Is it possible to do Great Wolf Lodge on a budget?

[ajk912]

I am thinking of suprising my 5 year old with Great Wolf Lodge for her birthday. Being that 5 is such a milestone birthday!! But, the cheapest rate I can get (even with the repeat rate) is $223 because I have a family of 5. Ugh. So we are talking $248 after taxes.

That isn't TOO horrible because that's about what I would spend on a bday party. But if we do this, this CAN'T turn into a $400 weekend. Would we be better off skipping Great Wolf Lodge?

I read threads with kids running around with magic wands, wanting to do the arcade, the crafts are $$ too. And, I hear the food is pricey and not that good, and no fridges in the rooms. Does it lose a lot of the magic to go and just say no to everything?

Is it possible to eat cheap there? I see they have room service pizza. How expensive is that? I don't mind packing snacky stuff for the room and donuts/bagels or whatever for breakfast. We can do peanut butter sandwiches for one meal easily. So we would need to eat there for one meal most likely.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[JackJack08]

Honestly....I think it would easily turn into a $400 weekend. But the kids LOVE it! I don't let mine go to the arcade...but there is other "stuff".

 

[jaminmd]

Unless you're going to bring all of your food & beverages, it will cost you more. Even if you don't do the wand thing, the kids will get hungry. You can't bring any outside food or drinks into the water park area, so you're forced to buy from the snack shop within it or waste time going back to your room to eat. My DD (was 10 at the time) didn't want to leave & closed the place down!

Maybe it would be better to put it off until she's a little older & you have more financial flexibility. JMO.

 

[Conex4]

Hi!! Since your from Virginia, I am assuming you would like information about the Williamsburg Great Wolf Lodge. We just returned from a 1 night stay (Sunday-Monday). Yes, it is possible to do on a budget as long as you plan ahead!!

We ate lunch at Pierce's (sp??) BBQ before we checked in at 1pm. If you are not familiar with Pierce's (sp??) it is less than 1/2 mile from Great Wolf, reasonably priced and great food!! There is also a Chick Fil A before Great Wolf. There is a Pizza Hut Express inside Great Wolf Lodge and a Snack Bar of sorts inside the water park. I also had heard the food was expensive and not that great. Even though it says no outside food in the water park - there were people that clearly had packed a lunch. I did take water and chips, etc. in with us.

Everyone in my party had their bathing suits on as I did not expect the room to be ready at 1pm - but our room was ready!!! Our room did have a fridge and microwave. I had packed a cooler (included leftovers from Pierce's) and a bag with a loaf of bread, peanut butter, chips, and breakfast foods!!

The extras we purchased were ice cream from the sweet shop for $3.00, they actually gave me an extra bowl and I let my boys split it. We also went into the arcade and spent $5.00 for 20 tokens (I think, it may have only been 10 tokens) again my boys split the tokens and they earn tickets (like at Chuck E. Cheeses) and each got a prize.

We did see kids everywhere with the wands, I just told my kids that maybe next time we could get those!! At 8 pm there is a short "program" in the lobby and story time - all of the kids had their p.j.s on and their mascot- visits/takes pictures with the kids.

The water park was open until 9pm on Sunday. On Monday, we could have stayed at the water park until closing time, but we decided to pack up and come home!! My kids did enjoy the waterpark however, I was not overly impressed with Great Wolf Lodge, my husband says its be/c I am spoiled by Disney!!!

Let me know if you have any other questions!!

 

[victorandbellasmom]

I think it can easily turn into a $400 weekend, especially with 3 kids. We went last year and we spent at least $300, of which $180 of that was for the room itself. We packed a cooler of food and drinks and had their breakfast buffet. Ours have a fridge and a microwave in each room. The kids wanted dipping dots and of course they also had to play in the arcade. Our's had just opened when we went so the magic wand thing wasn't operational (yeah, no money spent there) and neither was the salon (yeah, again no money spent there). They also didn't want to do anything artsy craftsy in the kids area (more money saved!). We're planning on going there next month and are expecting to increase our budget now that everything is open and operational. My kids' birthdays are in February and April, so we've given them the choice to either have individual birthday parties or go to great wolf lodge and have them bring one friend each. They chose great wolf lodge.

