Advice: you can't come to a place like this and complain about how much things cost. Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine is a great way to go for a weekend getaway. Im not sure when we will make it back there since we have a lot of other travel plans. THERE ISNOADDITIONAL COST TO YOU if you buy something from Amazon! We had no real negatives about Great Wolf but in all honesty, Kalahari Resort surpasses them on almost all levels, but to no fault of Great Wolf. kalahari waterpark passesmr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . This post will focus on the Leola New York City and upstate New York are close to many amazing indoor water parks. As I indicated above I should not have been charged a fee for parking since we did not leave a vehicle at the resort and were dropped off. We also enjoyed the balcony. EXPECT IT and you will have a great time. Right away we were looking for and expecting a wonderful customer service experience, and Kalahari did not disappoint. My six year olds love the slides, and they are allowed to ride on everything at Great Wolf, but my teens get bored very quickly. Nothing? GWL isnt fast either, but 2+ hours to pay triple the price wouldnt work either. There was a large selection, with an emphasis on Italian cuisine. Seriously, this place is awesome! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! But be prepared to spend.it comes with the territory! The distance between Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos is a mere 7 miles. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July. We have been to both resorts in the past but thought it would be fun to do a back-to-back comparison. Let me start by saying that we have visited the Great Wolf Lodge location in Fitchburg, MA on 2 separate occasions and had enjoyable visits each time. The photos were nature themed and glossy. The theming is carried throughout multiple aspects of the total experience. It's the easiest way to hit the slopes! Take care! We did not rent any of the cabanas that were located throughout. Located in America's Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, it was Great Wolf Resorts' first East Coast location. This post was incredibly helpful!!! Kalahari . Both are reasonable attempts at having a meal on the healthier side. (assuming same accommodations we had for this past trip) and this is how they all answered. Try getting on the email lists of both of these resorts to learn about the discounts they offer throughout the year. CLICK HERE TO VIEW VARIOUS CREDIT CARDS AND AVAILABLE SIGN-UP BONUSES, New Private Luxury Facility Coming to DFW, Virgin Atlantic Makes it Official and More, March Transfer Bonuses: Marriott, Avianca, Virgin Red, Royal Caribbean Quietly Reduces Housekeeping to Once per Day, Hyatt Announces 2023 Hotel Category Changes, Easy: Changing AAdvantage Award flight via Twitter DM. We had no real negatives about Great Wolf but in all honesty, Kalahari Resort surpasses them on almost all levels, but to no fault of Great Wolf. The food was overpriced but tasty. Featuring free WiFi and a seasonal outdoor pool, Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine offers accommodations in Grapevine. Come splash around! We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. Also, the post was never updated to include information about Aquatopia. "The advent of Great Wolf Lodge represents one of the most monumental accomplishments in the City's history," Webster city officials said. Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge is often a topic debated by indoor water park visitors. This comparison guide will focus mainly on the Pocono resorts in Pennsylvania, but some of the information can be used to compare other locations of Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge. Church work is not for the faint of heart, and by the end of the summer church has just flat taken its toll on all of us. Once again, the food was mediocre at best. We have never patronized the restaurant as it does seem expensive. From our experience after visiting Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Camelbacks Aquatopia indoor water parks in the Poconos we felt that: Check out our comprehensive comparison chart of these three indoor water park resorts here: Waterpark Comparison Chart: Kalahari, Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge. Apart from those issues, I appreciate the detailed comparison. We LOVED IT!More. We recently took a little trip to the Poconos and stayed one night @ Great Wolf Lodge immediately followed by a one-night stay @ Kalahari. That makes it easy for families traveling with toddlers (and their little legs!). The water facilities were great and there was a nice assortment of water slides. The Kalahari Resort is well appointed, nicely decorated, and the facilities are well maintained. It was voted the #1 indoor water park in 2015 by USA Today. We were really looking forward into the expansion since we really loved how great Kalahari was the first two times we visited. The Great Wolf Lodge resort in the Poconos