Every time I drove around the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I knew I wanted to take my daughters on a staycation there. I am happy to report that we spent a few days at this family-friendly indoor water park resort, and I have all the tea!
Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect location to make meaningful memories with toddlers, teens, and every age in between, and without stressing too much. That’s what our nervous systems are looking for!
In this easy guide, I’ll be sharing our experience so that you can plan the best Great Wolf Lodge trip with your family, so you can make the most of your family vacation. I’ll share all you need to know about Great Wolf Lodge to make your stay as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Why Choose Great Wolf Lodge and What to Expect
As positive moms, we know that experiences are better than material gifts, but it’s no secret that it can be a challenge to find a place that works for children of different ages. Thankfully, Great Wolf Lodge did not disappoint – both my pre-teen and my toddler had plenty to enjoy and are still raving about all the fun they had.
What I loved most about Great Wolf Lodge – besides how clean and spotless everything is – is that all you need is right there at the resort – the water park, guest rooms, amenities, and entertainment, all under one roof and all included in your stay. And there are places to shop, get food, and enjoy additional activities, so we did not have to leave the resort until it was time to check out.
And the experience was magical – as soon as you walk into the majestic building, you are in a land of wolves, and your kids can haul, have fun, and be kids.
On arrival day, just as we checked in, they were just about to get ready for story time right at the hotel’s main area, and that very same night, we attended a dance party and played bingo together during family game night. These activities are all included in your stay and at no additional cost.
How to Plan A Great Wolf Lodge Family Trip
Planning your Great Wolf Lodge stay is easy, but there are a few things you should know to maximize the fun for everyone.
- Choose a Location: I opted for a resort within driving distance because you can start the fun on the road and pack whatever you need in the trunk of your car. We met families from out of state who came to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas, for a warm getaway. The Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine hotel is just minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth airport, if you’re flying in.
- Select Timing: Great Wolf Lodge is fun all year round because it’s indoors! And the cool thing is that they have special seasonal events and holidays. Because of our stay being so close to Christmas, we saw how the lodge transforms into a winter wonderland, and the children enjoyed the magic of SnowLand. They even served hot cocoa and had Santa Claus appearances. While at the buffet breakfast, we also heard the Happy Birthday song, so you can always use your Great Wolf Lodge stay as a way to celebrate someone you love.
- Choose the Room that Suits Your Family: If you love the look of a rustic lodge, you’ll love the Great Wolf Lodge. The stone fireplace, the murals on the walls, staff members howling at every turn – it’s so fun! And the best part is that this theme extends to your hotel room. I chose a themed suite with a balcony and a patio that overlooked the ropes course. The girls felt like they were camping in a log cabin and, unlike at home, they didn’t fight going to sleep at night. Getting that extra sleep alone was worth it. IYAMYK (If you’re a mom, you know).
Quick and easy packing list for toddlers going to Great Wolf Lodge
The youngest pack members will appreciate you staying overnight because you’ll have a place to camp if they get overstimulated or need a mid-day nap.
Here’s what to consider packing:
- Swimsuit – don’t leave home without it!
- Water shoes or non-slip sandals
- Possibly a floatie (Great Wolf Lodge provides life jackets of various sizes that you can use for free)
- Hooded towel (Great Wolf Lodge does provide complimentary regular swim towels that you can check in and out just by scanning your color-coded wristband)
- Reusable water bottle (Great Wolf Lodge does sell themed bottles)
- Swim goggles
- Reusable bags for wet clothes and swimsuits
- Water diapers (if needed)
- Sleep Lovey (although the resort does have a Build-a-Bear Workshop on site)
- Their favorite snacks (although there’s a small market at the Great Wolf Lodge for quick eats – and storytime popcorn!)
Quick and easy packing list for pre-teens and teens going to Great Wolf Lodge
It’s wise to allow your pre-teen or teen to do their own packing for your family getaway. They appreciate autonomy, and you can always lovingly supervise.
Here’s what I recommend:
- Swimsuits (yes, plural, in case you need to change for the gram pics!)
- Swimsuit coverups for the girls
- Water shoes or non-slip sandals
- Swim goggles
- Reusable bags for wet clothes and swimsuits
- Waterproof camera or phone bag, if they have a phone
- Toothpaste and deodorant (and any other toiletries they need for hygiene and grooming)
Of course, if someone forgets any essential water park needs, you can buy them right outside the water park entrance. The Great Wolf Lodge also has a gift shop in the resort’s main area. They’ll even give you free wolf ears if you just howl. I certainly got mine!
