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| Three hours after arriving, Alex is still raving for another ride! |
Virginia's Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg may well be our family's favorite vacation spot ever! And that's saying a lot! When we went, there was literally a blizzard outside...but inside, it's always a perfect 84 degrees of splashin' surfin' fun.
That's because the 55,000 square-foot indoor waterpark/resort near Williamsburg boasts fun to rival Disneyland-- literally. As we waited to go down another fantastic water chute, I asked the kids, "Which do you think is more fun: Great Wolf Lodge or Disneyland?" "Truthfully?" they said. "Here!"
Now, it's not a day park-- you have to spend at least one night to use the waterpark--but it's SOOO worth it! Me, my husband (who'd just blown out his back), and two kids, and my sister-in-law had such an amazing time. We already can't wait to go back.
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| There's water fun for all ages! |
With its woodsy, log cabin theme, Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg is a full-service family vacation resort that captures the atmosphere and adventure of the northwoods. For families, it's a great package of amenities, including: 300+ family-sized suites; a 66,000 square-foot indoor entertainment area featuring the waterpark, an arcade, fitness and children's activity rooms; two family restaurants; a huge outdoor pool (just in case the weather is perfect); a miniature golf course, two spas, and several gift stores.
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| The "bucket" at Fort Mackenzie drops 1000 gallons of fun about every 5-10 minutes. |
We decided to start our visit by taking off a Friday and spending the morning shopping at the nearby Prime Outlets Williamsburg. We got to the park around 3 pm, and it took about 30 minutes to check in and settle into our lovely room.
(See our "Great Wolf Lodge Discounts & Tips for Your Best Stay Ever" page for details...). But we were soon geared up in swimsuits and flip flops to make our way into the park.
Ahhh. The wave of 84 degree air hits you like a balm the moment you enter the waterpark doors. We grabbed a towel from the endless supply at the kiosk at the entrance (next to a snack bar and swimsuit shop), plopped our stuff on a table, and went straight for the grandaddy of all rides: The Howlin' Tornado.
Howlin' Tornado is a six-story "extreme" tubing ride. Under a clear sky dome, Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg guests climb up a flight of stairs (after a few hours, it's quite a workout!), then drop into a 65-foot funnel (the eye of the tornado) in tubes that twist back and forth like pretzels and drop 30 feet each second, before shooting with a big splash into a pool.
Totally fun. Cool (in more ways than one). A little dizzying, so if you're motion sensitive like me, you may just want to do it once (or not at all-- I'd give it a 6 on my "Spin-O-Meter").
But Howlin'Tornado is just one of many attractions at the weather-oblivious waterpark, including six pools, seven other waterslides, a kiddie play area, the Flowrider surf simulator (see my YouTube video below), a wave pool, two whirlpools and the signature attraction, "Fort Mackenzie".
Fort Mackenzie is a four-story interactive waterfort featuring a huge tipping bucket. Just in case you feel like getting drenched by 1,000 gallons of water.
When you hear a bell start to clang, you know the bucket is getting ready to unload. Kids of all ages come rushing from all directions to stand under the bucket, waiting with anticipation. At the end of our visit, Alex proudly announced that he'd been drenched a total of "fifteen times, Mom!"
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| 1,000 gallons of fun coming to you! |
If you're looking for something a little gentler, try the giant Wave Pool which starts out at a 0 degree depth (like a beach), then deepens to maybe three feet. Hear wolves howling? That means that the waves are about to begin, and when they do, you can grab a clear donut floatie and enjoy the lapping waves.
Need a little peace and quiet? Just above the Wave Pool is not one, but two whirlpools-- one reserved for adults 21 and older. It's probably the quietest part of the park, which, I must admit, is pretty darn loud.
After winding down a bit in the whirlpool, we were ready for more fun, so we decided to check out the Flowrider surf simulator, definitely the most energetic (and dangerous) ride at the park.
How can I explain Flowrider? Here's the best way, with this video of my sister-in-law Cindy. (Click play, wait a sec, then click play again.)
A little advice on Flowrider? It's easily the most dangerous ride at the park. I read one reviewer online who said he broke his leg on the ride. We didn't break anything, but two of our party did end up with significant bruises from wiping out on it, so be really careful.
