Great Wolf Lodge Tips: 5 Unique Ways to Get the Most Out of Great Wolf Lodge This Winter

Sometimes winter can feel like the “season of torture” when young children are kept cooped-up indoors for days-on-end. In a quest to make winter fun again, our family took our second-ever trip to the Great Wolf Lodge’s Poconos, PA location. We figured it’s cheaper than flying five people somewhere warm, and even one night away felt like the mini-break our family needed. Be sure to check the “Special Offers” section on your local park’s website for up-to-date deals. Here are our Great Wolf Lodge tips: 5 Unique Ways to Get the Most Out of Great Wolf Lodge This Winter.

Disclosure: This post is part of a hosted stay. All opinions are my own.

Great Wolf Lodge Tips: 5 Unique Ways to Get the Most Out of Great Wolf Lodge This Winter

Ask for seat with a view at the Loose Moose Family Kitchen restaurant

I’m embarrassed to admit our family has been known to break out Kindles at restaurants, but at the park’s main restaurant in the Poconos location there are several tables that overlook the water park, providing endless entertainment for hungry cubs. My kids loved watching the big bucket tip while we waited for our burgers.

Plan ahead

We’ve been to Great Wolf Lodge twice, and last year we didn’t plan ahead which resulted in a lot of temper tantrums, and those were just from my husband and I! This year the check-in process went a million times smoother. Rooms are guaranteed ready by 4, but you can start using the waterpark by 1. Lockers are available to rent for $10-$20 for a day, and putting the kid’s suits on under their clothes saved time. We plan everything in our lives around meals, so we fed the kids lunch at 12 and were on the slides by 1.

Try a New Activity

GWL is offering three new activities, so if you’ve frequented the park in the past now is your chance to be adventurous! They are:

1. Wake up With Wiley and Friends: From yoga to a morning prowl around the lobby, GWL makes waking up fun. Plus, now that my kids are a little older (6 and 5) I was able to stand in line at Starbucks for a latte instead of participating. Win, win!
2. Lunchtime Lineup: If your fingers are getting pruny, head to the lobby for balloon art, a craft, or face-painting.
3. PJ Party With the Great Wolf Kids: The sun is down but the moon’s still up, and so are your kids! Try Bingo, Trivia, or our favorite, a Dance Party!

Bring your pajamas!

It’s not just story time in the evening where PJ’s are the dress code of choice; pretty much as soon as you get out of your bathing suit for the day it’s acceptable to change into night dress. You’ll see plenty of other adults wearing pajamas-even to dinner!

Take your MagiQuest wand home with you

The wand automatically saves your journey status and information so the next time you visit a Great Wolf you can pick right back up where you left off.