Are you looking for the perfect family friendly water park vacation in Southern California? Looking for a local getaway that feels like you are miles away that is perfect year-round? Great Wolf Lodge is a fun family friendly indoor water park in Anaheim, California & a great option for your next family travel. It's perfect for all ages including the oldest and littlest of kids. Aside from their amazing indoor water park, this resort has so much to offer like restaurants, arcade & tons of other exciting non water attractions. It's the perfect locations for the ideal Travel getaway any time of the year. We've visited several times so have lots of tips we've learned thoughout our visits. Plus, they tend to always have great seasonal sales and seasonal celebrations. Below I'll also share with you everything there is to do, their Spring and Snowland seasonal celebrations & some tips to make the most out of your visit.
This was a hosted visit however all opinions are honest and my own.
Why Is Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim Best Indoor Water Park In California?
Let's talk about the main attraction, the indoor water park. The water park inside Great Wolf Lodge in Anaheim is the best in California for so many reasons. For one, it's so big and has something for everyone. Plus the temperature inside the water park is always a comfortable 84 degrees making the transition to and from the water comfortable. We love that we can come enjoy the park year-round without worrying about what the climate is outside. Water park access is included with your hotel stay and towels and life jackets are also provided for free. You will need to check them out and check them back in before the day is over to avoid any fee. There's water slides for those seeking a thrill or a lazy river for those looking to relax. For the little littles, theres a separate section for even them to enjoy. I mean it when I said there's something for all ages and thrill levels.
TIPS:
Water park can get crowded. To avoid crowds come as soon as they open or come back an hour before they close to enjoy the park almost to yourself.
Coolers and outside food are not permitted in the water park but they have plenty of food available inside the waterpark and in the hotel.
Lockers are available at a nominal fee on a first-come, first-served basis or you can just leave your items on a chair like we did as long as you don't leave anything of high value out in the open.
Great Wolf provides Coast Guard-approved life jackets on a first-come, first-served basis. We've used the ones they provide and have worked out just fine.
After room checkout you still have access to water park all day until water park closes. You can take advantage of the water park one more day, just remember to keep a bag with a change of clothes for the drive home. Showers are available in the bathrooms inside the water park.
Things To Do Inside Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim California Water Park
Slides both big and small
Simulated surfing
Water fort tree house
Outdoor activity pool with fountains and water basketball
Wave pool
Float your way around Crooked Creek
Challenge yourself to cross large floating lily pads using only cargo nets for help
Room Options at Great Wolf Lodge
Rooms are all spacious and very cleanclean. Having visited several times we've got several rooms to review. During our first visit we booked a Family Suite with 2 queen beds that slept up to 5. The room came with a mini fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Very convenient to have all these things in the rooms when staying with kids.
During this second visit we stayed at The Wolf Den Suite which made our stay extra special. This is one of the themed room. Our kiddo loved having her own cave-themed sleeping area after a day full of fun and hubby and I enjoyed having our own separate space as well. My daughter could not stop raving about how cool the Wolf Den was and slept in there with all her new build a bear Great Wolf Lodge stuffies.
It's the perfect room if you want your kids close but still want your own separate place. We would definitely stay in this type of room again. Here are this particular suit features:
Queen-size bed
Cave-themed sleeping area with bunk beds Full bath
Full-size sofa sleeper
39-inch, flat-screen HDTV
Mini-fridge
Coffee maker
Hair dryer
You can watch our room video HERE
During our third and most recent stay (2023) , we stayed in the Renovated Wolf Den Suite. It was perfect for our older kiddo. It has a more older kiddo vibe compared to the previous Wolf Den we had stayed at. Maybe because it feels less cartoony?!? Either way, we love them both equally so this is a very personal choice. Once again both kiddo and us parents loved the privacy of having 2 seperate spaces.
This suite features:
A cave-themed sleeping area.
1 Queen bed
1 Bunk bed
1 Full sleeper sofa
1 Full bath
1 TV
Mini-fridge
Coffee maker
Hair dryer
Adventurous Dry-Play Throughout The Lodge
Restaurants
1. LODGE WOOD FIRE GRILL
We had a great lunch and dinner at Lodge Wood Fire Grill. It is a full service sit down restaurant. For dinner we made reservations ahead of time so there was no wait but it wasn't very crowded so I don't think there would have been a long wait even if we didn't have reservations. The food was delicious and the atmosphere and service were great.