was constructed in 2005 - and is one of roughly 19 locations for the chain. CHECK IN/ROOM - We checked in with Kassi at We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Thank you! Your goal is our goal. To the credit of one observant & kind employee he noticed the exceedingly poor service my wife had received and apologized to her later in the day when he saw her. But having a wide variety of restaurants and foods was great! It is the smallest of the 3 indoor water parks in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. Aquatopia Snowtubing, mountain coaster (4,500 feet steel track coaster), Euro Bungee tethered bungee jump. The development is expected to break ground during the first quarter of 2022 and construction of the facility will begin no later than April 2025, according to KPRC. We love knowing that our attractions were fun for both the children and adults in your family! Especially around the holidays, it has a warm and fuzzy fireplace vibe. We usually ordered and brought the food to our room. However, it was not a perfect experience in that the air conditioner vented right out onto the one end of the balcony. The water is warm, but not too hot. We are a family of 6 with four kids ranging in ages from 5 12 years old. The setting for them seems nicer, and they seem more elaborate than the ropes course offered @ Great Wolf Lodge. Check with the resort to confirm which activities are offered during the winter. Winner: Kalahari Resort Rooms Both resorts have "normal" hotel rooms as well as themed rooms. Compare management, culture and compensation ratings for Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. There were not lights on both sides of the queen beds which made night-time reading hard for the person on the side with no light. Water park access was included. (If we wanted to watch tv, we could go to our room.) It has a transparent Texlon roof that lets in natural sunlight while providing protection against the suns harmful UV rays. Our suite @ Kalahari was HUGE! We didn't expect gourmet food at a waterpark, but the nachos were so tasteless that my 12-year old pushed them aside and asked for a chicken finger. It can be more expensive but it's a better place to relax and see your kids enjoying without having to worry too much. The lobby at Aquatopia is more spacious than the lobby at Great Wolf Lodge but far smaller than the lobby at Kalahari. Adventure Update # 018: My Tricycle is Very Very Fast! I love Great Wolf Lodge, but the water park is a little more for younger kids, while Kalahari is more for the older kids. However, Great Wolf Lodge has a higher percentage of themed rooms available at a more reasonable price. Robert, And with new locations in Arizona and Illinois, Great Wolf Lodges are becoming easier to reach wherever . As I mentioned above when we go to Kalahari (or Great Wolf Lodge, for that matter)- we are going for some water and swimming fun. The short of it about the same as Great Wolf Lodge and FAR less than Kalahari! This is an exciting place for kids to be with lots of fun things to do from arcade games galore to a huge indoor water park. You can also see the water park from the windows on this side and from the Cafe & Bar. The closet was pretty small, and the bathroom was almost as small (with the sink located next to the fridge); however, those were relatively minor inconveniences.We went to Great Karoo Buffet around 5-5:30 and was relieved to see that it wasn't that crowded. It had a pretty good selection of desserts and chocolates. I can't honestly say that anything bit me in the room, we may have been bitten while we were sleeping, or in all the time we were forced to spend on the patio because of the smell.The resort was fine, but I'd avoid this "upgraded suite". They were definitely present - but not blowing their whistle when it was needed and didn't seem as focused. Great Wolf Lodge has a woodland creature and forest theme, while Kalahari has an African theme. Chip, I am planning to go to waterpark with three kids, so I really enjoyed all details! The farm is back a lane, and Lindt Chocolate Factory Outlet is located at 40 Logistics Drive in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Camelback charged my card the correct amount when I made the deposit on November 24th and then on November 27th (2 days after we had left the resort) I was charged $25 for a parking fee. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. This 80,000-square-foot facility is perfect for families, although the water park portion is only open to hotel guests. It seems that there are parts of the water park that are only staffed at peak attendance. For our Tuesday June 25th, 2019 stay @ Great Wolf Lodge the cost of our room was $209.99 with taxes & fees amounting to $51.59, bringing the total to $261.58. The lobby is ringed by various shops and the floor has wonderful decorative murals inlaid in the marble (Im sure these are probably decals??). Lately we have been hitting the snack bar (Pizza Pub) down in the arcade for the burritos and then the store (Marrakesh Market) right at the edge of the lobby for some of the soups. Thank you for your feedback. Every room at this resort is air conditioned and has a TV with cable channels. Kalahari Resort, located in Round Rock, Texas, is similar in many ways to Great Wolf Lodge. While the hallways of rooms may still be a bit long, its not as vast as Kalahari. Both resorts have also utilized Groupon for deals. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. But, if or when we do return, I look forward to spending more time in that adults-only grotto. I was wondering what your experiences have been with that. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 2) With COVID still hanging around and the holidays right around the corner it seemed to be prudent. Adventure Update # 020: 10 Years and 1/2 an Inch! The distance from the lobby to our room was an extremely long haul for her. Try getting on the email lists of both of these resorts to learn about the discounts they offer throughout the year. The hot tub situation was disappointing. The KSAT 12 News Team provides a look at local, regional, statewide and national news events and the latest information on local traffic and weather issues. The room was clean and a good size and the 4 of us had enough room to spread out, with one person taking the full-size, pullout sofa bed. The front desk staff was extremely professional, friendly and helpful. more. After learning about the aspects of both of these resort, which one will your family choose? Our suite was located on the same level as the entrance to the water park which was below the main level. It may come down to a simple question: How old are the children in your party? Which do you prefer? Great Wolf Lodge. Answer 1 of 6: We want to take my son ( just turned 4) to either Kalahari or Great wolf lodge. Kassi was terrific! Great Wolf Lodge was nearly as inexpensive during the week as Aquatopia ($249 vs $238), and the cheapest on Saturday night. The larger of the two play areas also includes a splash table for babies. Life-size animal statues adorn the outside. A general view of the Great Wolf Lodge in Fort Mackenzie. Since we are usually there for just one night we resign ourselves to it being a pizza for dinner night. Contemporary and tasteful.we give that an A+!Overall, we can't wait to return to Kalahari! The hostesses and the servers were professional and pleasant. You can use the water park at 1pm on the day of check in until close on the day you leave. The wolf mascots host a nightly dance party and pj story time. Towel check-out is something new since our last visit. Have you been to both Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resort? Tiffany, Im so glad you found the post helpful. From what we saw of the pricing most of the activities were on the more expensive side. We stayed @ Great Wolf Lodge on a Tuesday night and then Kalahari on Wednesday night of the same week. It felt cozy and definitely complimented the whole lodge theme & experience! The room was very clean and up-to-date. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. So I guess you just dont need it that much. This past visit however was somewhat disappointing. At the towel dispensary you simply swipe your wrist band and the attendant will hand you the number of towels you request. We just stayed at Camelback the night before Thanksgiving and are actively working on updated the post. There was also only one sink in the room (as well as only one bathroom which had only a standard sized tub). (Remember that Kalahari is actually a desert in southern Africa.) As a native New Yorker, a bit of grit and grime doesn't scare me. Address: 100 Great Wolf Drive Grapevine, TX 76051 Phone: 817-488-6510 Website: greatwolf.com EXPERT TIPS BY: Ilene Jacobs Dallas Local Expert Water Parks: "Day passes can be purchased online or. Thats an AMAZING 425,000 square feet of indoor water parks in a very small geographical area!! Two of the biggest and best (and among the industry's early pioneers) are in the water park capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells: Kalahari at 125,000 square feet and Chula Vista at 110,000 square feet . However, there seemed to be a noticeable amount of debris at the bottom of the pool which seemed to a combination of plastic and dirt. Great Wolf Lodge is known for their MagiQuest game. Location: 3001 Kalahari Blvd. Very spacious, a flat screen TV in each room and in main living area with fireplace. As part of the U.S.' largest group of family-friendly water parks, this indoor water park has perfected how to maximize family fun for all ages. Family Fun at its best. Klahari is themed and decorated as an African resort. The bartenders were great, DAVID and ROBIN especially. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I asked everyone in the family if we are going back down to the Poconos and staying at one of the resorts tomorrow night where would you want to stay? Whereas, the roofline @ Great Wolf Lodge is blocky. Imagine what it takes to run this place?!? Shooting Range (tourist favorite) is closer to Great Wolf. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. Finally, we did have a rather poor experience one morning ordering from the Cafe & Bar (AKA, Mountain Market, World Bazaar Coffee Shop). Each wing of the resort is 8 floors high and it has 977 rooms in total. I would request a higher floor again because the 2nd floor gets all of the foot traffic as that is the lobby floor and the waterpark and arcade are on the lower 1st floor.Take a minute to just look around and notice the dcor, architecture, and design. Waterpark admission included with your stay! Across from that there is a small decent sized souvenir shop / store and a small dessert kiosk. In particular, it felt narrow. Socks are required in order to bowl. Kids jumping in and out, the areas are not guarded by staffsame problem as Great Wolf. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. He was open to questions about the place and even offered a few suggestions. To alert those in the wave pool of the wave rotation starting it has a wolf howl. I look forward to hearing back from you. It was nicely decorated and efficiently arranged. At that point, it was unmistakably the smell of cat urine. (We missed the burritos & soups from Kalahari!). If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. Not quite as good as the one @ Kalahari but better than you will find at Great Wolf Lodge. So the water park is what we usually focus on. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. You can reach me at PAConnect@KalahariResorts.com. Both resorts have normal hotel rooms as well as themed rooms. In November 2020, a competitor to GWL opened in Texas. We ended loading up the car, checking out (automatically at 11:00), and then using our onsite privileges for a few more hours before going offsite at a nearby restaurant to each lunch and hitting the highway to return home.My biggest concern about the facility itself is that the elevator from the lobby to the lower level waterpark is not easily discoverable or accessible. Both resorts have huge water parks that include a wave pool, lazy river, splash areas and of course water slides. Kalahari was definitely newer and nicer but also more expensive. Likewise, there is a cost associated with the convenience of those activities being offered right there and that is cost. Hi there, I appreciate you taking the time to write a review of your most recent stay. I actually have a hard time believing that the square footage of the park is larger than the water park @ Great Wolf Lodge. Thank you for taking the time to comment! There would have been another $25 for parking but we were able to avoid this since we had relatives staying just a few miles away. Both resorts also have onsite dining that continues the decor. Saturday, August 10, 2013 Great Wolf Lodge vs. Gaylord Texan By the time August rolls around our family is in desperate need of a get-away. The view felt somewhat private and we really enjoyed it! It's located in the Rockvale Outlets Fox Meadows Creamery has two locations, one in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and one in Leola, Pennsylvania. Part-time blogger, full-time nerd & aspiring Renaissance man! However, having fewer food venue choices and adult amenities limits your stay to a very kid-centric experience. All three resorts are located very close to each other in the Poconos. The advent of Great Wolf Lodge represents one of the most monumental The advent of Great Wolf Lodge represents one of the most monumental accomplishments in the Citys history, Webster city officials said. CEO approval 75 % approve of John Murphy (Murph)'s performance 74 % approve of Todd Nelson's performance Salary satisfaction 49 % think they are paid fairly at Great Wolf Lodge 40 % Generally we are there for some water park fun and that is what Great Wolf Lodge does best so that is where we spend the majority of our time. The development is expected to break ground during. For the size of the main lobby, it is the same order with Great Wolf Lodges lobby being the smallest, Kalaharis main lobby being the largest and Aquatopias lobby size somewhere in the middle. The water park @ Kalahari is HUGE. Great Wolf Lodge: Outdoor ropes courses seasonal. But, my kids are little fish who love swimming, and they cant get enough of this type of resort. When you leave make sure to return the towels and swipe the wrist band again or you will be charged for the towels. Has a fun magic quest as an additional . It felt more intimate and clean, less crowded and sufficiently staffed. Still it was a frustrating experience that cast a pallor over our time and experience there. Aquatopia made an effort to do some theme-ing with the Kartrite Quest /Adventures but this really only covers the water park and the activities for kids to the left of the lobby. The Poconos location has 401 rooms and each wing of the lodge has 4 floors. There are a lot of food choices @ Kalahari of which we have only sampled a few. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. CamelBack (Aquatopia) has 453 rooms and there are 6 floors (above ground) to the lodge.