Great Wolf Lodge is fabulous for families, just ask my kids and they’ll tell you. My family and I have always stayed one night and played in the water parks all day while adding in MagiQuest. On our last visit for Howl-o-Ween we stayed two nights and tried new activities. With so many things to do at Great Wolf Lodge in addition to the water park, there is fun for all ages!
Best Things to Do at Great Wolf Lodge
Did you know there are other things to do at Great Wolf Lodge than the indoor water park? I was surprised at just how many additional activities are on property. Which Great Wolf Lodge Activities are worth the money?
We spent 3 days at Great Wolf Lodge and never left the property. Things can add up, that’s why I recommend a Paw Pass, a Wolf Pass, or a Pup Pass. Each pass lists all the activities included and you save money over having to purchase each activity individually. We wished we had an extra day to spend more time on everything.
The Wolf Pass is the best value, but it’s also the most expensive. I recommend looking at the different activities offered and deciding what your family will do in addition to the water park.
Indoor Water Park at Great Wolf Lodge
This is the main attraction and rightfully so. You can spend days at just the water park. With attractions such as water slides, Howlin’ Tornado, a lazy river, slideboarding, a toddler play area, and more, there’s something for everyone. Water park passes are included in your hotel stay at Great Wolf Lodge for every member of your party on the reservation.
Even if you stay for one night, you get 2 days in the waterpark. After you check out, you can still use the waterpark for the day, just make sure to bring an extra change of clothes.
MagiQuest
Add this to the list of things we wish we had more time to explore. MagiQuest is a live-action game you play all around the resort. You start by choosing a wand, registering for a game and then setting off on your quest. You could literally spend hours and hours on this game.
You’ll want to go to the MagiQuest store to start your adventure. Here you’ll choose your wand if you don’t have one. They also have additional toppers for extra features for the game. Also, if you have any questions about how to play, this is where you want to ask.
MagiQuest pricing: Wand: $17.99-$22.99 + tax
Game: $13.99 + tax
You get unlimited play during your stay and each quest takes about 15-30 minutes to complete. It’s a fun way for the kids to explore the resort as there are MagiQuest stations all around. Extra bonus is that you can reuse your wand on future visits to Great Wolf Lodge and your game play will be saved.
My kids had fun with this game, but if your kids wouldn’t like a quest like this, then skip it.
Build a Bear Workshop Great Wolf Lodge
Never underestimate the power of a stuffed animal. All my girls from teens to preschoolers love stuffed animals. Here you can choose a furry friend like Wylie, Violet, and some of their friends, have him stuffed, and also choose an outfit! My daughter never left without her Violet and insisted on carrying her around with her wherever she went.
Bowling at Ten Paw Alley
Spoiler Alert: I kicked everyone’s trash at bowling. Every single member of my family had a ball bowling in this mini bowling alley. We can be competitive in this family and my oldest daughter and I were battling it out for the top spot, but my younger ones just had fun trying to knock down pins. The balls are small enough for littles to join in and you can choose to use bumpers. We had such a great time we went back for another game a different night.
One Round of Bowling at Ten Paw Alley is $7.00 + tax, and you don’t need special shoes.
Howlers Peak Ropes Course
My family spent hours on the ropes course! I would come back just to do this over again. For those of you who are lucky enough to have a ropes course at your Great Wolf Lodge, don’t miss it! There are different levels, so there’s a challenge for everyone.
I even went to the very top. There’s a mini zipline on Howlers Peak Ropes Course that my kids adore. It’s just enough thrill, but I’m a big chicken so I skipped the zipline. You are safely harnessed, and shoes must be closed-toe and closed heel with rubber soles. No flip-flops are permitted. Guests must be 48 inches tall or be accompanied by a responsible adult to participate on the main ropes course.
Rope Course Single Climb $14.99 + tax
Rope Course All Day Climb: $19.99 + tax
Northern Lights Arcade
Ah, the lights of the arcade call to my children. And frankly the giant Space Invaders called to my husband. We ended up purchasing a $20 card to see how far it would take my family of 7. I was surprised at how many things we were able to play. Some games cost more points than others, so I did tell my children to choose wisely. We enjoyed spending some time in the arcade, and I had to pull my husband away from Space Invaders.
Many Great Wolf Lodge properties share some of the same attractions. Be sure to check out what you can expect at the Great Wolf property you want to explore. I recommend spending a few days at Great Wolf Lodge to experience all the fun they have to offer. If you can’t make that work in your schedule or budget, then plan another trip to give the family something to look forward to!
