Winter Break Getaway: Great Wolf Lodge Stay for Just $83.61/Night with 6 Waterpark Passes!
Snag the hottest Great Wolf Lodge Groupon deal!
There’s still time to dash over to Groupon to score a Great Wolf Lodge Resort Stay + SIX waterpark passes for as low as $93.29 per night! Note that pricing will depend on your location and requires a two-night stay to snag this sale price.
Even better, for a limited time, you can use promo code GIFTJOY to score extra savings!
This is an awesome last-minute gift idea as there’s no shipping required and makes the perfect experience gift. OR plan a winter break trip for yourself and enjoy the 84° heated indoor water park!
Great Wolf Lodge Resort Stay – 2 Nights as low as $186 – $93/night (reg. $430-$498)
Use promo code GIFTJOY
Final cost $167.22 – just $83.61 per night!
*Choose from a Family Suite with two queen beds and one full sofa bed OR a Deluxe Bunk Room with one queen bed, one set of bunk beds, and one full sofa bed w/ daily waterpark passes for SIX!
Note that prices vary by resort, room type, and by date. Select locations may have a daily resort fee and other additional taxes and fees added at checkout in order to provide additional services that are often charged individually by other resorts. This fee covers services such as wireless internet, self-parking, fitness center access, in-room coffee and two bottles of water, life jackets and towels in the water park, access to fax, wolf ears, local phone calls, and a concierge service.
Before you plan your stay, check out these must-read tips & tricks from myself & fellow Hip Sidekicks:
1. Look for available Great Wolf Lodge Groupon deals and discounts first!
You can almost always find deals on Groupon – like the one available now! Three years ago (before my Hip days), we stumbled upon a Great Wolf Lodge Groupon deal that was able to help us plan an unforgettable (and affordable) trip for my son’s birthday, which has now become a yearly tradition.
2. Enjoy the water park for FREE on check-in day (wear your suits 👙)!
We always head to the resort decked out in our swimsuits and cover-ups, as you can gain access to the water park as early as 1 PM even though check-in isn’t until 4 PM. (Psst! My Hip Sidekick, Lina, once got into the waterpark as early as 11 AM on her check-in day – how awesome is that??) Then, on the day of check-out, you can stay until it closes (usually around 9 PM).
Hip Tip: On check-out day, if you plan on staying at the water park until it closes, be sure to be out of your room by 11 AM (which is easily done contact-free through their convenient text-out service) and store your luggage at the front desk or in your car.
It would also be very helpful to pack a smaller bag with a change of clothes that you can take into the water park and store inside their lockers (available for rent). You can also use their showers and dryers inside the water park.
3. Save luggage space! Don’t pack life jackets or beach towels.
Worry about one less thing and leave the beach and extra bath towels behind! The Great Wolf Lodge water park provides both; however, you may want to bring a swimsuit cover-up as the beach towels must stay in the water park area (and bath towels must stay in your suite). Inflatables are also not allowed.
Also, Coast Guard-approved life jackets are available in various sizes, so you won’t need to bring your own unless you want to.
Wondering if the water park is suitable for your non-swimmer?
Absolutely, yes! They have an entire area designed for infants/younger kids to enjoy, and parents are encouraged to go in and play with them. The indoor wave pool has three different settings, calm, medium, and a higher setting, which was a bit much for three and five-year-olds on their own, even with puddle jumpers. Plus, the outdoor pool is suitable for all ages to swim, splash, and play at their skill level!
One of my favorite attractions at the Wolf Lodge in AZ is the River Canyon Run as it is one that all five of us can ride on together! During our first ever visit, at just over a year old my youngest was able to sit on the intertube with us (no lap sitting allowed) and enjoy this HUGE & fun slide with gentle bends and curves and a fun display of rainbow colors!