If you forewarn your kids about what you are willing to spend money on and how much, then you might be able to avoid it being a $400. It might be tough, but certainly doable.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, weekday nights are def. cheaper than weekends nights. When are you planning on going? If it is during spring break week, that will be higher.

Even at $250, I think it is a decent deal if you take full advantage of your arrival day AND departure day. We always get there by noon on our arrival day and stay late into the afternoon on departure day. 2 days for the whole family for $250 is a good deal if you consider how much water park tickets are. Plus the rooms have refrigerators and microwaves, so you can bring in food to eat. The pizza onsite is a Pizza Hut and is about twice the price of regular pizza huts. The food in the water park is a little more reasonable. THere is a Sonic about one mile away and a Chick-fil-a about 2 miles away, as well as either a Dennys or Ihop(about a mile away)

We have been to the VA Great Wolf several times. In April, we are going to the new one in Concord, NC.

Marsha

 

[MickeyP]

Both times we stayed there, we had refrigerators in the rooms, and microwaves.

We brought a sheet pizza and that filled them up until dinner and then went to a local diner (wonderful food and very reasonable).
Good idea with the bagels/donuts. You could even let them pick out their favorite cereal and bring milk w/ it. I don't see breakfast being a problem.

Maybe, you could have a birthday picnic lunch. Have fun with it.

I think they should be able to get one treat down by the water. Ice cream or french fries, or their choice.

The arcade is a tough one. You'll have to figure this one out on your own.

Just tell your kids the wands are stupid, and more time than not, they don't even work. Which is kind of true, because once you check out, they don't work anymore.

Our biggest downfall, because we have girls was the Kiddie Spa, called Scoops. The whole spa was done in an ice cream theme. Yum but rediculously expensive. Ouch. I think the kiddie pedicure was like 35.00.

 

[heartsy77]

We always go the 3rd of JULY and it is really reasonable; that way we can be their all day for the 4th ( DSS b day) We take a cooler filled with ramen noodle cups, hot pockets, TV dinners, fruit cups, breakfast sand ( anything microwavable) and drinks. We have even taken a 1/2 a sheet cake into the water park for my DD birthday and no one said a word! Usually on the 4th we order a few pizzas from the pizza hut on site, for a late lunch ,which tides the kids over till we get home. We only live 1.5 hours away so Great Wolf is place we go a few times a year!

 

[disneystacy]

We were going to do the Grea Wolf Lodge in March but the price is just crazy (we are a family of 5 also). We just booked the Dunes Village in Myrtle Beach for half the price. They also have a indoor water park (not as big a GW), but its a new place and we are getting a condo.

 

[Jajone]

What is the magic wand thing?

 

[torinsmom]

Another thing about food--we brought in snacks and drinks with no problems. And after you are in the park for 3-4 hours, you will be glad to leave for little bit. The chlorine in the air can be really strong and the fresh air you get going out to get fast food or grabbing lunch in the room will be refreshing.

Get there as soon as they open on your second day. You will have the waterpark almost to yourself for the first hour. That's the best time to do the flowrider. Since it is a one person activity, the line can be long most of the time.

Marsha

 

[onemaybaby]

depends on how good you are at telling your kids no and how good your kids listen. There is definately temptation everywhere.
But with that being said, I have been several times and not spent anything other than the cost of the room.
I've been to the Niagara Falls location, they have fridge, micro and coffee maker in the rooms. We usually eat lunch before we arrive at 1pm then we eat dinner in the room as well as breakfast. We always bring in snacks and drinks into the water parks and have never had a problem yet. We have been discreet but not overly I would say. For the room, we bring cereal, milk, fruit already cut up for breakfast. You could bring hot cereal and make the hot water in the coffee maker. We have brought pizza, fried chicken, precooked hamburgers, salads etc. for dinner. Last time we went my SIL brought a panini press and george foreman grill LOL
I think the kids are happy just to be there. There is the bedtime storytime each night and the cub crawl in the morning that is free too.

Good luck and have fun. Also just a note, I dont know if you live close by to the Wolf or not but they do have local resident rates if you ask.

 

[mjantz]

We went to the one in TX & they did have a fridge & a microwave in the room. We brought our own food & brought 1 fast food meal back to the room. They did get the wands but that's because a family member purchased them.
We found it a reasonable trip & have considered doing it again.

