Are you looking for a comprehensive Great Wolf Lodge packing list? Are you overwhelmed at the thought of your family vacation and cant even begin to think about what to bring to Great Wolf Lodge? 

This Great Wolf Lodge packing list post and list of Great Wolf Lodge tips will help you prepare for your first or your next visit! It includes an extensive list of what to pack for Great Wolf Lodge so you know what to bring (including food to bring to Great Wolf Lodge), what to leave at home, and what to expect on your visit!

Family travel can be exhausting, so do not feel discouraged if you are overwhelmed with the list of what to pack for Great Wolf Lodge. I hope really soon to add a quick printable to this post to make it even easier to tick off all the boxes!

If you are still planning your trip, CLICK HERE for discounted rates!

1. Great Wolf Lodge Tip #1 Grab a Luggage Cart from the Lobby

Great Wolf Lodge has airport-style luggage carts in the main entrance. Take advantage of them on arrival, especially if you have packed in your own food! I have seen these carts loaded up with coolers, flats of water, and a Costco bag of snacks, on top of luggage! Save a few trips to the car and grab one of these before you unload!

2. Bring Extra Coffee

if your mornings tend to start with more than one cup of coffee, consider bringing your own coffee and a small basket filter.  The line ups for Starbucks in the lobby was always lengthy in the mornings. 

And besides, I am a Mama that needs coffee before even finding my glasses in the morning.  There is a small 4 cup coffee maker in the room or a single-serve style cup and you can brew in your room (they do supply the prepackaged in a filter coffee).

3. Consider the Great Wolf Lodge Paw Pass

Great Wolf Lodge Pup Passes, Wolf Passes and Paw Passes are available to purchase. they offer up to 30% savings compared to purchasing activities by themselves.

The MagiQuest game is very popular (as is the ShadowQuest game for those who have already completed the MagiQuest) but it does require you purchase a wand and the game itself. the PAW PASS and the WOLF PASS offer the wand and a game in addition to arcade credits, a Great Wolf Kid at the Creation Station and more!

If the passes are not in your budget, discuss the options with your kids ahead of time and plan where you will and will not be spending your money. When expectations are clear, meltdowns can be much easily avoided!

Read more: Is the Great Wolf Lodge Paw Pass Worth it?

Read Great Wolf Lodge Reviews on Trip Advisor

4. Pack in your own Snacks, Food, and Beverages

At the Grand Mound WA location, there is not a lot around the facility itself within walking distance: A gas station and a burger restaurant. There are lots of on-site restaurant options for mealtimes, but we have a pack of grazers in our group.

Food to Bring to Great Wolf Lodge:

• veggie tray
• watermelon (a cut up watermelon will fit in the fridge)
• crackers and cheese
• strawberries
• juice boxes
• cookies
• chips and dip
• water bottles
• cereal and milk
• bagels and cream cheese
• extra coffee and a filter (or instant coffee, sugar and coffee mate)

5. Pack your SHARPIE!

On my list of what to pack for Great Wolf Lodge, I have a sharpie. I always do”¦the kids have all sorts of goodies from wands, to arcade cards. Know who is whose and avoid the argument. Bring your sharpie. Trust me on this.  I wrote our kids room number on their waterpark wristband, so we could easily be located if our child could not find us for some reason.

6. Important Great Wolf Lodge Tip DO NOT TRY AND DO EVERYTHING!

One of my best Great Wolf Lodge Tips is to NOT DO EVERYTHING!

There is a LOT to do in a Great Wolf Lodge weekend, and if it is your first trip, do not feel pressured to do EVERYTHING the resort has to offer! It is a waterpark, after all, focus on the water park on your first trip and perhaps skip the arcade, or the spa, or MagiQuest (if you can convince your kids that is!).

If you are visiting during one of the seasonal festivities of Howl-O-Ween or Snowland you will have even more fun activities so keep a key eye on the calendar they give you when you check in!

Related: I am sure you will be taking lots of photos, so check out these traveling with family quotes for Instagram captions!

7. MagiQuest is BUSY in the EVENINGS

As you would imagine, after swimming all day and having dinner, most of the kids in the resort are now out of the water park and in the hotel.

We found them mostly between the arcade and the MagiQuest game.

Expect to line up to check your missions or to defect your foes. if you do your MagiQuest activities in the mornings, they are much less busy.

8. Check the GUIDE for FREE activities

The next tip for Great Wolf Lodge is to check out the guide that is given to you at check in. With all of the excitement and commotion of arriving, it is easy to slip it into your bag and forget it. But I suggest that one of the first things you do is take a few minutes to read it!

Included in your stay are your waterpark pass and various other activities that go on throughout the day. Pop online before you visit and print out the timetable of what is happening while you are there,  so you are a bit prepared. 

