One of Melani and my pet peeves with regards to hotel accommodations is when there is only one night stand for a queen bed. We recently took a little trip to the Poconos and stayed one night @ Great Wolf Lodge immediately followed by a one-night stay @ Kalahari. The kids had a blast, and I think with some minor changes, this place will exceed 5 stars. If you're not up and about a 4:30 a.m., though, you can still get a. Comparison between Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge water park Since our last visit to Great Wolf Lodge they have established a relationship with Dunkin Donuts and there is one located on the main floor just off the right of the lobby. For just one four-year-old, I think Great Wolf is probably a better choice. We ended up eating most of the fries and onions rings, while discarding the rest. For the volume of people passing through it ( to check-in, check out, shop at the shops and access the activities) it feels a little small and congested. We really liked the 2 water falls that were present on the lazy river. I found the photos pleasing to look at and relaxing! We're in the business of making memories. This was terrific we will likely do all three spaced out over a few years, but this absolutely helped us figure out what order to go in. However, each locations water parks and amenities vary. We joke that we lost Sophie our 2 year old for 5 minutes in the immense suite! People who got there after her were served well before her. TripAdvisor review of Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, TripAdvisor review of Kalahari Resort Poconos, Booking.com review of Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, MommyNearest Great Wolf Lodge vs Kalahari vs Camelback. 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 new Italian restaurant had a nice design and the food was good. THERE ISNOADDITIONAL COST TO YOU if you buy something from Amazon! Admission: Rates start at $277 a night for a standard four-person room. Note: There is no Flowrider / surfing simulator attraction at the Poconos location for Great Wolf Lodge. [2] In addition to a water park, each resort features restaurants, arcades, spas, and children's activities. 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. 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. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. Enjoy your family vacation at one of the great indoor water park resort choices in your area! The floors were full of paper, tissues, dirty towels, used dippers, used shampoo packets etc and there was no attendant in sight. Kids are going to want to explore all areas of this place and we find it frustrating reading reviews about those complaining about how expensive everything is. Camelback Lodge and Great Wolf Lodge are two of the most popular family resorts in the Poconos with indoor water parks. We have patronized several of these places, if not all and the kids highly recommend them! https://www.theparenthoodadventures.com/waterpark-comparison-chart-kalahari-aquatopia-great-wolf-lodge/ really? The kids do enjoy the characters and overall lodge experience. Camelback Mountain Resorts waterpark Aquatopia, Cafe & Bar (AKA, Mountain Market, World Bazaar Coffee Shop). It felt like you were rubbing shoulders with other people all the time. Kalahari Resort has a huge upcharge for the one type of themed room. 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. Check there and compare prices with their website to find the lowest prices for your stay. I felt the prices were reasonable for this type of American Pub food. Report inappropriate content msmejkal chicago Ronks is southeast of Lancaster. This is probably a reflection of the fact that Kalahari is really a convention center first & foremost and the water park is just one of the many amenities they offer albeit a big one! Whereas, the roofline @ Great Wolf Lodge is blocky. There are some characters for the kids but they are not really developed and seem to have just been bolted on as an after thought. There are quite a few activities to engage in @ Kalahari. Well manicured and landscaped lawns.We arrived in the main lobby on Sunday 7/2 a little after 1:00 p.m. You might prefer the chart we put together along with our conclusions. Life jackets are not required but are available as well as puddle jumpers. 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 hot tub situation was disappointing. Expect to spend money on food, games, etc. Several hot tubs, twice the amount of slides as Great Wolf Lodge, and something for all ages. It's located in the Rockvale Outlets Fox Meadows Creamery has two locations, one in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and one in Leola, Pennsylvania. Location: 3001 Kalahari Blvd. included with your stay Waterpark Admission Waterpark admission is always free when you stay with us. We also enjoyed the balcony. At times Kalahari actually felt a littletoo bigfor us. How does the resort compare to Great Wolf Lodge? Here's our overall review.Right away we were looking for and expecting a wonderful customer service experience, and Kalahari did not disappoint. It is a wonderful family vacation spot that offers a lot of adventure & nature! Great Wolf Lodge is known for their MagiQuest game. Thankfully, we didnt have a 2+ hour line to check-in. 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. Fortunately we only live about 2 hours away. 