Great Wolf Lodge offers day passes, but do the math before you promise the kids a day trip

This summer, the national chain of indoor waterparks, with a location in Concord near Charlotte, announced that it has started offering day passes. Until this summer, only overnight guests could play in the waterpark.

Posted 7:18 p.m. Jul 17, 2019 — Updated 7:18 p.m. Jul 17, 2019

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

If your kids are clamoring to go to Great Wolf Lodge, but you'd rather not stay overnight, you now have an option.

This summer, the national chain of indoor waterparks, with a location in Concord near Charlotte, announced that it has started offering day passes. Until this summer, only overnight guests could play in the waterpark.

The passes start at $50 per person.

"We believe time together as a family is a precious commodity, and the ability to slip away for day, or even a few hours, to have fun at our waterparks is something we feel families will be excited about," said Murray Hennessy, chief executive officer for Great Wolf Resorts, in a press release. "While an overnight stay provides families with the most immersive and comprehensive Great Wolf Lodge experience, we recognize that many families are pressed for time and can't get away for a night, so we wanted to provide another option."

According to the release, the number of waterpark day passes will be monitored each day to ensure there aren't too many people inside the park. The number available will be based on the projected number of rooms to be occupied at the resort.

But, before you promise your kids a day trip to Great Wolf Lodge, it might be worth doing some math.

With tickets starting at $50 per person, a day of play for a family of four could still reach $200—about $70 less than the best available rate for a night in August and more than you might pay if you picked up an offer code or Groupon deal.

And, on a quick look of Great Wolf Lodge's website, most day passes were not $50 at the Concord location. They ranged from $55 per person and up to $95 per person, depending on the day. Fridays and weekends were more expensive than weekdays. (Kids 2 and under are free.)

By comparison, at $109, a one-day ticket to Disney World will set you pack just $14 more than a weekend day pass to Great Wolf Lodge this summer.

If you're looking for a cheaper waterpark experience, it might be worth checking out Emerald Pointe in Greensboro. Tickets purchased online to Emerald Pointe, an outdoor waterpark, start at $32 and go up to $43. Kids under 48 inches also enjoy a discount online.

Suggest A Correction