kalahari vs great wolf lodge texas

Kalahari Resort has Tom Foolerys, a gigantic indoor adventure park. What we usually do @ Kalahari is claim a couple of tables next to the fountain in the lobby and while one of us stays with the family the other runs around to the different food venues to obtain the items we desire to assemble a meal. Great Wolf Lodge has more traditional tube, body slides, and a bowl slide. However, having fewer food venue choices and adult amenities limits your stay to a very kid-centric experience. The best Wisconsin Dells waterpark for you and your crew - OnMilwaukee The sound system is rather poor and the performance is rather loud. but also read water is cold. Waterpark admission included with your stay! Not quite as good as the one @ Kalahari but better than you will find at Great Wolf Lodge. The resort recently completed a huge expansion that added 130,000 sq feet of conference facilities to the 100,000 sq feet of existing facilities. Great Wolf Lodge has more charm and we enjoyed the lodge theme & the characters. Speaking of the wave pool we did find the buzzer alert to notify guests of the beginning of a wave cycle to be very harsh and not conducive to the relaxing atmosphere that should be associated with a wave pool. Texas is getting another huge indoor water park, reports say - KSAT 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. There are a number of other activities available at the lodge. As the kids went ahead, employee Jeremy helped to take bags upstairs. If I was ever to get a weekend alone with my wife we would go to Kalahari since there are more amenities and it is not so kid-centric. 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). The wave pool was on par with that at Great Wolf Lodge. Im pleased to hear that you enjoyed the various sections of the waterpark. So I guess you just dont need it that much. Many months later (due to COVID) we stayed at Camelbacks Aquatopia. My family recently visited Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, Texas. When we were last at Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos we did not stay in a themed suite. There are quite a few activities to engage in @ Kalahari. On a subsequent trip (after COVID) we also visited Camelbacks Aquatopia. It's the easiest way to hit the slopes! I asked everyone in the family if we are going back down to the Poconos and staying at one of the resorts tomorrow night where would you want to stay? Thank you for pointing out my mistake! We have never patronized the restaurant as it does seem expensive. 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. The Great Wolf Lodge resort in the Poconos was constructed in 2005 and is one of roughly 19 locations for the chain. It may come down to a simple question: How old are the children in your party? Weve stayed at GWL Williamsburg and Kalahari in the Poconos. The wave pool alternates between wave / no wave cycles. According to the contract, the family resort and water park will feature at least 400,000 square feet of lodging and entertainment space and the indoor water park will be at least 75,000 square feet. Our 2-year-old who would have nothing to do with a life jacket was able to play in the toddler splash park and wave pool as long as Melani or I was right with her. My sister, who was also staying at this resort had the African Queen suite and there was PLENTY of room for all of us if they would have moved us. Winner: Kalahari Resort (especially for older kids and teens). Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The kids really enjoyed the cabin themed suite which was adorned with a lot of cute character images. I look forward to hearing back from you. It reminds me of Disneys Wilderness Lodge. Great Wolf Resorts told KPRC in a statement, Were always looking for opportunities to introduce the Great Wolf Lodge resort experience to new audiences, and we are excited about the prospect of bringing one of our family-friendly indoor water park resorts to southeastern Texas.. Great Wolf Lodge has 18 locations, all of which offer indoor water parks with multi-story forts, 1,000-gallon soaker buckets, wave pools, lazy rivers, waterslides of varying heights and speeds, raft rides, whirlpools, kiddie pools and more. However, there were at least 6 employees assisting at the registration desk and the line moved relatively quickly. It is in the middle in terms of the size of its indoor water park and in number of rooms at the resort. We ordered a pizza and had it delivered to the room from the in-house Pizza Pubit was quite good and we felt reasonably priced! If there are any older children in your party, around 10 years and older, then they may not appreciate the kiddie theming that runs through Great Wolf Lodge. Choosing which resort to bring your family to can be daunting as both resorts offer very similar attractions and amenities. (Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Camelbacks Aquatopia) Which is the right waterpark resort experience for your family? 5 Indoor Water Parks for the Most Fun in Texas - Texas Hill Country The drive was almost exactly 100 miles for us and we arrived a few minutes after 1:00 pm. Winner: Kalahari Resort Rooms Both resorts have "normal" hotel rooms as well as themed rooms. We went for the Italian the second night and the food was again wonderful. Once again, the food was mediocre at best. Kalahari I feel would be better for the adults to have fun as well. Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge: Discover the Differences When we go to one of the three water parks in the Poconos we are usually going for water park & swimming fun so other activities are not our primary focus. Still it was a frustrating experience that cast a pallor over our time and experience there. See you soon! The closet was pretty small, and the bathroom was almost as small (with the sink located next to the fridge); however, those were relatively minor inconveniences.We went to Great Karoo Buffet around 5-5:30 and was relieved to see that it wasn't that crowded. 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. However, it was not a perfect experience in that the air conditioner vented right out onto the one end of the balcony. Robert, Some of the profit from any sale may merely make it intoourpocket instead of Jeff Bezos'! However, Great Wolf Lodge has a higher percentage of themed rooms available at a more reasonable price. If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. Note that it may be quite a walk from your room to the water park, or any other destination on the Kalahari Resort campus. Keep reading our Poconos water park guide & comparison to find out! The floors were full of paper, tissues, dirty towels, used dippers, used shampoo packets etc and there was no attendant in sight. We are happy to report that there were two night stands with our queen bed! B-Lux Bowling | Texas | Kalahari Resorts Kalahari Resort, positioned in Spherical Rock, Texas, is analogous in some ways to Nice Wolf Lodge. Kalahari has a lot of complaints on Google about 2+ hour check in times and no housekeeping. Hello and thank you for the review! There isnt any story that goes along with any of the characters as far as we were able to discern. Come splash around! We had no problem finding a table and chairs to rest our towels and use for eating later. This old-school hot dog shack across from Penn Treaty Park mostly caters to truckers, hence its early-morning hours. At the towel dispensary you simply swipe your wrist band and the attendant will hand you the number of towels you request. Imagine what it takes to run this place?!? GWL has excellent sales. The room was nice and clean but nothing particularly memorable. But, if or when we do return, I look forward to spending more time in that adults-only grotto. It was unpleasant to see and to step on. Kalahari Resorts opened in 2015 in the Poconos. Yes there were two night stands on either side of the bed in the master suite. I've been on trip advisor for years, but have never felt the need to leave a review until now. This post was incredibly helpful!!! It needs to be checked more often. Saturday, August 10, 2013 Great Wolf Lodge vs. Gaylord Texan By the time August rolls around our family is in desperate need of a get-away. It had its own TV and was adorned with a lot of cute character images. Hopefully you can keep returning and finding even more ways to have fun with us as the kids grow. See our Advertiser Disclosure and Editorial Notehere. Webster city officials released a statement on Facebook about the new Great Wolf Lodge development in December, stating that the water park and resort will bring more than 500 jobs to the area. Second, certain areas of the waterpark, especially the hot tubs, the wave pool and small kids areas were overcrowded. The Poconos Great Wolf Lodge location has more kiddie water slides than the Williamsburg location. The first thing that struck me the most was how dirty and unsanitary the waterpark was compared to before. Management thanks you for your suggestions and for noting how well-trained our associates are! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. An unpleasant smell hit us as soon as we opened the door, although I couldn't quite place it, at least not until we stepped further into the suite. Finding fun places to take your kids in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. (Basically a jumpy seat for adults.) 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. Kalahari Resort has an entire grotto (both indoor and outdoor) for adults with a swim-up bar. To read more aboutHOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL& aPRICE COMPARISONof ALL THREE POCONOS WATERPARK RESORTS check out my NEW post:Poconos Waterparks: How to Get the Best Deals at Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Aquatopia! Aquatopia Snowtubing, mountain coaster (4,500 feet steel track coaster), Euro Bungee tethered bungee jump. The room was not only spacious, but didn't reek like cat urine. Including a story time, dance time, crafts and more. We stored our bags with the assistance of bell staff and we went downstairs to check out the facilities.We had to go through a large (and very noisy) arcade to get to the turnstiles to the waterpark. The larger of the two play areas also includes a splash table for babies. There was also a buffet which was closed but other little caf options for grab and go type food, a coffee bar, ice cream stand, bakery.they forgot nothing!We felt like we needed more than one night so we asked to extend our stay another night and we were given a great rate to stay in our upgraded room so we jumped on the deal. Thank you to management for a well-trained staff and an enjoyable time! One time a lifeguard came out and caught one but without constant observation, it is impossible to parole this area. Seriously, this place is awesome! Two of the biggest and best (and among the industry's early pioneers) are in the water park capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells: Kalahari at 125,000 square feet and Chula Vista at 110,000 square feet . Your goal is our goal. Great Wolf Lodge is one of the very best things to do in Dallas I will be sure to pass your kind words along to Kassi, David, Robin, and Amanda! included with your stay Waterpark Admission Waterpark admission is always free when you stay with us. 