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!. Both are reasonable attempts at having a meal on the healthier side. Looking up to the roofline Aquatopia does feel more open and expansive since it is more of a sweeping semi-circle in shape. The ladies bathroom and changing area looked tike a war zone! There is a huge fireplace towards the back of the lobby that is adjacent to a huge window that overlooks the water park. For just one four-year-old, I think Great Wolf is probably a better choice. Two of the biggest and best (and among the industry's early pioneers) are in the water park capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells: Kalahari at 125,000 square feet and Chula Vista at 110,000 square feet . From the accommodation standpoint it was a much more memorable stay! It needs to be checked more often. In my mind, Kalahari works best if you have a family with kids of different ages so each can be active. Unfortunately, the kids loaded up on an assortment of dessert and we went back to the room to change back into our swimwear for a last hurrah in the water.Off the lobby there are also a sweets shop, bakery, and ice cream shop, with what appears to be a nice selection of goodies.The next morning, the kids wanted to get in a few hours at the waterpark before our 11:00 checkout. So I guess you just dont need it that much. kalahari waterpark passesmr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . Great Wolf Lodge has 18 locations, all of which offer indoor water parks with multi-story forts, 1,000-gallon soaker buckets, wave pools, lazy rivers, waterslides of varying heights and speeds, raft rides, whirlpools, kiddie pools and more. The Poconos location has 401 rooms and each wing of the lodge has 4 floors. One is about 13 minutes long and is about Brinley Bears fun day and the other is about 8 minutes long and is about the origin of Great Wolf Lodge. Both resorts have themed rooms that accommodate a wide-range of family sizes from two queen rooms to much, much bigger. Clean, safe & staff so friendly! Great Wolf Lodge. Since we are usually there for just one night we resign ourselves to it being a pizza for dinner night. Great Wolf is more for kids, but I feel like Great Wolf service is better than Kalahari. Right away we were looking for and expecting a wonderful customer service experience, and Kalahari did not disappoint. The lobby at Aquatopia is more spacious than the lobby at Great Wolf Lodge but far smaller than the lobby at Kalahari. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. Would have been nice to have them inside as well.The waterpark overall was phenomenal - huge and definitely accommodates young and old. It sounds like you were able to experience nearly every feature our resort has to offer! EXPECT IT and you will have a great time. Reservations are strongly recommended. GWL isnt fast either, but 2+ hours to pay triple the price wouldnt work either. In particular, it felt narrow. This happened before on our previous visits but given the number of people this time, they kept closing the areas for cleaning constantly. The kids do enjoy the characters and overall lodge experience. Sopleaseclick on a link or two if you wish tosupport us& and our endeavors here. I asked everyone in the family if we are going back down to the Poconos and staying at one of the resorts tomorrow night where would you want to stay? Please email me directly at PAConnect@kalahariresorts.com. 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. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. It's located in the Rockvale Outlets Fox Meadows Creamery has two locations, one in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and one in Leola, Pennsylvania. It is in the middle in terms of the size of its indoor water park and in number of rooms at the resort. There was one dedicated dessert/pastry kiosk located off the main lobby nestled in there with the souvenir shop. On our previous visit a couple of years ago we felt the place was showing some wear and tear. Second, certain areas of the waterpark, especially the hot tubs, the wave pool and small kids areas were overcrowded. Kassi was terrific! Hello! Great Wolf seems to have more of a variety of theming for these bunk bed suites. Kalahari also has crafts, escape room, mini golf, mini bowling, and arcade. Wisconsin Dells, WI https://www.greatwolf.com/wisconsin-dells 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. During our long walk to the room (the opposite end of the facility), he was VERY professional, engaging and helpful. [2] In addition to a water park, each resort features restaurants, arcades, spas, and children's activities. Great wolf is closer to shopping. The total cost for the night would have been $415.10. Coming Soon: Great Wolf Lodge in Webster! Ask erikas213 about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Ask PinkHibiscus32 about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Ask lljPa about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Royal hospitality suite not royal not hospitable, Ask kelismom14 about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Ask mcapellan78 about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos, Ask Pamela C about Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Poconos. Located below the main lobby is both the entrance to the water park and the arcade. Speaking of the wave pool we did find the buzzer alert to notify guests of the beginning of a wave cycle to be very harsh and not conducive to the relaxing atmosphere that should be associated with a wave pool. Which Poconos waterpark do you like best? Admission: Rates start at $277 a night for a standard four-person room. I am pleased to hear that our staff was friendly and that our facilities were well maintained throughout your stay. They contain a variety of aquatic activities such as water slides, swimming pools, wave pools, lazy rivers, and splash pads. The IVORY COAST restaurant had a great selection of food and we thoroughly enjoyed doing takeout from there. Each lane allows for up to six bowlers at a time. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney. 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. However, there seemed to be a noticeable amount of debris at the bottom of the pool which seemed to a combination of plastic and dirt. After reading this post - which Poconos waterpark do you THINK you are most likely to go to? Billing Issue: I did have a billing issue with Aquatopia / Camelback. The lobby was somewhat hectic with the number of people filing in and out, restaurants, shops, carts filled with souvenirs for sale, and a long line at the guest registration desk. We usually ordered and brought the food to our room. Great Wolf Lodges water park continues their wildlife theme. Staff always pleasant and friendly!FOOD - There is food available in the waterpark in addition to a steakhouse and Italian restaurant. African photos, statues, pictures, all kinds of things that mentally transport you to another world. They were definitely present - but not blowing their whistle when it was needed and didn't seem as focused. To alert those in the wave pool of the wave rotation starting it has a wolf howl. 111 Things to Do in the Adirondacks & Upstate New York! Kalahari has the most toddler slides by far when comparing the three resorts. It was unpleasant to see and to step on. You all have multi room suites as well as an African Queen Suite.Let's talk about the African Queen Suite for a moment. Kalahari still boasts plenty of kiddie water slides, but it also has more thrilling slides for older children. Berrellis Italian Chophouse wasnt really an option for us as this restaurant is physically located in a different building from where we were staying & where the indoor water park is located. Many months later (due to COVID) we stayed at Camelbacks Aquatopia. Socks are required in order to bowl. We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. Magic wands are needed for this game, and there is a fee to activate them for a certain period of time. It was, however, small. I'm going to breakdown each part of the resort that we visited and give you the key points: Kalahari activities and attractions differ with each location. At Kalahari, there are two separate, toddler play areas. We did still struggle with the menu & felt that it was very limited in that we found it difficult to find healthier options for our family. The place is ENORMOUS and although it's extremely busy and pretty crowded most of the time, there is plenty of seating in the waterpark. Tom Foolerys also has a mirror maze, escape rooms, indoor ropes course, laser tag, rock climbing wall, XD dark ride and bowling. 6 Best Texas . We recently visited Camelback Mountain Resorts waterpark Aquatopia (November 24th, 2021). We recently took a little trip to the Poconos and stayed one night @ Great Wolf Lodge immediately followed by a one-night stay @ Kalahari. We did not have a car on the premises so driving was not an option, and walking was not very appealing since we tend to patronize the indoor water parks during the colder months and it was late November when we were at Aquatopia. Also, the post was never updated to include information about Aquatopia. The development is expected to break ground during the first quarter of 2022 and construction of the facility will begin no later than April 2025, according to KPRC. 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. Another note worth mentioning the bathtubs @ Kalahari are huge! Kalahari Resort has an entire grotto (both indoor and outdoor) for adults with a swim-up bar. We love knowing that our attractions were fun for both the children and adults in your family! Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine has one adults-only hot tub. Well manicured and landscaped lawns.We arrived in the main lobby on Sunday 7/2 a little after 1:00 p.m. All three resorts are really good choices for water park fun with a family. The food was not good at all. https://www.theparenthoodadventures.com/waterpark-comparison-chart-kalahari-aquatopia-great-wolf-lodge/ Im not sure if it something that they created or if it has its origins someplace else. Overall, my family prefers Kalahari Resort. 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! We inquired about an potential upgrade and they granted us a special price to upgrade to an African Queen Suite which had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms - perfect to provide privacy with 2 girls! There were a total of 3 TVs one in the Family Room where the pull out bed / couch was, one in the master suite and one in the second bedroom with the two queen sized beds. Check with the resort to confirm which activities are offered during the winter. Sincerely, It can be more expensive but it's a better place to relax and see your kids enjoying without having to worry too much. As I mentioned earlier with 4 kids ranging in age from 2 10 we are not very often dining in @ a restaurant. Our complaints fell on deaf ears, as we needed a certain amount of space for.our family, and the hotel informed us that there was nothing they could do. We didn't hear a peep after 10pm and slept soundly. The place is ENORMOUS and although it's extremely busy and pretty crowded most of the time, there is plenty of seating in the waterpark. It felt cozy and definitely complimented the whole lodge theme & experience! 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. Camelback Mountain Resorts waterpark Aquatopia, Cafe & Bar (AKA, Mountain Market, World Bazaar Coffee Shop). Ax throwing, ropes course, zip line, off-road Segway tours through the forest & switchback UTV tour. A microwave and refrigerator are also included. Kalahari has a lot of complaints on Google about 2+ hour check in times and no housekeeping. The Poconos and Williamsburg Virginia location both have a small indoor wave pool. We ended up eating most of the fries and onions rings, while discarding the rest. Overall we felt like Kalahari was much better before the expansion. CEO approval 75 % approve of John Murphy (Murph)'s performance 74 % approve of Todd Nelson's performance Salary satisfaction 49 % think they are paid fairly at Great Wolf Lodge 40 % We simply love everything about it! The first thing that struck me the most was how dirty and unsanitary the waterpark was compared to before. Speaking of loud There is usually a dance party in the evening which we found to be extremely loud! 