kalahari vs great wolf lodge texas kalahari vs great wolf lodge texas

Although I am admittedly not a big fan of buffets, we figured it would be easy for everyone to find something they liked. I found the photos pleasing to look at and relaxing! This seems to be an archaeology /exploration theme that they incorporate to water park. You can also see the water park from the windows on this side and from the Cafe & Bar. Great Wolf Lodge has an outdoor ropes course and indoor arcade. Is the higher food price of Kalahari worth it? Thank you for pointing out my mistake! Another note worth mentioning the bathtubs @ Kalahari are huge! They were definitely present - but not blowing their whistle when it was needed and didn't seem as focused. Try getting on the email lists of both of these resorts to learn about the discounts they offer throughout the year. My six year olds love the slides, and they are allowed to ride on everything at Great Wolf, but my teens get bored very quickly. The resort recently completed a huge expansion that added 130,000 sq feet of conference facilities to the 100,000 sq feet of existing facilities. It is also carried through with the water park experience itself with some of the attractions incorporating the characters and /or lodge theme. Im not sure if it something that they created or if it has its origins someplace else. Im not sure when we will make it back there since we have a lot of other travel plans. 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. There are currently 4 locations for the chain with the Poconos location being its largest facility. It is hard to believe that Aquatopia/Camelback would actually be charging extra for the balcony /patios at this level! The water park @ Aquatopia was nice. We also only stayed one night, so Im not sure how often housekeeping visits. Waterpark admission included with your stay! We are a family of 6 with four kids ranging in ages from 5 12 years old. There was a large selection, with an emphasis on Italian cuisine. We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. There was a nice variety of the treats and each of the kids was able to find something appealing to them. Please email me directly at PAConnect@kalahariresorts.com. 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! It needs to be checked more often. Let's talk about the Royal Hospitality Suite at Kalahari Pocono. There are 2 lazy river type rides, the wave pool is immense, there are 2 hot tubs that are partly inside the building AND partly outside of the building with a narrow channel to traverse back and forth. It is especially better for younger kids ones who dont want or need a life jacket! Contemporary and tasteful.we give that an A+!Overall, we can't wait to return to Kalahari! The first thing that struck me the most was how dirty and unsanitary the waterpark was compared to before. Camelback is unique in that it has both an INDOOR water park (Aquatopia, which is open year-round) and a separate OUTDOOR water park (Camelbeach) that is only open for the summer season. My wife went there one morning to order some breakfast and it took nearly an hour to get our food after ordering it (she was also in line for nearly an hour before even getting to place her order). There isnt any story that goes along with any of the characters as far as we were able to discern. Water park access was included. The resort has a spa center, a hot tub and an on-site restaurant. On our previous visit a couple of years ago we felt the place was showing some wear and tear. Within 45 minutes of our arrival, I received a text message that our room was ready, but no one was ready to take a break.Warning: You cannot bring outside food into the waterpark so if you want something to eat, you have to purchase food inside. Yes My oldest daughter and wife voted for Kalahari. We have patronized several of these places, if not all and the kids highly recommend them! Their massive indoor water parks vary by location. For just one four-year-old, I think Great Wolf is probably a better choice. Both resorts in the Poconos have a water coaster. However, having fewer food venue choices and adult amenities limits your stay to a very kid-centric experience. I am pleased to hear that our staff was friendly and that our facilities were well maintained throughout your stay. 11 Best Small Towns to Visit in Central Upstate New York, https://www.theparenthoodadventures.com/waterpark-comparison-chart-kalahari-aquatopia-great-wolf-lodge/. Kalahari has a lot of complaints on Google about 2+ hour check in times and no housekeeping. We also liked the master light switch in the room that made it very easy to turn off every light in the suite with one switch. The side-lite mirror was a nice feature that we enjoyed. The only other complaint I have is that we came home with a number of bites. Kalahari activities and attractions differ with each location. For part of our stay both lazy river attractions were open and there were other times when only one was open. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. Many months later (due to COVID) we stayed at Camelbacks Aquatopia. That makes it easy for families traveling with toddlers (and their little legs!). Webster city officials released a statement on Facebook about the new Great Wolf Lodge development in December, stating that the water park and resort will bring more than 500 jobs to the area. In particular, it felt narrow. As I mentioned above when we go to Kalahari (or Great Wolf Lodge, for that matter)- we are going for some water and swimming fun. In our opinion, the splash park at Aquatopia was the weakest of the three. It is really the other aspects of the resorts and accommodations that will determine which resort is the better choice for your family! The hostesses and the servers were professional and pleasant. LOCATION: Within the 1st floor level of Tom Foolerys Adventure Park inside B-Lux Grill & Bar. Kalahari and Chula Vista - now that the "Flyin Mayan" ride is back - are also. I am on the mailing list and recently got a promotional offer that indicated the rooms had recently been renovated. Including a story time, dance time, crafts and more. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Welcome to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Round Rock 223,000 square feet, filled with wet, wild, fun. Why do the adults with hearing damage always make the decisions with regards to volume level! At that point, it was unmistakably the smell of cat urine. 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. Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine is a great way to go for a weekend getaway. The Poconos location has 401 rooms and each wing of the lodge has 4 floors. (Healthy, I know.) Weve stayed at GWL Williamsburg and Kalahari in the Poconos. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July.Let me start by saying that we have visited the Great Wolf Lodge location in Fitchburg, MA on 2 separate occasions and had enjoyable visits each time. There would have been another $25 for parking but we were able to avoid this since we had relatives staying just a few miles away. The bartenders were great, DAVID and ROBIN especially. Kalaharis water park does the same, except with a jungle theme. Which do you prefer? I felt the prices were reasonable for this type of American Pub food. It doesnt extend to the guest rooms and amenities. We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. (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. really? The Great Wolf Lodge Resort is a family-friendly resort located a few miles from the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Grapevine and offers deluxe accommodations, upscale amenities, and an indoor water park with several swimming areas and wave pools, water slides and rides, waterfalls, hot springs, and entertainment for children. We may also participate in other affiliate programs from time-to-time and be compensated for referring traffic & business to these companies. It was, however, small. Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge Poconos Comparison - Kalahari Resort Poconos Top Flight Family 113K subscribers Subscribe 2.9K 310K views 3 years ago Are you trying to decide between. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. Fortunately we only live about 2 hours away. Most times I find that the pictures or decorations in a motel/hotel really dont add anything to the experience. For exact amenities lists, its best to view the Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari website of the locations you are comparing. It felt cozy and definitely complimented the whole lodge theme & experience! 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. 2 of themone outside by the immense outdoor pool and one heated one inside. Hi there, I appreciate you taking the time to write a review of your most recent stay. Both resorts are well-themed throughout the resort rooms and the water parks. It is the best themed lazy river out of the three water parks in the Poconos! Towel check-out is something new since our last visit. 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. Both resorts also have bunk bed suites with small alcoves just for the kids. The Kalahari Resort is well appointed, nicely decorated, and the facilities are well maintained. I' m not concerned about price, can get a deal. See All Waterpark Features Waterpark (and more!) Our suite was located on the same level as the entrance to the water park which was below the main level. Take care! If you would like to read a little more about our trip down to the Poconos you can do so here: Adventure Update # 018: My Tricycle is Very Very Fast! Has a fun magic quest as an additional . It was nicely decorated and efficiently arranged. 