Anonymous
Post 04/17/2024 10:22     Subject: Poconos for one night? Waterpark resorts overrated?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We're doing an extensive road trip and trying to cut down on driving on the day of my daughter's 8th birthday (who wants to be in the car all day for their birthday?). We've thought about making a stop in the Poconos one night in June, arriving around mid-afternoon and leaving after lunch the next day. Have been looking into Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari, but the reviews are all so terrible. Room prices aren't completely awful ($400/night included taxes/fees), but when you add in all the extras (parking? Towels? Overpriced ice cream?) plus many complaints about service and cleanliness it does look like it's maybe not worth it. Or is it? Other ideas around that area? She'd be pretty happy with a great pool and a few activities nearby (mini golf? zip line?), we've never done a water park resort so that's not a comparison for her. There's a few other "resorts" I've seen but they seem to have multi-night minimums, are not for kids or look kind of dumpy. Would love DCUM's expertise here! Thank you!


Kalahari water park is exponentially better than GWL, though for an 8-year-old it might not matter because GWL's water parks are geared toward younger kids. Parking should be free at both. Kalahari arcade also is much bigger, though you may think that's a negative that's just gonna vacuum the money out of your wallet. Everything else at either resort (or Aquatopia) is pretty much a rip-off, so you'll probably be looking off-campus for meals and whatnot. Mini-golf is everywhere. I think Kalahari has a zipline course on campus. Aquatopia has the genuinely fun mountain coaster and you don't need to stay there to ride it, you can just buy a ticket to ride it. I would say the GWL hotel rooms are nicer than Kalahari rooms, if that matters. You can also just find a non-resort hotel and buy a day pass.

As for cleanliness, they're indoor water parks. How clean do you think they can be?


Thank you so much for the insight! No, I'm not looking for pristine cleanliness, was just spooked by a lot of bad reviews.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2024 20:32     Subject: Poconos for one night? Waterpark resorts overrated?
Crayola was a bust for my kids - too boring and eight is too old.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2024 20:21     Subject: Poconos for one night? Waterpark resorts overrated?
I spent a single night at a great wolf lodge with a 7yo and a 10yo and they both had a blast. We didn’t do any of the extra activities and it was fine, although the kids were interested. We did buy overpriced ice cream.

I think an 8 yo might enjoy the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA if you’re looking for an alternative destination in that area.
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2024 17:54     Subject: Poconos for one night? Waterpark resorts overrated?
Anonymous wrote:We're doing an extensive road trip and trying to cut down on driving on the day of my daughter's 8th birthday (who wants to be in the car all day for their birthday?). We've thought about making a stop in the Poconos one night in June, arriving around mid-afternoon and leaving after lunch the next day. Have been looking into Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari, but the reviews are all so terrible. Room prices aren't completely awful ($400/night included taxes/fees), but when you add in all the extras (parking? Towels? Overpriced ice cream?) plus many complaints about service and cleanliness it does look like it's maybe not worth it. Or is it? Other ideas around that area? She'd be pretty happy with a great pool and a few activities nearby (mini golf? zip line?), we've never done a water park resort so that's not a comparison for her. There's a few other "resorts" I've seen but they seem to have multi-night minimums, are not for kids or look kind of dumpy. Would love DCUM's expertise here! Thank you!


Kalahari water park is exponentially better than GWL, though for an 8-year-old it might not matter because GWL's water parks are geared toward younger kids. Parking should be free at both. Kalahari arcade also is much bigger, though you may think that's a negative that's just gonna vacuum the money out of your wallet. Everything else at either resort (or Aquatopia) is pretty much a rip-off, so you'll probably be looking off-campus for meals and whatnot. Mini-golf is everywhere. I think Kalahari has a zipline course on campus. Aquatopia has the genuinely fun mountain coaster and you don't need to stay there to ride it, you can just buy a ticket to ride it. I would say the GWL hotel rooms are nicer than Kalahari rooms, if that matters. You can also just find a non-resort hotel and buy a day pass.

As for cleanliness, they're indoor water parks. How clean do you think they can be?
Anonymous
Post 04/16/2024 15:29     Subject: Poconos for one night? Waterpark resorts overrated?
We're doing an extensive road trip and trying to cut down on driving on the day of my daughter's 8th birthday (who wants to be in the car all day for their birthday?). We've thought about making a stop in the Poconos one night in June, arriving around mid-afternoon and leaving after lunch the next day. Have been looking into Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari, but the reviews are all so terrible. Room prices aren't completely awful ($400/night included taxes/fees), but when you add in all the extras (parking? Towels? Overpriced ice cream?) plus many complaints about service and cleanliness it does look like it's maybe not worth it. Or is it? Other ideas around that area? She'd be pretty happy with a great pool and a few activities nearby (mini golf? zip line?), we've never done a water park resort so that's not a comparison for her. There's a few other "resorts" I've seen but they seem to have multi-night minimums, are not for kids or look kind of dumpy. Would love DCUM's expertise here! Thank you!