Going to Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, MA, has become an annual tradition for our family. We typically go in the winter for a fun, inside “getaway” that is conveniently located less than 45 minutes from home.
Here’s what I’ve come to learn from our trips to Great Wolf Lodge:
- It’s not just a water park. The main attraction is surely the fun water slides, wave pool, lazy river, hot tub, and other water-related activities, but there is actually so much more to do!
- MagiQuest is a main attraction for elementary-aged kids and older. We’ve yet to try this (my kids are 3 and 5), but from what I gather, it is a super-fun, interactive, live-action game played with a special magic wand throughout the resort. Kids can be seen with huge smiles on their faces, running from location to location.
- The lobby has a lot to offer. Check out the daily schedule so you don’t miss any fun!
- Arts and Crafts
- Yoga
- The Forest Friends Show: 15 minutes long and plays 5 times per day. My 3-year-old still talks about the sleeping bear!
- Character appearances: This is hit or miss depending on the child, but my kids LOVE meeting anyone from the GWL Gang (Wiley Wolf, Violet Wolf, Oliver Raccoon, Sammy Squirrel, and Brinley Bear). These appearances are twice a day. You do not know which or how many characters will come out.
- Interactive Storytime – Adventures of the Great Wolf Pack: Kids are chosen to come up and help the staff tell the story!
- Hustle & Howl Dance Party: This is at the end of the day, so I recommend coming in pajamas with your teeth already brushed. The “Great Wolf Stomp” is our favorite dance move now!
- TV station in the hotel room that plays the exclusive Great Wolf Pack animated series. This was super helpful in the early morning hours and when we needed a quick 30-minute reset before heading back out for more fun.
- The Northern Lights Arcade is loud, bright, and located en route to the waterpark. This is not my favorite placement for an arcade (if you’ve been to any arcade, you can understand why). Talk to your kids ahead of time about when/if you will be partaking in the arcade.
- There is a Build-A-Bear Workshop inside the resort that sells the GWL characters. We’ve done this once. Decide ahead of time how you want to handle walking past this several times a day.
- Howler’s Peak is filled with dry, fun activities. Walk past the water park and enter an adventure land, which includes:
- Ropes Course
- Mini Golf
- Climbing Wall
- Gem Mining
- Virtual Reality
- Indoor playground/jungle gym
- And more!
- A one-night stay is all you need! We usually arrive around 1-2 PM and stay for about 24 hours. We play hard and then hit a wall. Head out pre-tantrums and bask in the memories made.
While fun, it’s no secret that a day at GWL can get quite spendy.
Here are my tips to make your trip as affordable as possible:
- Always book with a coupon code. Often, they have a coupon code on their main web page.
- Don’t assume a day trip (vs overnight) is cheaper. One time, I paid less for a hotel room than the cost of day passes for 4 people.
- Go on a weekday, not a weekend. There is a significant price reduction on a weekday (as long as it is not school vacation week). Yes, this means time out of work and school for many families, but if cost saving is a priority, a weekday is a must.
- Bring your own food. “Buckets”, Dunkin, and “Bear Paw” offer various snacks and treats, but packing food is much more cost-effective.
- Skip the restaurant. Instead of eating in their sit-down restaurant (Lodge Wood Fired Grill), we opted for the takeout pizza from “Hungry As A Wolf” (in the arcade area).
- Bring reusable water bottles. You can fill these up at any of the soda machines.
- Set a budget for the arcade and stick to it. Explain expectations to your kids ahead of time so they don’t think the arcade is a never-ending activity.
- Book an “Attraction Pass” Bundle if you plan to do a lot of extra activities that are an additional cost.
- Prioritize based on your budget. There are plenty of free activities included in your stay, while others are at an extra cost. Check the website ahead of time to see what costs extra. Decide which activities are going to work for your family and focus on those. Make a checklist so your kiddo can see all the fun, free activities you are doing without emphasizing the ones you might skip.
Great Wolf Lodge can be an absolute blast! It can also be overstimulating and overwhelming at times. Know yourself and your kiddo and plan accordingly.