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. I would request a higher floor again because the 2nd floor gets all of the foot traffic as that is the lobby floor and the waterpark and arcade are on the lower 1st floor.Take a minute to just look around and notice the dcor, architecture, and design. Both resorts have huge water parks and other indoor activities. Thank you for your feedback. Likewise, there is a cost associated with the convenience of those activities being offered right there and that is cost. Each wing of the resort is 8 floors high and it has 977 rooms in total. Location: 3001 Kalahari Blvd. With that being said it does appear that the ropes course and zip lines are something that we may try in the future. The rides for the kids are great, it is an entired water playground for toddlers with amazing water slides! Great Wolf Lodge is known for their MagiQuest game. How does the resort compare to Great Wolf Lodge? @Kelly We ate dinner off-site so I cant really compare the food fairly. Note: There is no Flowrider / surfing simulator attraction at the Poconos location for Great Wolf Lodge. The room @ Aquatopia that we had was a double queen suite, a pull-out sofa and a balcony. She has reported on several high-profile stories during her career at KSAT and specializes in trending news and things to do around Texas and San Antonio. After learning about the aspects of both of these resort, which one will your family choose? The Kalahari wave pool is much bigger than the Great Wolf Lodge wave pool. Kids hearing is much more sensitive! I'm going to breakdown each part of the resort that we visited and give you the key points: Both seemed to make a small room work a little better and not feel as small as it actually was. But having a wide variety of restaurants and foods was great! Both waterparks are easily accessible from the lobby, and the dining and shops are also centered around there. This is probably a reflection of the fact that Kalahari is really a convention center first & foremost and the water park is just one of the many amenities they offer albeit a big one! Note that it may be quite a walk from your room to the water park, or any other destination on the Kalahari Resort campus. I love Great Wolf Lodge, but the water park is a little more for younger kids, while Kalahari is more for the older kids. You used the same bathroom photo for both resorts. The ladies bathroom and changing area looked tike a war zone! (Activities vary by location). Not quite as good as the one @ Kalahari but better than you will find at Great Wolf Lodge. Which is better for his age? Both Great Wolf and Kalahari have very luxurious condos that can accommodate a whole family easily. Wisconsin Dells, WI https://www.greatwolf.com/wisconsin-dells Kalahari has the most toddler slides by far when comparing the three resorts. 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. Speaking of loud There is usually a dance party in the evening which we found to be extremely loud! The NACHOS did not disappoint. It is also something that Kalahari does well . When we go to one of the three water parks in the Poconos we are usually going for water park & swimming fun so other activities are not our primary focus. Each lane allows for up to six bowlers at a time. Burger and fries for $12, other sandwiches $12-$15.not excessive. My husband and I especially like the adults-only area at Kalahari, and we dont miss the late-night stomping of kids in the hallways playing MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge (if you know, you know). You all have multi room suites as well as an African Queen Suite.Let's talk about the African Queen Suite for a moment. They contain a variety of aquatic activities such as water slides, swimming pools, wave pools, lazy rivers, and splash pads. Sincerely, Chip. Still it was a frustrating experience that cast a pallor over our time and experience there. From the accommodation standpoint it was a much more memorable stay! It features the Howlin' Tornado raft ride, Coyote Cannon water tubes (with a 40-foot drop), and a tree house fort that has a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket! The main dry activity, however, is the MagiQuest interactive wand game. 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? 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. African photos, statues, pictures, all kinds of things that mentally transport you to another world. Socks are required in order to bowl. We stayed in the Desert room which was sufficient in size for 2 adults and 2 small kids. 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. Kalahari Resort also has an adult spa and fitness center plus live music entertainment at the steak house and piano bar. Two of my kids are begging to go back to Kalahari. Kalahari Resort has an African safari theme. It seems, for obvious safety reasons, that a toddler area would be better located on the lowest level of the water park. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! It is so fun for my children (12 & 4 years old) and for adults too!! We feature kid-friendly activities, a range of dining options, interactive games, an adult-friendly wine down service, and more all under one roof. Both resorts have huge water parks that include a wave pool, lazy river, splash areas and of course water slides. For example when booking your accommodations you can select a themed suite, such as the KidCabin Suite which we did. 