Great Wolf Lodge?

[D L and K's Mom]

We live in Rochester NY and we were thinking of taking the kids to the Great Wolf Lodge and Waterpark this summer. Any advice? Is it worth the money. It looks very nice and clean. Can anyone give us any feedback? Any coupon codes or promos? Thanks so much. Oh, we have a wheelchair I have emailed the lodge to ask about accessablilty but if anyone has any info that would be GREAT!!!

 

[michelle1]

Great Wolf Lodge is a great place! It is pretty much self contained so you don't need to go anywhere once you check in...there are a couple places to eat in the hotel and the rooms have fridges and microwaves so you can bring your own stuff as well. I'm not sure what deals are around now but we paid $129/night corporate rate which included the water park and mini putt. If you can't find anything reasonable there is another indoor waterpark that is actually bigger and has several hotels around it that offer packages (at least one of the hotels is linked to the waterpark via enclosed walkway). The website is www.fallsviewwaterpark.com.

 

[michelle1]

One other thing about Great Wolf is that if it makes a difference it is not near the falls but the fallsview waterpark is. Also, since you are going in the summer, GWL has outdoor swimming facilities as well whereas I'm not sure if fallsview does.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Great Wolf is much bigger than Fallsview......the quote below is incorrect! We went to both and Great Wolf is 100% times better than Fallsview. Also if you have smaller children, Fallsview does not have that much for them but Great Wolf does.
The only good point about Fallsview is that you can pick between 4 hotels to stay at (we stayed at the Sheraton) and you are right infront of the falls and there are great restaurants around. But we enjoyed that we didn't have to leave the hotel at Great Wolf b/c there are restaurants right inside and the food was pretty good too. There is also an arcade, storytime at night, spa, etc.

Great Wolf Lodge is a great place! It is pretty much self contained so you don't need to go anywhere once you check in...there are a couple places to eat in the hotel and the rooms have fridges and microwaves so you can bring your own stuff as well. I'm not sure what deals are around now but we paid $129/night corporate rate which included the water park and mini putt. If you can't find anything reasonable there is another indoor waterpark that is actually bigger and has several hotels around it that offer packages (at least one of the hotels is linked to the waterpark via enclosed walkway). The website is www.fallsviewwaterpark.com.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Something to think about. Thank you so much for the additional information. Hmmm maybe my DD will stay with the kids one night so we can go to the casino?!?!??!?!?

 

[Diamondintheruff]

There are lots of companies that offer corporate rates and occasionally the lodge itself has special promotion rates. I've even seen some deals (?) on expedia.ca or travelocity.ca listed. We went last Christmas break and got a room for just under $200 a night (of course this is canadian) which I felt a good deal at the time. Our kids loved it and we are planning to go back someday.

FYI Our dinner buffet was passable but extremely expensive. There are lots of other restaurants there where you could get a much better meal for less.

 

[mickeywho?]

A suggestion...
You have access to the waterpark all day the day you check-in and all day the day you check-out. So you can check in on Monday - play in the waterpark all day and when you check out the next morning you will still have access to the water park. Check-in to a more reasonable hotel for Tuesday night - maybe with a view to the falls!

 

[jtdl]

We went to the GWL last weekend and although the hotel itself was very impressive and the employees were some of the best that I have ever come across in a hotel, similar to the CMs at WDW, I don't think we will ever go back. Maybe it was a combination of being a weekend in the middle of winter as well as Valentine's day being a few days before, but the waterpark was so crowded, it was very disappointing. As someone else mentioned, you have use of the waterpark from 1 pm the day of check-in until 10 pm the night of check-out. We arrived shortly after 1 pm, had to stand in line for 25 minutes to check in and of course our room wasn't ready, but what I didn't know was that we would have to stand in line again at 4 pm to check in. The employee told us there would probably be a much longer line when we came back so not to come before 4:30 or 5 pm when our room would definitely be ready (even though check-in time is guaranteed at 4 pm), but luckily there was no line or I would've been really upset! The change room is extremely small for a any type of public pool or waterpark (our community pool here in a very small town has change room 10 times as big as this one), we had to wait for lockers - they are so small you need one for each person when you don't have a room cause shoes, coats, purses, etc have to go in and there were no chairs to be had in the park. We stood in line for at least 20 minutes to get on the two raft slides. People were sitting on towels on the floor eating their lunch! And although we took our own towels (a tip I read somewhere) we were told by others that they couldn't even get a towel - they had run out and were waiting for more to wash/dry. Once we saw the prices of the food we elected to go into town to eat, but we did purchase a pop from the gift shop $2.85 for a regular single bottle and an ice cream SpongeBob on a stick thing for $4.05. The waterpark was much more enjoyable at night - after 6 pm and in the early morning, it started getting crowded again by about 11 am. So even though we had planned to spend the better part of the day in the waterpark, we left at that time. Had the waterpark not been so overcrowded or had the lodge been better equipped to handle the crowds (bigger change rooms, more chairs, benches or something to sit on to take a break) it would be a really awesome place. Maybe during the week the capacity would be at a limit that the waterpark was built to handle and then it would be much better.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I had almost forgotton until I read your post jtdl about the double line up wait. I waited to check in when we got there (30 minutes or so) than found out our room wasn't ready and had to wait again at 4pm for another 30 minutes. Yet they seemed to have many people working at the desk. Perhaps they should consult Disney on this matter.

We also found the park almost empty after dinner. It was by far the best time to go there. And yes, those change rooms are tiny. We changed in the hotel lobby bathroom. Also, my husband seemed to always be able to get a locker in the Men's changeroom when I couldn't. The "MOM's" are usually the one's carting the most stuff so they take up more lockers.