4. Grab package deals before you head to the resort.
From specialty restaurants to MagiQuest or ShadowQuest (an interactive adventure game) to the Elements Spa Salon or Iron Horse Fitness Center, each lodge offers an abundance of awesome ‘dry land’ activities. The Arizona location even has an in-resort Build-A-Bear Workshop! 😍
To take advantage of these fun experiences while still saving a TON, consider bundling dining & entertainment passes with your reservation as these passes are often priced higher (& sometimes unavailable) when you purchase them in person at the resort.
5. Save over 30% by purchasing kids passes.
It’s hard to resist the excitement of all the extra activities around the resort! Kids are constantly playing MagiQuest or ShadowQuest and bringing interactive parts of the resort to life (the dragon at the Arizona resort is SO COOL)! There are also a ton of family-centered activities like miniature golf, bowling, rope, and rock climbing courses, and so much more!
If your kids want to do extra activities around the resort or if you want to make the most out of your Wolf Lodge trip as a family, consider saving a TON with specialty kids passes!
The Paw Pass is priced around $59.99 (may vary by location) and includes:
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- Choice of MagiQuest or ShadowQuest game
- Choice of classic or colored wand, standard topper, or Magi belt
- One Paw Points arcade/attractions card (20 points)
- One 12 oz. candy cup
- One single scoop of ice cream from Bear Paw Sweets
- One round of Howl at the Moon Glow Golf
- Oliver’s Mining Co. Experience (1 bag of gems)
The Wolf Pass is priced around $99.99 (may vary by location) and includes:
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- One MagiQuest game
- One Compass Quest game, classic wand, standard topper, or Magi belt
- One serving of select bulk candy from Great Wolf Candy Company
- One $5 Paw Points game card at Northern Lights arcade
- One scoop of ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop
- One round at Howl In One mini-golf
- One game of bowling at our fun-sized Ten Paw Alley
- One admission to Moonstone Mine at Oliver’s Mining Co.
- One Build-A-Bear animal (outfit not included)
- One Leather Treaty name bracelet
The Pup Pass is priced around $49.99 (may vary by location) and includes the following:
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- One Furry Friend from Build-A-Bear Workshop (outfit not included)
- 20 Paw Points at Northern Lights arcade
- One serving of select bulk candy from Great Wolf Candy Company
- One scoop of ice cream from Bear Paw Sweets & Eats
- One pair of select Great Wolf Lodge swim goggles
For me, the savings truly speak for themselves! If you’re doing the Wolf or Paw passes, just consider that the MagiQuest alone starts at $13.99 without the tax for the game and up to $22.99 without the tax for the wand. Then you add on five additional games, treats, activities, and more for as low as $59.99 – that seems like a fantastic deal to me!
But my absolute favorite thing about these kids’ passes is that it makes you feel like you’re truly on vacation…from swiping your card! I don’t know about you, but swiping my card on vacation for every little thing like food, souvenirs, etc. tends to stress me out, plus it adds up SO QUICKLY! 😬
Since the passes are already prepaid with your reservation, it doesn’t make me feel like I’m spending more or overspending (in fact it kind of feels FREE 😉 since the kids just show their passes at checkout. Absolutely no swiping of your card or pulling out that extra cash!)
And here’s what my Hip Sidekick, Lina, had to say about the passes…
We opted for the Paw Pass because the kids were dying to do the MagiQuest. If given the opportunity, my kids who were seven and eight at the time would spend more time doing the MagiQuest than they would at the water park. It is seriously their favorite thing. They had so much fun trying to decipher the clues and complete each mission.
6. Save up to $30 with a dining pass.
In addition to the kids passes, dining passes are available with exclusive discounts online only! You’ll pay just $170 for a $200 dining credit, $135 for a $150 dining credit, or $95 for a $100 dining credit. This is an easy way to save if you plan on staying in-resort or don’t have transportation to go outside of the hotel.
Hip Tip: One of the best options for feeding a hungry crew is to order a large 16″ pizza with toppings from Hungry as a Wolf, which costs around $14-$16, depending on your location. Bring a few 2-liter sodas with you to avoid paying for drinks and you’ll have a much more affordable dinner than eating at the restaurants.