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. Great Wolf Lodge has a woodland creature and forest theme, while Kalahari has an African theme. The Great Wolf Lodge resort in the Poconos was constructed in 2005 and is one of roughly 19 locations for the chain. 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. 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. The lobby is ringed by various shops and the floor has wonderful decorative murals inlaid in the marble (Im sure these are probably decals??). Your encounters with the lack of cleanliness in the room and waterpark was certainly not up to our standards, so I am interested in hearing more about it. Finally, we did have a rather poor experience one morning ordering from the Cafe & Bar (AKA, Mountain Market, World Bazaar Coffee Shop). This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. CLICK HERE TO VIEW VARIOUS CREDIT CARDS AND AVAILABLE SIGN-UP BONUSES, New Private Luxury Facility Coming to DFW, Virgin Atlantic Makes it Official and More, March Transfer Bonuses: Marriott, Avianca, Virgin Red, Royal Caribbean Quietly Reduces Housekeeping to Once per Day, Hyatt Announces 2023 Hotel Category Changes, Easy: Changing AAdvantage Award flight via Twitter DM. (GWL = Great Wolf Lodge & K = Kalahari). To alert those in the wave pool of the wave rotation starting it has a wolf howl. Im pleased to hear that you enjoyed the various sections of the waterpark. You can reach me at PAConnect@KalahariResorts.com. Kalahari was definitely newer and nicer but also more expensive. There is also a cafe (Cafe & Bar) and a restaurant (Horizons) located right off the main lobby. One of Kalahari's Kiddie Areas Kalahari is amaizing! We recently took a little trip to the Poconos and stayed one night @ Great Wolf Lodge immediately followed by a one-night stay @ Kalahari. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Life-size animal statues adorn the outside. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 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. Robert, The drive was almost exactly 100 miles for us and we arrived a few minutes after 1:00 pm. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July. Kalahari Resorts opened in 2015 in the Poconos. After the meal there are plenty of places like the pastry shop, coffee shop or ice cream shop that have many enticing desserts for the children. We do love both! Hence our balcony seemed to be under ground and we were looking at a high retaining wall for a view. 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. Thankfully, we didnt have a 2+ hour line to check-in. The development is expected to break ground during. We are still having a debate on what it actually was. So the water park is what we usually focus on. 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. I'm going to breakdown each part of the resort that we visited and give you the key points:CHECK IN/ROOM - We checked in with Kassi at 12 noon and were happy to hear our room was ready. Activities could include yoga, character appearances, crafts, a nightly Forest Friends show, story time, and a dance party. The kids had a blast, and I think with some minor changes, this place will exceed 5 stars. I've been on trip advisor for years, but have never felt the need to leave a review until now. We also enjoyed the Lazy River and the wave pool. People who got there after her were served well before her. Tom Foolery's Adventure Park provides hours of playtime, with 80,000 square feet of interactive rides and attractions. Aquatopia at Camelback Lodge in Pennsylvania is 125,000 square feet. We compared various aspects of the resort and water parks to help you determine which resort is the best for your family. Yes it is HUGE but it is also laid out well and serves as a destination itself within the resort. Ax throwing, ropes course, zip line, off-road Segway tours through the forest & switchback UTV tour. Both resorts also have onsite dining that continues the decor. There are a number of other activities available at the lodge. Which Poconos waterpark do you like best? Both resorts have normal hotel rooms as well as themed rooms. Located below the main lobby is both the entrance to the water park and the arcade. Generally we are there for some water park fun and that is what Great Wolf Lodge does best so that is where we spend the majority of our time. EXPECT IT and you will have a great time. After reading this post - which Poconos waterpark do you THINK you are most likely to go to? Very spacious, a flat screen TV in each room and in main living area with fireplace. Apparently they were experiencing people taking the towels as souvenirs?? I'm displeased to hear of the strange odor in your room and that we were not able to correct this situation while you were staying with us. The company owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge brand. We say this because Aquatopia has the most activities (rock wall, laser tag, escape room, etc) at its resort that will likely appeal to pre-teens and early teens. I will be sure to pass your kind words along to Kassi, David, Robin, and Amanda! 