Equal components resort, waterpark, and arcade, the Nice Wolf Lodge is not any abnormal place to remain the evening. Not fairly an amusement park, however with particular amusement park vibes, it is a self-contained expertise at a fraction of what it might value to hit Disneyland. With nineteen places within the US (and one in Canada)—plus three extra on the way in which—the possibilities are you’re inside a brief drive of a Nice Wolf Lodge.
I reside in Minnesota and have visited our location a number of occasions during the last six years, beginning when my son was simply six and branching into the tween years. Here is my recommendation on the best way to profit from your go to.
Do not Even Hassle Leaving the Lodge
The Nice Wolf Lodge isn’t merely a resort, so do not plan on making an attempt to squeeze in a bunch of native sights after which crashing into your room. That might be a waste of the wonder that’s GWL. As a substitute, plan on waking up early, hanging out with costumed characters over breakfast, heading to the waterpark for hours, and stopping off to do a craft in your manner again to the room to bathe earlier than you hit the arcade and seize dinner, all of the whereas waving your MagiQuest wands like maniacs. The one exception to that is leaving to get espresso (and possibly meals).
Whereas the precise choices range from location to location, there are particular perks each Nice Wolf Lodge has in frequent. There are day by day schedules that embody free story occasions, dance events, crafts, and actions. All of them characteristic the Northern Lights Arcade, Oliver’s Mining Firm (the place the youngsters can “mine” for gems), Howler’s Peak Ropes Course, and MagiQuest — an interactive recreation that takes you all around the property on a quest to battle darkish forces. Some places even have Ten Paw Bowling, Howl in One Mini Golf, and a Construct-A-Bear, the place you may make the characters of the Nice Wolf Pack.
You should purchase a go that features the key sights on web site. There is no low cost for advance buy, so to your first time, simply resolve as soon as you have regarded round if you wish to do all of the issues or if the waterpark and included actions are sufficient.
Take Your Time At The Waterpark
Whereas Nice Wolf Lodge has loads on provide, the waterpark is without doubt one of the greatest attracts, with a lazy river, daredevil slides, a wave pool, and a splash pad for littles. Your keep will embody entry to the water park for the complete day, together with the day you try. Filter out of your room, then head again in, stash your purse and dry garments in an onsite locker, and hit the slides a number of extra occasions earlier than you head out/idiot your self into considering you may end the MagiQuest degree you began two days in the past.
I touched base with Angela Reed, the Basic Supervisor of Nice Wolf Lodge, Minnesota, to ask her for a number of different insider tips about benefiting from the various waterpark options. Here is what she mentioned:
- When you’re staying in a single day, you may entry the waterpark as early as 1 p.m. on the day of check-in. (Verify-in is 4 p.m.).
- You will get a waterpark day go with out staying in a single day: Full Day Passes from open to shut and Half Day Passes from 4 p.m. to shut. A terrific choice for fogeys who aren’t certain they wish to keep the evening.
- Think about reserving a cabana within the waterpark, providing a personal dwelling base for your loved ones contained in the park to satisfy, eat, and relaxation up in between all of the splashing and sliding pleasure. It comes with seating, towels, and lots of different facilities.
- Nice Wolf Lodge gives life jackets and towels for any visitor to make use of, so no must convey any from dwelling.
Reed additionally advised that oldsters obtain the Nice Wolf Lodge app to entry early check-in, beat strains, and replace reservation data proper from their smartphones.
Meals At The Lodge
There are a number of eating places onsite in any respect the Nice Wolf Lodge places. The one actual situation I’ve ever had with the meals is that it could actually add up after a whole weekend of consuming out. I extremely suggest shopping for a meals package deal. These can solely be bought upfront, however they provide you just a little extra bang to your buck. For instance, at Nice Wolf Lodge Minnesota, the Platinum Eating Deal provides you $150 in eating credit score for $120. (Costs for the offers range by location.) The credit score can be utilized at any meals outlet within the GWL.
For a household of 4, I can confidently say you’ll have no downside utilizing the credit score in the event you keep a number of nights. If it is your first time, I additionally recommend arranging for the Wolf Wakeup Breakfast no less than as soon as throughout your keep (that you must guide this earlier than your arrival). Youngsters get to eat breakfast with costumed characters, making for nice photograph ops.
Additionally: BYOS (Convey Your Personal Snacks)
The primary time we went to Nice Wolf Lodge, we handed a dad within the foyer greeting a Domino’s supply driver. Genius. Relying on the size of your keep, plan is to eat no less than two of your predominant meals every day at one of many onsite eating places after which complement with snacks or exterior meals.
