Great Wolf Lodge KC vs Dave & Busters for 13yr bday

[mom2boys]

We will be in Kansas City on DS' 13th birthday. We want to surprise him with something cool. It will just be the four of us - me, DH, DS13 & DS11. What do you think Dave & Busters or Great Wolf or some place else?

 

[Beth76]

I voted for Great Wolf Lodge. Dave and Busters is only a few-hour thing. GWL is an all day thing, if you want. Besides those rooms look really cool. We want to take our boys there and stay in a bunkbed room. Although your boys may be too old to think that is neat.

 

[PixiePop]

We went to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. It is really cool!

 

[mom2boys]

Thanks for the replies. To the person who selected "something else", did you have something specific in mind?
I am wondering if the waterpark at Great Wolf might be geared to smaller/younger kids. Can anyone describe the water rides for "big kids"?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We just returned from the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason Ohio and it was awesome. My kids are 8 and 3 so significantly younger than yours, but they had a blast.

There were many kids there though in the teenager range and I didn't see any complaining. The GWL in Mason is new, just opened 2 weeks ago, with a rollercoaster, wave pool and 11 slides. Not sure how the one is in KC. We stayed in a Wolf Den Suite. Very nice!

 

[XYSRUS]

I've taken 6 10 yo boys to Great Wolf and done D&B x2. Both really fun, but the waterpark is more fun. Have fun!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I have been to GWL several times with my young kids (ages 5 and 10 when we went). If your kids are into roller coasters and the big slides at regular waterparks then I don't think they would enjoy GWL very much. You can see photos of it on their website. It is really more for younger kids. There is an animated "puppet" type show in the lobby and a craft room that is geared towards young kids. There is a big arcade--but be prepared for the $$$$--you would probably spend less at D&B.

To me it is pretty tame. I have seen teens in the waterpark, but usually with large groups of friends so they can harass each other--they make thier own fun and are usually only there for a few hours. Not sure just the 2 of them would have much fun (I think you said you have 2 kids?) Mostly it really is littler kids--more the elementary ages and down.

My 11 yr old is a big chicken about "E ticket" rides and she LOVES the stuff at GWL--which tells you it is pretty tame, and even for her, after 2 visits she was bored.

You know your kids. If they are the typical "jaded" preteens that want to be cool and think everything in life is lame then the cutsy bunk beds and camping themes in the rooms (again, photos on the GWL site) will make them roll their eyes and make gagging faces! If they are still into the cutsey stuff then they might like it.

Let me know if you would like more information. I have tons of photos of GWL in another location (but they are all similar) that I might be able to find.

I know nothing about Dave and Buster's so I can't compare.