Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, First Visit - Dad is Panicking

[DisneyDiana]

Food is normal overpriced resort food. We love going to the brew pub a mile down the road. For us it enhances our experience.

 

[stamfordmike]

Thanks this is all great info and I'm defintely less panickey. My question now revolves around that check in is 4pm and we can use the water park starting at 1pm, how strict are they on this, can we get in earlier than 1pm or is this not possible? Also where do you put your wallet and cell/smart phones when in the park, I'd like to take pictures of the kids but I don't want to just leave my phone by a chair where it could get taken but also don't want to risk it getting wet.

 

[ssawka]

Thanks this is all great info and I'm defintely less panickey. My question now revolves around that check in is 4pm and we can use the water park starting at 1pm, how strict are they on this, can we get in earlier than 1pm or is this not possible? Also where do you put your wallet and cell/smart phones when in the park, I'd like to take pictures of the kids but I don't want to just leave my phone by a chair where it could get taken but also don't want to risk it getting wet.

Don't know about the early check in, but as for protecting your valuables, there are lockers that you can rent. They are an all-day rental, so you can go in and out of the locker all you want. I believe the price is $10 + $10 deposit that you get back when you turn in the key. You rent the locker at the shop inside the water park.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I don't know about before 1pm, but we got there, right at 1pm once, and had no issues. Consider stopping for lunch, right before you get there (we did this with the diner I mentioned, but honestly, there are plenty of places within a mile or two).

We're a family of 6, so I didn't even seriously consider eating the food GWL offers. It's less of a big deal than you might think, to go out in your car and hit Subway or whatever. And the kids will want a bit of a break from the water. As someone else mentioned, there are menus available--some were in a book in the room. You'll have a mini-fridge and microwave in your room. The only thing I'll mention is, an adult should really meet the delivery person in the lobby. We didn't know this, and had pre-aid over the phone, so we sent our DS15 down. They let him have the food, but he had to call back to the room and stuff. I don't imagine you'd be sending down your kids at their ages, but I figured I'd mention it.

If nothing else, I strongly suggest having snacks in the room. You'll appreciate having something for the kids to nibble on. I'm a big fan of familiar food when they're in a strange place--this is more true, the younger the child.

 

[mjkacmom]

Thanks this is all great info and I'm defintely less panickey. My question now revolves around that check in is 4pm and we can use the water park starting at 1pm, how strict are they on this, can we get in earlier than 1pm or is this not possible? Also where do you put your wallet and cell/smart phones when in the park, I'd like to take pictures of the kids but I don't want to just leave my phone by a chair where it could get taken but also don't want to risk it getting wet.

My advice is to get there early. We're usually there by 10:30, check-in (which will be much quicker than at noon, when it can take up to an hour), get our bracelets, and head to the waterpark (they've always let us in, and we've been there enough to be "gold" - what you get being gold is a gold wristband )

We usually go with friends, and almost always get our room before the later members of our party show up. We wear our suits under our clothes, and pack a bag with coverups and flip flops. As for valuables, I just stick our phones in our bag.

 

[aprilgail2]

Thanks this is all great info and I'm defintely less panickey. My question now revolves around that check in is 4pm and we can use the water park starting at 1pm, how strict are they on this, can we get in earlier than 1pm or is this not possible? Also where do you put your wallet and cell/smart phones when in the park, I'd like to take pictures of the kids but I don't want to just leave my phone by a chair where it could get taken but also don't want to risk it getting wet.

We get there by 9am and check in and get in the water park as soon as it opens-never once had a problem. A time or two we even had our room ready for check in at that time- of course other times our room wasnt ready until 5-6pm which was NOT amusing! I tried to used the "it says check in is 4pm" line but they gave me back "check in BEGINS at 4:00"

 

[stamfordmike]

So then we really can use the water park starting at 9am? They won't say, you can't come in till 1pm? That's helpful as we're trying to figure out what time to leave, we were going to leave later if we couldn't use the park until 1pm.

 

[pocomom]

So then we really can use the water park starting at 9am? They won't say, you can't come in till 1pm? That's helpful as we're trying to figure out what time to leave, we were going to leave later if we couldn't use the park until 1pm.

I never tried that early but we did get in at noon once so I think when you get there they will let you in... And our room wasn't ready until 7 once, and we had a birthday cake melting in the car. I keep making it sound not fun, but you will have a blast, it is really fun- however they could stand to improve a few things, like their check in, food etc.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Thanks this is all great info and I'm defintely less panickey. My question now revolves around that check in is 4pm and we can use the water park starting at 1pm, how strict are they on this, can we get in earlier than 1pm or is this not possible? Also where do you put your wallet and cell/smart phones when in the park, I'd like to take pictures of the kids but I don't want to just leave my phone by a chair where it could get taken but also don't want to risk it getting wet.

We actually just went last week to the Poconos location. Since it is a 4+ hour drive for us and we were expecting bad weather the day we were heading up, we actually got a hotel in Stroudsburg the night before and checked out and went to GWL. We got there at 10 am. They give you your wrist bands right away, I've never heard of the 1pm rule enforced. Lucky for us, our room was ready at that time as well.

The food was fine as far as regular burgers, fries, chicken fingers, and I even enjoyed the salad bar. We didn't have any complaints other than variety. We did try to go offsite for a late dinner, and it was a ghost town- even the Friendly's that is supposed to be open until 11 was closed at 10.