What is the best age to visit Great Wolf Lodge?
If you’re wondering What’s the best age to visit Great Wolf Lodge? There’s no right age or age limit. The resort is built to welcome everyone from infants to grandparents and offers great value for family vacations. If you’re traveling with both toddlers and teens, look for a Great Wolf Lodge with the widest variety of slides and dry activities.
I was impressed with the variety of activities at Great Wolf Lodge for children of all ages. Although it’s known for its massive indoor water park, Great Wolf Lodge has safe kiddie play areas perfect for kids under 4 years old and offers complimentary family activities that toddlers, teens, and every age in between can enjoy.
My 6-year-old is short (like her mama) and is water shy, and she had so much fun in the splash pads, water play features, and slides for little ones. She also tried the shallow end of the wave pool with other toddlers even younger than her. And we enjoyed floating on a tube along the warm, gentle current of Lazy River together – it’s fun for your entire pack! You grab a tube and float along in a gentle current. This is a great one for people who want to enjoy the water but don’t want the intensity of the slides.
Even though I’m not a swimmer, I always felt confident because the Great Wolf Lodge water park is staffed by on-site lifeguards, making sure the children are safe among the thrills and the climbing.
And there are features that older children and teens can enjoy. My 12-year-old daughter loved playing water basketball and going on the thrilling big slides. Wristbands are programmed so that kids and teens get tailored access to the water park. And the best part? Not one single long line or boring wait (at least when we were there)!
There is even yoga in the morning, which was calling my name, but I opted for sleeping in this time. I always recommend planning vacations that can feel like a vacation for you and that you can also enjoy, because you matter, too, mama.
Things to do at Great Wolf Lodge for all ages
Great Wolf Lodge caters to both toddlers and teens with different but complementary activities. There were guests of all ages visiting the park, and it was a drama-free, chaos-free, and fun-filled environment. Plus, there’s no sunburn, and the water is always at a controlled temperature.
What Makes Great Wolf Lodge Good for Toddlers?
Let’s start with what’s available for toddlers and “young cubs” at Great Wolf Lodge parks:
- Safe splash play: Zero-depth entry pools, pint-sized waterslides, and interactive splash pads are built for little legs and not-yet-so-confident swimmers.
- Gentle entertainment: Interactive story time, arts and crafts, character meet-and-greets, dance parties, and themed activities outside of the waterpark.
- Family-friendly dining: Highchairs, kid menus, and quick-service spots. They are a nut-free facility and have gluten-free options. We are vegan, and all we had to do was talk to the chef, and he prepared something quite special for our pack. 🙂
- Room convenience: Suites with separate sleeping areas and cribs on request make nap times easier.
In addition to what’s included in your Great Wolf Lodge stay, here are some optional and recommended activities:
Build-A-Bear Workshop: This was a hit with both of my daughters, and it is perfect for little ones. Your kids can create and customize the most memorable Great Wolf Lodge souvenir: their own stuffed animals.
Elydia chose a she-wolf, which she called “Violet,” inspired by a character in the Story of Luna that played in the lobby. She loved dressing her and being part of her story. Eliana chose a Cinnamoroll, which she calls “Cinndi.” They’ve all been inseparable ever since!
Ten Paw Alley: Ten Paw Alley offers a unique mini-bowling experience that is perfect for families. It has shorter bowling lanes and lighter bowling balls, making it accessible and enjoyable for kids of all ages. The atmosphere features a whimsical style that aligns with the Great Wolf Lodge theme, creating a fun environment for both kids and adults.
Northern Lights Arcade: This amazing arcade is both kid-friendly and teen-friendly. It opens early and stays open late, and has a wide range of games with great prizes.
Oliver’s Mining Co.: This was enjoyable for both my toddler and pre-teen. Essentially, they can pan for gemstones using a traditional pan and mining bag, and add to their rock collection.
Why does Great Wolf Lodge Appeal to Teens?
Great Wolf Lodge was packed with teens during our visit, and they all looked like they were having fun! These are the activities my 12-year-old tween daughter most enjoyed:
- The adrenaline of big-thrill slides and wave pools. Some have drops and free-falls, but are fast and fun rather than scary, and accessible all day (9:00 am to 8:00 pm).
- Using resort-wide wristbands for cashless spending and room access, which means more independence and not worrying about leaving behind or losing your room key.
