I believe you get what you pay for--any insight as the the huge difference in rates?!!! Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge Poconos Comparison - YouTube Looking up to the roofline Aquatopia does feel more open and expansive since it is more of a sweeping semi-circle in shape. This is probably a reflection of the fact that Kalahari is really a convention center first & foremost and the water park is just one of the many amenities they offer albeit a big one! 111 Things to Do in the Adirondacks & Upstate New York! I actually made the kids wear earplugs (as did I) to go to this! Apparently they were experiencing people taking the towels as souvenirs?? Kalahari was the cheapest on Friday evening - but the most expensive during the week & the second most expensive on Saturday evening. Copyright 2023 The Parenthood Adventures! Expect to spend money on food, games, etc. We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. They looped continuously so they are readily accessible at any time. I'm displeased to hear of the strange odor in your room and that we were not able to correct this situation while you were staying with us. Although I am admittedly not a big fan of buffets, we figured it would be easy for everyone to find something they liked. The lobby is big but not massive like it is at Kalahari! Each play area includes slides and swings. My family has enjoyed a handful of stays at the water park hotel Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas (and one visit to the GWL in Southern California). But we generally dont patronize too many sit down restaurants with 4 kids with ages ranging from 2-10. If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. I hope you and your family have a wonderful stay! They did a fabulous job with the design of this place. (Healthy, I know.) If you have visited all three waterparks in the Poconos please let us know which one YOU liked best! THERE ISNOADDITIONAL COST TO YOU if you buy something from Amazon! Great Wolf Lodge Poconos Water Park Toddler Play Kalahari has the most toddler slides by far when comparing the three resorts. Heres a comparison guide for all three of these resorts. African photos, statues, pictures, all kinds of things that mentally transport you to another world. Camelback charged my card the correct amount when I made the deposit on November 24th and then on November 27th (2 days after we had left the resort) I was charged $25 for a parking fee. We joke that we lost Sophie our 2 year old for 5 minutes in the immense suite! Kalahari seems to have a bit more of a selection when it comes to very large rooms. There were not lights on both sides of the queen beds which made night-time reading hard for the person on the side with no light. Castaway has the wave pool, but the Kalahari has a great lazy river. Great Wolf Lodges water park continues their wildlife theme. Both resorts have themed rooms that accommodate a wide-range of family sizes from two queen rooms to much, much bigger. > We look forward to seeing you again! 2 of themone outside by the immense outdoor pool and one heated one inside. Part-time blogger, full-time nerd & aspiring Renaissance man! Great Wolf and Kalahari were about $289--same dates, same room type. Adventure Update # 020: 10 Years and 1/2 an Inch! Kalahari has the most amenities that you would expect from a high-end resort. Camelback Lodge vs. Great Wolf Lodge: Which Poconos Indoor Water Park On our previous visit a couple of years ago we felt the place was showing some wear and tear. Overall we felt like Kalahari was much better before the expansion. Ranked: Pennsylvania's three best water parks - York Daily Record Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Experience a world of play, all under one roof. Imagine what it takes to run this place?!? Please email me directly at PAConnect@kalahariresorts.com. Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge: Discover the Differences https://www.theparenthoodadventures.com/waterpark-comparison-chart-kalahari-aquatopia-great-wolf-lodge/. It is a wonderful family vacation spot that offers a lot of adventure & nature! We didn't expect gourmet food at a waterpark, but the nachos were so tasteless that my 12-year old pushed them aside and asked for a chicken finger. $13.35 per hour. We are happy to report that there were two night stands with our queen bed! When I checked out on the 25th I asked for a receipt, and the amount I was charged was correct ($390.10) When I received my credit card statement on December 9th I noticed that what I was charged from Aquatopia/Camelback was $25 higher than it should have been. But having a wide variety of restaurants and foods was great! I am on the mailing list and recently got a promotional offer that indicated the rooms had recently been renovated. Our suite @ Kalahari was HUGE! It smelled like an overcrowded SPCA. At that point, it was unmistakably the smell of cat urine. Great Wolf Lodge has a woodland creature and forest theme, while Kalahari has an African theme. I'm going to breakdown each part of the resort that we visited and give you the key points: It was HORRIBLE! Kalahari Resort has an entire grotto (both indoor and outdoor) for adults with a swim-up bar. There are some characters for the kids but they are not really developed and seem to have just been bolted on as an after thought. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. CHECK IN/ROOM - We checked in with Kassi atWe visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. I also added a note how COVID-19 has delayed our plans to stay @ Aquatopia. Sopleaseclick on a link or two if you wish tosupport us& and our endeavors here. The distance from the lobby to our room was an extremely long haul for her. Wilderness,Kalahari or Great Wolf? Swim Up BARS - An absolutely genius idea! Thats an AMAZING 425,000 square feet of indoor water parks in a very small geographical area!! Kalahari vs. Great Wolf - WE HAVE A WINNER!! - Tripadvisor You never even need to leave the lodge, with tons of activities for kids, onsite dining, shopping opportunities, and more. Great Wolf Resorts (formerly known as Great Wolf Lodge) is a chain of eighteen indoor water park resorts located in the United States and Canada. But be prepared to spend.it comes with the territory! Why do the adults with hearing damage always make the decisions with regards to volume level! It reminds me of Disneys Wilderness Lodge. The food was not good at all. Wilderness,Kalahari or Great Wolf? Huge rate difference! This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. We had no real negatives about Great Wolf but in all honesty, Kalahari Resort surpasses them on almost all levels, but to no fault of Great Wolf. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Miles for Family with appropriate and specific directions to the original content. The setting for them seems nicer, and they seem more elaborate than the ropes course offered @ Great Wolf Lodge. Whereas, the roofline @ Great Wolf Lodge is blocky. It is in the middle in terms of the size of its indoor water park and in number of rooms at the resort. The Poconos location has 401 rooms and each wing of the lodge has 4 floors. GWL isnt fast either, but 2+ hours to pay triple the price wouldnt work either. Kalahari vs great wolf lodge for little kids? - Sandusky Forum Adventure Update # 018: My Tricycle is Very Very Fast! The room was spotless. How does it compare to Great Wolf Lodge? There was a microwave and mini-fridge in the room, which came in handy. Camelback is unique in that it has both an INDOOR water park (Aquatopia, which is open year-round) and a separate OUTDOOR water park (Camelbeach) that is only open for the summer season. Life-size animal statues adorn the outside. Kalahari has a better reputation locally. However, Great Wolf Lodge has a higher percentage of themed rooms available at a more reasonable price. Lately we have been hitting the snack bar (Pizza Pub) down in the arcade for the burritos and then the store (Marrakesh Market) right at the edge of the lobby for some of the soups. For our Wednesday June 26th, 2019 stay @ Kalahari the cost of our room was $249.99 with taxes & fees amounting to $66.09, bringing the total to $316.08. For the size of the main lobby, it is the same order with Great Wolf Lodges lobby being the smallest, Kalaharis main lobby being the largest and Aquatopias lobby size somewhere in the middle. In the center right past the check-in area there is a large animatronic display where the nightly bedtime story (The Forest Friends Show) takes place. Great Wolf Lodge is known for their MagiQuest game. Kalaharis water park does the same, except with a jungle theme. For our Tuesday June 25th, 2019 stay @ Great Wolf Lodge the cost of our room was $209.99 with taxes & fees amounting to $51.59, bringing the total to $261.58. Crystal, Great Wolf Lodge recently renovated their suites to a more updated style and clean look. There is a very small / non-standard sized bowling alley, a miniature golf course, an arcade, MagiQuest, etc We have done some of the other activities in the past but only if they were included with our stay or one of the bundled package passes (Paw Pass, Pup Pass and Wolf Pass). Well manicured and landscaped lawns.We arrived in the main lobby on Sunday 7/2 a little after 1:00 p.m. That said, I wouldnt pay triple the price for Kalahari. Hello, Erika! Camelbacks Aquatopiaseems to strike a particularly good balance for children in the 10 + age group. Kalahari vs. Great Wolf Lodge - Review of Kalahari Resorts