Taking the kids to Great Wolf Lodge for New Year's was a blast! Here are a few little things I would suggest for the next trip:
1) Bring flip flops. If you are staying overnight, all the waterpark fun is included, and there's enough to keep you busy for days! The waterpark is hilarious and fun, but even if you're just walking through it, you might end up with wet feet. I also brought water shoes for my little guys. They aren't a necessity, but it makes watching your toddler climb his way through the shallow kids' pool like an adventurer look even cuter =)
2) Speaking of water, bring a water bottle, Starbucks tumbler, Shakeology thermos or other capped container. Your kids will ask for water at least a million times, and rather than carry around an open plastic cup, be prepared. You can fill up at any of the dispensers with water, or you can purchase a themed one for $12.99 and fill it with soda for the duration of your stay. Ugh. Fortunately, there's a Dunks onsite.
3) If you are going to be there for more than a few days, get the Passes (I got a Paw for Emerson and a Pup for John Sawyer - they're divided by age). They give you pretty good deals on the things you'll see around the Lodge, such as snacks, candy, and the stuffed animals from "Creation Station" that look just like (and fit into the same clothes as) the ones you'd find at Build-a-Bear. Checking the items off the list can be really fun, the kids love all the treats, and it's a fun way to spend time.
4) MagiQuest - This a fun and interactive wand-waving adventure where the kids wave their wand at screens located throughout the Lodge to gain points and uncover jewels. IT IS ALSO A MAJOR TIME SUCK. So if you have a little one who doesn't want to swim - or you don't feel like spending a fortune in the arcade - this is the way to go. Just know it will eat up a few hours because you're walking all over the Lodge to find the Magic Pixie Pool's secrets. The wand comes with the Paw Pass, but the additional doodads that make the wand do extra-cool stuff costs extra....which leads us to...
5) Bring lots of money. The Lodge is a cross between Chuck E. Cheese and Disney. The food is expensive and not super (although the burgers at the Lodge Wood Fired Grille and the pizza at Hungry as a Wolf were excellent) and many of the activities are not included in the price of your stay, such as the video games, mani-pedi's at Scooops and other activities in the Northern Lights Arcade, Howlin' Timbers Play Park (which has toddler rides, mini golf, Ten Paw Bowling Alley, and the Howler's Peak Ropes Course). Knowing this ahead of time can let you plan which areas to hang out in, or to avoid.
Have a great stay!