And...be prepared for wardrobe malfunctions! (You know, the Janet Jackson kind?) While watching people on Flowrider, we saw one woman lose her swim top...and a 6-year-old boy had his swim trunks yanked off!
Other Stuff to Do at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg: "MagiQuest" 3D Game, Arcade, Gr8_Space & More
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| MagiQuest's 3-D interactive game. |
Toes starting to look a little like raisins? No problem. Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg has plenty of "dry" fun as well. Take MagiQuest, their 3-D, interactive, live-action adventure game where you can slay dragons and defeat goblins (kind of a live-action Dungeons and Dragons.)
Called a "Renaissance-style fantasy propelled by modern-day technology," it allows you (the “Magi”) to get new powers, solve riddles, and earn your way to higher levels of the game.
Choose a magic wand (a techo-instrument that you use to control your play), attend a little wand training school, and work with other friends and family members to complete your quest (no two quests are alike).
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| The MagiQuest store has a huge variety of magic stuff. |
And should thy tummy get famished...no problem: You can return to MagiQuest at any time to finish your game, either during your stay or during another visit to Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg.
Game Fees: Wands are $15-$20 each (depending on whether you get the basic version or a fancy schmancy wand), plus $9.99 per game. Wands can be reused for the next time you come to Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg.
Two Big Tips! 1) If you're planning to reuse your wand on another trip to Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg, pack it away in a safe place! We know a number of friends who've had to purchase new ones because the kiddies "lost" theirs, or used it to dig mud pies and ruined them.
2) MagiQuest is one of only TWO things at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg (along "Howl in One Mini-Golf"--see below) which you can do without having to stay the night. So if you're in the area, you can just drop by and play a game 9 am to 10 pm.
Tweens and Teens? There's a full service Northern Lights Arcade full of games to keep you (and your wallet) occupied for hours. Buy tokens with cash--or, you can activate your child's wristband so they can bill tokens directly to your room. One scan gives you $5 worth of tokens. On your 5th scan, you'll get 12 extra tokens. It's open 8:30 am to 11 pm.
Or, Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg has Gr8_spacea tech center with teen-appropriate computer access, Play Station, Xbox, and Nintendo Wii. It's open from Noon to 11 pm.
Plus, weather-permitting, there's the 18-hole "Howl in One Mini-Golf," which is open to the public 10 am to 8 pm daily.
Need a little Kid-Less Time at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg? Try Cub Club. Open 10 am to 7 pm, Cub Club lets you drop off kids 4-12 (must be potty-trained!) for two hours worth of fun, a snack, a craft, and more. Price is $30 per child and must be reserved in advance.
True, 30 bucks seems like a lot to my frugal mind. But if money's no option or you just need little alone time, it may be worth the splurge.
Food, Rates & How to Do it For Less!
How can you save at the Lodge? For the link to my special page on how to stay for less, keep reading...
Where to eat at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg? There are a variety of food options within the lodge...so you never even have to leave the building if you don't want to.
Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg has three restaurants -- Bear Paw Sweets & Eats, Loose Moose Cottage, and Camp Critter Bar & Grille (where you can dine in a booth that looks like a tent).
Plus, they have a Pizza Hut Express right next to the check in desk. Prices aren't bad: You can get a personal pan pizza for $4-5, and a medium, one topping pizza for @$13.
That's not including the Spirit Island Snack Bar (which serves hamburgers, hot dogs, pretzels, drinks, and frozen desserts) just inside the waterpark. Prices are okay: $4-5 for a burger and $2 for a pretzel.
If you want something a little different, but don't want to hop in the car, just walk about a block across the parking lot to Jungle Jim's restaurant. (Think Rainforest Cafe with a jungle theme.) Not affiliated with the park, Jungle Jim's is similar in content and price to Applebee's.
Okay. Having given you all the options, I have to admit that we didn't eat at the park at all. Yeah, you could eat at Great Wolf Lodge without breaking the bank, but we chose the better, cheaper route.
While you're in Williamsburg, be sure to check out the other great area attractions, like Colonial Williamsburg, Kingsmill Spa & Resort, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. For reviews of all Williamsburg attractions and shopping, and tips for getting discount tickets, click here.
And for reviews of other Virginia waterparks, check out these links:
Water Country USA
Ocean Breeze Water Park
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