Wisconsin Dells?

[yasmina]

Any suggestions where to stay? Which is the best water park? Indoor or Out door (we're going this summer)?

TIA!

 

[OhMari]

1. Kolahari (Sp?)
2. Black Wolf Lodge
3. Wilderness Resort
Sign up on their websites and they will send you specials. It is shocking seeing some of the prices in the summer, it is more than WDW Deluxe resorts. Google Wisconsin Dells and you will find some bargains too. If you go, go in June before all the crowds go in July/August.

Kolahari is the most expensive, but it has the best water park.

There is a water park Noah's Ark, which is around $30 a day and has made the 10 ten Water Parks in the U.S. on the Travel Channel.

Otherwise Big Chief and Family Land are a combined water park-go carting, rollercoaster Theme Park. They have a hotel Treasure Island. I know a lot of people like to stay there, but it can get a little over run and unkept.

My son has a friend that does personal tours and will take you canoeing, kayaking, biking or rock climbing-I don't know the name of his place, but his name is Easton Dreher-it is a great way to see the Dells. Don't miss the Dells by the Wisconsin River. The Ducks are amphabian vehicles from WWII

 

[KLAIT]

We go every summer..usually twice.

There is such a range of hotels and motels in the Dells that it depends what you are looking for. We really like the Wilderness Resort as there is lots to do for eveyone of all ages. There are also food options at this resort.

If you could give us a bit more info, it would make it easier to recommend a place. The best Waterpark by far is Noahs Ark, bit it does not have a hotel. They teamed up with the Flamingo to offer 2 free Noahs Ark tickets with each night stayed...however, if you choose this hotel, definately get a double queen room as the double double rooms are the pits......i mean really bad. The doulbe queen rooms are in a hotel next door that the Flamingo purchased and they are updated and much much better..however, it is a hotel.

 

[McKelly]

We go to the Wilderness Resort every summer. Lots of things to do, three indoor waterpark areas, three outdoor waterpark areas (there might be more by the condos), on-site restaurants, big arcade, indoor soft play area, a painting place, lazer tag, and in the summer you can get picked up right at the resort to take a Ducks tour. We never even leave the hotel area.

 

[SpecialK]

We've stayed at Kalahari, Great Wolf and Wilderness. Didn't like Great Wolf at all. Kalahari is nice but they do allow day guests at the pools. Lots of people sitting at tables with coolers until the bitter end, and lots of unsupervised teens and tweens. Something to consider.

Wilderness is nice. Great pools, clean and the pools are resort guests only. We're going back there ourselves this summer.

 

[wtpntigger2]

I really like the Wilderness Resort because in order to go to the waterparks you have to be a hotel guest. Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari, two of the other major resorts, allow non-guests to purchase day passes and I felt it made it feel more crowded. Treasure Island no longer exists as Mt. Olympus has purchased it. The indoor waterpark is kind of small, but they have a huge outdoor theme park of wooden roller coasters and go karting that is included in your stay there.

Since you'll be going in the summer, you could just stay at a smaller hotel/motel for the cheaper rate and go to Noah's Ark the outdoor waterpark or pay to go to one of the resorts.

There, of course, is so much more to do there than just the waterparks. My mom lives about 20 min away, so my dd5 and I will be spending a lot of time up there this summer.

 

[themilesfamily]

We go every summer and like more of a camping feel. We stay at Jellystone Campground -- our kids call it Yogi Bear Campground. They have cabins, (with bathrooms, full kitchen, heat & air), that sleep up to 8. They also have trailers with the same amenities that sleep up to 6.

There is a small waterpark/pool for the kids. They also have a ton of activities -- hayrides, movies, parades, karaoke, crafts, a game room. And each week has a different theme -- we've gone during Spongebob Squarepants week, Scooby-Doo Week, Christmas week (Santa is there.)

For waterparks we do Noah's Ark -- an outdoor park.

Some other fun things to see/do: 1) Circus World Museum in Baraboo. 2) The Ducks 3) A boat tour of the Upper Dells or Lower Dells. 4) Deer Park

 

[Laurabearz]

We were just there over spring break and stayed at Great Wolf. Thought it was nice enough.

I have more to say, but it's really late and will add more tomorrow.

 

[Jaimee]

We like the Kalahari the best. We tried Wilderness 2 years ago and had a horrible experience, it was due to a weird thing happening while we were there that was out of the hotel's control, but I didn't like they way they handled it. I really didn't like the layout of the Wilderness either.

Kalahari has always been great though.

 

[Laurabearz]

Ok Back...

There are two types of hotels in Wisconsin Dells. The big mega indoor water park hotels and the small, one story motels. I didnt really notice anything in between lol Most of the Motels offer some sort of theme pool, but none of them are particularly outstanding in comparison to the mega indoor water park hotels, but they do offer old time Wisconsin Dells charm, and most are family owned and oppperated.

Trip advisor has lots of reviews on all of them, so that's a really good place to start.

I can tell you this... Mt Olympus's outdoor amusement park is huge. Noah's Ark is Huge. Pirate cove Golf is HUGE.

For a summer trip, I think a smaller hotel right in the middle of the action would be better than one of the father out mega hotels.

We, on the other hand are giong the Camping route at Mirror Lake State Park.

 

[sassyat30]

The Ducks are a must for the kids and the Upper and Lower Dells boat tours are really fun, too!

Though if you do go on the Ducks, you can skip the Lower Dells boat tour, because that is where the Ducks to.

 

[Camicar]

Best indoor waterpark: Kalahari.
Runners up: Chula Vista, Big Wolf, Mt. Olympus

Mt. Olympus is both indoor and outdoor and has go carts and rollercoasters. It has a hotel attached to it (as does CV and BW and K). Our family prefers Mt. Olympus bec when we are waterlogged, we can go ride stuff.

Noah's Ark is the big waterpark. It has no 'official' hotel, but there are tons right there.

Riverview is a smaller waterpark/amusement park.

The Ducks and the Upper Dells tours are the best ones. The Ducks are fun because of the amphibious craft and the Upper Dells are fun because you get to walk along a pretty cool passageway and watch the dog leap from one rock formation tower to another. Lower Dells is basically a boat ride and is pretty boring, IMO.

 

[Cup Cake]

I think it all depends how old your kids (I'm assuming you have kids, correct me if I'm wrong) are. Mine are young and our favorite hotel is Wilderness Resort. We've also stayed at Kalahari, but it wasn't perfect for the smaller ones. We also love Noah's Ark.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

We have always enjoyed the Wilderness Resort...esp the Glacier Canyon Lodge there as of late....you can get a 2 bdr condo there for a decent price! WE love it there!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

never mind,. looks like OP has been to the Dells and back by now! LOL

 

[X and G's mom]

Indoor, Kalahari. I haven't been there since they have added the indoor 'amusement' rides though. We went there in the winter and there wasn't very many people there that day, so it was a walk on.

Outdoor, hands down, Noah's Ark! Even though I used to work there, I love to go there and my kids have a countdown to Noah's Ark day every summer! The best time to go there is the last week of August! Not many lines, and usually the weather is good.