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. Old Windmill Farm is located at 262 Paradise Lane in Ronks, Pennsylvania. Please see our partners for more details. We have been to the Williamsburg Virginia location where there was one but there is not one @ the Poconos location. The sound system is rather poor and the performance is rather loud. Thankfully, we didnt have a 2+ hour line to check-in. Thats theming! Yes My oldest daughter and wife voted for Kalahari. Kalahari Resort Market Cost The overnight costs for both of these resorts can vary widely throughout the year. We ordered a burrito, nachos grande, chicken fingers, fries and onion rings from a predictable and acceptable selection of menu items. Most of the time we were at Aquatopia we ate FROM Trails End Pub & Grille. Kalahari Resort, located in Round Rock, Texas, is similar in many ways to Great Wolf Lodge. It is hard to believe that Aquatopia/Camelback would actually be charging extra for the balcony /patios at this level! The resort has a spa center, a hot tub and an on-site restaurant. It is disappointing to hear that you did not have as great of an experience this time around compared to your first two. The Great Wolf Lodge resort in the Poconos was constructed in 2005 - and is one of roughly 19 locations for the chain. Seriously, I'm not being dramatic. LOVED the concept - didn't like the fact that they were not full bars - they only made a few specialty drinks and offered beer and wine. 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. Hello, Erika! I'm going to breakdown each part of the resort that we visited and give you the key points: There are currently 4 locations for the chain with the Poconos location being its largest facility. Kalahari Resort, positioned in Spherical Rock, Texas, is analogous in some ways to Nice Wolf Lodge. (especially Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge) If you were to drive from Kalahari, to Great Wolf Lodge, and then to Aquatopia the total distance would be approximately 11.3 miles and take just 26 minutes. Your goal is our goal. On our previous visit a couple of years ago we felt the place was showing some wear and tear. That said, I wouldnt pay triple the price for Kalahari. All three resorts are located very close to each other in the Poconos. Mind you definitely not Disney level theming or branding but a good job. Then to get to the lower level you have to take the stairs. Age and height requirements vary by location. It is the best themed lazy river out of the three water parks in the Poconos! The room was spotless. The distance from the lobby to our room was an extremely long haul for her. Life-size animal statues adorn the outside. See All Waterpark Features Waterpark (and more!) Round Rock Source: Round the Rock With so much fun and excitement in one place, Kalahari remains a top destination for families throughout Texas. Our suite was located on the same level as the entrance to the water park which was below the main level. That sounds good. Most of the activities (at all of the resorts) are priced a la carte. To the credit of one observant & kind employee he noticed the exceedingly poor service my wife had received and apologized to her later in the day when he saw her. Tiffany, Im so glad you found the post helpful. However, it was not a perfect experience in that the air conditioner vented right out onto the one end of the balcony. If you have visited all three waterparks in the Poconos please let us know which one YOU liked best! Church work is not for the faint of heart, and by the end of the summer church has just flat taken its toll on all of us. Both are great options for kids. 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. We are still having a debate on what it actually was. Since our last visit to Great Wolf Lodge they have established a relationship with Dunkin Donuts and there is one located on the main floor just off the right of the lobby. 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. Kalahari Resorts water park has more of everything and also includes a Flowrider, which is popular with older kids and teens. Kalahari I feel would be better for the adults to have fun as well. Contemporary and tasteful.we give that an A+!Overall, we can't wait to return to Kalahari! I also added a note how COVID-19 has delayed our plans to stay @ Aquatopia. Throughout the day those areas were also closed several times for about 15 min at a time for cleaning since the kids were pooping and vomiting in the water. Hopefully you can keep returning and finding even more ways to have fun with us as the kids grow. Kids are going to want to explore all areas of this place and we find it frustrating reading reviews about those complaining about how expensive everything is. We stayed @ Great Wolf Lodge on a Tuesday night and then Kalahari on Wednesday night of the same week. Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains packs in all the family fun under one roof. At that point, it was unmistakably the smell of cat urine. Sincerely, Chip. Great review, were leaning towards Kalahari but wanted to know about outdoor activities in the winter, could our kids go snow tubing or something related at any of these three resorts? Virtual reality, tons of games, golf, bowling - this place though of everything. How does the resort compare to Great Wolf Lodge? Robert, There was a large selection, with an emphasis on Italian cuisine. Read on to find out which one is the BEST water park for your family vacation! Most times I find that the pictures or decorations in a motel/hotel really dont add anything to the experience. As a native New Yorker, a bit of grit and grime doesn't scare me. If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. The room was very clean and up-to-date.