7. Browse Groupon for local restaurants to save even more.
If you don’t care to eat in-resort, consider using a Groupon offer to save even more on nearby restaurants/experiences! I was able to more than double my savings by using a Groupon to a restaurant that was less than 5 miles from the resort! Plus, if you are on vacation, why not take advantage and explore all that the area has to offer, instead of being limited to just the resort?
This was my favorite way to save by far! I was able to pay just $27 for $40 worth of food at this cool dinosaur-themed restaurant nearby. My kiddos loved it, there were even more choices on the menu, and I paid WAY less than what I would have paid for eating at the resort!
“We never eat there because the food is too pricey. We always bring a huge bag of breakfast foods, snacks, sandwich fixings, etc. And we eat out for dinner. So much cheaper.”
8. You can’t beat the value of bringing food & snacks from home! 🙌🏼
Most of us savvy savers know that the BEST way to save on food & dining on any vacation is by bringing your own food! And yes, coolers are allowed at the Great Wolf Lodge, just not in the water park area. Rooms do have mini-fridges, and some have microwaves, so you can easily save money by having a supply of snacks and drinks in your room.
Don’t have a microwave in your room? Many readers mention they could acquire a microwave in their room by simply asking the front desk!
I was able to keep their bellies full while still giving them the magical feel of ‘vacation food’ with our team-favorite Bentgo boxes!
You guys, I literally made these sandwiches in the hotel room and cut them… with a spoon 😆! It’s true that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to make lasting memories. Plus, with these fun lunch boxes in tow, I was able to keep their food fresh and ensure they were eating a nutritious amount.
*Coincidentally, I also scooped up these Bentgo boxes on sale with Groupon when we last posted the deal! Sign up HERE for text alerts and we’ll text the hottest deals (like these Bentgo boxes) straight to your phone!
9. Know everything else there is to do.
All resorts offer a variety of games, attractions, and activities for your family to enjoy during your stay. Be sure to ask for board games from the front desk as it is a great way to unwind whenever everyone is tired and just wants to relax in your room.
And don’t forget about the FREE kids activities!
Simply head downstairs, and something is almost always happening in the hotel lobby. During our stay, it was the resort’s ‘Spring Breakout’, and there were so many activities for the kids to participate in, sometimes all the way up until 9 PM!
Kids can enjoy tail-shaking dance parties (with fun light shows), color their favorite Wolf Lodge critters, and listen to stories and plays, they even offered fun pajama parties – all for FREE!
10. Print Great Wolf Lodge coupons and save while you’re there.
If you’re planning to purchase items in the shops and/or take advantage of their services and entertainment options, be sure to check for coupons before heading to Great Wolf Lodge. To find Great Wolf Lodge coupons for your region, just click on your location and add “/coupons” to the end of the URL.
“They have extras to add on – kids salon for mani/pedi, arcades, fun souvenir stores, etc. that are decently priced, especially with their coupons!”
11. Military & first responders get Great Wolf Lodge discounts.
In addition to the Great Wolf Lodge Groupon deals, Great Wolf also offers a 25% off discount to all qualifying military and first responder families through their Howling Heroes program. Note that a valid ID must be presented at check-in and you must apply promo code HEROESA at checkout when making an online reservation.
“Thank you Great Wolf Lodge for offering discounts for military and first responders!”
12. Know when to avoid crowds.
To avoid crowds, hit the water park right when it opens (usually 9 AM or 10 AM during certain seasons) and an hour before it closes (usually closes at 9 PM or 10 PM during certain seasons). The lines at the water park are usually the longest in the middle of the day, especially for popular water slides, so try to go on as many rides as you can during non-peak hours.
With all that in mind, I will say that we have been to the Wolf Lodge every different day of the week/weekend in both April (around spring break) and August (some are still on summer break), and the crowds have never been unbearable.
