and War in Texas steak house, I think there was a Chili's, Chuck E Cheese, and a bunch of other places. There is also a Bass Pro Shop right there. At the Mall, there is a Rainforest Cafe, where we went for our anniversary. We were there on a Wednesday and for some reason, the kids meals came up as being $1.99 on our bill....I don't know if it is a special kids night or if our waitress gave us a break because it was our anniversary.
Besides the Rainforest Cafe, we also ate at Steak and Shake in that area. Another night, we went down to the Grapevine historic district and ate at a mexican place called Esparzas. Leaving the lodge, you would turn left and go down a bit...Esparzas is on one of the side streets to the left. It is in a old house and there is lots of outside seating too. The last night, we ate at a Red Robin, but it was a farther away by the expressways and I have no idea how to explain how to get there.
At the Grapevine Mills mall, they also have a regular mall food court....I didn't really look at what was there because I was headed to the restrooom. There is also and DISNEY OUTLET. I did get my youngest son a couple of Phenius and Ferb shirts that were 2/$15 and a few pins.
Now....about the Magiquest. There we a lot of kids running around doing it.
For those that haven't stayed there before, they have a magic quest game spread out through the hotel. You pay $15 for a wand and $10 to activate it. They give you a little book that explains where to go and what floor the different objects/pictures are. On the upper floors, were the hotel rooms are, the clues are right by the elevator landings, so they aren't going past anyones room. The wand keeps track of the quest and what objects you've found. Once you finish one part, you have to go to a special station that records what you've done and will then let you go on to the next part.
It was a lot of fun, but a work out. The clues have you running from floor to floor....ok, now up to the 4th floor, we found that so now we have to go up to the 6th floor and then back down to the 5th. They ask that the magi quest people use the stairs and not the elevator....so it was a work out. It was nice to see that quiet a few parents did the quest with their kids. When you finished the quest that came with the book, then you are able to fight the dragon. Also, after that, there are a couple adventures that you can do that doesn't have a book of clues so they are a little harder. We got our wand Thursday afternoon, did some quest, went off to dinner, and did some more. We were able to finish it our Friday and they slayed the dragon. We also did the other three little adventures. At the final thing for one of them, we weren't actually able to do the last task, and the line to try again was long, so we decided to leave and didn't actually finish that quest.
We didn't get a wand until Thursday and we checked out Friday. Also, we just got one wand for the boys to share. We stayed together so there was no reason for everyone to have their own wand.
We did check out the Cub Club. The do different little crafts and stuff through out the day. We went to free bingo and one of the boys won a sun catcher that we got to paint and the next day, one won a bank that we painted. It was a nice little break from the pools.
A little about the water parks...the lazy river was fun, but nothing like the one's at the disney water parks. It is in one small area with the life guards walking around in the middle island so they can see both sides. There is only one exit, so I didn't have to worry about the boys leaving it. Most of the areas have one main enterance and then a way out the back. On the tower where the water squirters are, there is one main stairs in the front....but there is another stairs down the back part....we usually just went down the way we came in, but be aware that there is a different exit. The baby pool has the main open are in the front, but there is some steps off to the side that go to a seating area....my youngest never left the area, but he could have.
They had pleanty of life jackets for the kids, and they also had towels at the waterpark, but you were not allowed to take those towels up to the room. I just took a bag with a cover up to slip on....and I also had sunscreen for if we went outside, and googles and a swim mask for the boys and an extra soda for lunch.
We had a really good time and plan to go back.......if we can find a good code.
I'll try to check back to see if anyone has any questions.
yeahdisney
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2004
- Messages
- 2,234
We are going to go to a Dallas Cowboys game in December. We might take the kids and one other adult and stay at Great Wolf Lodge. So we too are watching for a code.
Beckysc
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2000
- Messages
- 451
JamesMom, remember to go early if you can. Check in time is 4pm, but you can get there at 1 and start swimming and just check back to see if they have your room ready. Also, I was able to check out at 12 instead of 11am. They will allow you to keep swimming after you check out from your room. They have showers in the restrooms and they even have the water extractors that spin out your wet suit so they aren't so drippy wet when you go to leave.
HannaBelle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2007
- Messages
- 2,250
I have a 15 year old DS, would be it be too young for him? It sounds like it is for younger kids...
exwdwcm
wishes she was Wendy Moira Angela Darling
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
- Messages
- 5,046
thanks for sharing the info- DH's Christmas party was at the Gaylord and I saw the lodge was opening soon- I'd like to take my niece there (my DS is too young at 7 months to enjoy it). Are you in the DFW area? I am only about 20 minutes from Grapevine (Plano, TX), so it wouldn't be far for us and a nice little overnight break.
Echo queen
<font color=darkcoral>I like the idea of being clo
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2005
- Messages
- 3,080
Should we bring water shoes? Or should we just wear flip flops to the water park area? Thanks
MousekaMaddi
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2006
- Messages
- 2,589
FANTASTIC REVIEW__ REALLY HELPFULL Thanx sooooooooo much
I read that u had the wand one day and went home the next, was that one day enuff to play all the games? we're only sleeping over one nite and I wondered if its worth buying the wand.