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. Kalahari is absolutely immense! If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. Answer 1 of 6: We want to take my son ( just turned 4) to either Kalahari or Great wolf lodge. The sound system is rather poor and the performance is rather loud. Just bundle up and head for the hillsdon't forget your gloves and boots! Why Kids Love It Then to get to the lower level you have to take the stairs. It can be more expensive but it's a better place to relax and see your kids enjoying without having to worry too much. Overall we felt like Kalahari was much better before the expansion. Admission: Rates start at $277 a night for a standard four-person room. The lobby at Aquatopia is more spacious than the lobby at Great Wolf Lodge but far smaller than the lobby at Kalahari. An unpleasant smell hit us as soon as we opened the door, although I couldn't quite place it, at least not until we stepped further into the suite. There is an indoor rock wall, laser tag, and indoor ropes course, etc. The TV in the room seemed to be new and was the largest of any we saw at the three resorts. 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. Seriously, I'm not being dramatic. Great Wolf Lodge has more traditional tube, body slides, and a bowl slide. Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine has one adults-only hot tub. Kalahari Resort, positioned in Spherical Rock, Texas, is analogous in some ways to Nice Wolf Lodge. The wolf mascots host a nightly dance party and pj story time. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July. As a native New Yorker, a bit of grit and grime doesn't scare me. What are you waiting for? It felt more intimate and clean, less crowded and sufficiently staffed. (Basically a jumpy seat for adults.) This old-school hot dog shack across from Penn Treaty Park mostly caters to truckers, hence its early-morning hours. If you are looking for more of a balance between kid activities and adult luxuries Kalahari has a wider range of offerings that will appeal to both adults and children. Virtual reality, tons of games, golf, bowling - this place though of everything. We can engage in many of the other activities closer to our home (and probably at less expense). 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. Imagine what it takes to run this place?!? Both resorts have also utilized Groupon for deals. See our Advertiser Disclosure and Editorial Notehere. It reminds me of Disneys Wilderness Lodge. (If we wanted to watch tv, we could go to our room.) Some of the profit from any sale may merely make it intoourpocket instead of Jeff Bezos'! For our Wednesday November 24th, 2021 stay @ Aquatopia the cost of our room was $319.00 plus taxes & fees amounting in the amount of $71.10, bringing the total to $390.10. We ordered a burrito, nachos grande, chicken fingers, fries and onion rings from a predictable and acceptable selection of menu items. We simply love everything about it! CHECK IN/ROOM - We checked in with Kassi at We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. Recently, my family visited Kalahari Resort for the first time. Kids jumping in and out, the areas are not guarded by staffsame problem as Great Wolf. Each play area includes slides and swings. However, Great Wolf Lodge has a higher percentage of themed rooms available at a more reasonable price. No outside food or drink allowed. In November 2020, a competitor to GWL opened in Texas. Clean, safe & staff so friendly! We have not yet patronized any of these establishments. Overall, my family prefers Kalahari Resort. We had a cabin themed room for this stay (KidCabin Suite) and the kids enjoyed it more than I had expected! This is probably the one area that Aquatopia beats both Great Wolf Lodge & Kalahari. (It was almost like an obstacle course with the running kids, machines, flashing lights, and noise.) We stayed @ Great Wolf Lodge on a Tuesday night and then Kalahari on Wednesday night of the same week. Better selection of local foods near Great Wolf. I will note as a previous reviewer did that Great Wolf Lodge had SPECTACULAR lifeguards. My son went to the prime rib carving station several times but the chef continued to serve him meat with chunks of fat on it - so he gave up. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. Imagine what it takes to run this place?!? My family has stayed in themed rooms at both resorts. It was HORRIBLE! This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. I have read other reviews where people did not enjoy the balcony but we did. Yes there were two night stands on either side of the bed in the master suite. Kalahari was the cheapest on Friday evening - but the most expensive during the week & the second most expensive on Saturday evening.