As a young child I remember watching commercials for fun places to visit. I remember seeing water parks and other cool places and wishing that I could go there! Remember those days? Now that I have children of my own, guess what?
WE GO TO THOSE PLACES!
When I heard that we were getting an indoor family water park resort here in Southern California I was so excited! When my kids were younger they would always ask to go and visit this resort, but it was out of State. When I heard they were building one about an hour from us, I added it to our Family bucket list.
The Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor waterpark. You can find many locations throughout the USA. I love that you can spend a day or two there and feel like you have been on vacation for days! Lots to see and do and the kids are sure to have fun!
We spent one night and two days at the Great Wolf Lodge and I have to say.. it was SO much of fun. If you live in Southern California and want to get a mini family vacation the Great Wolf Lodge is a great choice. .
The Great Wolf Lodge is a fun family resort in Southern California. Its 100% geared towards families – everything you need is right there in the resort- from food, to entertainment to the themed hotel rooms. You can eat, sleep and play and not have to worry about leaving the resort until your stay is over. Kids are allowed to do what they do best, just be kids and it’s okay to be loud, run and have FUN. So be prepared for lots of it!
When you walk into the lobby, you are transported into a Grand lodge…with vaulting ceilings, a gigantic stone fireplace that is used as a gathering place for bedtime story time and dance parties, and the Lodges theme has wilderness murals on the walls and lots of great decor to make you feel like you were at a Rustic Lodge a million miles away.. Lots of fun things to see an do! There is even a giant chair to take a photo in! The lobby is very comfortable and they even have charging stations in case you are in need!
When checking in make sure to ask for your Wolf Ears and if you are celebrating a birthday, they even have a special pair for the birthday kid!
I recommend to check in, drop off your bags and then explore! The rooms are super cute and if you get a themed room, its an extra treat!
Day 1-We checked in and then went to drop out things off at the room. The kids were excited that we upgraded to a themed room and they had their own bunkbeds. After we checked out the cool room, we headed down to the lobby and then down to the arcade. Lots to explore throughout the resort. After we finished our scavenger hunt, we went to the candy store, played some games and made a “special friend” at the creation station. We had dinner at the Pizza place located in the resort. Later in the evening we played games, listened to story time and danced the night away at the PJ party!
The next morning we went to the Loose Moose character breakfast. It was around $19.99 for adults and $12.99 for children. There were pancakes, omelets, bagels, assorted fruits, waffles, pancakes and more. The following morning, we wanted something quick so we grabbed a breakfast sandwich and coffee from the donut shop before we headed to the waterpark.
Day 2- we spent at the waterpark. Lots and lots to do there! You can spend hours playing! It is an indoor park so remember it is a little humid in there. They do have a relaxing outdoor area if you need to take a break from the laughter and busy families. I enjoyed a break outside and ordered myself a cocktail and an appetizer. I enjoyed relaxing in the Sun and even had a chance to read a book!
We truly had a blast. No matter what time of the day, there is always something fun to do! I love that most of their activities are included in the resort price! Character appearances, Wake up with Wiley- early morning activities, Lunch time line up, PJ party, Storytime, game night and the Forest Friends show!
There are additional attractions available too. You can purchase a pass or pay individually. MagicQuest, Lazer tag, bowling, golf, XD theater and the creation station! Did I mention that there is also a candy shop?
You can find my Great Wolf Lodge Tips and things to know below.
GREAT WOLF LODGE TIPS
- On the day that you arrive, you are normally supposed to get your room at 4pm. However, you can check in by 1pm and get access to the waterpark.
- Your stay includes-Waterpark passes-1pm entry. Wi-Fi access, and kid activities are included with resort stay.
- You can pay for just day access, but why miss out on all the fun!
- Make sure to get your wolf ears as you walk in. Just ask the front desk.
- Use the mobile check in feature. It is much faster. (You will receive an e-mail a few days before you are due to arrive explaining how to check in.)
- Ask for upgrades. Sometimes you may get lucky!
- There are deals online.https://www.greatwolf.com/southern-california/deals Military, stay 2 days, early saver and also email member rates. You can also find deals time to time on (see link below)
- Before you go to Great Wolf Lodge I would suggest you check out the different packages that are available including the Wolf Pass, Paw Pass and Pup Pass. My Youngest Son had the pass and cost wise, it was worth it. The passes include a variety of different activities that range from bowling, a Magi-quest game, a creation station animal, candy ,ice cream and MORE. Also look into the wands-I saw many children roaming the halls of the hotel with their wands including my Son! My Son really LOVED all the activities!
- If you do not purchase the packages online, buy the pass when you check in. I think they are discounted at check in as well.
- Save money by bringing your own snacks!!! Bring popcorn and snacks! There is a microwave in the room and popcorn is a great snack. If you forget to buy popcorn, they sell it at the vending machine.
- You can bring other snacks too to save some money. Use the refrigerator if you would like to bring yogurts for breakfast, fruit,juice boxes, waters, etc.
- If you want to keep it easy or budget friendly, there are a few fast food restaurants very close to the resort. You can walk or drive a few blocks.
- If you are a pizza lover, like my kids… then downstairs there is a restaurant called Hungry As A Wolf. Their pizza is really good and a great BARGAIN! The 4 of us ate off of one pizza. One of the best bargains on food at the resort. They also have salad. You can dine there or bring to your room.
- Like dining with characters? Then check out the Loose Moose character breakfast. This is a breakfast buffet available for extra charge.
- Themed rooms are fun-Book online or you could upgrade your room to a kid cabin when you are checking in (if there is availability.) This gives you a themed room with bunk beds and the kids love it .
- There are a lot of free activities including story time, bingo, dance contest, coloring time so make sure to check out the schedule for the day. Make sure to take advantage of all the free activities!
- I suggest bringing a pool bag with water shoes and if you plan to change out of your suit. Make sure to pack an extra set of clothes in it as well. After you check out for the day, you still have access to the waterpark.
- The floors are very slippery so encourage no running. I saw son many kiddos fall.
- There are life jackets available in multiple areas in the park. But you can bring your own safety vest if you would like.
- If you have a little one, the wave pool is really nice but make sure to use a life jacket for them even if they are a good swimmer. The waves are strong and can really knock you down.
- Buckets is the outdoor cafe located in the pool resort area. It has delicious snacks. There is even a “signature dish”-a bucket of ice cream with sour gummies and worms. They also have drinks and light snacks.
- The restroom is actually really nice. It has a shower in case you want to shower off before heading home.
- Make sure you walk around the full waterpark. There are literally activities EVERYWHERE and trust me, you don’t want to miss even one of them.
- The candy store is a must, but beware… lots for the kiddos to ask for!
- Make sure to check out each and every area of the resort. Lots of chances for photo opportunities and of course following the magic quest map is a fun experience. You need to purchase a wand to participate but you can always just follow along and check things out.
It was such a fun stay with the best of family moments. We can’t wait to visit the Great Wolf Lodge again!
Click below for deal-
Have you been to The Great Wolf Lodge? What did you think of it? Do you have any fun tips to add to my list?
We love our little getaways and we are so lucky to have some great spots to visit here in Southern California.
I hope you enjoy your trip and this post helped you!
