Last year, on the recommendations from some of you mamas on this site, my family went to Kalahari. We had an absolute blast! We want to do something again this year. I saw Great Wolf Lodge on Undercover Boss. It looks to be about the same thing as Kalahari. We're thinking of going there this year. Can anyone tell me what Great Wolf is like? Is it the same as Kalahari? We're looking to spend 2 nights wherever we decide to go.
We really did love Kalahari, but it's just SO big! My kids are only soon to be 4 and 18 months. I sort of felt like Kalahari was really overwhelming! I think we'll do Great Wolf this year and see how it goes. I figure if we don't like it, then we can go to Kalahari next year :)
Wilderness is my favorite...and perfect if you can get a bunch of friends and stay across the lake at the condos together. Though...it is bigger than both. The one really great thing is that if you stay across the way at the condos you have a much smaller waterpark attached that is perfect for very small children...and the bigger ones for older friends and family which you can take a boat, or this time of year a shuttle bus for free.
Great Wolf can be alot of fun. We went to the Williamsburg one. Its mostly an indoor water park with a hotel attached. They have a food shop and a water shop inside the water park where you can buy goggles, swim diapers, etc. Your room key is connected to a credit card on file so you don't have to carry any cash around. Just charge food, ice cream, purchases to your room. They also have a game that runs throughout the hotel called "Magic Quest". If you have kids that are sensitive to sounds or spook easily, like my nephew, its probably not the place to go because the Magic Quest is everywhere.
We JUST went to Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky (where I'm guessing you'd go) and we LOVE it there. I haven't been to Kalahari, but a friend has done both, and she says that Great Wolf Lodge is great for younger kids, but as they get a little older, they kind of outgrow the slides there, which I could see, as they are not all that spectacular for older kids, but fantastic for younger ones! They do an animated show in the lobby throughout the day, and it's so cute for the kids.
It's a beautiful, lodge like hotel, restaurants in the hotel, a nice gift shop, a nice arcade, etc. And the waterpark area is WONDERFUL for families with younger kids. It's not too overwhelming, my 5 year old could go on all the slides this year alone, if that gives you an idea. There are 2 tube slides, a few body slides, a large water climbing/play area, a lazy river, a zero depth entry toddler pool with a little climbing and slide area, a nice, family friendly hot tub (and an area for adults only), and a snack bar in the water park. They also have a nice kids craft area, and other attractions for kids that go on throughout the day.
We really do love it there, and spent 2 nights there as well. We had my son, 5, and his 2 year old and 9 month old cousins there, and we all had a great time.
I'd say if your kids are old enough to really enjoy Kalahari and take on all the slides there, then they might be a little too old to really enjoy GWL. If they are young enough that they couldn't really take on all the slides at Kalahari, then they might just really love GWL.
PM me if you have any specific questions!
Either way, have a great trip!!
We just went to Castaway Bay over the weekend and it was nice. It was not too big. My 8yo kept running off by himself and it didn't take long to track him down. It is a few minutes away from Kalahari. Right next to Cedar Point and it was a little less money. You can go on their site to see the water park and the rooms.
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We just went to Castaway Bay over the weekend and it was nice. It was not too big. My 8yo kept running off by himself and it didn't take long to track him down. It is a few minutes away from Kalahari. Right next to Cedar Point and it was a little less money. You can go on their site to see the water park and the rooms.
I have been inside of all three hotels but have never been into the waterparks (I am not a water person) or stayed at any of them since I live right here. My DH and DDs have been to all three waterparks.
Great Wolf is smaller than Kalahari. Castaway Bay is even smaller than GW. DH likes K best, my oldest DD (13 yrs old) likes GW and youngest DD (7 years old) likes both GW and K.
Everyone got bored at CB since it was so small but with the age of your kids, it might be the better one for them.
Can not go wrong with either one? We have both in Wisconsin Dells - they are the same basically with different things to do outside the pool. So it depends on what you want to do outside the waterpark! I would check what is offered at both and what works for your family!
We've only done the Kalahari in the Dells........ I read in a magazine that it's the biggest water park in the US and we loved it so much that we figured why not keep going back there.....