There is a lot going on from storytime, to dance parties, to kid’s yoga! When you decide what is important to you, schedule your time around these activities. The pool is going to be less busy at dinnertime and storytime and after dinner, everyone is roaring around in the hallways playing MagiQuest. If you want to get the most out of your stay, try and get into the pool for the non-peak times if you have avid swimmers!

9. Bring your own Towel or Two

Pool towels are to remain at the pool. Our littles were chilly when they left the pool, and now I know why parents brought their own pool towels. So you can wrap up the kids, and head back to your room, warmly.  I would bring one next time for sure.

Some people say not to bother, but for our family, it was nice to have one. These kids towel robes are also a great alternative to a towel. I always size up when I buy these for kids so they can get years of use out of them!

10. Choose your Vantage Point

Depending on the age of your children, it may also depend on where you choose to sit or set up your home base.  I am a bit of a helicopter Mom, and I like my 5-year-old to be able to see me and be easy to find, not that I let wander too far.

We spent 98% of our time in the little people area. With 3 kids 5 and under, this was the perfect little spot for us.  If you are arriving at night, pop into the area, and figure out where is best.

11. Get to the pool at opening if you want a table

If you are planning on spending the day in the waterpark or at least want a table to enjoy some snacks, Send ONE parent in the am, to grab a spot.  People DO line up before the doors open.  So if you want a table, and they are limited, best to jump on the band wagon. You can also rent a cabana if you want to be guaranteed a good spot, but the vantage point may not be ideal for your family.

12. Stay in the Water Park for Dinner

Dinnertime and later seems to be when the waterpark is the least busy. With parents who have had their children there since 9am, many have packed up so consider a pizza at the Hungry as a Wolf Pizza shop. Starting at just $14.99 for a large pizza, it is a great way to have a snack at the Waterpark and continue to enjoy the less busy part of the day.

13. Top Great Wolf Lodge Packing Tips: Pack your swimming bag separate from your suitcase.

My top Great Wolf Lodge packing list tip is that on the day you check-in, you are able to access the facilities at 1pm. But your room may not be ready until 4pm. If your swimming bag is handy, you can change and enjoy the pool before your room is ready! On the day you leave, do the same thing. Checkout is at 11, but you can use the pool and facilities until the end of the day! They also offer an option to purchase late checkout.

We use these wet bags to keep our swim stuff from getting everything else wet.

14. Check for Deals at Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge often has deals. If you are still planning your trip, CLICK HERE for the best-discounted rates!

15. Great Wolf Lodge Prices Vary

If you are trying to save money on your family’s visit consider booking in shoulder season. Stay away from school holidays and try and go midweek. That will give you the best deal. Check rates here for the times you are looking to book!

Packing List for Great Wolf Lodge

Here is my extensive packing list for Great Wolf Lodge with everything from clothes, food and of course bathing suits

• 2 bathing suits each (no one wants to put on a wet bathing suit)
• Bathing suit cover-up or kids hooded towels (also consider the robes I mentioned above)
• Flip flops (for walking to and from the pool)
• Goggles
• Cutting board, knife, cutlery and bowls (for food)
• Running shoes (for the ropes course close-toed shoes are required)
• Waterproof camera
• Travel coffee mug (for evening adult beverages)
• Pajamas

Leave at Home:

• Life Jackets – they have the puddle jumper style and life jackets for all ages
• Sunglasses
• Nice clothes (GWL is a very casual place. You will be dining in a bathing suit cover up and kids will have having breakfast in Pjs)

Food to Bring To Great Wolf Lodge

• Fresh fruit (watermelon, strawberries, other munch type food)
• Veggie tray
• Chips and dip
• Crackers and cheese
• Cereal and milk
• Bagels and cream cheese (note that there is NOT a toaster in the room)
• Juice boxes
• Water bottles
• Adult beverages
• Extra coffee or instant coffee (don’t forget sugar and coffee mate), there is a Starbucks (but the lineup is HUGE)

We opted to have Pizza one night for dinner and the buffet the second night. The pizzas are similarly priced to a pizza at a pizza joint and will not break the bank. If you pack in your own dinner, I would love to hear your ideas!

Also research nearby restaurants and you can always pop out of the lodge for dinner or lunch. We opted to stay on site and enjoy the experience without having to go anywhere.

Have you booked your trip yet?

I suggest you read these Trip Advisor Reviews

Click on the location below for current rates for the resort in your area

Western Great Wolf Lodge Locations:

Grand Mound WA

Garden Grove / Anaheim CA

Midwest Great Wolf Lodge Locations:

Wisconsin Dells, WI… 

Kansas City KS

Sandusky OH

Traverse City MI

Cincinnati OH

North East Great Wolf Lodge Locations

Scotrun PA

Boston / Fitchburg MA

South Great Wolf Lodge Locations

Grapevine TX

Williamsburg VA

Concord / Charlotte NC

Canada Great Wolf Lodge Locations:

Niagra Falls ON

You can get more info and read more about our experience at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, Here.

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