Great Wolf Lodge Reviews Please -- UPDATE

[brighteyes]

Hello all, it's been awhile since I've posted here since I had to cancel my free dining trip due to a DRASTIC reduction in hours at my summer job while school is out.

So to console myself, thanks to you disers I am hoping to book a room at GWL with a friend for a night. My question is, I have read reviews that the water and waterpark room temperature is chilly or cold there?

Have you found this, and what were your experiences???


Thank You.

Stephanie

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

If you can get a discount there I say go for it. I find the prices way to high for what you get. The food is also expensive. If it wasn't for the blizzard outside with 10 inches of snow we would have gone out for food. As for the room temps each room has it's own thermostate and A/C / heater. The water park is alot of fun. Our we all loved it. I will go back but not until we get a discount. I say go for it. Have fun.

 

[brighteyes]

We will probably be taking a drive to clifton hill one of the days to do the attractions there and to get food, as I hear t he food is lousy at GWL.


Was the water and/or the air in the waterpark cold though??? We don't want to freeze the little ones. lol That is what I have heard that it is cold there.Yes I will only go if I can get a discount. I am looking on a thursday hopefully that will help.

Thanks


Steph

 

[BKMETV]

There are three hot tubs (two adult - one inside/one outside) and one for the kids. The water is probably in the high 80s so was good for warming up the kids. They didn't seem to mind it but I found it rather chilling wandering around the park while wet.

I would definitely recommend eating off site. It's a short drive to Clifton Hill area where there are an abundance of choices. Even the brunch buffet was over-priced for what was available, especially for little ones. I think it was around $7-9/child and my daughter ate 1/2 a bagel!!

 

[shoppgirl]

My girls and I found the water to be on the chilly side!!! The very first time we went, last year, it was pleasantly warm. But we have been 2 subsequent times and both have been COLD. My girls aren't fans of the slides yet (too scared!), so we spent a lot of time in the family hot tub, along with a lot of other people! We went in June once and the outdoor pool area was opened. If you go on a hot day, it will be quite nice out there. Still worth the experience, and my girls enjoyed the whole resort anyways, and not just the water park.

 

[SandraC]

I found the water temperature fine....but I'll swim in 70ºF water

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. Are the prices in the summer time any lower?

 

[brighteyes]

Thanks everyone, It looks like I will be booking a thursday if we can get a good rate. Hopefully we won't freeze in the water. We are also thinking of getting another cheaper hotel for another night's stay to do the attractions on Clifton Hill. Anyone know of any good cheaper hotels in the Clifton Hill area that are decent for a night's sleep?

Stephanie

 

[Rubbertops]

Quallity Inn is on Clifton Hill and the rate is reasonable. We stayed there a few years ago and it was fine.

We have also been to GWL twice and both times I thought the waterpark was warm. The rooms without balconies are a little cheaper.

 

[MomAndrea]

We just got back from GWL today! We had an amazing time and got a great rate from an online booking company. My kids (5, 3, 18 months) had so much fun. The water was pretty warm but we only lasted 2 hours in the water park at a time before the little one was too cold. Over 3 days we went to the water park 4 times though, so they got their fill. The food is very expensive.

 

[brighteyes]

Thanks everyone, well if it is cold, hopefully it will be warmer outside.

NOt sure when we are going yet as we are trying to co-ordinate a group of us to go. If not I may just book a room myself. I am looking online too, and the rates are great, though they do seem to fluctuate alot. I will let you know if I ever get there!

Stephanie

 

[jtdl]

I just received an email from GWL with a special rate of $199 between July 1-18 if you are interested in going during that time. Use promo code "presummer". This may be on their website as well.

 

[Claud26]

we are going 07/09 & 07/10 and got an amazing rate of 129.00 each night for a family suite at Rates to Go online ... on the GWL websites it's currently going at 349.00 a night.
we went back in May and the kids had a great time

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

The water was a bit on the chilly side for me, dh was fine and dd (who was 4) did get chilly after a few hours. But its definately a very nice waterpark!

 

[michelle1]

The rooms have microwaves and fridges so you can bring stuff from home. If you can't get a good rate you could try the Fallsview water park. It is bigger than GWL and has a couple of hotels attached to it by a walkway and the location is much closer to the falls.

