Procrastinating on Great Wolf hurts...

[mommymeg]

Hi Everyone!

We decided a while back to take a short trip to Great Wolf Poconos at the end of February. I've been putting off making our ressies because frankly with the holidays, the money was needed other places. Yesterday I checked their site and now the rates have jumped by about 50 bucks! Needless to say, you snooze, you lose....lesson learned...

However, I'm gonna put a request out once again for any inside info on a code. I have heard of WINTER, but that code is only good until February 11. We'll be heading out on the 25th...

If anyone has a code or an idea on how we can make this little mini vacay happen without breaking the bank, I'd appreciate the advice! I think we've already decided that we'll be bringing lots of food with us, and maybe using the restraunt once...

I'm fishing for a code here...any bites?!?!

TIA!

 

[ArielRae]

I don't have a code but I do have a tip. Be sure to pick the room apart and make sure it is clean and furniture is not broken or damaged. If they are let them know when you check in or they may charge you. DH and I tried Great Wolf for the first time last year with the alumi friends and family code that was going around making the room $99 for the night. Well when we arrived the first room they gave us had a horrible smell. So bad that you wouldn't be able to sleep so they gave us an upgrade to the next best room. Now that room was filthy and the couch was broken. It looked like a kid jumped up and down on the couch arm and broke it. Again we walked down and complained and they ended up giving us the best and most expensive room they had on the waterpark level which was the Majestic Bear Suite which would have costed over $600 a night. Sadly this room had it's problems too but after driving for hours to get there and after going thru the other rooms we just kept this one. One of the probelms with this room that really stood out was the animal vertibra on our patio outside. Apparently some animal enjoyed their meal on the patio and left the bones there and it wasn't chicken bones. Ewww. DH and I joked that well we are at a wolf lodge so we should see their left overs around.

 

[Melrosgirl]

That's the one place that I just can't get myself to go to bc of the rates. I'll pay the deluxe rates at WDW without blinking an eye (okay a little blink), but the Poconos Great Wolf Lodge rates are crazy 365 days a year. I just can't do it. If you find a good code though, plmk. LOL

 

[Reagan&Co.]

I don't have a code but I do have a tip. Be sure to pick the room apart and make sure it is clean and furniture is not broken or damaged. If they are let them know when you check in or they may charge you. DH and I tried Great Wolf for the first time last year with the alumi friends and family code that was going around making the room $99 for the night. Well when we arrived the first room they gave us had a horrible smell. So bad that you wouldn't be able to sleep so they gave us an upgrade to the next best room. Now that room was filthy and the couch was broken. It looked like a kid jumped up and down on the couch arm and broke it. Again we walked down and complained and they ended up giving us the best and most expensive room they had on the waterpark level which was the Majestic Bear Suite which would have costed over $600 a night. Sadly this room had it's problems too but after driving for hours to get there and after going thru the other rooms we just kept this one. One of the probelms with this room that really stood out was the animal vertibra on our patio outside. Apparently some animal enjoyed their meal on the patio and left the bones there and it wasn't chicken bones. Ewww. DH and I joked that well we are at a wolf lodge so we should see their left overs around.

We went during Alumni time also, to a different GWL. We complained about the people above us stomping around at all hours, but they said nothing could be done about it.
You might want to call them, and say you saw the cheaper rate. Tell them it went right up before your eyes, before you could book it. They will usually give you the lower rate. Good luck!

 

[victorandbellasmom]

I saw the code PEPSI floating around here somewhere. It takes 10% off. If you have AAA, that'll also give you a 10% discount. Unfotunately, discounts are not stackable so you'd have to use one or the others.

 

[henri + katie's mum]

Remember to look at other sites for GWL reservations besides their own website.

I usually do a search through kayak.com and see what they offer. Unfortunately, I did a quick search for your date and didn't see anything better than GWL rates. (At first they look better, but when you click through the taxes and fees inflate the rate.)

However, check frequently. Yesterday I found a rate through Kayak then through skoosh.com which was $60 less a night with taxes. That was at my GWL in Niagara Falls.

Good luck.

 

[cvjw]

I second the above poster about the noise from kids running up and down the halls on the floor above you. Last summer, we spend a week at the GWL in Williamsburg, and the noise was awful. We had never stayed in a hotel that was so poorly built. We heard every noise from the people in the suite above us, and the constant noise from kids running up and down the halls on the floor above. We had one of the suites with the kids bunk beds, and when my son was up there, he could see the light fixture swaying from all of the running on the upper floor. I would have to get a really great rate and the guarantee of an upper floor room before I would ever stay there again! Just an FYI, we spent several days at the rival Kalahari resort in Sandusky, and never heard a peep of noise!

