Each play area includes slides and swings. It felt more intimate and clean, less crowded and sufficiently staffed. Advice: you can't come to a place like this and complain about how much things cost. Report inappropriate content msmejkal chicago Great Wolf is more for kids, but I feel like Great Wolf service is better than Kalahari. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. When I checked out on the 25th I asked for a receipt, and the amount I was charged was correct ($390.10) When I received my credit card statement on December 9th I noticed that what I was charged from Aquatopia/Camelback was $25 higher than it should have been. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. We liked the luggage rack near the door and the shelf over the microwave. It was a nice touch to have the lodge theme and a couple of characters at the front of the wave pool which is one of our favorite attractions. In our opinion, the splash park at Aquatopia was the weakest of the three. Camelback Mountain Resorts waterpark Aquatopia, Cafe & Bar (AKA, Mountain Market, World Bazaar Coffee Shop). Life jackets are not required but are available as well as puddle jumpers. Great Wolf Lodge has a woodland creature and forest theme, while Kalahari has an African theme. There are a number of other activities available at the lodge. The outdoor small kids area with slides was a nice addition to the park however my daughter who is 53" tall was not allowed to go on them. (assuming same accommodations we had for this past trip) and this is how they all answered. It had its own TV and was adorned with a lot of cute character images. There isnt any story that goes along with any of the characters as far as we were able to discern. Only 2 of our bracelets worked, but we were able to get around that on more than one occasion. It may come down to a simple question: How old are the children in your party? We may also participate in other affiliate programs from time-to-time and be compensated for referring traffic & business to these companies. Read on to find out which one is the BEST water park for your family vacation! Kassi was terrific! Likewise the lobby is magnificent! Life-size animal statues adorn the outside. The wave pool alternates between wave / no wave cycles. Top Educational & Inspirational YouTube Channels for Families 2022, Waterpark Comparison Chart: Kalahari, Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge. You could definitely capture everything this place has to offer in 2-3 days. For part of our stay both lazy river attractions were open and there were other times when only one was open. We stayed in the Desert room which was sufficient in size for 2 adults and 2 small kids. This was one of the few exceptions! On our previous visit a couple of years ago we felt the place was showing some wear and tear. 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. The resort's mammoth 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark has nine waterslides, six pools, and a four-story treehouse waterfort and utilizes nearly 380,000 gallons of water.Beyond the massive indoor waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge offers families daily activities and amenities on the dry side. This is an interactive game that has players moving throughout the Lodge on quests. The clothing line in the bathroom was broken and the bed covers had an unpleasant smell. Great Wolf Resorts (formerly known as Great Wolf Lodge) is a chain of indoor water parks. That is with just 2 adults and 4 kids. Poconos Waterparks: How to Get the Best Deals at Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Aquatopia! We are still having a debate on what it actually was. EXPECT IT and you will have a great time. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney. Second, certain areas of the waterpark, especially the hot tubs, the wave pool and small kids areas were overcrowded. There are currently 4 locations for the chain with the Poconos location being its largest facility. Coming Soon: Great Wolf Lodge in Webster! Kalahari Resort's water park has more of everything and also includes a Flowrider, which is popular with older kids and teens. Kalahari Resort has an African safari theme. One is about 13 minutes long and is about Brinley Bears fun day and the other is about 8 minutes long and is about the origin of Great Wolf Lodge. GWL isnt fast either, but 2+ hours to pay triple the price wouldnt work either. This post was incredibly helpful!!! Kassie R, Social Media Coordinator at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, responded to this review. 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. But, if or when we do return, I look forward to spending more time in that adults-only grotto. Chip, I am planning to go to waterpark with three kids, so I really enjoyed all details! Several hot tubs, twice the amount of slides as Great Wolf Lodge, and something for all ages. The lobby was somewhat hectic with the number of people filing in and out, restaurants, shops, carts filled with souvenirs for sale, and a long line at the guest registration desk. Located in America's Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, it was Great Wolf Resorts' first East Coast location. The food was overpriced but tasty. We stored our bags with the assistance of bell staff and we went downstairs to check out the facilities.We had to go through a large (and very noisy) arcade to get to the turnstiles to the waterpark. Both waterparks are easily accessible from the lobby, and the dining and shops are also centered around there. 