Great Wolf Lodge is springing into 2019 with the return of its fun-filled Spring-A-Palooza celebration. Families staying at any Great Wolf Lodge between March 16 – April 28, 2019, are sure to have a pawesome time as the resort comes into full bloom with a collection of exclusive spring-inspired events such as bubble dance parties and a special character-led tea party. Guests will splish and splash in the 84-degree waterpark and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Along with a vibrant and colorful transformation of the lobby, here are some additional entertainment options for families to enjoy during the six-week Spring-a-Palooza event.
Northwood’s Tea Party with Violet & Friends: New for 2019, beloved wolf Violet will host a tea party on select days of the week. Violet and friends’ tea party will feature songs, dances, cookie decorating, crafts, and games. Of course, no party would be complete without a special character meet and greet.
Bubble Dance Party: This special Spring-a-Palooza event fills the Grand Lobby with cascading bubbles while Great Wolf Lodge’s Ambassadors of Fun keep energy-levels high with a family-friendly dance party.
Spring-a-Palooza Story Time: Great Wolf Lodge’s nightly Story Time takes on a spring theme with a new tale featuring the Great Wolf Lodge characters called “Natural Wonders.” Kids are encouraged to wear their favorite jammies to the Grand Lobby for this event and will have the opportunity to meet one of the Great Wolf Lodge characters in person.
Jelly Bean Guessing Game: A gigantic jar filled to the brim with jelly bean candies sits in the Grand Lobby and guests are invited to enter a contest guessing how many delicious treats are within the jar. The guests closest to the correct number without going over will be entered for a chance to win a Great Wolf Lodge Gift Card.
Spring Themed Crafts: During Spring-a-Palooza, the resort’s Ambassadors of Fun will host several spring-inspired craft-making events for kids of all ages. Character-themed crafting projects include Oliver’s Crazy About Bugs Jar, Violet’s Springtime Noodle Doodle, Brinley’s Don’t Blow Away Kite and Wiley’s Can You Spot It Binoculars.
Along with the always complimentary waterpark entry for all overnight guests, all Spring-a-Palooza events are complimentary for guests staying at the resort. A complete listing of daily activities and times can be found in the Lodge Life event schedule provided to guests upon check-in.
For more information on Great Wolf Resorts and its brands of indoor water park resorts, visit greatwolf.com.
‘Tis the Season for Great Wolf Lodge’s Snowland Extravaganza
Great Wolf Lodge rings in the holiday season with its annual Snowland celebration from November 24, 2018 to January 4, 2019. The Lodge is spreading cheer to families this year with daily snow showers in the Grand Lobby, and visits from Santa Claus along with a life-sized Gingerbread House and more. Families will get into the spirit of Christmas, splash in the 84-degree waterpark, and create memories together that will last a lifetime.
Adults and children alike will be merry and bright as they arrive at Great Wolf Lodge’s winter wonderland complete with hundreds of twinkling lights, Christmas trees, and other jolly decorations in the Grand Lobby. The centerpiece of the Snowland celebration is the life-sized Gingerbread House constructed from more than 600 pounds of gingerbread dough, 1,300 pounds of sugar and hundreds of candies. For a truly delectable experience, guests can also dine in the life-sized gingerbread house with a small donation to the Ronald McDonald House. For reservations, visit GreatWolf.com/Snowland.
Snowland returns this year with guests favorite complimentary activities including Hot Cocoa with a Great Wolf Kid, the weather outside might be frightful, but the Lodge’s delicious hot cocoa bar will warm even the chilliest of guests up; Cookies with Mrs. Claus, where children have the opportunity to decorate cookies in the Gingerbread House with Santa’s leading lady; the Polar Wolf Walk, a tour of the lobby that teaches children about polar bears penguins and more. Families can wind the night down by cozying up to watch a holiday movie in the Grand Lobby during Festive Family Flicks.
Snowland’s most popular offerings are available including visits from Santa Claus; Santa’s Letter Depot, where kids can mail a letter to Santa in the Grand Lobby; and North Pole University, where kids complete fun, holiday-themed assignments around the resort for the chance to earn a Snowploma. During the howl-iday season, children’s activities such as Story Time, Yoga Tails and Paws on Projects will also get dash of Christmas cheer.