2. Hungry As A Wolf
After a couple of hours of lots of fun in the water we decided to feed our little hungry wolfs at Hungry As A Wolf restaurant located right next to the water park. They have salads, pastas, wings, and pizza. We were all in the mood for pizza and it was delicious. Loved that they freshly make your pizza once you order. This was our third time eating here and we returned because we remembered how yummy the pizza was and it did not disappoint. They are open Friday and Saturday 11:00 am to 10:00 pm and Sunday–Thursday 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
TIP: Pizza is made to order so there will be a wait time but the arcade is right next door! To save some time and avoid the kids from getting bored one parent can take the kiddos to play some games while the other parents waits for the order.
3. Quick Breakfast Options
Coffee and donuts always makes for a fun treat however the lines at Dunkin Donuts at 9am can get very long.
TIP: Dunkin Donuts opens at 6:30. If you have your mind set on donuts, have one parent go pick some up as soon as they open to avoid long lines or come back at around 10am when the crowd seemed to die down.
Northern Light Arcade
Bear Paw Sweets & Eats
Great Wolf Candy Company
2023 update: The Anaheim locations has moved their candy area into thier gift shop. Still as fabulous as every and with tons of candy options to choose from.
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Magi-Quest
Ten Paw Alley
Glow Golf
Packages To Save You Money
Once you book your stay you will have the option to add different packages to your stay online or at check in. First ask yourself, what are some of the activities my kid(s) will want to do from the list above? These packages are meant to save you money if you plan to do any additional activities inside the hotel that are not included in your stay. Do I recommend it? I most certainly do. They have 3 packages available. During our first visit we purchased the Pup Pass and during this visit we were gifted the Wolf Pass.
Keep in mind each pass is per person, however you are free to share the activities in your pass of choice between different people.
1. Pup Pass - This is the most affordable package. At just a little under $50 it includes lots of extras for a shorter visit or for those who prefer to spend most of their time at the water park. Designed for the smaller pups in the pack. When used my daughter was 7 years old. The pass includes:
1 Furry Friend from Build-A-Bear Workshop (outfit not included)
20 Paw Points at Northern Lights Arcade
1 serving of select bulk candy from Great Wolf Candy Company
1 single scoop of ice cream from Bear Paw Sweets & Eats
1 Glitz Glitter Tattoo
2. Paw Pass- Best for Kids and teens and is $59.99
One MagiQuest game
Choice of classic wand, standard topper or Magi belt
One small candy cup from the GW Candy Shop
$5 to spend at our Northern Lights Arcade
One scoop of Bear Paw ice cream
One pair of Great Wolf goggles to enhance your waterpark fun
3. Wolf Pass- Good for family or kiddos of all ages. Includes the most exciting things to do. Starts at $79.99 per package and is the most expensive pass but includes it all! My daughter is 11 years old and she loved being able to do it all. This pass includes:
One game of MagiQuest
Choice of classic wand, standard topper or Magi belt
One Build a Bear animal (outfit not included)
$5 to spend at our Northern Lights Arcade
One small candy cup from the GW Candy Shop
One round of Howl at the Moon Glow Golf
One game of bowling at Ten Paw Alley
One scoop of Bear Paw ice cream
Planning Your Visit Ahead Of Time
Check in is at 4pm however you can start enjoying the water park as early as 1pm. We arrived at 12:00pm and the lobby was practically empty and made things much easier and quicker, so I definitely suggest arriving before 1pm. What do you do with your luggage you ask? They will store it for you at the Bell desk if you valet park for no additional charge or if you self park, leave it in your car while you start exploring the hotel and waterpark. What we have done is wore our swimsuits under our clothes and brought a beach bag with things we would need before being able to get to our luggage/room.
Seasonally-inspired Programming
Snowland Holiday Celebration
We rang in the holiday season with the festive kick-off of the annual Snowland celebration at Great Wolf Lodge. It was such a blast! The whole Lodge was decorated in its Holiday Best! During this years celebration we got to:
Meet and freet with Santa
Do seasonal crafts
Snowfall celebration
Frosty fest family dance party
Snowland bingo and so much more!
Plus all these celebration extras are included with your stay!
You can watch our Snowland Holiday Celebration video HERE
Spring Breakout Programming
During our visit we got invited to take a peek at Great Wolf Lodge seasonally-inspired Spring Breakout programming 2023. Activities like Spring themed crafts, games, dancing & character photo opportunities. It's the perfect Spring Getaway for tons of fun and some bonding time with your pack. Spring Breakout programming officially launched March 3- April 30 2023. Keep an eye out for 2024 Spring celebrations. This is your sign to book your next spring break family travel NOW!
You can watch our Spring Celebration video HERE
Conclusion
Our visit was absolutely amazing and everything we could have wished for and more. There is so much to do all under one roof and there's tons of fun to do for the whole family. If you are looking for a fun family vacation, this is it! Ready to book your stay? Follow the link down below!
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