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. Hello and thank you for the review! During our long walk to the room (the opposite end of the facility), he was VERY professional, engaging and helpful. Many of these water parks are resorts, meaning they also comparison guide for all three of these resorts, Lindt Chocolate Factory Outlet Carlisle, PA. Would have been nice to have them inside as well.The waterpark overall was phenomenal - huge and definitely accommodates young and old. Great Wolf Lodge Poconos Water Park Toddler Play. The water is warm, but not too hot. 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. 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. Likewise, there is a cost associated with the convenience of those activities being offered right there and that is cost. It features the Howlin' Tornado raft ride, Coyote Cannon water tubes (with a 40-foot drop), and a tree house fort that has a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket! There is one primary restaurant on the main level on the left side of the lobby / front entrance. 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. We stayed in the Desert room which was sufficient in size for 2 adults and 2 small kids. 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! There is a huge fireplace towards the back of the lobby that is adjacent to a huge window that overlooks the water park. Kalahari still boasts plenty of kiddie water slides, but it also has more thrilling slides for older children. The company owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge brand. Billing Issue: I did have a billing issue with Aquatopia / Camelback. There is a very small / non-standard sized bowling alley, a miniature golf course, an arcade, MagiQuest, etc We have done some of the other activities in the past but only if they were included with our stay or one of the bundled package passes (Paw Pass, Pup Pass and Wolf Pass). There was also only one sink in the room (as well as only one bathroom which had only a standard sized tub). 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. Kalahari and Wilderness are kind of overwhelming. Kalahari . They did a fabulous job with the design of this place. Kalahari has the most toddler slides by far when comparing the three resorts. As I mentioned earlier with 4 kids ranging in age from 2 10 we are not very often dining in @ a restaurant. GWL has excellent sales. Naturally, the hotel offers an indoor water park, plus character meet-and-greet experiences, live entertainment, an arcade, ropes course, bowling alley, mini-golf course and spas (one for kids and one for adults). Family Fun at its best. Yes, there were some healthy options just not a very good variety. "The advent of Great Wolf Lodge represents one of the most monumental accomplishments in the City's history," Webster city officials said. Right away we were looking for and expecting a wonderful customer service experience, and Kalahari did not disappoint. It is so fun for my children (12 & 4 years old) and for adults too!! Both resorts have huge water parks that include a wave pool, lazy river, splash areas and of course water slides. Both resorts are well-themed throughout the resort rooms and the water parks. We had no problem finding a table and chairs to rest our towels and use for eating later. 111 Things to Do in the Adirondacks & Upstate New York! The clothing line in the bathroom was broken and the bed covers had an unpleasant smell. Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine is a great way to go for a weekend getaway. I have read other reviews where people did not enjoy the balcony but we did. Is the higher food price of Kalahari worth it? The room was very clean and up-to-date. This past visit however was somewhat disappointing. Kassie R, Social Media Coordinator at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, responded to this review. This is another thing that I think Kalahari does well and it makes it a little easier to satisfy everyone and their differing tastes with so many food choices. The Great Wolf Lodge resort in the Poconos was constructed in 2005 and is one of roughly 19 locations for the chain. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. With that being said it does appear that the ropes course and zip lines are something that we may try in the future. My family has stayed in themed rooms at both resorts. The resort has a spa center, a hot tub and an on-site restaurant. DreamWorks Water Park - East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ask erikas213 about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Ask PinkHibiscus32 about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Ask lljPa about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Royal hospitality suite not royal not hospitable, Ask kelismom14 about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Ask mcapellan78 about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Ask Pamela C about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos. but also read water is cold. Learn how your comment data is processed. We certainly do have a lot of different ways to entertain and excite the kids! Your goal is our goal. There isnt any story that goes along with any of the characters as far as we were able to discern. The only other complaint I have is that we came home with a number of bites. There are a number of other activities available at the lodge. What are you waiting for? Another note worth mentioning the bathtubs @ Kalahari are huge! 