CONCORD, N.C. — It will still snow three times a day inside
Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, but you won't be able to dine inside a giant Gingerbread house anymore.
The family-fun destination kicks off its Snowland celebration Friday and lasts through Jan. 5, 2020.
Gone this year will be the life-sized gingerbread house, which was a partnership with Ronald McDonald House charities. This year, the lodge has teamed up with Make-A-Wish to offer Santa Hat Wolf Ears for $8.99 on-site. Two dollars from each sale will go to the nonprofit, which helps grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Ears are available until Jan. 5 or until supplies run out.
The recent $7 million renovation to the Concord location also affected the location the gingerbread house used to sit. That renovation, which was done over three months, mainly targeted guest rooms - taking the resort's room from classic log cabins to a modern, rustic Northwoods lodge feel with dark wood tones. The carpets, furniture, paint, light fixtures, couches and tables were all updated. Despite the large amount of rooms and hallways to be changed, at no point was the resort closed. Crews just worked on a portion at a time.
Note: Some of those newly renovated rooms hae gotten a Snowland makeover, complete with trees and giant snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. The Snowland Suites can be booked by using promo code "SNOWFLAKE."
New Snowland activities
The lobby features a giant Christmas tree and will be home of the new Snowfall Celebration interactive show. Families are encouraged to ring jingle bells, sing and dance to help "conjure" the magical snow in the lobby. Don't let your children eat the snow though because it's actually made of soap.
Another new fun element is the "Great Wolf Lodge Polar Bear Plunge," where children can draw polar bears on "icebergs" and send them down one of the slides in the waterpark.
There will be some fun games for children to enjoy including Feed the Snow Monster, Reindeer Antler Toss and Pin the Nose on Mr. Snowman.
Even the morning Yoga Tails activity is getting a holiday twist with a rebranding as 'Twas the Morning Before Snowland. The daily storytimes will also be changed to include a reading of Great Wolf's book, Unique as a Snowflake.
In the evening, the Frosty Fest Family Dance Party will include a mix of holiday hits and some instructors to teach the children some choreographed dances.
The lobby will also be home to a new hot cocoa bar, which will include peppermint and cinnamon sticks. Drinks can be flavored with vanilla or caramel and adults can enjoy some Kahlua or Baileys added to their cocoa. (And if you are craving some holiday cocktails, there are two new holiday-themed drinks that come in light up souvenir glasses. These drinks, plus a fun children's mocktail drink, also served in a light-up glass, are available at the two restaurants at the lodge.)
Santa will also be on hand starting Saturday. It's the same Santa that has been coming there for years and he's great with the kids.
Before you Go
I've been in Great Wolf Lodge a few times with my children at their various ages. I'd consider myself a GWL expert at this point so here are a few tips I've come up with:
Go with a group: Rooms can be expensive (unless you book via a Groupon or during a special sale) so consider going with friends so you can split the room cost.
Get a cabana: If you have a group, consider booking a cabana in the waterpark. It gives children a home base to come back to throughout the day. Plus, if you have smaller children, it is a great spot for them to take a nap and relax. They can watch TV, eat lunch and recharge their batteries.
Buy those refillable cups: You can refill them throughout your stay and save you a ton of money.
Breakfast: Order Dunkin Donuts delivery in the morning. It's worth the extra dollars and will save you from waiting in the long line each morning. If you are trying to save money, there are also some great fast food breakfast options nearby.
Lunch: Since outside food isn't allowed into the waterpark, I'd suggest eating at the lodge. The Hungry As a Wolf pizza shop is a great option. Buckets, the stand located in the waterpark, serves burgers, fries, chicken tenders and salads. Go ahead and get the infamous Tipping Bucket (which contains layers of ice cream, fudge, gummy bears and whipped cream). It is worth it for the instagram post alone.
