Wisconsin Dells

[lonegirl]

we will visit the dells for the first time this June. Any budget tips for lodging/restaurants/things to do? THanks!

 

[daughtersrus]

we will visit the dells for the first time this June. Any budget tips for lodging/restaurants/things to do? THanks!

There are two radio shows in the Chicago suburbs that sell discounted certificates to many attractions, lodging and restaurants. You can order online or during a radio show. They will mail them to you. As it gets closer to summer, their inventory selection will increase. If you'd like the links I can send them in a PM

We have a lake house near the Dells so we go there often but we've never stayed at a hotel.

Last year the Tommy Bartlett water show put a coupon on each car for 4 free water park tickets. I'm not sure if they will do that again this year.

 

[McKelly]

Budget tips, not really. We always end up spending a lot of money there. In the summer, we stay at a waterpark hotel and then we don't feel the need to visit Noah's Ark, etc., so that saves some money. We also bring breakfast food and lunch meat to cut down on all the restaurants. We always go to Paul Bunyan's for breakfast and Famous Dave's for dinner though.

Some of the smaller motels offer waterpark tickets. I would check tripadvisor and start at the top to check those out. We have stayed in OK motels and a couple not so OK. For attractions, the Dells Boat Tours, Duck Tours and Wisconsin Deer Park are the attractions that pop out at me as the most exclusive to the Dells area.

 

[taraaplin]

There are also cheaper motel style hotels (not resorts) that offer free mt olympus tickets. Although, when we go we like Great Wolf. They have kid activities that are free (coloring and crafts with a story). The wolf also makes appearances. I also like chula and the wilderness. None are budget; however, you could stay there whole time and not go anywhere else!

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I haven't been, but my bff has been about ten times, and won't stay anywhere else but Wilderness Resort since she discovered it a few years ago. There's 4 indoor and 4 outdoor parks, and they don't sell tickets for people not staying there. There's a ropes course, laser tag stuff, restaurants, etc. There's an internal bus systems as well.
For "budget", the Glacier Canyon condos and townhomes at Wilderness Resort are a Wyndham timeshare. Perhaps check with some of the wyndham timeshare rental people mentioned in Orlando Attractions forum to get a quote. (Ken Price at vacationupgrades.com or vacationstrategy.com )

 

[Hawkeyegirls]

We love the dells, go every May. Groupon has deals for Great wolf and Chula Vista a lot, not sure about during the summer months though. That is their busy season.

 

[newestkg06]

We are big fans of Wilderness and stay at Glacier Canyon. It is AWESOME to have a full kitchen there. We mostly eat in the room (to save money and to eat healthier), but we also order pizza or get stuff for dinner. The food there is crazy overpriced (like makes Disney look reasonable). Great Wolf is also nice and we've stayed at the Kalahari. I agree, try to avoid a place that sells tickets to outside people (Kalahari and Mt. Olympus) because the waterparks will be much much busier and have long lines. There is lots to do both at Wilderness and around the Dells. The waterski show is pretty fun to watch. There is a lot of cheesy stuff, so if you like that, downtown Dells is fun. Also, they have a pretty decent outlet mall right behind Great Wolf (with a Disney outlet!). Paul Bunyan's cook's shanty (?) I think it's called was really delicious for breakfast or dinner. If you want a fancy and expensive steak place CUT at the Kalahari was really great.

 

[D&DDisney]

Go the early half of June. Prices at hotels are a bit cheaper. Once you get into last week of June through late Aug. will be top rates at hotels.
Get a hotel that will give you free waterpark passes with your stay. The Grand Marquis is offering free Noah's Ark tix for each person in your party, for each night you stay. Other hotels like Holiday Inn Express and Atlantis will give you free breakfast each morning.
Have a microwave and fridge in your room and buy groceries from Wal-Mart for meals.
Pizza from Pizza Pub is very good. Coupons for most restaurants can be found in the hotel lobby. (ex. 10% of your order at Pizza Pub) buy extra pizzas and make the leftovers for lunch/dinner the next day.