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. So I guess you just dont need it that much. It has a transparent Texlon roof that lets in natural sunlight while providing protection against the suns harmful UV rays. We joke that we lost Sophie our 2 year old for 5 minutes in the immense suite! I've been on trip advisor for years, but have never felt the need to leave a review until now. Thank you very much for your comment. We went for the Italian the second night and the food was again wonderful. If you would like to read a little more about our trip down to the Poconos you can do so here: Adventure Update # 018: My Tricycle is Very Very Fast! You can use the water park at 1pm on the day of check in until close on the day you leave. Better selection of local foods near Great Wolf. Both resorts have normal hotel rooms as well as themed rooms. Featuring free WiFi and a seasonal outdoor pool, Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine offers accommodations in Grapevine. The floors were full of paper, tissues, dirty towels, used dippers, used shampoo packets etc and there was no attendant in sight. It was voted the #1 indoor water park in 2015 by USA Today. (It was almost like an obstacle course with the running kids, machines, flashing lights, and noise.) It was nicely decorated and efficiently arranged. [3] Great Wolf Resorts is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. There were 2 bathrooms one off the walk-in area and the second one in the master suite. Thanks to Amanda at the front desk for helping facilitate this! Old Windmill Farm is located at 262 Paradise Lane in Ronks, Pennsylvania. Every room at this resort is air conditioned and has a TV with cable channels. How does the resort compare to Great Wolf Lodge? We did still struggle with the menu & felt that it was very limited in that we found it difficult to find healthier options for our family. https://www.theparenthoodadventures.com/waterpark-comparison-chart-kalahari-aquatopia-great-wolf-lodge/ So the water park is what we usually focus on. Welcome to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Round Rock 223,000 square feet, filled with wet, wild, fun. Nothing? When I called, the charge was removed & the service rep was polite enough but, apparently Aquatopia/Camelback fully expects there to be a parking fee added to every invoice! We certainly do have a lot of different ways to entertain and excite the kids! Compare management, culture and compensation ratings for Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. The ladies bathroom and changing area looked tike a war zone! At Kalahari, there are two separate, toddler play areas. Ax throwing, ropes course, zip line, off-road Segway tours through the forest & switchback UTV tour. That said, I wouldnt pay triple the price for Kalahari. See All Waterpark Features Waterpark (and more!) Your goal is our goal. Kalahari Resort, positioned in Spherical Rock, Texas, is analogous in some ways to Nice Wolf Lodge. This was because: 1) We are a family of 6 and eating out is not usually relaxing or enjoyable! I actually have a hard time believing that the square footage of the park is larger than the water park @ Great Wolf Lodge. Hello and thank you for the review! Mind you definitely not Disney level theming or branding but a good job. Kalahari did a remodel on their indoor kid area about a year ago. Great Wolf Lodge has an outdoor ropes course and indoor arcade. Sincerely, Chip. CHECK IN/ROOM - We checked in with Kassi atWe visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. Tom Foolerys also has a mirror maze, escape rooms, indoor ropes course, laser tag, rock climbing wall, XD dark ride and bowling. There is also a cafe (Cafe & Bar) and a restaurant (Horizons) located right off the main lobby. They contain a variety of aquatic activities such as water slides, swimming pools, wave pools, lazy rivers, and splash pads. Were going in January. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Otherwise, it far exceeded our expectations and we will definitely be choosing Kalahari over Great Wolf for many years to come. The hostesses and the servers were professional and pleasant. One of Melani and my pet peeves with regards to hotel accommodations is when there is only one night stand for a queen bed. (especially Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge) If you were to drive from Kalahari, to Great Wolf Lodge, and then to Aquatopia the total distance would be approximately 11.3 miles and take just 26 minutes. I will be sure to pass your kind words along to Kassi, David, Robin, and Amanda! Hello! Kalahari Resort has a huge upcharge for the one type of themed room. To alert those in the wave pool of the wave rotation starting it has a wolf howl. All six Pocono ski resorts have snowtubing hills. You might prefer the chart we put together along with our conclusions. We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. The Lobby is one of the things I, and everyone in my family, really liked about Kalahari! Great Wolf Lodge has a woodland creature and forest theme, while Kalahari has an African theme. Try getting on the email lists of both of these resorts to learn about the discounts they offer throughout the year. Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Hey, thanks for the great reviews! 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. When you check in the lodge they should offer you and / or the kids wolf ears at no extra charge since, after all it is the Great WOLF Lodge!. EXPECT IT and you will have a great time. Great review, were leaning towards Kalahari but wanted to know about outdoor activities in the winter, could our kids go snow tubing or something related at any of these three resorts? Our suite @ Kalahari was HUGE! Kalahari is a better choice for families with adolescents and teens, while Great Wolf Lodge is perfect for elementary-age children. We also liked some of the efficiency features of the room. When he pulled down the Murphy's bed, dirty nastiness came down with it. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. 6 Best Texas . I'm displeased to hear of the strange odor in your room and that we were not able to correct this situation while you were staying with us. Recently, my family visited Kalahari Resort for the first time. And the staff was friendly. We recently made a trip to the Poconos in Pennsylvania to visit a water park resort but didnt know which resort we should go to so we went to all 3 of them! This time we were on the third floor and had a balcony. We did the empirical research so you dont have to! The wolf mascots host a nightly dance party and pj story time. There were a total of 3 TVs one in the Family Room where the pull out bed / couch was, one in the master suite and one in the second bedroom with the two queen sized beds. Magic wands are needed for this game, and there is a fee to activate them for a certain period of time. Copyright 2022 by KSAT - All rights reserved. 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. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Whereas, the roofline @ Great Wolf Lodge is blocky. We liked the artwork in the room. Kalahari . For our Wednesday November 24th, 2021 stay @ Aquatopia the cost of our room was $319.00 plus taxes & fees amounting in the amount of $71.10, bringing the total to $390.10. Our obstinate 2-year-old was NOT able to enjoy ANY of these activities / attractions, or even the wave pool due to the fact that she refused to wear a life jacket which Kalahari required children under 4 feet in height to wear at all times when in any water. The NACHOS did not disappoint. Kalahari Resort also has an adult spa and fitness center plus live music entertainment at the steak house and piano bar. Im guessing the youngest of your children voted for GWL? Advice: you can't come to a place like this and complain about how much things cost. Yes it is HUGE but it is also laid out well and serves as a destination itself within the resort. Towel check-out is something new since our last visit. The farm is back a lane, and Lindt Chocolate Factory Outlet is located at 40 Logistics Drive in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Hours: Depending on the day, the indoor water park is open from 9am to 9pm or 10am to 8pm. Expect to spend money on food, games, etc. Part-time blogger, full-time nerd & aspiring Renaissance man! The drive was almost exactly 100 miles for us and we arrived a few minutes after 1:00 pm. Since we are fans of Indiana Jones we like most archaeology theme including this one but I would not say the theme-ing is immersive other than the lazy river. Just about everything seemed to be swimming in butter or oil, including the overcooked/overheated vegetables. The fact that Aquatopia ALSO has an outdoor water park (Camelbeach) and its night-time illumination make it unique. We are a family of 6 with four kids ranging in ages from 5 12 years old. People who got there after her were served well before her. Kalahari Resorts opened in 2015 in the Poconos. Unfortunately, the kids loaded up on an assortment of dessert and we went back to the room to change back into our swimwear for a last hurrah in the water.Off the lobby there are also a sweets shop, bakery, and ice cream shop, with what appears to be a nice selection of goodies.The next morning, the kids wanted to get in a few hours at the waterpark before our 11:00 checkout. On our previous visit a couple of years ago we felt the place was showing some wear and tear. One of the other simple theming aspects we enjoyed were the 2 Great Wolf Lodge video book stories playing on the resort TV channel. We were also advised that we would receive a text message when our room was ready. Kalahari Resort vs. Great Wolf Lodge. I would like to further discuss the details of your stay. 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. If you have visited all three waterparks in the Poconos please let us know which one YOU liked best! We changed in the bathroom/changing areas, located a storage locker (for a fee), and found a table. Another note worth mentioning the bathtubs @ Kalahari are huge! (Basically a jumpy seat for adults.) We also enjoyed the Lazy River and the wave pool. Most of the time we were at Aquatopia we ate FROM Trails End Pub & Grille. It had a pretty good selection of desserts and chocolates. Management thanks you for your suggestions and for noting how well-trained our associates are! I hope you and your family have a wonderful stay!