The best playgrounds near Bucks County, PA are some of the best playgrounds in Pennsylvania. We also liked the master light switch in the room that made it very easy to turn off every light in the suite with one switch. Our 2-year-old who would have nothing to do with a life jacket was able to play in the toddler splash park and wave pool as long as Melani or I was right with her. We have been to both resorts in the past but thought it would be fun to do a back-to-back comparison. (assuming same accommodations we had for this past trip) and this is how they all answered. Great wolf is closer to shopping. The Poconos and Williamsburg Virginia location both have a small indoor wave pool. We went for the Italian the second night and the food was again wonderful. Hello, thank you so much for writing this I found it very helpful! The outdoor small kids area with slides was a nice addition to the park however my daughter who is 53" tall was not allowed to go on them. There is one primary restaurant on the main level on the left side of the lobby / front entrance. Kalahari Resort vs. Great Wolf Lodge - Miles For Family You used the same bathroom photo for both resorts. As I indicated above I should not have been charged a fee for parking since we did not leave a vehicle at the resort and were dropped off. Burger and fries for $12, other sandwiches $12-$15.not excessive. When you leave make sure to return the towels and swipe the wrist band again or you will be charged for the towels. The wave pool was on par with that at Great Wolf Lodge. Some of the profit from any sale may merely make it intoourpocket instead of Jeff Bezos'! There isnt any story that goes along with any of the characters as far as we were able to discern. Recently, my family visited Kalahari Resort for the first time. Best Indoor Waterparks in Ohio | SheBuysTravel - Traveling Mom Here we constructed tables comparing the 3 indoor water park resorts located in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. Very spacious, a flat screen TV in each room and in main living area with fireplace. We appreciate it! It felt cozy and definitely complimented the whole lodge theme & experience! The Poconos Waterpark Showdown 2019. The king of indoor waterparks, . Kalahari vs. Great Wolf Lodge Review of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Sandusky Reviewed December 29, 2016 We stayed 2 nights in a two-bedroom suite in the North Wing for Christmas 2016. The sound system is rather poor and the performance is rather loud. We stayed in the Desert room which was sufficient in size for 2 adults and 2 small kids. A microwave, refrigerator, and small coffee maker are other amenities in the room. Yes, there were some healthy options just not a very good variety. Were going in January. While the hallways of rooms may still be a bit long, its not as vast as Kalahari. The first thing that struck me the most was how dirty and unsanitary the waterpark was compared to before. Nothing? Note that it may be quite a walk from your room to the water park, or any other destination on the Kalahari Resort campus. $12.02 per hour. Great Wolf Lodge has a woodland creature and forest theme, while Kalahari has an African theme. Great Wolf Lodge has more traditional tube, body slides, and a bowl slide. Also, Outdoor pool and some small outdoor water slides (all seasonal). Kassi was terrific! Most of the activities (at all of the resorts) are priced a la carte. > *Valid exclusively for past guests of Kalahari Resort - Sandusky, Ohio. There was also a buffet which was closed but other little caf options for grab and go type food, a coffee bar, ice cream stand, bakery.they forgot nothing!We felt like we needed more than one night so we asked to extend our stay another night and we were given a great rate to stay in our upgraded room so we jumped on the deal. THE POCONOS Water Park SHOWDOWN, Great Wolf Lodge VS. Kalahari VS. Camelbacks Aquatopia! The bartenders were great, DAVID and ROBIN especially. It felt more intimate and clean, less crowded and sufficiently staffed. It's small enough to feel cozy but large enough to feel like you are actually at a hotel. Jamison is a small town in Warwick Township, Bucks Ringing Rocks County Park is located on the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, along Ringing Rocks Road, in Upper Black Eddy, QuiNBy's Playground recently opened in 2022. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July. Great Wolf is good for the small children, Castaway is good for everyone, and Kalahari is beautiful but I find it leans more toward the older children and adults. 16 years ago Save I'm pricing a stay for a Christmas gift and Wilderness is about $100 less per night ($165). It is really the other aspects of the resorts and accommodations that will determine which resort is the better choice for your family! Great Wolf Lodges water park is 80,000 square feet, but Kalaharis is over 220,000 square feet. