Great Wolf Lodge or Hershey Park w/ Toddler

[Anonymous]

Looking at a nearby places to NOVA. My DS is 2yos. Do you recommend GWL for toddlers? The website shows several toddler-friendly things to do. How about Hershey Park? Planning to go to either during "off-season".

TIA

[Anonymous]

If I had to do it again, I wouldn't take my toddler to GWL. We went there when our son was 2.5 and he could only play in the wading pool and go in the lazy river. He really wanted to go down the water slides, but they only let singles ride (he couldn't ride in between my legs) and there was no way I was sending him down by himself. And he was too small for the family rides. Now that he's 4, we'd love to go back.

[Anonymous]

when do you plan on going? I don't think Hershey Park will be open until April for their Springtime in the Park.

Took my 2.5 yo to GWL last year and she had a blast.

Kids will have fun at both places - what are you more interested in? Amusement park rides or swimming?

[Anonymous]

Try Dutch wonderland (near Hershey- in Lancaster, PA).. a toddler park basically- too many older kids at Hershey. I don't think either is open during the winter though..

[Anonymous]

We took our 2 yo to GWL in the Fall and he had a great time! Try going during the week when it's not as crowded.

[Anonymous]

Looking at a nearby places to NOVA. My DS is 2yos. Do you recommend GWL for toddlers? The website shows several toddler-friendly things to do. How about Hershey Park? Planning to go to either during "off-season".

TIA

We took our 2yo DS to Hershey and he loved it. He loves waterparks too, but just for budget reasons we'd probably pick Hershey - GWL is pretty expensive even off-season (eg. $700 and up/weekend just for accomodations and waterpark passes) so that would rule it out for us.

By the way, if you like the waterpark concept but not the GWL price tag, maybe you could also consider the Massanutten resort. They have a really cool indoor waterpark, and in addition to the resort lodge, there are lots of privately-owned rentals within the resort. Unlike GWL, you can use the waterpark even if you aren't staying in the official resort lodge. It is about 2 hours from NOVA.

[Anonymous]

OP: we are looking at mid May and during the week. I'm also told the food is terrible so we should eat somewhere nearby like the BBQ place. Thanks for the inputs.

[Anonymous]

Seconding Dutch Wonderland (if it's open). We took our daughter there when she was 2 1/2 and it was great - totally caters to the younger age group.

[Anonymous]

Hershey without a doubt. We went to GWL when DD was 2. She loves water but the there was only one pool area for her size. It wasn't much different for her than when we go to the indoor pool at the rec center here. It is very crowded with tons of unsupervised bigger kids running everywhere.

One good thing about Hershey is that since they have bigger rides and a good number of toddler rides, the lines seem to be shorter for the toddler ones. I guess a higher portion of the crowd has older kids while Dutchwonderland and Sesame Place are more toddler centric so those lines are pretty long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try Dutch wonderland (near Hershey- in Lancaster, PA).. a toddler park basically- too many older kids at Hershey. I don't think either is open during the winter though..

I second the recommendation.

Strausburg RR is in the neighborhood and my preschoolers loved that too - but 4-5 years

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Dutch Wonderland. Took DD just prior to her 2nd bday and she loved it.