Most recently, one of the staff members claimed they were at 85% capacity, but the attractions were NOT shoulder to shoulder. We didn’t wait in line at Build-a-Bear or MagiQuest, and it was still an intimate and fun family vacation!
13. Guard your wristbands.
The Great Wolf Lodge wristband is an important part of your lodge stay as it acts as your room key and payment method, valid to use anywhere in the lodge during your stay. When you check-in, your credit card information is added to your wristband, so you’ll want to be sure and guard it carefully.
If you don’t want your kids to have access to your credit card, be sure to mention this at check-in, and they will get a different color wristband that will deny them access to your credit card. Whenever you leave the resort, it’s a good idea to cut or shred the wristbands so no one can access your information.
Also, if your wristband is too long, a Pack Member at the resort will clip off the tail to make it less irritating. Plus, wristband snips have been saved by each department in the past and then entered in the “Great Wolf Tail Competition.”
Each little tail is collected, saved, and put in a large container as part of a monthly, spirited contest across all resort areas. The challenge is to see which department is a “cut above the rest” and how many guests had their wristbands sized to perfection. Pretty cool!
“I loved that they had a specific wristband color based on height. This way kids that are too small for taller rides are not allowed for safety reasons.”
14. Look out for a possible free Shutterfly photo book offer.
As one of Great Wolf Lodge’s perks, guests may score a promo code for a FREE 20-page 8×8 hardcover Photo Book ($29.99 value)! When you get to your room, look for a Shutterfly promotional card near a sample photo book with a unique promo code to redeem your offer. If you don’t see one in your room, inquire at the front desk for the promo. Valid at select locations.
“We love Shutterfly Photo Books, so this was a great and frugal way to cherish all the fun memories we had at Great Wolf Lodge!”
15. Have food allergies? No worries!
If you or a family member has food allergies, you may be happy to know that Great Wolf Lodge takes food allergies very seriously and will do everything to accommodate your needs. The resort’s chef will personally come out and talk with you and discuss your needs for a gluten-free menu.
And, last but not least…
16. Don’t forget to grab your authentic Wolf Lodge ears as a FREE souvenir!
Disneyland ain’t got nothing on these FREE wolf ear headbands! 😏 Everyone in the family can snag a classic pair from the Great Wolf Lodge gift shop. Just ask the friendly staff at the checkout counter! Limit one per person.
Note that there are also a ton of colorful, fun, and funky ears available for purchase if you’d like to add to your collection, but the free classic pair gets the job done for howlin’ good family photos while you’re at the resort or for a fun souvenir to snag on your way out!
Here’s why my family & I absolutely love our yearly Great Wolf trips (3 years & counting)…
I’m a Disney fanatic myself, so with countless core childhood memories at Disneyland, I feel like I’m almost an expert on magical experiences 😉 . Thus, I can confidently say the Great Wolf Lodge gives families a truly MAGICAL experience, on a smaller, more budget-friendly, and yet unforgettable scale!
Our most recent trip, just weeks ago, was the best one yet! It started with incredible staff members who were more than efficient and helpful with one of our issues and ended with countless hours of fun (I think my kids are still catching up on sleep! LOL). Although we never tire of the waterpark itself, we’ll never go back without grabbing the kids passes! The MagiQuest kept them entertained & in awe for hours, plus even with just 1 wand, all 3 of my kiddos were able to share and join in on the magic!
IDK how the Great Wolf Lodge does it, but somehow even for a small hotel room, the layout was ideal for a little parent and kid relaxation (and separation 😆). The kids had their own ‘room’ including a TV, but best of all the ‘bunk bed suite’ included THREE beds- one for each of my kiddos!
I can’t say enough amazing things about the Great Wolf Lodge, but just know that the water is always the perfect temperature, the lines have never been ‘too long’, and there is SO MUCH for kids of every age to do! I recommend this trip at least once to every family! ❤️
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