The Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark a Great Spring Break Getaway

Updated 1/27/2017 to reflect new pricing.

Did you know that 43 million American families live within 300 miles of a Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark resort? If you’re planning a spring break trip, but stuck on where to go, these family-friendly vacation destinations scattered throughout the US (and one in Canada) offer your family the perfect getaway.

Exploring the Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark in Sandusky:

At the time of my visit, the Sandusky Great Wolf Lodge waterpark resort had undergone a 2-million dollar renovation which included new bedding, curtains, upgraded in-room appliances, new waterpark chairs, and new carpet throughout the resort. But the improvements didn’t stop there. The resort also added an interactive MagiQuest game and Scooops Kid Spa, which offers ice cream flavored manicures and pedicures, a perfect mommy and me escape, or birthday party surprise.

The draw to Great Wolf Lodge may be the 200,000-gallon indoor waterpark but you won’t want to overlook the Northern Lights Arcade, Cub Club, Creation Station or daily activities that include the Wolf Walk, the Great Clock Tower Show or Story Time.

Last week, my husband and I were able to visit this resort with our 8-year-old niece and 7-year-old nephew to experience all of the upgrades firsthand. The kids were so excited they could hardly wait for us to pick them up on the big day!

Check-in at the Sandusky resort is 4 p.m. or after, but you can arrive as early as 1 p.m. splash your way through the waterpark. Changing rooms are provided for your convenience and lockers are available for a small fee.

We arrived closer to four so our room, a family suite with two queen beds, a full-size sleeper sofa, living area, microwave, mini-fridge, and balcony, was available as soon as we arrived.

The kids couldn’t change fast enough and ran to the Bear Track Landing Indoor Waterpark as fast as their feet would carry them. They spent the next two hours swimming, climbing and sliding through the waterpark attractions. Their favorite activities seemed to be climbing in the three-story tree house and sliding down Alberta Falls in the inner tubes.

Add on the Paw Pass for Additional Fun:

There are a number of activities that you can add-on to enhance your stay at Great Wolf Lodge. To save you money and make sure you don’t miss anything, guests can now purchase the Paw Pass which can save you up to 30% off the cost of purchasing each activity separately.

The Paw Pass costs $59.99, saving you over 44% off individual prices and includes:

Package Includes

• One MagiQuest game
• One MagiQuest wand, topper or belt
• One 12 oz. Mike and Ike candy cup
• One pair of Great Wolf Lodge goggles
• One Creation Station animal (outfit not included)
• One Leather Treaty wristband
• One Glitz Glitter Tattoo
• One $5 Paw Points game card

While the waterpark was fun, my niece loved the MagiQuest game. My nephew thought he was playing too, but he basically just enjoyed touching his wand to the MagiQuest components so he could see them light up or talk to him. If you’re like me and aren’t familiar with MagiQuest, it is an interactive game were your child follows a set of hints to collect pieces that help them on their journey to become a Magi Master. Along the way, they will encounter pixies, goblins and a wizard. There are different levels of the game and they could literally play for hours.

We didn’t begin playing MagiQuest until late in the day and ran into a couple bumps after the store was closed. My suggestion, if you haven’t played before is to get an early start so if you have questions, there will be someone who can answer them.

Things to know before you go to the Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark:

• Be sure to check out the Special Offers page for saving and discounts on rooms and activities.
• The Cub Club offers activities throughout the day- some are free, some require an additional charge.The Cub Club is a great way for your little ones to take a break from the waterpark, while still having fun.
• To ensure you don’t miss any of the activities during your stay, read over the Great Wolf Kids Activity Guide when you check-in.
• We found it hard to hear in the lobby during the Great Clock Tower Show and Story Time, have your little ones sit as close as possible. so plan to arrive early.
• Pack cute PJ’s, you’ll be encouraged to show them off.
• Carry a small bag with a change of clothes or bathing suits so you can check out of your room, load your luggage in your car and head back inside to play in the waterpark.

My niece and nephew had a blast during our stay. They splashed through the waterpark, got a tattoo, stuffed a wolf, played in the arcade, pressed pennies at the penny pressing machine, attempted to join the ranks a Magi Master at MagiQuest, got their faces painted in the kid club and met Oliver the wolf after Story Time. If it sounds like a very busy time, it was but they had so much fun that my nephew took it upon himself to write this adorable note:

How’s that for an endorsement?

You’ll find a  Great Wolf Lodge waterpark resorts in the US in the following:

• Charlotte/Concord, NC
• Cincinnati/Mason, OH
• Grand Mound, WA
• Grapevine, TX
• Kansas City, KS
• Pocono Mountains, PA
• Sandusky, OH
• Traverse City, MI
• Williamsburg, VA
• Wisconsin Dells, WI
• and Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Which of the Great Wolf Lodge locations would you love to visit?

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More Family-Friendly activities in Sandusky:

The Merry-go-Round Museum
The Maritime Museum of Sandusky
The Milan Museum Complex near Sandusky
Spotlight on Ohio’s Shores and Islands Region: Things to do in Sandusky 

Disclaimer: I received a media rate to visit Great Wolf Lodge and share my experience. All other costs involved with our stay (Pup Pass) were paid by myself. All opinions are 100% my own.