OT-What to bring to GWL?

[candielips]

We are going to GWL with our DD3 for New Years Eve and I am wondering what to bring other than our bathing suits
I keep hearing that everything there costs money and that it helps if you bring some of your own stuff, but I don't know what as we have never been.
I know our DD will be all over the arts & crafts club but does it all cost extra? Can I bring her own plain t-shirt or pillowcase to decorate or does she have to buy one from them?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[sk8jdgca]

we all brought cover ups so you can change in your room. We brought snacks, drinks and a few microwave noodle dinners. This may be the place that you can't microwave popcorn- not sure cause I ALWAYS bring popcorn and somewhere I couldn't pop it. I don't think you can bring your own shirt but there are a few free crafts to do and some that were very cheap

 

[sjsjbrook]

The kids club, has a free craft that the kids can do, there is also paint, markers and paper that kids can create art all they want. There are crafts that you have to pay for like piggy banks, tshirts, foam items, but you don't have to make any of them.

You can bring a cooler in your room and their is a microwave in your room, you can not take food into the water park. You can not pop popcorn in these microwave if you do there is a hefty charge to your account. There is free coffee in the room as well.

There are towels in the water park for you use, however they will not usually let you take them out of the water park area.

Lockers are free and you use your wrist band to lock and unlock them. There are lifejackets for kids to use free of charge as well.

You will have fun. Meals at the buffet are pricey, but the food is good. There are places cheaper to eat in Niagara falls.

There is free wifi in the resort, but it is really really slow at night.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I know they say people can't bring food into the waterpark but I have seen many people bring in stuff. Nonetheless we usually just ate in our room. As mentioned there is a fridge (small bar size) and a microwave. (Yes, this is the place that says NOT to microwave popcorn). I bring breakfast, lunch and snack stuff with us. Like cereal, milk, yogurt, cheese, fresh fruits and veggies and some crackers. I've even brought my toaster with me there before. We usually eat out for dinner and the rest in the room.

It will be chilly getting to and from the pool so bring some warm clothes to travel back and forth. I brought fleece sweatshirts for my kids as they kept them warm and dried quickly. A lot of rooms have fireplaces and I found the fleece would be good to go in under an hour. I also bring my crocs and the kids and I wear them even on the waterslides.

I like to bring more than one bathing suit. I find we waterpark when we get to the park (noon-4pm) then we eat dinner and check in (4pm-6:30) then we go back to the waterpark that evening (6:30-9pm). We hit the waterpark as soon as it opens the next morning (9am-11) then we check out (I try to ask for late check out so maybe noon) and eat lunch and finally return for one last swim (noon-two) before hitting the road. So having two bathing suits works out well.

Just a word about their check-in process. You can check in at 1pm but actually they don't tell you but they will let you in earlier. We've been there at 11:30 and been let in the waterpark. But they don't let you check-into your actual room until 3pm (or is it 4pm?). So make sure you have packed your bathing suits and coverups in a separate bag that is easily accessed. Plus be prepared for a LONG line up at 3pm (or is it 4pm) for the actual room check-in. Bundle yourself up if you are the one waiting in the lobby. A wet bathing suit and one towel is not enough. You can try to check in 30 minutes earlier to skip the line or once I waited until after 5pm (I mean they knew I was there I had seen them earlier so I knew I had a room) and they upgraded me because they had no other rooms left. Needless to say I was NOT upset.

We've never been big into the crafts while we are there. Compared with playing in the waterpark the kids have never really wanted to do them. Especially if you are there for just one night. Maybe if we stayed longer?

However my daughter has has her eye on the kid's spa. She would like to do that someday. I always talk her out of it saying that the waterpark would ruin her freshly done nails.

Hopefully some of this helps and I wish you and your family a wonderful getaway! Happy new year!

Sometimes they have a coupon for the buffet meal on your email reservation. Be sure to look for it.

 

[Camilo]

Does anyone know if their small fridges will hold a 2L bottle of Coke (or more)? Or would I be safer with cans instead?

I'm checking in on January 1st for 2 nights.