- The evening dance parties and later pool hours give teens their own social hangout time.
- Forts and water games like basketball hoops that you can enjoy solo or as a group.
- On-site dining options. Whether it’s a fancy or casual dinner, they have it all: pizza, salad, hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, fries, sweets, yogurt, fruit, pretzels, drinks, and an ice cream shop. We even found veggie patties!
- Free wifi and lots of USB charging outlets.
- Teens can have their own space in a larger suite. Our family suite had a full-size sofa sleeper, away from the bunk bed for the little ones.
- Unlimited use of the waterpark and no long lines!
And in addition to these, you can also opt to add some dry-land adventures, based on your budget, like the Howler’s Peak ropes course, a MagiQuest adventure, teen-friendly arcade games, mini golf, laser tag, and even virtual reality.
MagiQuest is like a scavenger hunt with a wand. They keep active, completing 30-45 minute quests, like they would on a video game. They get to keep the wand as a Great Wolf Lodge souvenir.
Ropes Course: The ropes course at Great Wolf Lodge has different skill levels and comes with a briefing session and harnesses to ensure safety and confidence.
How long should you stay at Great Wolf Lodge with toddlers and teens?
With all the exciting attractions and an entire indoor water park, you may think you have to stay a whole week to enjoy Great Wolf Lodge. However, though check-in is not usually until 4:00 PM, Great Wolf Lodge guests may start using the water park as soon as it opens on the day of arrival. As you check in, you’ll be issued your water park wrist bands, and you can start enjoying the park before your room is ready!
In addition, though check-out is at 11:00 AM, guests may continue to use the Great Wolf Lodge water park for the entire day until close. We took our luggage to the car in the parking lot and stayed at the water park until it was time for the winter activities in the lobby. They provide free luggage carts that you can use.
Did I tell you the water park has locker rooms and bathrooms for changing?
We stayed for two nights, but even a single night can stretch to two full water-park days if you arrive early and stay late. Bottom line: you can use the park during any water park hours – and that’s the Great Wolf Lodge main attraction.
We opted for two nights because with a more spacious schedule, toddlers can have more downtime, and teens have more time to socialize and explore every attraction.
Extra Tips and Mom Hacks for Families With Toddlers and Teens Visiting Great Wolf Lodge
- Split the day into toddler-friendly mornings, group lunch, and teen adventure afternoons.
- Share the Great Wolf Lodge social media feed or website videos with the pack so they know what to expect, especially with the little ones who might need a bit of confidence.
- Pack light jackets or cover-ups for moving between indoor and outdoor areas.
- Reserve a cabana for a quiet nap space.
- Check height requirements ahead of time to avoid surprises. The kids get measured, and the color of their wristbands lets the lifeguards know which rides they are safe to be on.
- Take advantage of meal packages to simplify feeding two age groups with very different appetites.
- Be sure to check out the Pup Pass, Wolf Pass, and Paw Pass at Great Wolf Lodge. These bundles provide a lanyard with free attractions, food, and store discounts. They include activities like MagiQuest, arcade credit, candy cups, free ice cream, and more.
- There are chairs all around the waterpark, and poolside cabanas are available for rent, if you want a more private space.
10/10 Def Recommend
My daughters did not want to leave, and we’re definitely coming back. They were never bored – there was always something different to do throughout the day, somewhere to go, or somewhere to explore. Great Wolf Lodge really does have the best activities for the family – and the kind, attentive staff is a plus!
What Great Wolf Lodge location would you like to visit? Comment Anaheim, Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, Dallas, Grand Mound, Houston, Kansas City, Mashantucket, Minneapolis, Naples, Boston, Niagara Falls, Pocono Mountains, San Francisco, Sandusky, Traverse City, Williamsburg, or Wisconsin Dells. And bonus points if you’ve already booked your stay!
Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results and help others do the same. Dr. Elayna Fernández is a single mom of 4, an award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 5x TEDx speaker. She has spoken at the United Nations, received the President’s Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award, and was selected as one of the Top Impactful Leaders and a Woman of Influence by SUCCESS Magazine. Connect with Elayna at thepositivemom.com/ef and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.
Want to support the Positive MOM blog?
The mission of the Positive MOM blog is to help moms break trauma cycles, find peace, and feel emotionally whole, so they can practice supportive parenting and create a positive and healthy environment for their children. If you found Elayna’s content valuable, please consider donating a love offering to enable her to keep creating content and helping more moms worldwide. Donate HERE.