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your recent visit. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Miles for Family All Rights Reserved. The mountainous / hilly location complimented the overall lodge theme and it was nice to sit out there with the kids as the weather cooled in the evening. First, Great Wolf Lodge is a decent size. Virtual reality, tons of games, golf, bowling - this place though of everything. In November 2020, a competitor to GWL opened in Texas. The larger of the two play areas also includes a splash table for babies. When you check in the lodge they should offer you and / or the kids wolf ears at no extra charge since, after all it is the Great WOLF Lodge!. It is so fun for my children (12 & 4 years old) and for adults too!! The Great Wolf Lodge resort in the Poconos was constructed in 2005 - and is one of roughly 19 locations for the chain. Thank you for your support! Overall, my family prefers Kalahari Resort. However, there were at least 6 employees assisting at the registration desk and the line moved relatively quickly. Wonderful service.Lazy River - Longer than the one at Great Wolfbut lots of people and tubes jamming it up!Towels were only available outside, we heard there may have been a shortage but we didn't really experience that. Our balcony overlooked a very lightly used service road and then there was an unobstructed view of the forested mountain side. Confusingly enough she was allowed to go on the small kids slides that were inside the waterpark. We are a family of 6 with four kids ranging in ages from 5 12 years old. Aquatopia Snowtubing, mountain coaster (4,500 feet steel track coaster), Euro Bungee tethered bungee jump. We simply love everything about it! Great Wolf Lodgeis the best for younger kids because it has the most charm and does a better job of theme ing with its characters throughout the entire experience (lodging, dining & water park) compared to either Aquatopia or Kalahari. It is the smallest of the 3 indoor water parks in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. Poconos Water Park Comparison Guide - Been There Done That with Kids I look forward to connecting with you. At the towel dispensary you simply swipe your wrist band and the attendant will hand you the number of towels you request. And the staff was friendly. As I mentioned above, we can engage in many of the other activities closer to our home. Many months later (due to COVID) we stayed at Camelbacks Aquatopia. (Seems like I placed that order a looOong time ago)_. TheParenthoodAdventures.comis owned & operated byChip Williamsonwho is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that enables websites like this to earn advertising fees from Amazon.com. Take care! Great Wolf Lodge also has a small bowling ally, gem mining, outdoor ropes course, arcade, and glow golf. There is also a fountain near the middle of the lobby with chairs and tables to sit and eat. To alert those in the wave pool of the wave rotation starting it has a wolf howl. Better selection of local foods near Great Wolf. The day we went, prices were similar to GWL. 14 Best Indoor Water Park Resorts in the U.S. - FamilyVacationist If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 7000 Kalahari Dr. Sandusky, OH 44870 (419) 433-7200. . Located below the main lobby is both the entrance to the water park and the arcade. I would request a higher floor again because the 2nd floor gets all of the foot traffic as that is the lobby floor and the waterpark and arcade are on the lower 1st floor.Take a minute to just look around and notice the dcor, architecture, and design. Have you been to both Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resort? Kalahari is the biggest of the 3 water parks and has a wider range of offerings that will appeal to both adults & children. My family has stayed in themed rooms at both resorts. From our experience after visiting Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Camelbacks Aquatopia indoor water parks in the Poconos we felt that: Check out our comprehensive comparison chart of these three indoor water park resorts here: Waterpark Comparison Chart: Kalahari, Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge. Kalahari has the largest indoor waterpark of the 3, and is the largest resort located in the Poconos. Both resorts have also utilized Groupon for deals. There was a large selection, with an emphasis on Italian cuisine. Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, TX is like Great Wolf Lodge on steroids. It had a large walk-in area that had a sink and kitchenette. A side-by-side comparison of Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Camelback's Aquatopia by size, # of slides, room pricing, activities, hours of operation and many more metrics to help you select the BEST water park for your family vacation! When I called, the charge was removed & the service rep was polite enough but, apparently Aquatopia/Camelback fully expects there to be a parking fee added to every invoice! If there are any older children in your party, around 10 years and older, then they may not appreciate the kiddie theming that runs through Great Wolf Lodge. Across from that there is a small decent sized souvenir shop / store and a small dessert kiosk. Thank you for taking the time to comment! Kalahari Resort Market Cost The overnight costs for both of these resorts can vary widely throughout the year. Kalahari vs. Great Wolf : r/Poconos - Reddit It may come down to a simple question: How old are the children in your party? Thanks for your review! Most of the time we were at Aquatopia we ate FROM Trails End Pub & Grille. Anonymous. This activity requires participants to roam all over the lodge to find clues and solve a quest. We usually just order a pizza and eat it in our room with maybe a salad. Thanks! For the price I would expect better service. There were 2 bathrooms one off the walk-in area and the second one in the master suite. Telephones have voice mail; TVs come with cable and pay movies. Both are great options for kids. So I guess you just dont need it that much. Here is a quick breakdown of the outdoor activities offered at each resort: Kalahari: Monkey climb ropes course, zip lines and mini golf. Likewise, there is a cost associated with the convenience of those activities being offered right there and that is cost. Fortunately we only live about 2 hours away. We didn't hear a peep after 10pm and slept soundly. 111 Things to Do in the Adirondacks & Upstate New York! Advice: you can't come to a place like this and complain about how much things cost. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Per night, plus tax. The IVORY COAST restaurant had a great selection of food and we thoroughly enjoyed doing takeout from there. They were definitely present - but not blowing their whistle when it was needed and didn't seem as focused. However, having fewer food venue choices and adult amenities limits your stay to a very kid-centric experience. Please see our partners for more details. The theming is carried throughout multiple aspects of the total experience. It is also something that Kalahari does well . Poconos Waterparks: How to Get the Best Deals at Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Aquatopia! There is also a cafe (Cafe & Bar) and a restaurant (Horizons) located right off the main lobby. After learning about the aspects of both of these resort, which one will your family choose? CHECK IN/ROOM - We checked in with Kassi at We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. The water facilities were great and there was a nice assortment of water slides. Kalahari Resort, located in Round Rock, Texas, is similar in many ways to Great Wolf Lodge. 4600 Milan Road Sandusky, OH 44870 (800) 641-9653. Thank you to the staff we mentioned for really making sure our stay was the best it possibly could be! Both resorts have huge water parks that include a wave pool, lazy river, splash areas and of course water slides. Both seemed to make a small room work a little better and not feel as small as it actually was. The side-lite mirror was a nice feature that we enjoyed. From the pricing you see above you can understand why we usually opt for the kids to miss a day of school when we head over to one of Poconos water parks! I will note as a previous reviewer did that Great Wolf Lodge had SPECTACULAR lifeguards. (But It Wasnt Horrible), Using United Miles to Increase my Relatives Chances of Getting Hungarian Visas. Everything is close together in the resort, so not much walking between areas. There is an indoor rock wall, laser tag, and indoor ropes course, etc. Huge rate difference! Friendly, accommodating, informative.we were very happy with the initial interaction. My husband was brave enough to continue exploring as I sat out on the ground level patio. There are other places with better miniature golf courses and a regular bowling alley does a better job for bowling so we tend not to spend our dollars on those activities when we are at Great Wolf Lodge. Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky vs Kalahari Resort - trippy.com Let me start by saying that we have visited the Great Wolf Lodge location in Fitchburg, MA on 2 separate occasions and had enjoyable visits each time. Embarrassing that I never realized it was the same picture!

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