Great wolf lodge for one night

[Anonymous]

We booked great wolf lodge for one night family of 3 elementary boys per one kids birthday request.
1.Do most people do the water park both on check in day and the next day?
2. Is it helpful to bring towels or pillows or any other extras?
3. Should we bring snacks/staples?
Worth it to leave for dinner or just eat on site?

Any other tips?

[Anonymous]

1 I think lots of people try to get their money’s worth and do both days in the water park. But it’s up to how long your kids can handle it. My boys could have played forever. My teen girl was fine and done after a few hours.
2 towels for water park? No. I’d worry they would walk away. Not necessary. Pillows? No. Just get housekeeping or the front the desk to bring whatever you need. That said, my kids like to bring a pillow in the car on drives so would have their pillows in hotel rooms.
3. Yes. Buying their snacks and drinks is expensive. I’d bring snacks and drinks for sure, but I hate buying $3 waters. Their pizza is fine for dinner. The restaurant in the parking lot isn’t too expensive and is good, if you want to go out and eat a little better. Their buffet is fine, if that’s your jam and the price is ok for you.

[Anonymous]

We only did one day at the water park. I think it’s kid dependent. What you’ll struggle to avoid is all the other up charges, between the magic wand game, the ropes course, and the arcade. You have to cut through all that to get to the water park.

You don’t need to bring towels, they hand them out at the water park. There’s also extra pillows in the closet.

Yes bring snacks. They have a little quick mart, but it’s a ripoff. We ate all of our meals onsite, because it was convenient, especially for a short trip. There’s a sit down restaurant and then a handful of quick service places. Food was fine.

[Anonymous]

We ate off site - Johnny’s Sushi House for dinner and a different Dunkin for breakfast. My kid enjoyed short stints both days.

[Anonymous]

My kids are 4-8, and we did two half days at the water park. That was plenty for us, although 8yo would have stayed longer if he could. Ate off site for dinner at Pierce’s, but be prepared it can get busy, especially on a weekend when people are traveling. Packed our own breakfast stuff (the rooms have mini fridges), then did a few more hours of water park before leaving. We stayed past check out and changed in the locker rooms.

No need to bring pool towels, but they don’t like you to walk out of the park wearing a provided towel. Have cover ups or be sure to dry off for your walk back, since the hallway is not that warm!

[Anonymous]

I believe you can use the water park from when it opens (9 am?)on the day you check in until it closes on the day you check out. However, your room won’t be available until maybe 4 (it was available at 2 one time we went), and checkout is usually at 11 am.

Last time we got there after lunch, checked in at reception and got arm bands, spent a few hours at the water park with our bags in the car and rented a locker in the water park, then were able to go to our room. After/before dinner we did the magi wand which kids love. You have to find things on multiple floors/hallways so it is a full workout if you take the stairs. The next day, we combined the water park with bowling and the magi wand. Spent about 4 hours in the water park the next day.

Bring water and snacks. Food is very expensive onsite. Pizza was okay, and there are tables in the water park. They give you towels. Bring coverups, flip flops/sandals to go from water park to room.

[Anonymous]

Pierce’s pit cooked barbeque is quite nearby. It is locally famous in SE Virginia for its barbeque. Tastes good. Not a fancy venue. Recommended.

[Anonymous]

Are you going to williamsburg or perryville ?

[Anonymous]

We got there at open on check in day and did water Park straight through until dinner just about. We brought lots of snacks and breakfast food but did lunch and there. The prices are what you would expect for a place like that, but not outrageous and it made it convenient and easier. Did magiquest and other activities (story time, dance party, etc) the rest of the evening. On check out day it worked really well to do just an hour of targeted water park time (the big slides have no lines the first hour or so). Then took showers before checking out. You can do late check out and maybe as they get older that might be worth it. But really their stamina was gone after that targeted hour anyways. Then again did magiquest and other activities until kids are ready for lunch. At which point we left.
That schedule worked really well for us. Felt like we were maximizing our time, everyone was comfortable and clean for the ride home. Not trying to deal with locker room showers.

Had a ton of fun for our 8 year olds birthday trip and her 4 year old brother.

[Anonymous]

Everyone else has answered what I would say, but The smartest person I saw when we went in the spring was the lady that ordered pizza delivery. This was in the Maryland location.

[Anonymous]

We did water park both days. I recommend doing the magiquest both days as well. We ate offsite except for the DD in the lobby. There’s an ihop nearby and plenty of restaurants in Williamsburg.

[Anonymous]

We haven’t been in 6 years but the food was terible on site. We also got bed bugs from the hotel. Spent $1ks to heat treat half our house to get rid of them. Never again

[Anonymous]

Yes , bed bugs are a problem at GW. I spent alot to get rid of them too. Will be very careful next time we stay!

[Anonymous]

We planned to go for 2 days but left after half day. The water was FREEZING. Every single person was standing in the "hot tub" area trying to stay warm. Lazy river was called Ice river.

[Anonymous]

What a trashy place