 

[brighteyes]

we are going 07/09 & 07/10 and got an amazing rate of 129.00 each night for a family suite at Rates to Go online ... on the GWL websites it's currently going at 349.00 a night.
we went back in May and the kids had a great time

Hmmm.... Yes well we were planning on going July 10th for 129.00. That was the price when those dates first came available, then they switched to 139.00 a night for the 10th??? How did you book it for 129.00?? Good for you though, I finally booked it on Saturday night at 139.00. I didn't want the rate to go higher. Either way, I am going with my DS, if my friend is able to come with me to split the room, even better and save some $$. I have been watching that website for some time now, and thought that night would come out at 199.00 so I am still ahead.

I am excited, though not as excited as if I was going to Disney.

Thanks guys for all the info. Whoohooo

Stephanie

 

[mtmbyck]

July is an amazing time to go....the outdoor pool is almost as fun as the indoor area. There was a live band one afternoon and a DJ the other when we went last summer. There is an outdoor bar and grill. I would save the indoor waterpark for the evening when all the kiddies have gone to bed. As for lunch, you can do the buffet at the restaurant for about $2 more than eating in the waterpark and it is healthier. The kids buffet is actually cheaper (but it doesn't sound like you'll have kids).

You got an amazing rate! I would pay this rate in a heartbeat for this resort! Water temperature is fine - not bathtub but exactly the same as any Disney waterpark and the temperature in the waterpark is steamy when you aren't wet. The room temperature is fine also - in the winter if you get back to the room wet you are chilly (fireplace suites are great for this), but in the summer, you'll have the patio door open of the AC on to keep cool (our first year we had a bad AC that kept us up all night and so the resort credited us with a complimentary room night).

My tips, bring snacks, water or drinks to the waterpark (you get thirsty running from ride to ride and it is hot in there). Bring your own towel - the towels provided wrap around a 5 year old nicely but didn't make it around this old girl! Bring your own snacks and breakfast stuff - the fridge is a good size and will hold all kinds of goodies. Go to the 10am or 8pm show in the lobby - it's very Disneyish. Be a kid - do the arcade, do the craft centre, enjoy all the cute things this resort has to offer!

 

[brighteyes]

I will be going with my DS12, and if my friend joins us she will have her DD9, and DD4 with her. We are both single moms. So whether it is just DS and I, or our friends join us we will have a blast at that rate.

It is to soothe myself that I cannot go to Disney this year.

My DS and I have passes to go to the Ripley's attractions and the wax museum, and the moving theatre at Clifton Hill, so the afternoon of the 2nd day after we check out of the waterpark we will check out those attractions before we head home.

Stephanie

 

[crash2000]

Just got back yesterday from greatwolf lodge... june 22/23

took our 4 yr old daughter with us, it was a blast, she could ride everything except 2 slides, we also went with another couple, so the husbands , and wives split up for a few adult slides, it worked out great...

the water was warm, the crowd level was perfect (didn't wait longer then 10mins to slide)

went to mcdonalds for lunch before checking in.

went to the dinner buffet $$$$ $20/ person, ( the kid was free under age 3 : ) )and $17 for a pitcher of beer.

went to the 8pm story time, the kids loved it, adults got a laugh out of the story time readers.

the secound day, we went for a timmies run for breakfast, then a round of mini golf, and hit our rooms to pack, changed into our swimsuits, packed up the car, and went sliding, monday was hot and sunny, so we spent 1/2 the day outside at the pool, it was fun, dropped $30 on lunch for 3 of us

around 5 pm, we were water logged and the kids were exhausted...

would go again in a heartbeat....

$199 for standard balcony room
$58 dinner buffet
$17 pitcher of beer
$30 lunch poolside
$30 mcdonalds
$25 gas ( from barrie)
$6 for some rubber toy for the kid from giftshop
$18 minigolf for 3 people

anything else just ask..

p.s waterproof disposables suck inside the park!!!!

 

[biggroofy]

Let me give a live review at GWL. 2nd stay here.

Things expected (from previous trip) -
1). Unfriendly staff (especially front desk), except Cub Club (really nice staff there)
2). Clean Room, well maintained (this time we got Majestic Bear Suite)
3). Bad and expensive food (not only from the restaurant) - this time we avoided the restaurant, but suffered (really!) from a really bad breakfast bruitto and cup cake
4). Long elevator wait - this time even worst - we are at 4th floor with no direct stairs to lobby
5). tiny towel at pool (better bring your own)
6). Noisy air-conditioning - the noise is comparable to POFQ air conditioning!!!

Unexpected (Surprises)
1). We can see fireworks from our room!
2). Supposed to leave today, but on the back of the bill they offered an extension of stay for $129/night - wait.... I'm paying $449/night for this room - and DD4 didn't want to leave.....so we take this deal!