In addition to two days of play in the water park for each night stayed at Great Wolf Lodge, all of the Snowland activities are included complimentary as part of an overnight stay. Activities vary daily and based on location. A complete listing of daily activities and times can be found in the Lodge Life event schedule provided to guests upon check-in, or verified in advance by calling the location directly.
For more information on Great Wolf Resorts and its brands of indoor water park resorts, visit greatwolf.com.
Adults and children alike will be merry and bright as they arrive at Great Wolf Lodge’s winter wonderland complete with hundreds of twinkling lights, Christmas trees, and other jolly decorations in the Grand Lobby. The centerpiece of the Snowland celebration is the life-sized Gingerbread House constructed from more than 600 pounds of gingerbread dough, 1,300 pounds of sugar and hundreds of candies. For a truly delectable experience, guests can also dine in the life-sized gingerbread house with a small donation to the Ronald McDonald House. For reservations, visit GreatWolf.com/Snowland.
Snowland returns this year with guests favorite complimentary activities including Hot Cocoa with a Great Wolf Kid, the weather outside might be frightful, but the Lodge’s delicious hot cocoa bar will warm even the chilliest of guests up; Cookies with Mrs. Claus, where children have the opportunity to decorate cookies in the Gingerbread House with Santa’s leading lady; the Polar Wolf Walk, a tour of the lobby that teaches children about polar bears penguins and more. Families can wind the night down by cozying up to watch a holiday movie in the Grand Lobby during Festive Family Flicks.
Snowland’s most popular offerings are available including visits from Santa Claus; Santa’s Letter Depot, where kids can mail a letter to Santa in the Grand Lobby; and North Pole University, where kids complete fun, holiday-themed assignments around the resort for the chance to earn a Snowploma. During the howl-iday season, children’s activities such as Story Time, Yoga Tails and Paws on Projects will also get dash of Christmas cheer.
In addition to two days of play in the water park for each night stayed at Great Wolf Lodge, all of the Snowland activities are included complimentary as part of an overnight stay. Activities vary daily and based on location. A complete listing of daily activities and times can be found in the Lodge Life event schedule provided to guests upon check-in, or verified in advance by calling the location directly.
For more information on Great Wolf Resorts and its brands of indoor water park resorts, visit greatwolf.com.
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Snowland Returns to Great Wolf Lodge at Charlotte/Concord
If you're looking for somewhere to visit with your family this holiday season, Great Wolf Lodge at Concord is hosting its annual Snowland celebration. It runs from November 26th to January 1st. The resort is transformed into a winter wonderland complete with indoor snow showers and spectacular decorations.
Great Wolf Lodge’s month-long winter celebration, Snowland, offers festive activities from visits with Santa and Mrs. Clause to indoor snow showers to a Polar Wolf Walk. For a truly delectable experience, visitors are invited to dine inside the resort’s life-size gingerbread house. Other activities are Santa’s Letter Depot, North Pole University with holiday themed projects and the Great Clock Tower Holiday Show and Story Time.
Featuring more than 5,000 candies, 600 pounds of gingerbread dough and 1,320 pounds of sugar, the life-size gingerbread house is baked, iced and candied to absolute perfection, setting the scene for a memorable holiday feast. The appetizing walls of the lodge-baked abode have as much heart as taste, as the proceeds for each meal go to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Guests can opt to stay in festive Snowland Suites, complete with twinkling lights, glimmering garland, a fully decorated tree, oversized snowflakes and a copy of Great Wolf Lodge’s story book, “Unique as a Snowflake.” As a special treat, Wiley and Violet the Wolf hand deliver cookies and milk to each Snowland Suite nightly to help guests end the day with a super sweet surprise.
Adults can receive their own special delivery of Wine Down Service. The menu, developed by Great Wolf Lodge and The Wine Group, features both sweet and savory culinary treats with wine pairings that can be delivered to the guestrooms after children go to bed. To avoid waking up the kiddos, a “pack member” sends a text announcing the delivery is on its way rather than knocking.
Here are some of the fun activities they have in store:
About Great Wolf Lodge:
Great Wolf Lodge is North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, and through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge brand. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; Fitchburg, Mass., Charlotte, N.C.; Garden Grove, Calif. and Colorado Springs, Colo. Additional resorts planned include Bloomington, Minn. (late 2017), LaGrange, Ga. (late spring 2018) and Gurnee, Ill. (summer 2018).