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. Overall we felt like Kalahari was much better before the expansion. This post was incredibly helpful!!! 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. (assuming same accommodations we had for this past trip) and this is how they all answered. Hi there! Water park access was included. We are happy to report that there were two night stands with our queen bed! If you have visited all three waterparks in the Poconos please let us know which one YOU liked best! See All Waterpark Features Waterpark (and more!) Expect to spend money on food, games, etc. 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!. The short of it about the same as Great Wolf Lodge and FAR less than Kalahari! Life-size animal statues adorn the outside. Great Wolf Lodge. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. Your encounters with the lack of cleanliness in the room and waterpark was certainly not up to our standards, so I am interested in hearing more about it. I hope you have a wonderful time with your family! Hopefully you can keep returning and finding even more ways to have fun with us as the kids grow. Contemporary and tasteful.we give that an A+!Overall, we can't wait to return to Kalahari! Finally, we did have a rather poor experience one morning ordering from the Cafe & Bar (AKA, Mountain Market, World Bazaar Coffee Shop). The size of the indoor water park is roughly 125,000 square-foot, which makes it slightly larger than the Great Wolf Lodge water park @ roughly 79,000 square-foot, but decidedly smaller than Kalaharis indoor water park which is roughly 220,000 square-foot. (Healthy, I know.) I look forward to connecting with you. Part of the joy of Great Wolf Lodge is its size. Just about everything seemed to be swimming in butter or oil, including the overcooked/overheated vegetables. They were definitely present - but not blowing their whistle when it was needed and didn't seem as focused. 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. Why do the adults with hearing damage always make the decisions with regards to volume level! (Activities vary by location). This activity requires participants to roam all over the lodge to find clues and solve a quest. The hostesses and the servers were professional and pleasant. The day we went, prices were similar to GWL. The farm is back a lane, and Lindt Chocolate Factory Outlet is located at 40 Logistics Drive in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. Wonderful service.Lazy River - Longer than the one at Great Wolfbut lots of people and tubes jamming it up!Towels were only available outside, we heard there may have been a shortage but we didn't really experience that. The total cost for the night would have been $415.10. Both resorts also have onsite dining that continues the decor. Welcome to Great Wolf Lodge! I was wondering what your experiences have been with that. There was a microwave and mini-fridge in the room, which came in handy. African photos, statues, pictures, all kinds of things that mentally transport you to another world. Both are great options for kids. Within 45 minutes of our arrival, I received a text message that our room was ready, but no one was ready to take a break.Warning: You cannot bring outside food into the waterpark so if you want something to eat, you have to purchase food inside. Kalahari did a remodel on their indoor kid area about a year ago. Staff always pleasant and friendly!FOOD - There is food available in the waterpark in addition to a steakhouse and Italian restaurant. We did really like the lazy river at Aquatopia. Ax throwing, ropes course, zip line, off-road Segway tours through the forest & switchback UTV tour. The TV in the room seemed to be new and was the largest of any we saw at the three resorts. The front desk staff was extremely professional, friendly and helpful. Finding fun places to take your kids in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. A report from KSAT sister station KPRC states that the indoor water park will break ground in 2022 in the city of Webster, just south of Houston. Great Wolf Lodge has a woodland creature and forest theme, while Kalahari has an African theme. Great Wolf Lodge's water park is 80,000 square feet, but Kalahari's is over 220,000 square feet. We also only stayed one night, so Im not sure how often housekeeping visits. Copyright 2022 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Both waterparks are easily accessible from the lobby, and the dining and shops are also centered around there. But be prepared to spend.it comes with the territory! Swim Up BARS - An absolutely genius idea! The photos were nature themed and glossy. Their massive indoor water parks vary by location. (If we wanted to watch tv, we could go to our room.) more. Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Camelbacks Aquatopia resort are all located in the Poconos and are VERY close to each other! Activities could include yoga, character appearances, crafts, a nightly Forest Friends show, story time, and a dance party. Yes it is HUGE but it is also laid out well and serves as a destination itself within the resort. You enter Kalahari through a massive glass revolving carousel door and there is plenty of room for people to get where they are going whether it is to check-in, get food, get to the water park or any other number of destinations. bdo alchemy stone growth chance, ron burkle engaged, minimalism: a documentary about the important things transcript,