I read that u had the wand one day and went home the next, was that one day enuff to play all the games? we're only sleeping over one nite and I wondered if its worth buying the wand.
Beckysc
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2000
- Messages
- 451
Water shoes...we didn't wear any. I did wear my crocs from the room to the water park, and I'll admit that they kids went bare footed. No one had any problems with not wearing shoes.
The MagiQuest...I asked the magiquest people how long it takes and they said that it can be done in as short at 2 1/2 hours, but I'm old and I had my 5 year old with me so it took us longer. We didn't swim on the day we checked out, so that gave us time to finish. The first part of it comes with a guide book that tells you exactly which floor to find the objects...there are a couple other "quests" that you can do but you have to figure out where to go on your own and it was harder to remember where they different objects were. I guess if you really wanted to do the other quests, to make it easier you could bring a little note book with you to write down what objects are on the different floors....that would be a help.
Also, we really weren't on any time frame as to when we had to leave, so I ddin't mind the boys wanting to do the other part of the quest. We didn't even swim any on the day we checked out, we just finished the quest. We had checked in on Monday and they had been asking about it the whole time...I didn't realize that once the wand was activated, it was good for 4 days. Had I really asked them about the details earlier, I probably would have purchased it sooner and done a little each night after we got back from dinner.
We live in College Station, so it was about a 3 hour drive for us.
The MagiQuest...I asked the magiquest people how long it takes and they said that it can be done in as short at 2 1/2 hours, but I'm old and I had my 5 year old with me so it took us longer. We didn't swim on the day we checked out, so that gave us time to finish. The first part of it comes with a guide book that tells you exactly which floor to find the objects...there are a couple other "quests" that you can do but you have to figure out where to go on your own and it was harder to remember where they different objects were. I guess if you really wanted to do the other quests, to make it easier you could bring a little note book with you to write down what objects are on the different floors....that would be a help.
Also, we really weren't on any time frame as to when we had to leave, so I ddin't mind the boys wanting to do the other part of the quest. We didn't even swim any on the day we checked out, we just finished the quest. We had checked in on Monday and they had been asking about it the whole time...I didn't realize that once the wand was activated, it was good for 4 days. Had I really asked them about the details earlier, I probably would have purchased it sooner and done a little each night after we got back from dinner.
We live in College Station, so it was about a 3 hour drive for us.
MousekaMaddi
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2006
- Messages
- 2,589
great, thanx
Donald Applecore
<font color=blue>Just call me "sweet cheeks"
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2001
- Messages
- 404
We were in the area running some errands last weekend so we decided to stop by & eat dinner & check out what everyone has been talking about. The pool & water park areas looked amazing. The lobby has a great view of most of the water park & we had a great view of the pool area from the restaurant.
I will say that the buffet was definitely not worth it. It looked promising, if a little small for a $20 buffet. But we hadn't been out to eat in while & figured that it looked good, and our general experience is that buffets that cost that much are usually worth it. Unfortunately, the dessert area was the only area where we felt the quality matched the price. All-in-all we still enjoyed ourselves because we liked having a variety & we typically don't get worked up over things like that, but we really felt the quality is about what you would find at a run-of-the-mill buffet for half the the price.
Also, I'm not sure if the Disney store there is an outlet store - Grapevine Mills is one of those malls with both outlet stores & regular stores under the same roof. While I didn't really check the prices, I did notice that the merchandise was pretty much exactly the same as the Disney store in the mall near our house. Its still a really neat mall & it is one of the reasons we were in Grapevine that day.
I will say that the buffet was definitely not worth it. It looked promising, if a little small for a $20 buffet. But we hadn't been out to eat in while & figured that it looked good, and our general experience is that buffets that cost that much are usually worth it. Unfortunately, the dessert area was the only area where we felt the quality matched the price. All-in-all we still enjoyed ourselves because we liked having a variety & we typically don't get worked up over things like that, but we really felt the quality is about what you would find at a run-of-the-mill buffet for half the the price.
Also, I'm not sure if the Disney store there is an outlet store - Grapevine Mills is one of those malls with both outlet stores & regular stores under the same roof. While I didn't really check the prices, I did notice that the merchandise was pretty much exactly the same as the Disney store in the mall near our house. Its still a really neat mall & it is one of the reasons we were in Grapevine that day.
Add me to the list of just got back from Grapevine Great Wolf Lodge!
We stayed Father's Day using 'the code' and had a great trip!
Pros:
-Lovely resort, well-themed, very Disney-esque
-Great water park. It is much larger in real life than the pictures show and had plenty for my 2 and 5 yo to do. Longest line to wait for a slide was like 10 minutes.
- Nice room. Stayed in the family suite and had plenty of room for the pack-n-play and sleeper sofa pulled out. Had small fridge & micro, but no coffee maker.