Featuring more than 5,000 candies, 600 pounds of gingerbread dough and 1,320 pounds of sugar, the life-size gingerbread house is baked, iced and candied to absolute perfection, setting the scene for a memorable holiday feast. The appetizing walls of the lodge-baked abode have as much heart as taste, as the proceeds for each meal go to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Guests can opt to stay in festive Snowland Suites, complete with twinkling lights, glimmering garland, a fully decorated tree, oversized snowflakes and a copy of Great Wolf Lodge’s story book, “Unique as a Snowflake.” As a special treat, Wiley and Violet the Wolf hand deliver cookies and milk to each Snowland Suite nightly to help guests end the day with a super sweet surprise.
Adults can receive their own special delivery of Wine Down Service. The menu, developed by Great Wolf Lodge and The Wine Group, features both sweet and savory culinary treats with wine pairings that can be delivered to the guestrooms after children go to bed. To avoid waking up the kiddos, a “pack member” sends a text announcing the delivery is on its way rather than knocking.
Here are some of the fun activities they have in store:
- Cookies with Mrs. Claus, where children decorate cookies in the life-size Gingerbread House with Santa’s leading lady.
- Hot Cocoa with a Great Wolf Kid for an afternoon sip. Kids can customize their cocoa by adding fun toppings, or a favorite adult libation for the parents.
- The Snow ‘n’ Glow Dance Party, the chance to prance and dance the evening away with neon glow sticks under falling snowflakes.
- Festive Family Flicks, a time to wind the night down by cozying up with the family and watching a holiday movie in the Grand Lobby.
About Great Wolf Lodge:
Great Wolf Lodge is North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, and through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge brand. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; Fitchburg, Mass., Charlotte, N.C.; Garden Grove, Calif. and Colorado Springs, Colo. Additional resorts planned include Bloomington, Minn. (late 2017), LaGrange, Ga. (late spring 2018) and Gurnee, Ill. (summer 2018).
See what's cookin' at Great Wolf Lodge Concord #hosted
Recently, my family and I had the great pleasure of visiting Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte/Concord, NC. This was our second time visiting, and that was almost 3 years ago. Although the resort had the same overall feel from the first visit, we soon learned that so much had changed, for the better. We were greeted at the door by the friendliest gentleman who quickly offered to unpack our car and take our bags up to our suite once we got checked in. The front desk clerk was very polite and the check-in process was a breeze. It felt like we were the only guests in the entire place despite how busy it was.
We stayed in the Family Suite that sleeps up to 6. There was more than enough space for my family of 5 and the overall suite was huge. The room was immaculately clean and we had ample towels, toiletries and extra pillows and blankets available. The rooms are so quiet although there is almost always a group of kids or families walking up and down the hallways. You can take a nap and not hear a single noise. I don’t think I have ever stayed at a hotel like that before.
The main reason we went to GWL was because I was invited to tour the resort and sit in on a luncheon to learn all about the latest updates and even upgrades happening at that GWL location. Angie Brown, the General Manager, took us on a tour of the resort and showed us all of the amenities offered. They have everything from a spa, gym, arcade, mini bowling alley, dining places and of course, the water park. It was really neat to learn some of the behind-the-scenes details of how Great Wolf Lodge was established and how the resort is run in a nutshell. I wish I could have spent a few more hours hearing more, but we had to eventually end the tour to get to the luncheon.
They had their Executive Chefs standing by in the business/conference center. I did not know that they even had a business area! It was very professionally set up with a very big dining table in the middle of the room. The table was set up beautifully for all of us. Chef Chris Hammond spoke to us about the latest developments in the Great Wolf kitchen and I think he surprised all of us. He gave us some background about himself and talked about when his wife was pregnant and they had their first child. He said she was constantly looking up information online and came across a blog that gave her so much information about food and what was best to feed her family. He said something that really stuck in my head; “It started with a blog”. Chef Hammond realized the power of social media and how he really needed to make some necessary changes with the food they serve their guests. They have completely revamped their menus to include many organic selections as well as foods with no GMO’s including their French fries. The amazing part is they don’t charge you more to give you much higher quality food that you can feel good feeding your family. They even spent 6 months researching all new ingredients to make the perfect pizza. I have to say that they last time I ate the pizza at GWL; we were completely turned off and actually threw most of it in the trash. It was that bad! Their all-new pizza is absolutely delicious. It is NY Style and they did not skimp on quality ingredients. Needless to say, none of it was left over and we know for a fact we will order from Hungry as a Wolf on our next visit. Chef Hammond informed us that if guests have any type of food allergies, they could make dishes to suit their dietary needs. All it takes is a request to speak with one of the chefs and they will make it happen. This is great news since so many people have sensitivity to gluten, nuts, dairy and many others foods. Speaking of nuts, they have made all of the food establishments at the resort nut-free. Of course you can’t stop guests from bringing foods into the resort containing nuts, but it’s so good to know for family’s that have nut allergies.