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. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July.Let me start by saying that we have visited the Great Wolf Lodge location in Fitchburg, MA on 2 separate occasions and had enjoyable visits each time. There were not lights on both sides of the queen beds which made night-time reading hard for the person on the side with no light. It had a large walk-in area that had a sink and kitchenette. Friendly, accommodating, informative.we were very happy with the initial interaction. The cabin was towards the front of the room and was semi-private for the kids. WEBSTER, Texas Texas is set to add another Great Wolf Lodge location to its ranks. The wolf mascots host a nightly dance party and pj story time. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. If you have visited all three waterparks in the Poconos please let us know which one YOU liked best! Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, TX is like Great Wolf Lodge on steroids. It was nicely decorated and efficiently arranged. Seriously, I'm not being dramatic. Welcome to Great Wolf Lodge! Im not sure if it something that they created or if it has its origins someplace else. Likewise the lobby is magnificent! Great Wolf Lodge also has activities that vary with the timing of your stay. We figured that we'd have a good dinner to make up for it.After another 90 minutes or so, we decided to check out the room. Sincerely, Chip. My husband was brave enough to continue exploring as I sat out on the ground level patio. Looking up to the roofline Aquatopia does feel more open and expansive since it is more of a sweeping semi-circle in shape. Kalahari features a number of signature sit-down restaurants (Sortinos Italian Kitchen (Italian food), B-Lux Grill & Bar (Burgers & Shakes), Double Cut (Steakhouse). From what we saw of the pricing most of the activities were on the more expensive side. Location: 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun, PA. Heres a comparison guide for all three of these resorts. This was our 3rd visit to Kalahari, the 2 previous times we stayed was before March 2017 when the resort was only half way completed. Since we are fans of Indiana Jones we like most archaeology theme including this one but I would not say the theme-ing is immersive other than the lazy river. All three resorts are really good choices for water park fun with a family. Socks are required in order to bowl. Many of the activities are located right on the main level off to the left of the main lobby so they are very visible. 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. I found the photos pleasing to look at and relaxing! The hostesses and the servers were professional and pleasant. At times Kalahari actually felt a littletoo bigfor us. The side-lite mirror was a nice feature that we enjoyed. Kalahari Resort's water park has more of everything and also includes a Flowrider, which is popular with older kids and teens. Great Wolf Lodges water park continues their wildlife theme. I hope you have a wonderful time with your family! Kalahari did a remodel on their indoor kid area about a year ago. I' m not concerned about price, can get a deal. I actually have a hard time believing that the square footage of the park is larger than the water park @ Great Wolf Lodge. It was voted the #1 indoor water park in 2015 by USA Today. We may also participate in other affiliate programs from time-to-time and be compensated for referring traffic & business to these companies. Our Locations - Great Wolf Resorts Sincerely, Since we are usually there for just one night we resign ourselves to it being a pizza for dinner night. Check there and compare prices with their website to find the lowest prices for your stay. Another note worth mentioning the bathtubs @ Kalahari are huge! Kalahari is a better choice for families with adolescents and teens, while Great Wolf Lodge is perfect for elementary-age children. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. The view felt somewhat private and we really enjoyed it! Likewise, there is a cost associated with the convenience of those activities being offered right there and that is cost. There were a total of 3 TVs one in the Family Room where the pull out bed / couch was, one in the master suite and one in the second bedroom with the two queen sized beds. CHECK IN/ROOM - We checked in with Kassi at We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. 