Thanks, Camilo

 

[Tinkermom76]

I always bring cans ad juice boxes to make sure it fits. I also grab the 1L cartons of milk

We usually eat lunch in the water park and have breakfast in the room. Dinner is either in the room or somewhere else in the falls. I have family there so we know lots of places to eat

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Does anyone know if their small fridges will hold a 2L bottle of Coke (or more)? Or would I be safer with cans instead?

I'm checking in on January 1st for 2 nights.

Thanks, Camilo

I believe it will but I wouldn't bring too many of them. You might have to lie them down on their side.

 

[mtmbyck]

The fridge held my wine so will hold your coke. We have been 6 times. I have taken a rolling cooler with snacks every time into the watermark and never been stopped. You also need water in the watermark. Don't know why, but many have discussed this weird dry cough you get in the water park and you really do. So bring juices or waters.

It is cold in the halls so a housecoat or sweatshirt is needed to go back to the room in the winter. we usually try to upgrade to a room with a fireplace in the winter.

Cub club is the craft room. You may not leave your kids there unsupervised. Any of the cool crafts cost money but many are 3-5 dollars. Be sure to have the kids join the cub club while there! They get a cute bracelet for free and you'll be on a mailing list to receive coupons and offers. There also used to be a coupon online under cub club. You cannot bring you own stuff to colour or paint. But the pillow cases, bags, t-shirt and even build- a-bear t-shirt are our favorite crafts.

Pending on kids age they'll love the arcade also. Don't miss the story time at bedtime at the main lobby. There's a pizza hut which is good but meals at their restaurants are awful. I love GWL and wish I could say otherwise but we spent the $100 a meal and were very disappointed. The buffet breakfast is your best bet.

We tried the theme rooms but kids hate the bunk beds. Bedding is a weird sleeping bag sheet set and matresses are very thin. The standard room is huge and much better than the theme rooms.

Water park is great but lines will get long midday and those stairs can get tiring. Watch when you enter the water park for the first time. DO NOT walk along path to the left as you enter unless you want a bucket of water dropped on your head. Take the path far left through the lounge chairs to miss the water fort.

You'll love GWL.

 

[stitchfan23]

Water park is great but lines will get long midday and those stairs can get tiring. Watch when you enter the water park for the first time. DO NOT walk along path to the left as you enter unless you want a bucket of water dropped on your head. Take the path far left through the lounge chairs to miss the water fort.

This is the best piece of advise you could be given. The first time we went we didn't know this and didn't my hubby walk right under the bucket (fully clothed I might add) and some kids dumped it on him. He didn't know what to do and just stood there in shock. The rest of us just looked at him and burst out laughing. We had to sit down we were laughing so hard. I think his brother just about wet himself he was laughing so hard. Everyone around was laughing (so was hubby after a couple of seconds). Great entertainment for my neice and nephew. The poor kids that dumped it on him took off running as I think they thought they were going to get into trouble.

 

[mtmbyck]

Great that you laughed but I've seen them dump it on toddlers and seniors and people with non-waterproof electronics!

 

[candielips]

Thank you for all of your great advice! We had an amazing New Years Eve and plan to return to GWL as soon as we can. It's funny that a dry cough was mentioned because New Years Day my daughter woke up on New Years Day hacking away.

We had a blast and my DH loved trying to dump buckets on unsuspecting people below. But he would never had gotten seniors, toddlers, people with food etc... Mostly older kids.

I found the food to be lacking but the atmosphere made up for it all. My DD even managed to stay up past midnight and she is only 3!

 

[mtmbyck]

Make sure to plan a return visit in the summer. The crowds are less since you have the outdoor activities also- great outdoor pool, sun deck, outdoor bar/grill, and in the afternoon Jay (he must have been there) does poolside music and games. We were there for new years 2 years ago. Busy but fun.

 

[candielips]

Make sure to plan a return visit in the summer. The crowds are less since you have the outdoor activities also- great outdoor pool, sun deck, outdoor bar/grill, and in the afternoon Jay (he must have been there) does poolside music and games. We were there for new years 2 years ago. Busy but fun.

Thanks!

We are definitely interested in going back in some nicer weather. Although this summer will be super visit for our family with a trip to Sesame Place and then WDW at the end of the summer!