- Pizza Hut Express. Had this for dinner and it was great pizza and one of the better values at the resort - 2 medium 1 topping for ~$25
- Tons of towels and lifeguards. Life jackets for the kiddos were in bins scattered through-out the park so you can use and discard as needed.
- Great service. I had read on another board that this place had spotty service, but I didn't get any. From the quick 15 minute check-in, to the setup pack-n-play already in the room within 1 hour of calling the front desk, to the waitress at the breakfast buffet. Everyone was friendly, smiling, and helpful.
- Living only 20 minutes from the resort, so the next morning when the two year old is DONE, we could take him home and Mom and big bro went back to play.
Cons
- 1 of the beds squeeked too much.
- Only domestic beer available (neat plastic 'bottles' though) and gross magaritas.
- The breakfast buffet was servicable, Golden Corral in quality at twice the price. Guess not really a con, but not a pro ,either. (A $14, C $7). The kids liked the donuts, too.
- the Clock Tower show was kind of lame. The thunder/lightening bit scared my 2 yo and he had to the leave the veiwing area. (Note to self: another reason to leave the 2 yo home on the upcoming Disney trip)
- the Rice crispy treat in the Bear Claw Cafe was soggy, yuck! ($4) , but the chocolate covered strawberries were yummy ($2 each)
- The arcade is the biggest waste of money ever. Mostly just tickets/remdemption games and my 5 yo wanted something that was like 500 tickets, yah, right. And not many actual video games. Didn't do magiQuest since he doesn't read yet.
- Having a 102 temperature with alternating chills and sweats, but I toughed it out for my kids
So, the DayQuiled up woman in the hottub complaining she's cold in the 100 degree heat, was me, LOL
We stayed Father's Day using 'the code' and had a great trip!
Pros:
-Lovely resort, well-themed, very Disney-esque
-Great water park. It is much larger in real life than the pictures show and had plenty for my 2 and 5 yo to do. Longest line to wait for a slide was like 10 minutes.
- Nice room. Stayed in the family suite and had plenty of room for the pack-n-play and sleeper sofa pulled out. Had small fridge & micro, but no coffee maker.
- Pizza Hut Express. Had this for dinner and it was great pizza and one of the better values at the resort - 2 medium 1 topping for ~$25
- Tons of towels and lifeguards. Life jackets for the kiddos were in bins scattered through-out the park so you can use and discard as needed.
- Great service. I had read on another board that this place had spotty service, but I didn't get any. From the quick 15 minute check-in, to the setup pack-n-play already in the room within 1 hour of calling the front desk, to the waitress at the breakfast buffet. Everyone was friendly, smiling, and helpful.
- Living only 20 minutes from the resort, so the next morning when the two year old is DONE, we could take him home and Mom and big bro went back to play.
Cons
- 1 of the beds squeeked too much.
- Only domestic beer available (neat plastic 'bottles' though) and gross magaritas.
- The breakfast buffet was servicable, Golden Corral in quality at twice the price. Guess not really a con, but not a pro ,either. (A $14, C $7). The kids liked the donuts, too.
- the Clock Tower show was kind of lame. The thunder/lightening bit scared my 2 yo and he had to the leave the veiwing area. (Note to self: another reason to leave the 2 yo home on the upcoming Disney trip)
- the Rice crispy treat in the Bear Claw Cafe was soggy, yuck! ($4) , but the chocolate covered strawberries were yummy ($2 each)
- The arcade is the biggest waste of money ever. Mostly just tickets/remdemption games and my 5 yo wanted something that was like 500 tickets, yah, right. And not many actual video games. Didn't do magiQuest since he doesn't read yet.
- Having a 102 temperature with alternating chills and sweats, but I toughed it out for my kids
So, the DayQuiled up woman in the hottub complaining she's cold in the 100 degree heat, was me, LOL
Mad4Mickey
<font color=FF66FF>All SINGLE Firemen have a MARRI
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2003
- Messages
- 4,238
We go there all the time and it is alot of fun for my Neice 6 and Nephew 9 but older kids would have a hard time finding much to do . We go because we get the 129.00 rate for the fire dept and it is only 30 min from our house , The food in the buffet not that great . Maybe I expected Disney food LOL
Share this page
-
What To Do on a Disney Day When Everything Goes Wrong
-
How To Plan Disney on a Tight Budget Without Missing Out
-
2026 V.I.PASSHOLDER Summer Days Announced at Disney World
-
New Disney Cruise Funnel Collectibles Come With a Frustrating Catch
-
NEW Winnie the Pooh Dress (and More!) at EPCOT's UK Pavilion
-
The Perfect Special Gift for a Disney Fan Going on Vacation
-
NEW Reveal: 2026 runDisney Virtual Series Medals Go Retro
Disney Vacation Planning. Free. Done for You.
Our Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are here to provide personalized, expert advice, answer every question, and uncover the best discounts.
Let Dreams Unlimited Travel take care of all the details, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a stress-free vacation.
Start Your Disney Vacation