 

[mommymeg]

OP here...
So I just booked w/ a reservation specialist and used SCOUT for the code. Got a pretty decent price adjustment. When I asked the reservationist what kind of proof we needed to bring that our daughter was in scouts, she had no idea...

Anyone ever use this code? What do you think we should bring? Will her vest or sash be enough? I'll be totally bummed if they won't honor the code at check in. Either way, super excited and definitally going to remember all the tips about checking the rooms.

Thanks Dis Buddies!!!

 

[hlane]

OP here...
So I just booked w/ a reservation specialist and used SCOUT for the code. Got a pretty decent price adjustment. When I asked the reservationist what kind of proof we needed to bring that our daughter was in scouts, she had no idea...

Anyone ever use this code? What do you think we should bring? Will her vest or sash be enough? I'll be totally bummed if they won't honor the code at check in. Either way, super excited and definitally going to remember all the tips about checking the rooms.

Thanks Dis Buddies!!!

I used this code last year for one night & we weren't asked to show any proof at check in. Glad too cause my kids aren't in Scouts

 

[dansyr2514]

Just another option if you're interested. You could also check out Split rock resort in lake harmony. It is probably about 1/2 hour difference in time from Great Wolf Lodge and they also have an indoor water park and such. Not sure about the rates but I believe they are slightly less. Also a really nice resort with a number of room options. I believe the website is splitrockresort.com.

 

[dansyr2514]

Here's an idea of one of the packages they offer.

Ski, Splash & Stay
Jan 1st – March 12th, 2010

packages include:
Deluxe Accommodations • Breakfast Daily • Lift Ticket for Jack Frost or Big Boulder (Ranked one of the Top Five Snowboarding Parks in the Northeast - Transwolrd Snowboarding) • Admission to H20ooohh! Indoor Waterpark • Doc Holiday's Legendary Activity Schedule • Indoor Pools & Fitness Center •

weekdays from
$135.50*
pp, per night, dbl occ

weekendss from
$168.50*
pp, per night, dbl occ

Children 5-14
$69.00*
per child, per night, same room

 

[rstamm]

I don't know how this place is in business yet, I can't believe anyone would be a repeat customer.

We went a few months after it opened and it said to get there after 1:00 for check it, we got there around 2:00 and it had a line as long as soring to check in.

I went to the side and asked how long it would be and they said it takes about 2-3 hours of standing in line to check-in but other members in our party could get a wrist band and start swimming while I waited.

I was in shock, we drove 2hrs to get there and I said there is no way I am waiting for that amount of time just to check in.

They gave me a refund, I also called and complained to the manager and he said he was sorry and sent us a voucher for a free night.

We decided to go back and went at 11:00 and sure enough there was only a small line but by 2:00 the same gigantic line was going on.

We went in December and we thought the water was really cold and didn't enjoy it that much.

I am guessing by now they did something about it, but I would show up as early as possible.

 

[torinsmom]

Hmmm...I have been to the Williamsburg GWL 5 times and never had to wait more than 30 minutes. We usually get there about 1pm. We did have one trip where the room was musty, and the second room was musty. The third one was finally okay. The other times we have been really happy with our stay.

Marsha

 

[mommymeg]

Yikes!

I hope that this is not the case when we go...

I was told by reservations that we could show up at 1pm, check in is at 4pm. I think we'll plan to arrive at 11am... what are they gonna do, lock us out of the building until 1?

I love all the great tips! I found my daughter's brownie vest and I hope that is enough "proof".

I will definitally be inspecting the room. Normally I'm not a person who is picky or demanding, but if I'm paying $300 for one night, I expect, at the very least, for the room to be clean.

Now the reality sets in that I'll need to wear a bathing suit in a few short week...

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Try this code "swim"

 

[hlane]

Also forgot to mention, you may want to check with your HR dept about discounts. I just started a job on Monday & was looking on the intranet site & found a discount code for GWL. I priced it out & it's going to save us about $50 a night but did specify we must show our ID badge at check in.

 

[ICan'tWait]

I should have paid attention to this thread last week. I went to book a night after receiving a "Special" email today and their rates are more expensive now with their "Special" than they were last week.