OT: Anyone taken kids to Dell, WI ???

[becca011906]

we are going to Wilderness resort/ Glacier Canyon Resort this July i'm trying to find some info on it, but the websites aren't that great with info... there are 4 resurants at the resort but i can't find reviews or more info on thoes either... my grandparents are going with us and my dad and my sister and her boyfriends so if we are eating in the resturants a reservation is a good idea but not when i can't get more info on the places! LOL

 

[Poohbug]

We just went to the Wilderness last winter. I found the hotel restaurants expensive and just decided to order in. Pizza Pub has great pizza and pasta and Moose Jaw is great fun-they have arcade in lower level. There are so many other places to eat that looked better.

 

[BeckityBobbidyBoo!]

I live a few hours from there. We go to the Dells around once a year. Off the highway (probably 2 miles) there is a great new -huge restaurant and a new outlet mall next to that. Can't remember the name of either, but this website might give you more details...

http://wisdells.com/


oh here's the restaurant:

http://www.buffalophilsgrille.com/

http://wisdells.com/WisconsinDellsRestaurants/memberdetail.cfm?divsubcatid=113&MemberCode=BUF001

 

[thewesterberg]

OP - Thanks for asking the question! We're heading to the Wilderness next weekend and I was curious about dining options in the area as well. Thanks you to the PPs for your suggestions!

 

[mantysk8coach]

My favorite places to eat in the Dells are Pizza Pub and Paul Bunyon's, they are must-do's every trip.

Pizza Pub is on "the strip" right across from Noah's Ark waterpark. They have good pizza and italian dinners, and an excellent salad bar. I think weekday lunch they have a buffet.

Paul Bunyon's is great for breakfast. It is themed like a lumberjack camp. Everyone sits at wood tables, and food is served family style on tin dishes. The buttermilk donuts are to die for! I usually don't care for breakfast foods, but I LOVE eating there.

Also, Monk's bar downtown has really good burgers too.

I've been to the Dells every summer since I was 3...so let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[Camno's Mama]

When we stayed at the Wilderness we found that the resort restaurants were pretty expensive. We would usually just go out for dinner. There are tons of restaurants in the Dells, and it's a good chance to go downtown and see the really touristy stuff! If you have little guys, Monk's is kind of a pain because I think they only have those tall stools, but the food is good. There is also a Culver's and a Houlihan's down there. We also like Pedro's...it's a Mexican restaurant not to far from the downtown. If you're used to authentic Mexican cuisine, you may not be impressed, but it's pretty good! There is also a log cabin style McDonald's that the kids might like and Denny's and lots of other fast food places.

 

[tkoran]

I also have always lived within 1.5 hours from the Dells and go there every summer. As much as I like the Wilderness, I hate their restaurants. They are expensive and the food isn't all that good.

I 2nd Paul Bunyans. That is an absolute MUST for us every year. We've never had breakfast there (DH doesn't eat much before 11 am or so), but their lunch/dinner is out of this world. They are a little expensive (but we're pretty cheap), but the amount and the quality of the food is so outstanding that it's definately worth it. Kiddie korner from there is a mexican restaurant. It use to be called Mexicali Rose, but I think they may have changed the name. They have excellent food as well. I've never tried pizza pub or Moose Jaw, but hear good things about it. There is a Dominos right across the street from the Wilderness too if you like their pizza.

There are also a couple of sit down restaurants on the same grounds as the Wilderness, but not in the resort itself that have good food, but they tend to be pretty expensive.

Monks is also good. My kids love to go there. They have a sports theme with lots of TV's going so DH would probably like it.

If you're in to candied apples you need to get one from one of the downtown fudge shops while you are there. They are expensive (around $8), but they are huge and have every flavor you can imagine. I love the turtle one. YUM! One apple could probably due as a nice treat for a family of 4-5.

 

[2dogmom]

I was there a few years back and I remember the restaurant food was pretty good, but it didn't open until 9am??? I want to say, which isn't good for my early waking family.

 

[mantysk8coach]

If you're in to candied apples you need to get one from one of the downtown fudge shops while you are there. They are expensive (around $8), but they are huge and have every flavor you can imagine. I love the turtle one. YUM! One apple could probably due as a nice treat for a family of 4-5.

Mmmmm....I second the caramel apples! My favorite is the "apple pie" one. It has caramel as a base, with white chocolate over that, and then it is rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Don't even try to eat them off of the stick. Ask for them to cut them into pieces.

 

[mousescrapper]

we've been to the Wilderness Resort 6+ times just about once a year (we were just there this past Jan I did a mini trip report in my PTR for Disney)

anyhow I agree with most on the food expense in the resort. Bring from home for breakfast and lunch I could not stress that enough! they have a fridge and microwave in every room, plus in some an extra sink and counter space. We do breakfast in our room, usually cereal, fruit and muffins or peanut butter bread. Lunch even though they say don't bring food, etc into the waterpark areas we always do. Just not overdoing it. I usually go back to the room, make some sandwiches and bring them back to our table. The fast food areas in the wp areas are very VERY $$$$$! Only do in an emergency.

