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!
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. Kids Towel Robes are also a great alternative to a towel.
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
- 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 (we use this camera it is super easy for the kids to use and extremely durable)
- Travel coffee mug (for evening adult beverages)
- Pyjamas
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:
Midwest Great Wolf Lodge Locations:
North East Great Wolf Lodge Locations
South Great Wolf Lodge Locations
Canada Great Wolf Lodge Locations:
You can get more info and read more about our experience at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, Here.
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Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have young children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.
Rachael says
Great info!
Christine says
Great tips! So glad I read this before my upcoming trip!!
Lillie says
From everything I’ve been reading, Great Wolf Lodge seems like THE PLACE to go once our kids are a little older!
Bryanna says
Great tips for visiting a waterpark! I loved the idea of bringing snacks (kids get hungry playing in the water!), the sharpie (brilliant!), and not trying to do everything but instead just enjoying your time.
Francesca says
We haven’t done Great Wolf Lodge yet. Honestly, those giant water parks/resorts stress me out. Perhaps your extensive list will help eliminate some of that stress!
Lindsay says
Francesca – Great Wolf Lodge is actually very manageable. if you check out our tip on “pick your vantage point” you can see wherever your kids are!
Sabrina says
Woah That is some really good tips Thank you for sharing with me
Now im excited to go to to great wolf lodge this weekend
Lindsay Nieminen says
Have a great time!!!
Lilliana says
Don’t need much food. A lot of the time, we skipped lunch and some times dinner, but most of it is good (I am bringing sun glasses).
Lindsay Nieminen says
Yea the kids are so busy its hard to stop and eat! But some, like mine, end up in meltdown mode without food!
Sarah Woodworth says
We just booked our trip. I got the pup pass for our toddler and The wolf pass for our older 2 children. I know we can’t access the water park until 1:00 pm, but could the kids do the other things before then with the passes? For example magiquest and the ropes course?
Lindsay Nieminen says
You probably do not get wristbands until 1pm and that is what would keep you out of the pool.
You would need to go into the gift shop to activate Magiquest and I am NOT sure if they will want to see your wristband in there.
If you called the location you are going to I am sure they would be able to tell you!
Have a great trip and let me know what you find out!
Joey Dominguez says
Question can I bring my game console?
Lindsay Nieminen says
you CAN bring it, but some hotels have programming that you cannot change the HTMI inputs. I did not try at GWL but have run into that in other hotels before when trying to connect my Apple TV
Bridgett says
I’m getting ready to take a trip with 7 kiddos (10, 9, 8, 6, 5, 4 and 3) and I’m bringing my insta pot so I can make some meals in the room. We also plan on doing pizza one night!
Lindsay Nieminen says
genius!!!!
Heather Allen says
If you want to bring your own dinner, tacos is a great idea and was a hit when we went. Pre-cook the meat and bring all the toppings that the family enjoys. There’s a microwave to heat up the taco shells and meat. It was a great money saver — and time saver as I find eating at the buffet takes a while.
Lindsay Nieminen says
Awesome Idea! I am going to add this to the list!
Myra Long says
Taking our grandkids. Can’t wait!
Lindsay Nieminen says
have a great time!