We visited newest restaurant at the resort called Lodge Wood Fired Grill. In a nutshell, it is family style fine dining. The menu offerings range from comfort foods like steaks and mac and cheese, to lobster and shrimp pasta or calamari with homemade dipping sauces as an appetizer. Choosing what to order was hard! We all ordered something different and shared everything. My hubby got the barbecue platter with all the fixin’s. It was fit for a King! The rest of us ordered the ahi tuna sandwich, chipotle chicken Panini, lobster and shrimp pasta and the little one got the mac & cheese with fries. We all shared the calamari appetizer and were blown away by how tender they were and how scrumptious the homemade dipping sauces were as well.
We were served enormous portions and had to take half of it back to the room to heat up for a midnight snack. They have a full-service bar and instead of traditional full-size desserts, they offered mini desserts. These mini desserts come in what looks like a double shot glass and is just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. We all picked different varieties: salted caramel brownie, red velvet, cheesecake, strawberry shortcake and chocolate pudding. They were all amazing! The salted caramel brownie was my personal favorite.
I found out from Executive Chef Chris Hammond that they use all organic ketchup in their restaurant and also non-GMO potatoes for their fries that are cooked in organic oil. It really blows me away how large their French fry portions are. I don’t think I have ever dined anywhere that organic ketchup was all they had. This is truly a different Great Wolf Lodge than I remember 3 years ago. You can tell how much time and love goes into each dish.
Our family enjoyed most of the amenities the resort has to offer, especially the water park and arcade. The girls even went to the new “Howly Wood XD Theater”. They have some amazing ‘rides’ and games in 3-D. I don’t think I have to tell you how much fun the indoor water park is. It was 49 degrees outside and we enjoyed the 84 degrees inside as we splashed and slid down the fun slides. Like always, Great Wolf Lodge makes safety a number one priority for their guests and there was no shortage of life guards, life vests for kids and staff members available to help with any of your needs. If you have never been to Great Wolf Lodge before, you are missing out on an amazing family adventure. I think the grown-ups had more fun than the kids!
A good tip is to go during the week for the best rates and fewer crowds. Amazingly with how crowded and busy the resort was when we went, there was minimal waiting and we still received the type of service like if we were the only family at the entire property. The staff is top notch and always there to help in any way or answer questions. Be sure to have the kids save up their allowance and birthday money because they will definitely want to check out the Northern Lights Arcade and partake in MagiQuest. They even have a new Great Wolf Kids Store where your child can create his/her own stuffed toy. Check out the Great Wolf Lodge website to book your trip. You can even browse dining options, menus and services offered to help plan better and budget for your visit.
A big thank you goes out to Great Wolf Lodge for hosting my family and taking good care of us. We can’t wait to book our next visit!
We had a special delivery brought up to our suite; Great Wolf Lodge's homemade fudge. Oh. My. YUM! |
Look at the great books and collector cards gifted to my son. He loves reading about the Adventures of the Great Wolf Lodge mascots. |
The main reason we went to GWL was because I was invited to tour the resort and sit in on a luncheon to learn all about the latest updates and even upgrades happening at that GWL location. Angie Brown, the General Manager, took us on a tour of the resort and showed us all of the amenities offered. They have everything from a spa, gym, arcade, mini bowling alley, dining places and of course, the water park. It was really neat to learn some of the behind-the-scenes details of how Great Wolf Lodge was established and how the resort is run in a nutshell. I wish I could have spent a few more hours hearing more, but we had to eventually end the tour to get to the luncheon.