Dinner: If you are budget conscious, consider going off-site for dinner or ordering some pizza. If you want to dine on-site there are some tasty options though, including the Lodge Wood Fired Grill has steaks, pasta, mac and cheese (my favorite) and wings. The Loose Moose Cottage has good breakfast and dinner buffets and a tasty dinner buffet.
Cookies and Milk Delivery: For $25, you can add a special delivery to end your day. One of the Great Wolf Lodge characters will drop by your room to deliver cookies and bottles of milk just before bedtime. It's fun to open the door and see the character standing there! Cookie deliveries start at 8:45 p.m. though so it might be hard for some children to stay awake after a long day at the waterpark.
Build-A-Bear: GWL Concord now has a Build-A-Bear Workshop inside. They have a small collection of characters to choose from, including the GWL main characters.
Get a Pass: There are three passes you can buy for your children in advance of their visit (or at the front desk). The Paw, Pup and Wolf passes each include attractions and items like a Build-A-Bear (minus the outfit, which costs more). You end up saving some money by getting the passes and the children love walking around the lodge with their passes around their neck.
Laser Tag: Concord has added a new laser tag room. This is an additional expense, but definitely a fun way to spend an evening. It's located across from the arcade.
Bring your MagiQuest wand: If you purchased a MagiQuest wand in the past, bring it back every time you go to the lodge. You can use it to make various things come to life in the lobby. It also comes in handy if you decide to purchase another quest on your visit.
Glitter tattoo: My son loves temporary tattoos and we discovered that the gift shop at Great Wolf offers glitter tattoos for $7. You can pick from a variety of designs and glitter colors. The tattoos stay on for about seven days. We suggest getting it at the end of your stay because playing in the water can make it fade faster.
What's the right age to bring your child to GWL
I took my 5 month old and she had fun but was too little to really enjoy everything. She liked splashing in the water and napping. If your only child is under 2 years old, I'd say to wait a little longer to take your family there. If you have children of various ages, there are activities for all of them to do, which is why we like going here.
Here's a breakdown of activities by age:
For the toddlers: Fort McKenzie is perfect for them. This gated area is specifically for younger children. There are water sprays, smaller slides and a zero-entry pool. Also check out the daily itinerary because it contains a schedule of activities including arts and crafts, yoga, Wolfercise and the hours for the Cub Club. My son loved the Cub Club when he was a toddler because it was a quiet place to play and relax. They have some toys, a playhouse and crafts. And if your children are afraid of the characters, do not worry. The staff can advise you about the times they are in the lobby. They can also give you some tips on exits and entrances that avoid the lobby. We had to do this when my son was little and afraid of them!
For the Kindergartners and older: Depending on your child's height, they are allowed to ride some of the water slides. My son is 47 inches tall, which means he can do everything but the Howlin' Tornado (which has a big drop and goes pretty fast). The wave pool and regular pool (complete with basketball goals) are a great start. River Canyon Run is a family ride that holds up to five people. It goes fast but doesn't contain any drops. Alberta Falls tube ride holds one or two riders so littler children can ride with an adult. The Mountain Edge Raceway is a mat racer, which means you lie on your stomach and fly down face first. The Totem Towers is also a great spot. It is in the center of the park and contains water sprays, two slides and lots of stuff to climb on and play. Plus, every five minutes the giant bucket drops gallons of water onto the people below. Pro tip: On the Totem Towers slides, the green one goes faster than the orange one.
For the bigger kids: There are some great things to do for adults as well. The slides are all fun for adults too, but the one that gets the most attention is the Howlin' Tornado. It offers a six-story drop. I rode this with my husband last year and I can't figure out how I didn't fall out. At times you are sideways and nearly upside down! Adults will also love the full service spa (a children's spa called Scoops is also on site). Parents can also book the Wine Down Service. For $35, guests can get a bottle of wine and one sweet or savory side delivered to their room to enjoy while the kids are asleep.
Have you stayed at Great Wolf Lodge?
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