Staying: Great Wolf Lodge

A little over two weeks ago we started our new homeschooling year. To get the year off to a great start, we headed out of town to stay at Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, NC.

wave pool - 15 aug 2011

While booking, I debated whether to try out this new-to-us waterpark or return to Wilderness in the Smokies where we had stayed last year. Great Wolf Lodge is more expensive but has the added bonus of MagiQuest right in the building. After booking a room with two queen beds, I registered for a “stad-by upgrade”. The idea is that if there is a better room available on check-in, I agree to take it for a slightly higher price than the room I reserved, but less than what I’d pay if I had reserved the better room.

We arrived around 1pm on Sunday afternoon. There was a long line at the check-in, but it moved fast. I was offered an upgrade, but at a higher price than what I was promised in the “stand-by upgrade”; the desk clerk honored the price I had locked in, and we got a Kids’ Camp room which has bunk beds in a small “room”. The girls LOVED it. The room also had a table and chairs, couch, fridge and microwave. I had brought plates and silverware, so we were able to run out to the nearby Super Walmart and stock up on fruit, veggies and meals. We did not eat at the resort. It was too expensive and too unhealthy, and we were much beter off with fresh fruit and veggies from the grocery store.

bunk beds - 15 aug 2011

Our room was not ready at check-in, so we headed down to the waterpark to swim while we waited. The indoor waterpark was slightly larger than the indoor waterpark at Wilderness in the Smokies, but the outdoor pool was smaller and not as much fun as the two outdoor waterparks at Wilderness in the Smokies. The waterpark was very clean and the lines for the slides orderly; however, it was a bit crowded and it was near impossible to get an inner tube for the wave pool.

at the waterpark - 14 aug 2011

waterpark slides - 14 aug 2011

Once our room was ready, I was given a new bracelet — my room key! That’s a wonderful improvement. We could go off to the pool with nothing that we might lose.

As I wrote earlier, the girls loved having MagiQuest right outside the door, and the price could not be beat.

bedtime story - 15 aug 2011