This was the perfect sampling from the new Lodge Wood Fired Grill. Everything was delicious and full of flavor. |
This was breakfast from the morning buffet at the Loose Moose Cottage. There was something for any taste or appetite. This was the BEST breakfast buffet I have ever had. |
We visited newest restaurant at the resort called Lodge Wood Fired Grill. In a nutshell, it is family style fine dining. The menu offerings range from comfort foods like steaks and mac and cheese, to lobster and shrimp pasta or calamari with homemade dipping sauces as an appetizer. Choosing what to order was hard! We all ordered something different and shared everything. My hubby got the barbecue platter with all the fixin’s. It was fit for a King! The rest of us ordered the ahi tuna sandwich, chipotle chicken Panini, lobster and shrimp pasta and the little one got the mac & cheese with fries. We all shared the calamari appetizer and were blown away by how tender they were and how scrumptious the homemade dipping sauces were as well.
Oh boy, we had so much delicious food! |
I found out from Executive Chef Chris Hammond that they use all organic ketchup in their restaurant and also non-GMO potatoes for their fries that are cooked in organic oil. It really blows me away how large their French fry portions are. I don’t think I have ever dined anywhere that organic ketchup was all they had. This is truly a different Great Wolf Lodge than I remember 3 years ago. You can tell how much time and love goes into each dish.
Wiley the Wolf and friends were always photo-ready. They have so many fun activities for the little ones including a dance party and story time. |
Be prepared to unleash your inner child on the super fun slides and attractions. |
A big thank you goes out to Great Wolf Lodge for hosting my family and taking good care of us. We can’t wait to book our next visit!
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Our Great Wolf Lodge Experience
We had the great pleasure of experiencing Great Wolf Lodge (Concord, NC) to end our summer off with a splash! Unfortunately, the weather was not the best but it did not stop our adventure. Lucky for us, Great Wolf Lodge has an amazing indoor water park that is kept at a comfortable 84 degrees. Before I go into that, I will start by telling you our first impression when we drove up to the resort.
The entire family fell in love with the beautiful grounds and the enormity of the resort. The gorgeous wolf statues were huge! We were promptly greeted by a gentleman at the front entrance and directed to our parking spot. Then we entered through the front doors and immediately started oohing and ahhing. It was so beautiful inside, almost overwhelming at that! Our experience at the check-in desk was fast and the clerk was extremely professional and helpful. We felt as if we were the only guests on the property with the type of customer service we received. Truly first class!
Once we got our wristbands and room information, we headed up to our Family Suite. What a lovely suite it was! I can't begin to tell you all how clean and pretty the room was. There were so many wonderful details including the signature wolf towel on one of the beds, rustic decor, an in-suite safe, microwave/fridge/iron & ironing board, balcony with table and chairs and one of my favorites... the signature paw print embossed toilet paper. You can absolutely tell how much the resort management and staff care about their guests by how immaculate the property is inside and out. We had an abundance of towels, blankets and extra pillows. The beds were so comfortable and we slept soundly. We were amazed at how quiet it was in our suite since the resort was super busy and packed with so many families. Another great plus is how environmentally friendly the whole facility is by having recycling bins in each suite as well as all over the resort. Even the hair dryer in the room had green standards!
Although this is not my photograph, I wanted to show you what the indoor water park was like. Truly amazing and everyone had a blast! There was something for every age. The water slides were incredible and the outdoor pool area was very nice and lots of fun! It was almost impossible to get the kids out of the water. Something I noticed was that EVERY lifeguard on duty was very focused and constantly looking around to make sure all the guests were safe. That truly made us feel at ease, especially with a 4 year old that can't swim yet. |
The other big highlight of our visit was the Northern Lights Arcade. We ALL had so much fun and I can't remember the last time I laughed that much, non-stop! There were so many other activities but we did not have the time to do everything. We are planning to visit again when it is during the off-season. |
Little William loved the story-time at night at the big Clocktower. He was completely mesmerized. He still continues to howl "Great Wolf style", as he likes to put it. |
We want to give a big thank you to the entire Great Wolf Lodge staff for making us feel so welcome and comfortable. There was never a moment that we did not hear "We hope you enjoy your stay". That we did!
Stay connected with Great Wolf Lodge via the web, Facebook and Twitter for discounts and deals.
I received a discounted rate from Great Wolf Lodge and all thoughts/opinions are 100% my own.
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