Make a Costco journey for a case of water, protein bars, fruit, and many others. The rooms have mini-fridges and microwaves, so contemplate one thing simple like bagels and cream cheese or bread and pre-sliced cheese to make fast sandwiches when everyone seems to be ravenous. Once you verify in on the Nice Wolf Lodge, you will notice households within the elevator with what seems like crates and crates of meals. These are the mother and father which were there earlier than. Be taught from them.
A phrase of warning to espresso drinkers: Aside from the in-room espresso makers, Dunkin Donuts is the one espresso store at Nice Wolf Lodge. Dunkin has respectable espresso, however I am a really explicit espresso drinker. If you’re hooked on a Starbucks frappe or identical to a sure roast, it is most likely price your time to scope what espresso outlets are close by.
MagiQuest: It is Going To Be OK
Come Sunday, you’ll begin to acknowledge what I prefer to name the MagiQuest Shuffle: glazed-eyed mother and father following, zombie-like, behind their youngsters as they zig-zag throughout the foyer, gleefully aiming wands at each object inside a two-foot radius. Hear me now: It is OK to not end the Quest.
Aside from the waterpark, MagiQuest is without doubt one of the coolest issues in regards to the Nice Wolf Lodge. It is an interactive recreation that takes place all through the property. You buy a customizable wand on the MagiQuest storefront (onsite), the place you may as well nab some medieval-inspired garb like cloaks, fairy wings, and swords. The good information is, when you pay for the wand, you should utilize it once more each time you go to—you pay a reactivation price to begin your quest and/or choose up the place you left off.
Your wand isn’t solely the important thing to battle at completely different stations all through the resort but in addition to unlock an interactive expertise throughout your keep. Goal wands at inanimate objects, and so they come to life: work, glass-encased gems, and different décor will mild up and transfer. On the Nice Wolf Lodge Minnesota, the bear’s head mounted excessive on the wall begins to speak whenever you “zap” it with a wand.
Each Nice Wolf Lodge has a barely completely different setup for these interactive parts, making every one distinctive. However this is the factor: You’ll very probably not full the complete quest in your first journey. Until your children do not prefer to swim or sleep, you may not even full the primary degree.
By the tip of the weekend, you’ll acknowledge the opposite decided households, crossing paths with them and making determined eye contact. Are we there but? Truthfully, they should promote mother and father a t-shirt that claims, “I survived MagiQuest.” Maintain tight these wands, make guarantees to finish the sport “one other time,” and go away when you can.
What to Pack and What to Depart at Residence
No survival information is full with out a few packing suggestions. I will not hassle itemizing all of the abnormal issues like toothbrushes and clear underwear, however listed here are a number of particular issues to not go away behind:
- Swimsuits: Pack multiple swimsuit per individual as a result of everybody shall be out and in of the water regularly.
- Goggles: Child desire, after all, however there’s quite a lot of splashing taking place, so your children may need one thing to guard their eyes.
- Water sneakers/waterproof sneakers: Have one thing you may both put on within the water or, at minimal, put on between the waterpark and your resort room. A slip-on Croc or flip-flops work positive.
- Comfy strolling sneakers: Belief me, you don’t want to even try to do MagiQuest in these flip-flops. Convey sneakers.
- Snacks: Convey greater than you suppose you want. I at all times simply purchase stuff I’ll pack in lunches anyway in case, in some way, we miraculously do not eat all of it.
- Cozy, cute pajamas: The Nice Wolf Lodge has every kind of leisure for teenagers, together with morning yoga within the foyer and bedtime tales. The schedule and actions change day by day and by season, however attending in your pajamas is 100% inspired.
Depart this stuff at dwelling:
- Water wings, flotation units, and towels: The GWL gives these for all friends.
- Uncomfortable sneakers: This isn’t the time to debut your new wedge sandals.
- Extra video games, books, or different in-room leisure: Between the waterpark, MagiQuest, the arcade, bowling, noon dance events, and late-night story occasions, by the point your children get again to the room, they are going to be exhausted. We by no means journey anyplace with out a good guide — even when we barely have time or power to learn.
When to Go to
We have been to the Nice Wolf Lodge throughout a number of seasonal occasions. In my view, their Howl-O-Ween is without doubt one of the finest seasonal celebrations. From Sept. 29 by Oct. 31, the complete resort has fall-themed décor, sights, a Trick-or-Deal with Path, a Monster Bash Dance Occasion (costumes inspired), together with different actions like face portray and story occasions. Different themes embody Snowland, Spring Breakout, and Summer time Camp-In.
Perhaps it is due to all of the day by day motion, however my household at all times sleeps soundly once we keep there. Though there are actually youngsters operating round each flooring, it is by no means been loud, and the rooms are clear, adorably Nice Wolf Lodge-themed, and comfy. So, consider it or not, it looks like a trip for fogeys, too. Simply be ready to get your steps in.