I love that the Poconos one has a full Starbucks. We live in between the Williamsburg and Poconos locations, and if we go with friends, they always want to go to the cheaper one in Williamsburg. But the Poconos one is better, and not just because of the Starbucks, but it has more slides, and the water coaster, plus the bowling and golf.

You won't need your wallet at all, you just charge everything to your room key, which is a bracelet. Or so we thought until we ate lunch on check out day after loading the car, and didn't have a way to pay for it. Apparently they turn this off at check out time even if you don't officially check out.

 

[snowman1035]

Just so you know, if you are coming this weekend we are suppose to be getting a snow storm! can't really figure out how much from the news which is normal! my daughter used to work there and she said the water park opens at 9am and you are allowed in. She also confirmed that the meals are very expensive and not worth it! She said for chicken fingers, fries and a drink were like $11.50. She did say that you can buy meal passes at check in, but she also said the food wasn't that great! for that price, i would travel down the road for a better meal!

 

[empesario]

We go quite often every year. On our last trip, we went to Mount Airy Lodge Casino for the buffet on a whim. Kind of strange as although anyone can eat there, children cant be on the gaming floor so you need to get a VIP escort to actually enter the restaurant . Regardless, food very very good and given its a casino buffet theres something for everyone. Price wise it was really cheap to and the kids ended up eating free.

 

[mjkacmom]

When we went a few years ago we actually ordered take out for dinner. I just walked down to the front desk and asked if they had any suggestions for take out. They actually handed me a few menu's. It was easy everyone got what they wanted and we were able to store the leftovers in the room for a late night snack after the water park closed.

Don't panic, you will have a great time.

Just a FYI, depending on what you are used to, you might want to stay away from Italian takeout. We're from north jersey, and went with a group from our area, and they are still talking about the horrible pocono pizza years later. They were disgusted with the food!

 

[stamfordmike]

We are going this weekend, in fact we're leaving tomorrow morning from CT, my understanding is the storm won't hit till mid morning on Friday so the hope is that if we leave early enough we can get ahead of it, if you live local or near the Poconos, I'd like a link to your local weather so I can get a better idea/forecast. Thanks

 

[shoney]

We actually just went last week to the Poconos location. Since it is a 4+ hour drive for us and we were expecting bad weather the day we were heading up, we actually got a hotel in Stroudsburg the night before and checked out and went to GWL. We got there at 10 am. They give you your wrist bands right away, I've never heard of the 1pm rule enforced. Lucky for us, our room was ready at that time as well.

The food was fine as far as regular burgers, fries, chicken fingers, and I even enjoyed the salad bar. We didn't have any complaints other than variety. We did try to go offsite for a late dinner, and it was a ghost town- even the Friendly's that is supposed to be open until 11 was closed at 10.

I love that the Poconos one has a full Starbucks. We live in between the Williamsburg and Poconos locations, and if we go with friends, they always want to go to the cheaper one in Williamsburg. But the Poconos one is better, and not just because of the Starbucks, but it has more slides, and the water coaster, plus the bowling and golf.

You won't need your wallet at all, you just charge everything to your room key, which is a bracelet. Or so we thought until we ate lunch on check out day after loading the car, and didn't have a way to pay for it. Apparently they turn this off at check out time even if you don't officially check out.

We went 3 or 4 years ago and the 1pm rule was enforced!

We arrived at 11:30 and were told we couldn't check in yet. We bought the kids magiquest wands and let them play. At 12:30, I noticed a large line forming in the lobby so I got on it. At 1pm they started to check people in.

The lobby was a zoo!!! It seems like they changed this policy and that's a good thing!!!

 

[snowman1035]

We are going this weekend, in fact we're leaving tomorrow morning from CT, my understanding is the storm won't hit till mid morning on Friday so the hope is that if we leave early enough we can get ahead of it, if you live local or near the Poconos, I'd like a link to your local weather so I can get a better idea/forecast. Thanks

Local news has the storm starting at around 5-6am and in our local paper it says 10-16 inches of snow could fall in the poconos. hubby is a truck driver and has been watching the news/weather channel most of the night so far. be safe in your travels tomorrow!

 

[snowman1035]

go to www.poconorecord.com that is our local paper. you can also go on the weather channel online and type in the zip code of 18360 and get the local weather.

 

[bigmama67]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I wanted to mention that there is a Friendly's nearby (we like them as they are a step up from fast food.) There is also a grocery store in town which I believe is 24 hour...we HATED just about every meal we had in the area except for Barley Creek Brewing in Tannersville (about 10 minutes away) which is quite good.

Also, I agree that getting a Paw Pass for the kids to share is a great idea, especially if you have 2 nights. Our kids are 4 and 10 (9 at the time we went) and it worked out great for them to share the benefits. I did upgrade a few things (bought an extra craft for them to do) and got some extra arcade points, but DD is delighted with her stuffed animal and DS loves his MagiQuest wand. (They stayed together for both quests.)

I also found out recently that MagiQuest is at other places like FunPlex which we may hit on our winter break. Next time we go to GWL, I will probably get the Paw Pass again and then DD can have the wand and DS get the stuffed animal (he still likes them.)

Have fun!