My son likes Great Wolf because of the game or whatever you call it when they swing the wand to do things. You have to run to every level-so annoying.
He likes the waterpark too but it's the great wolf part that he likes.

Anonymous wrote:DEFINITELY GWL. Massanutten is gross.

I feel the opposite.GWL felt very unsanitary to me.

I just booked a week at Massanutten this morning! If going in the winter you definitely want to stay on the mountain. The Summit is the nicest option available, but not a nice as the Regal Vistas in the valley which is a 5-6 minute drive down from the top (and as other have mentioned, where the water park and arcade is). On the mountain you've got skiing, tubing, ice skating, a small game room/arcade and a large indoor pool that's included with your stay. There's also other activities (ropes course, go-karts, etc.) that will operate if weather permits.

There's a few restaurants on the mountain - Campfire Grill and the outside part of the ski lodge are the best options - and a general store where you can pick up basic food, beer and other necessities. We always get a unit with a kitchen and cook some of our own meals there in addition to soups, chilis and the like that I make ahead at home and bring. There are also a few huge grocery stores in town right where you get off the highway so we always stock up there on our way in.

If staying a week we typically only come down the mountain a few times so driving isn't typically an issue for us.

My kids prefer Massanutten. We usually stay in Woodstone Meadows.

During the day, we'll do other activities. We usually don't go during ski season but we'll do the tubing, the ropes park, go carts, etc.

My kids think one of the best things about vacation is sleeping in so we don't usually get started until 11 and that's brunch.

Around 5, we have dinner and then head over to the waterpark. They usually play until it closes. The waterpark is usually not that crowded in the evenings and they just enjoy playing with each other and whomever else they find. They are now 11 and 8 and we've been going 2x/yr since the oldest was 5.

For an overnight or two, where the focus is solely on the waterpark, GWL is the way to go. If you are planning on more days than that, go to Massanutten. The waterpark will just be one activity on your little mini-vacation, not the sole focus.

Oh and Harrisonburg has great restaurants if you go off of the property at Massanutten.

Been to both. I found GWL to be claustrophobic, loud and SO crowded. It does have Magic Quest though.

I loved Massanutten because you could get away from the crowds. We stayed in a nice condo that had been updated. The water park was the same as GWL. But there are many other things to do outside that our family loves.

I would never, ever spend $1300 for 2 nights at GWL. Plus two nights there would put me over the edge. One night was plenty.

+1 Massanutten more things to do. Driving around is not an issue for us. Food choices may be meh, but we usually get a condo with a kitchen. You can buy a bunch ready made meals on the way there and stock your fridge. I hate sharing hotel rooms with my kids. No one sleeps.

DEFINITELY GWL. Massanutten is gross.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Can the PP’s who like Massanutten recommend specific places to stay? I’d love a 2br if possible.

I stayed at the Summit townhouses there. They are condos on site that they rent.

NP here. Can the PP’s who like Massanutten recommend specific places to stay? I’d love a 2br if possible.

I haven't been to GWL so maybe I shouldn't respond, but nevertheless I am going to respond
I think Massanutten is better if you want to do other things in addition to the water park such as skiing. If you're only going to the waterpark, I would do GWL.

I have been to Massanutten and Camelback (for both skiing and water park), and we are going to Camelback again because I preferred the water park being IN the hotel. Of course the location of Massanutten is better for us, and we did like it. I would go back again. I do want to go to GWL.

I prefer Massanutten to GWL. I like the slides better at Massanutten and the other activity options, we did snow tubing and loved it. I felt the hotel at GWL was run down and dirty.

Just be aware that the water park at Massanutten is not technically part of the resort, so you pay extra to get in.

Massanutten is very spread out, so the ease of getting from activity to activity depends on where on the resort property you're staying. Most of the winter activities are "up the mountain, " so it would be easiest to stay in the hotel, Eagle Trace, or Summit. Down in the valley-ish area are Woodstone and Regal Vistas, which are considered to be the nicer units even though some people don't like them at all.

Personally, I love Massanutten, but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Would love your constructive feedback! No "it's a gross waterpark/don't go there haters" needed.

We've been to GWL, and the kids loved it. I liked that it was a contained space. It's just SO pricey - hard to swallow $1300 for two nights.

I am interested in Massanutten because of the tubing and ice skating we could do there as well, and it's so much cheaper. But I understand there's a lot of driving around the resort that you have to do, and food isn't as easy.

Kids are 6 & 10.