2 of themone outside by the immense outdoor pool and one heated one inside. Chip Williamson All Rights Reserved. Which is better for his age? Camelbacks Aquatopia resort opened their indoor water park in May of 2015. [3] Great Wolf Resorts is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The entire Kalahari Resort is enormous. Kalahari even has a five bedroom suite that can have a maximum of 22 guests. This happened before on our previous visits but given the number of people this time, they kept closing the areas for cleaning constantly. It is really the other aspects of the resorts and accommodations that will determine which resort is the better choice for your family! (Activities vary by location). Magic wands are needed for this game, and there is a fee to activate them for a certain period of time. However, each locations water parks and amenities vary. In my mind, Kalahari works best if you have a family with kids of different ages so each can be active. Also, the post was never updated to include information about Aquatopia. 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. The front desk staff was extremely professional, friendly and helpful. We went to all three water parks in the Poconos (Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Aquatopia) to find out which one is the BEST water park. The development is expected to break ground during. Speaking of loud There is usually a dance party in the evening which we found to be extremely loud! We liked the luggage rack near the door and the shelf over the microwave. It has a transparent Texlon roof that lets in natural sunlight while providing protection against the suns harmful UV rays. Much more concise! Welcome to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Round Rock 223,000 square feet, filled with wet, wild, fun. Best Water Parks in the Northeast For Families (By Age!) We joke that we lost Sophie our 2 year old for 5 minutes in the immense suite! Please email me directly at PAConnect@kalahariresorts.com. It seems that there are parts of the water park that are only staffed at peak attendance. But, my kids are little fish who love swimming, and they cant get enough of this type of resort. Water park access was included. You can reach me at PAConnect@KalahariResorts.com. My family has stayed in themed rooms at both resorts. Overall we felt like Kalahari was much better before the expansion. But we generally dont patronize too many sit down restaurants with 4 kids with ages ranging from 2-10. It is especially better for younger kids ones who dont want or need a life jacket! (It was almost like an obstacle course with the running kids, machines, flashing lights, and noise.) The other kids and I voted for Great Wolf Lodge. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. The IVORY COAST restaurant had a great selection of food and we thoroughly enjoyed doing takeout from there. The splash park area of the water park devoted to smaller children (toddlers Penguin Play Bay) is very weak compared to Kalahari and somewhat awkwardly placed on a second tier of the waterpark close to some steps going down. Part of the joy of Great Wolf Lodge is its size. Camelback Mountain Resorts waterpark Aquatopia, Cafe & Bar (AKA, Mountain Market, World Bazaar Coffee Shop). It was HORRIBLE! The water park @ Kalahari is HUGE. What are you waiting for? Great Wolf Lodge's water park is 80,000 square feet, but Kalahari's is over 220,000 square feet. I was wondering what your experiences have been with that. Im guessing the youngest of your children voted for GWL? Let me start by saying that we have visited the Great Wolf Lodge location in Fitchburg, MA on 2 separate occasions and had enjoyable visits each time. If youre looking for other vacation ideas check out our Family Travel Tips for Niagara Falls! The clothing line in the bathroom was broken and the bed covers had an unpleasant smell. In November 2020, a competitor to GWL opened in Texas. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your recent visit. Shooting Range (tourist favorite) is closer to Great Wolf. Poconos Waterpark Comparison Guide: Kalahari versus Aquatopia & Great Great Wolf Lodge. The photos were nature themed and glossy. Both are great options for kids. To the left of the lobby is almost exclusively devoted to games and activities for kids really tweens & teens. Lately we have been hitting the snack bar (Pizza Pub) down in the arcade for the burritos and then the store (Marrakesh Market) right at the edge of the lobby for some of the soups. Offers more free activities in the main lobby. We were on the bottom level and we had a small patio walk out area next to the ropes course. 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. Kalahari Resort Market Cost The overnight costs for both of these resorts can vary widely throughout the year. Imagine what it takes to run this place?!? Wisconsin Dells, WI https://www.greatwolf.com/wisconsin-dells Let's talk about the Royal Hospitality Suite at Kalahari Pocono. Kalahari and Chula Vista - now that the "Flyin Mayan" ride is back - are also. (especially Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge) If you were to drive from Kalahari, to Great Wolf Lodge, and then to Aquatopia the total distance would be approximately 11.3 miles and take just 26 minutes. Here's our overall review.. Many of these water parks are resorts, meaning they also comparison guide for all three of these resorts, Lindt Chocolate Factory Outlet Carlisle, PA.