Sign up with Kalahari. they will run email specials for early June. there is plenty to do onsite and for the past 2 years they have offered free Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Show and the Timbavati Animal park tix with your stay.

wisdells.com is a great site to help plan.

 

[daughtersrus]

I got an emaiil from Groupon with some WI Dells offers yesterday.

 

[MarthaJr.]

Check out wisdells.com for deals. I have seen condo units at Glacier Bay at The Wilderness on ebay and milwaukeecraigslist.com

I agree with an earlier poster who recommended going in the first half of June to save some money at hotels. There is so much to do there. Must do: duck boats or boat tour of The Dells, Tommy Bartlet waterski show, shopping in downtown Dells--get the fudge! There are 2 beautiful state parks nearby-Devil's lake and Mirror lake, mini golf, go karts, outlet mall. Have fun exploring Wisconsin!

 

[AnneK]

I live in Madison, WI and am getting married on April 25th at the Wilderness Lodge. So excited! If you want to save money, go during the off peak season when there are better deals. We are making an entire weekend out of our wedding, we rented a couple of cabins for everyone at the Wild Rock Golf Course (we are getting married at the clubhouse). The cabins come with gas grills so instead of spending a lot of money on a rehearsal dinner, we are grilling hot dogs and hamburgers instead!

Paul Bunyons for breakfast is good but INCREDIBLY crowded all the time. We usually just grab something from one of the nearby McDonalds and are good to go. Sprechers is a great place to have dinner without paying resort inflated prices, their homemade root beer is delicious as is the food. Tanger Outlet Malls is also close by - they have an outlet Disney Store! I have been stocking up on shirts in preparation for our Disney World honeymoon May 3rd - 9th.

 

[OhMari]

My sons best friend owns Vertical Illusions, which is a company that does zip lining, rock climbing or kayaking. Very reasonable priced. Please google if interested, I cannot post a link. Zip lining is becoming very popular in the Dells, about 3 hotels now have zip lining. If I was staying in the Dells, I live 50 miles away, I was stay at The Wilderness. Don't confuse it with the or Black Wolf Lodge. They also have Kalahari-which is super expensive, but get on their email page, and they email you deals. Staying at the more popular hotels, is as expensive as the Deluxes at Disney, even more in the summer.

 

[OhMari]

I live in Madison, WI and am getting married on April 25th at the Wilderness Lodge. So excited! If you want to save money, go during the off peak season when there are better deals. We are making an entire weekend out of our wedding, we rented a couple of cabins for everyone at the Wild Rock Golf Course (we are getting married at the clubhouse). The cabins come with gas grills so instead of spending a lot of money on a rehearsal dinner, we are grilling hot dogs and hamburgers instead!

Paul Bunyons for breakfast is good but INCREDIBLY crowded all the time. We usually just grab something from one of the nearby McDonalds and are good to go. Sprechers is a great place to have dinner without paying resort inflated prices, their homemade root beer is delicious as is the food. Tanger Outlet Malls is also close by - they have an outlet Disney Store! I have been stocking up on shirts in preparation for our Disney World honeymoon May 3rd - 9th.

Sorry OP- OT-my dd is getting married April 25 too, I begged her to find a venue in the Dells. Her fiancé is from Minnesota and we are 50 miles to the East of the Dells. I thought it would be a perfect area. But they chose a venue up by St. Paul, MN.

 

[newestkg06]

I agree the first week of June or week before Labor Day are great times to go. The outdoor waterparks open Memorial Day weekend and stay open through Labor Day, but at least in MN, the schools don't get out until around June 8th usually. WI and IL schools tend to go back the week before Labor Day, so you can usually get a good deal that week too. We have stayed at the Wilderness both of those weeks (different years) and got decent deals, particularly mid-week. If you are okay with only indoor parks, you can be more flexible. It is SOOOO nice to have your choice of both indoor and outdoor parks though!! I especially love the outdoor waterpark at Glacier Canyon Lodge.