As far as eating dinner, we've ordered pizza to the room, have done the buffet meal where younger kids eat free w/ adult purchases a few times. We've also eaten at the Survivors Bar and Grill above the waterdome...fast service and pretty good food, can't remember for sure the cost but a little above average I believe. My favorite place to dine in resort is the Thirsty Buffalo Saloon (you can order to go too) by the Wild West Area. I think there prices are basically reasonable and if you go at the right times it's not crowded. We've shared plenty of kid meals too.

Outside, the New Monk's bar/grill right by the Resort was real nice. I had a pulled pork sandwich w/ those crunchy onion straws on top. Delicious! And we've been to the downtown joint too. The kid meals are served on Monk frizbees. We've eaten at Moosejaw several times too, but usually a big group so we've always sat downstairs. But we like it there, but crowded!!!

Hope that helps. feel free to pm w/ any specific questions about other things too.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[amarberry]

We go the Dells at least once a summer and last year we stayed at Wilderness. We didn't eat at any of the onsite restaurants with the exception of the new Monk's which is sort of in the Wilderness parking lot (it's a stand alone restaurant). I thought that it was good, for the Dells.

Paul Bunyons is a Dells institution, but it's about as far away from Wilderness as you can get in the Dells. Your best bet is to get back on the expressway and get off at exit 87.

We usually eat at Pedro's one night and Moosejaw another night. However, I think that we will be skipping Moosejaw in the future. I'm in the school of thought that all pizza is good pizza, but in the last couple of years I've decided that Moosejaw is BAD pizza. It used to be much better, but they've changed something about in the last couple of years. Try Pizza Pub or Pizza Ranch instead.

Our FAVORITE Dells restaurant is The Cheese Factory Restaurant right next to Wilderness. It's a vegetarian restaurant, but it's a really, really good vegetarian restaurant. Lots of "faux meat".

Have fun!

 

[disneyohana]

Did you try trip advisor for reviews? I love that site.
I have been to the Wilderness and love it there but I never ate at their restaurants. We liked Kahunaville at the Kalahari a lot. They do a little dance w/the kids on stage and the food is good. The Country Keg in the downtown area has good burgers and breakfast, the Mexicali Rose is a good Mexican restaurant, and I liked Paul Bunyans, too. Have a great time!

 

[becca011906]

thanks all for the reviews of the place. since we are stying in the wyndham side of it we will have a full size kitchen with everything you need in a kitchen so we will do many meals there lunches, breakfast ect. some dinners i'm sure will be in as well.

I was kinda looking for ideas on if some of the sides/ water areas have height restrictions ??? Do they have life jackets requirements or avaliable to kids??? Any tips like that??

 

[tkoran]

There are no lifejacket requirements that I can remember and my youngest was only 4 when we went. Probably since everyone needs a floatie for everything but the body slides anyway. There are a few slides that anyone under 48" cannot go on. Those would be the really big ones and the body slides. I'm pretty sure the Wilderness website lists the height requirements somewhere.

 

[Mindy Marie]

We always venture into town for food. So many great options.
Have fun!

 

[Cory's Gal]

We went last April to Wilderness and we stayed in the Glacier Canyon Condos, so we had a full kitchen too. We brought sandwich stuff, cereal & doughnuts. We ordered pizza one night and went out of the resort for dinner since at the resort it was so expensive. We had a great time, the rooms were wonderful and if you get chilly days it's nice that all the accomodations are connected by skyway. My son was only 2, he didn't use a life jacket but there was plenty there at all the indoor parks for him to do without one. We had a good time!!

 

[SiClone]

I've been at the Wilderness twice and think it's one of the best waterpark/resort in the Dells to go to when it's cold. No other places have more indoor water parks.

Anyway, we love going to Ginza. It's a Japanese restaurant with the hibachi/teppenado grill (I believe that's what they call it when the cook flips his spatula and plays drums with the salt and pepper shakers ). The show gets a little old with the onion volcano and such, but the food was excellent! It can get spendy but we offset that by winning a little money at ole Ho Chunk casino.....

 

[budbeerlady]

Paul Bunyon's is great for breakfast. It is themed like a lumberjack camp. Everyone sits at wood tables, and food is served family style on tin dishes. The buttermilk donuts are to die for! I usually don't care for breakfast foods, but I LOVE eating there.

Good to know, we usually go to Cracker Barrel but it would be fun to try something new. We go there when we are leaving Ho Chuck, its a great adult vacation destination also....