Black family at Great Wolf Lodge — Fuller Family Staycation at Great Wolf Lodge

Grab your pack and get ready for the Ultimate “HOWL-O-WEEN” at Great Wolf Lodge! As a Houston family, we were so excited to FINALLY get a Great Wolf Lodge (GWL) in our area! My kids had been begging to go! As a mom who has learned about sharing plans ahead of time, I decided to NOT tell them we were going! I simply told them to bring a few pairs of swimwear. They had no idea until we literally drove up to the lodge. Our youngest daughter, Summer, screamed, “I saw this on YouTube!!” It was epic! She wasn’t the only one excited. Our teen boys had the biggest smiles! Their faces alone were the perfect kick-off to a fun-filled weekend!

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with family friendly Halloween vibes and decor! Check-in was super easy with kiosks available and of course they had full service staff available to get us on our way! We grabbed our wristbands (which also doubled as our room keys) and Wolf Passes for the kiddos and we were all set! We stayed in the KidCabin Suite which my kids LOVED. Of course they couldn’t wait to call dibs on the top bunk! This suite sleeps up to seven people. I loved that there aren’t separate keys to try to keep up with during your stay…at an indoor amusement park! Nobody has to find anyone to get back into the room. It’s all so convenient. What I love most about the wristbands is they also double as a payment method FOR ADULTS so there’s also no need to have to keep up with a wallet. I emphasize “for adults”, because the last thing I need is for our four kiddos to have full access to “Charge it to the room” LOL! No, seriously!

Ok so let’s jump into some of the packages that we found super helpful for our stay. First things first! Depending on your kid(s) ages, you’ll want to grab attraction passes! These are going to save you so much time and money in exploring all that the lodge has to offer! Our family used the Wolf Pass for our teens and little one! It included access to some of the indoor attractions, discounts on souvenirs, a trip to the candy shop and more! Next you may want to consider purchasing a dining package for your family and/or a daily pass to the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet!

Now for the FUN!!! My family LOVES GWL because there is something to do ALL DAY for EVERYONE! If I were you, I’d go ahead and download the app, so you’ll stay in the know for the full line-up of daily events! Plus, you can order food and drinks for pickup, make dining reservations, view their shops, and explore all the attractions right from your mobile device. Attractions include everything from bowling, virtual reality, miniature golf, bowling and more! There’s even a Build-A-Bear Workshop in the gift shop! This was a highlight of the trip for our youngest. Also, you absolutely do NOT want to miss the nightly shows! They are spectacular!

For the main star of the show, the GREAT GEYSER WATER PARK! The water park is free with every stay, or you can also book a day pass if you just want to pop in for the fun! We went every day during our weekend stay and did not get bored! From the wave pool to the lazy river to the water slides and even a few obstacle water courses, we had a splashing good time! The weather is perfect this time of year in Texas to enjoy the outdoor pool and hot tub. Check out the cabanas to book your private hang-out, but even if you don’t no worries! There is plenty of seating when you want to take a break or enjoy a yummy poolside treat. There are also lockers available to store your belongings, free towels to rent, water safety vests, and essentials in case you forgot to pack something. GWL makes your stay STRESS FREE with all the amenities and gift shop options.

You really don’t need much besides clothing and toiletries, but here are a few things I would pack for our next stay at Great Wolf Lodge:

A beach bag – my kiddos were all over the water park so having a bag to tote around their belongings was essential for me.
Extra beach towels – the water park provides beach towels, but make sure you remember to turn them back in, so you don’t get charged for them. Especially, if you’re visiting on a day pass, you will want some towels for the ride home.
Snacks for the room – We LOVED that Great Wolf Lodge allows outside food so there was no fuss if wanted a late-night snack. This is totally optional! GWL has several dining options and even a market offering convenient grab and go options.
A cell phone water protection pouch – You know what they say, it didn’t happen if you don’t capture it. You will absolutely want to capture all of the smiles, laughs, adventure, and maybe a few waterslide squeals. These pouches protect your phone so you can enjoy and capture all the fun. Don’t worry if you forget yours, GWL has these available too.
Swim shoes – you can totally go barefoot around the waterpark, but if you like flip flops and/or slides, swim shoes are a great option to keep from having to keep up with traditional footwear.
Pack your family matching Halloween jammies and costumes for the kiddos to enjoy the HOWL-O-WEEN festivities!

If you’re looking for some Halloween fun that the entire family will enjoy, click here to book your stay at Great Wolf Lodge from the end of September throughout the month of October for HOWL-O-WEEN. Families can enjoy crafts, a Monster Bash dance party, the Trick-Or-Treat Trail and more all month long! Check out our family recap over on Instagram! Have a spooktacular stay!!!