 

[carj]

We went to the GWL during Thanksgiving Break. We are going back again for my son's birthday. Here is our plan for his birthday.
1:00 I will check us in and get wristbands and bring luggage to the room.
3:00 Pick up kids from school and drive to GWL, eat snacks on the way.
4:00 Arrive and purchse Magic Quest for the guests and activate my son's wand, change clothes for water park
4:30-6:45 waterpark
6:45- 7:15 back to room, change clothes (DH is picking up takeout for us on his way over after work.) Eat dinner.
7:15-11:00 Magic Quest and clock tower show. snacks in room (Birthday cake)
11:00 Quiet hours of the hotel
Next day
Breakfast of doughnuts in room
Magic Quest and water park
Lunch at Pizza Hut in GWL
Magic Quest and Water Park
Dinner will be drive through on our way home.

We will probably let my daughter make a couple of things in the cub club. Sometimes they have Bingo and you can win free prizes there as well.

We are not doing the arcade. I don't see the point of using our limited time playing games that we could play anywhere. (At least that is how I sell that to my kids! )

I think that you can keep it around $300 and still have a great time if you are willing to make a few compromises.

First, the Magic Quest game is a lot of fun and my 7 year old loved it more than the water park. My 5 year old got tired of climbing the stairs and walking. We only bought 1 wand and game ($25). Your kids can share a wand, there are plenty of kids doing that. I am getting the kids at the party their own wands and we have made cloaks for them as well. Those things are going to be their party favors.

Second, the food is too expensive! Avoid the buffets, they were overpriced and not good at all.

What I would do is eat lunch before you get there then if you have another adult, (DH) then send him to get takeout from someplace local for dinner. You and the kids can hang out in the room or explore the hotel. Bring snacks and breakfast type foods to eat in the room.

The second day is tricky because you have to check out by noon. If you are going to eat a meal at GWL, lunch on the second day should be the one. You probably are not going to want to get everyone dressed to go out. We did that on our first day the last time, and it was really just easier to send one adult out and let the kids chill out.

So....
$25 for Magic Quest wand and game
$20 of fast food take out for dinner
$40 on lunch at the GWL at the Pizza Hut or other snack bar.
You could probably get out of there for a total of $85 without feeling like you are saying "no" to everything.

 

[dis-happy]

In April, we are going to the new one in Concord, NC.

I was talking to my dh about going here when they open! Please post a TR when you get back, I'd love to hear all about it. Did you find a great rate? I'm hoping we can get a decent price for a mid-week before the summer rush is on. Have fun!

 

[seashellmom]

I was talking to my dh about going here when they open! Please post a TR when you get back, I'd love to hear all about it. Did you find a great rate? I'm hoping we can get a decent price for a mid-week before the summer rush is on. Have fun!

We are very interested in going this summer too! Let us know!

 

[torinsmom]

I was talking to my dh about going here when they open! Please post a TR when you get back, I'd love to hear all about it. Did you find a great rate? I'm hoping we can get a decent price for a mid-week before the summer rush is on. Have fun!

Well, it was $189 for a family suite for a Sunday night stay April 26. I am wondering if they will have local resident rates once they open. DS and I are sharing with a friend and her son.

Marsha

 

[mjkacmom]

That's a good rate - the cheapest rate we've gotten was $308 during the week for our family of 7 in the Poconos (the most expensive one). We ate outside the resort, and bought one wand for all of the kids (which worked out great - I would've been hard if they all had one). We used the fridge and microwave.

 

[pweyl36]

we brought our own food in to the water park, While my husband and kids played at the park.I went back to the room and made sandwiches and brought them back to the park. We ate at the tables. We just told our kids when they asked if we can go to the arcade NO. We are here for the water park. But you know what thats all they wanted to any was stay at the water park any way. I just don't understand how some parents just can't say no there kids. If it isn't in your buget to do the wand or arcade then just tell them no. It is cheaper to bring your own food and drink. P.S. don't eat their food at GWL its nasty .

 

[dis-happy]

Well, it was $189 for a family suite for a Sunday night stay April 26. I am wondering if they will have local resident rates once they open. DS and I are sharing with a friend and her son.

Marsha

Wow, that does sound like a great rate!! I need to book something. Did you use any code with that? With homeschooling going on a Sunday night would be a piece of cake. Wish it were open NOW so we could do something fun and different during all this freezing cold weather.....brrrr!

Can't wait for IKEA to open either.....