FYI the bracelet/room key thing is great but if you arrive before 4 pm you can't use it to charge food to your room. We thought we would leave all our valuables in our vehicle and than charge some snacks for the kids to our room, so here we are soaking wet in the middle of winter and one of us has to high tail it out to the car to get money for snacks.

 

[mtmbyck]

We have now been twice and I wanted to mention 2 things. JTDL mentions that you cannot use the waterpark until 1pm on day of check-in. Well, unless this has changed it is in fact from the waterpark's opening the day you check-in (usually 8am) until waterpark closing (the day you check out). I think some of the issues mentioned are isolated. It was sold out both times we went and there were plenty of towels - I don't use the change rooms as I find all public change room grosse (cold and damp) - we used the restrooms in the lobby or the one in cub club.

The Staff are fantastic and I find the accommodations wonderful (but I would not do the themed rooms with cabins in them as these beds are bunk beds and they are hard as rocks with insufficient matresses). The standard rooms are very big (the fireplace is great to have at this time of the year). I have to tell you though that you ,ust try to go in the summer. The outdoor pool area is almost more fun than the indoor area (basketball, outdoor music and patio bar/grill). We spent more time out than in and it definately spreads out the guests a bit more.

There are usually some good packages that include a meal on their website but the corporate rates are your best bet - find someone who works with a company that gets them!

 

[mickeywho?]

I guess our timing helped us not to have to deal with lineups. We arrived on a Friday around 7pm. No lineups at the checkin desk and we went straight to our room to get changed for the park - it was absolutely empty. The next day it was busy but not packed - the crowd seemed to peak around 3pm - never had an issue getting chairs - towels were harder to get around the busiest time but the staff were quick to refill the bin with room towels if need be. We checked out Sunday morning but used the park all day until the kids were worn out - change rooms were typical wet areas - although not an issue finding a couple of lockers in the morning for our dry clothes.
We were never told we had to be out of the by a certain time - we were actually told to enjoy it for the day.
Happy planning! It's a fun trip! Don't forget wetshoes for yourself and the kids - we saw a lot of people walking though the hotel in bare feet Eww!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I think this is going to be our vacation this year. We have a 4 yr old DD, a 16 year old DD and a 17 year old DS (special needs). I have received an email from the lodge saying they do have handicapped access rooms. It looks like fun. Anyon have a corporate rate that they are able to pass on. I only would use it if it is something that they are allowed to pass on to others. both DH and I are teachers so we never see any corporate anythings. We will be going in Aug during the week and I am hoping that there are not to many lines. Thanks for all the great info!!

 

[jtdl]

We have now been twice and I wanted to mention 2 things. JTDL mentions that you cannot use the waterpark until 1pm on day of check-in. Well, unless this has changed it is in fact from the waterpark's opening the day you check-in (usually 8am) until waterpark closing (the day you check out).

This is taken directly off the Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls website, I do believe it says 1 pm the day of arrival:

2) When can I use the waterpark?

You are welcome to arrive as early as 1 p.m. to use the waterpark the day of your arrival. Please note that you may experience a wait prior to 4 p.m. due to the high volume of incoming and outgoing guests. We do recommend packing a day bag with swimsuits so you can begin using the park and not have to unpack your suitcases. There are shower facilities and lockers available in the waterpark for your convenience.

Here's the link:
http://www.greatwolflodge.com/Locations/Niagara/checklist/index.aspx

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Thanks for the info.

 

[michelle1]

Great Wolf is much bigger than Fallsview......the quote below is incorrect! We went to both and Great Wolf is 100% times better than Fallsview. Also if you have smaller children, Fallsview does not have that much for them but Great Wolf does.
The only good point about Fallsview is that you can pick between 4 hotels to stay at (we stayed at the Sheraton) and you are right infront of the falls and there are great restaurants around. But we enjoyed that we didn't have to leave the hotel at Great Wolf b/c there are restaurants right inside and the food was pretty good too. There is also an arcade, storytime at night, spa, etc.

The waterpark at GWL is 103,000 square feet and fallsview is 125,000 square feet. We did love GWL but we only paid $129...I don't know if it is worth $300 or more/night. The hotel itself is beautiful, clean and nicely themed but I hated the location.

 

[garnet1240]

Hi D,L,Ks Mom...Webster NY here! Was thinking about a overnight stay at one of these parks as well. Maybe spring break. Thank you to everyone for all the information!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I got the travel book from AAA for NY (another trip) and the Niagara Falls Ontario area and could not find anything in it about GWL? Hmmm very odd. Perhaps I am looking in the wrong place. It does include the Niagara Falls Area as well as the NY Area and the Ontario area and it wasnt listed usder water parks or lodges...........I will go check again but I am sure it was not there. I am trying to see if they have a AAA discount or any other discounts offered. We would need a suite (for the wheelchair) and they are quite abit more than a regular room.

 

[riu girl]

I called the great wolf lodge earlier this year and asked about a possible CAA/AAA discount and I was told by the reservationist that they do not offer them.

 

[OntFamily]

I got the travel book from AAA for NY (another trip) and the Niagara Falls Ontario area and could not find anything in it about GWL? Hmmm very odd. Perhaps I am looking in the wrong place. It does include the Niagara Falls Area as well as the NY Area and the Ontario area and it wasnt listed usder water parks or lodges...........I will go check again but I am sure it was not there. I am trying to see if they have a AAA discount or any other discounts offered. We would need a suite (for the wheelchair) and they are quite abit more than a regular room.

It may not be listed, the hotel is less than one year old.

Also, as a previous poster noted, they do not offer a AAA/CAA discount (GWL may not pay to be in any of the AAA guidebooks).

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I would have liked to see AAA rating etc. It looks beautiful and lots of FUN!!!!