I Took My Family of 7 to Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells. Here’s My Honest Review.

When we were looking for a spring break idea close to home that wouldn’t break the bank, we decided an indoor waterpark in the Wisconsin Dells would be a great getaway. I scoured the internet for a good deal and booked a two-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells.

Here’s what I know now that I wish I’d known before I booked.

1. Great Wolf Lodge does a great job communicating.

From the moment we booked our stay, GWL was in constant communication with us via email and text. Confirmation of our stay, tips to make our stay more enjoyable, and opportunities for additional perks (i.e. upsells) were dripped out by their automated email system at intervals that were just frequent enough to be engaging but not too often to become annoying.

On the day of our arrival, Willow (the automated concierge) began texting me specific details about our stay. This automated text system stayed in constant contact with me throughout our stay, allowing me to give feedback or send specific requests to the front desk directly from my phone. 

Checkout was also a breeze, as Willow sent a friendly text reminder that morning, and all I had to do was respond via text once we were out of our room.

2. Great Wolf Lodge understands large families.

While there’s an additional charge per person (beyond the standard four persons per room), GWL has lodging options that fit bigger families – which is frequently a challenge for our family of seven to find.

For our family, we chose a loft unit with three queen beds plus a full-sized pull-out couch/bed. Not only were there enough beds for all seven of us, but it included a second half-bath in the loft, which was much appreciated!

3. Great Wolf Lodge’s target audience is families with young children.

Our five kids range from 5 to 17, and while we were looking for a spring break option that would cater to our entire family, GWL was most enjoyed by the kids aged 5-10.

While the adults and teens in our family had a good time, the water park attractions were less thrilling and numerous than we would have preferred. However, the thrill level and number of attractions were just right for our elementary-aged kids.

We didn’t participate in any of the daily activities provided, but those were geared towards preschool to younger elementary-aged kiddos.

4. Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells is conveniently located.

When we visited the Dells last fall, we stayed on the main drag, across from Mt Olympus. It was loud and congested, and we knew we didn’t want to stay in that area when/if we returned.

Great Wolf Lodge’s location just off I-90 in Lake Delton was much more desirable. Within walking distance to numerous restaurants (both national chains and locally owned) and other attractions (such as Knuckleheads indoor amusement park and an outlet mall), there was plenty to do nearby without venturing into the crowds in town.

We opted to “eat out” rather than dine at the resort. Kwik Trip, Pizza Hut, M.A.C.S., Starbucks, & Culver’s were all less than a mile from our parking lot at the resort.

5. Great Wolf Lodge is well-run by a friendly staff.

While the lodge itself is showing its age, the operation seems to be well-run by a staff who enjoy working there. Each staff member we encountered was friendly, courteous, and focused on doing their job well. 

The lifeguards were attentive and professional. The front desk staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Even those cleaning rooms greeted us as we walked past.

This was a pleasant surprise as we’ve had less than stellar experiences with staff at other resorts and waterparks.

More to Know About Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells

Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells is a family-friendly resort known for its indoor water park, which is one of the largest in the United States. The resort offers a variety of water-based activities suitable for all ages, including water slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river. 

Beyond the water park, Great Wolf Lodge provides a range of accommodations, dining options, and additional attractions such as a ropes course, mini-golf, an arcade, and interactive games like MagiQuest.

The resort is designed with a rustic, Northwoods theme, creating a cozy and immersive environment for families. Rooms and suites are tailored to families of various sizes, with some themed rooms that include bunk beds and separate sleeping areas for kids.

Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells also focuses on family-friendly events and seasonal activities, offering unique experiences during holidays and special occasions. These can range from Halloween-themed events, with trick-or-treating and costume parades, to winter holiday celebrations featuring visits from Santa Claus and indoor snowfall.

As a destination, Great Wolf Lodge combines the excitement of a water park with the convenience of an all-in-one resort, making it a popular choice for family vacations. The Wisconsin Dells location, being the company’s flagship resort, holds a special place in the heart of many visitors and continues to attract families looking for a fun and engaging getaway.

My Honest Review of Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells

7.5/10 – Overall, we enjoyed our stay, but there were a few things we’d be remiss in not mentioning.

As I mentioned briefly above, the resort is showing its age. While the floor, bathrooms, and beds were clean, our room had peeling/missing wallpaper, a loose banister on the loft stairs, and some basic maintenance updates needed. 

The waterpark wasn’t clearly laid out (if you didn’t know where to look, you’d miss several of the slides), and it was mostly geared toward younger kids. The wave pool was small. The lazy river was short. And the number of slides was fewer than we’d expected. My youngest two thoroughly enjoyed themselves, the 10-year-old loved the “toilet bowl” tube slide, and the oldest two said it was “mid”. 

Since we got a BOGO deal, we felt we got our money’s worth. However, had we paid full price, we would have walked away quite disappointed. It was definitely an upgrade from our stay at Atlantis (would not recommend) last fall, but we’ll likely try Wilderness Resort or Kalahari the next time we come to town.