Contemporary and tasteful.we give that an A+!Overall, we can't wait to return to Kalahari! Swim Up BARS - An absolutely genius idea! Activities could include yoga, character appearances, crafts, a nightly Forest Friends show, story time, and a dance party. (Activities vary by location). Kalahari features a number of signature sit-down restaurants (Sortinos Italian Kitchen (Italian food), B-Lux Grill & Bar (Burgers & Shakes), Double Cut (Steakhouse). Kids hearing is much more sensitive! Kalahariis the biggest of the 3 and has a wider range of offerings that will appeal to both adults & children. The drive was almost exactly 100 miles for us and we arrived a few minutes after 1:00 pm. The overnight costs for both of these resorts can vary widely throughout the year. There are a number of other activities available at the lodge. Try getting on the email lists of both of these resorts to learn about the discounts they offer throughout the year. After learning about the aspects of both of these resort, which one will your family choose? (assuming same accommodations we had for this past trip) and this is how they all answered. We did still struggle with the menu & felt that it was very limited in that we found it difficult to find healthier options for our family. The lobby is ringed by various shops and the floor has wonderful decorative murals inlaid in the marble (Im sure these are probably decals??). My family has enjoyed a handful of stays at the water park hotel Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas (and one visit to the GWL in Southern California). Ax throwing, ropes course, zip line, off-road Segway tours through the forest & switchback UTV tour. Magic wands are needed for this game, and there is a fee to activate them for a certain period of time. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. Its really a question of what the individual family prefers, as far as water park size, features and resort amenities. Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, TX is like Great Wolf Lodge on steroids. 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. Both resorts have also utilized Groupon for deals. It doesnt extend to the guest rooms and amenities. Sitemap, Revealed: The US Airports & Airlines With The Most Frequent Flight Delays, The Ultimate Guide to Kalahari Resort Locations in the US, The Ultimate Guide to Six Flags Locations in the US, Palm Springs Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting With Kids, Seattle Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting with Kids, Las Vegas Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting with Kids, Florida Keys Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting with Kids, Myrtle Beach Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting with Kids, The Bahamas Family Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting with Kids. Lately we have been hitting the snack bar (Pizza Pub) down in the arcade for the burritos and then the store (Marrakesh Market) right at the edge of the lobby for some of the soups. There was a large selection, with an emphasis on Italian cuisine. Finding fun places to take your kids in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. The room was nice and clean but nothing particularly memorable. 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. 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. There was also a buffet which was closed but other little caf options for grab and go type food, a coffee bar, ice cream stand, bakery.they forgot nothing!We felt like we needed more than one night so we asked to extend our stay another night and we were given a great rate to stay in our upgraded room so we jumped on the deal. 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. Top Educational & Inspirational YouTube Channels for Families 2022, Waterpark Comparison Chart: Kalahari, Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge. Note: There is no Flowrider / surfing simulator attraction at the Poconos location for Great Wolf Lodge. Aquatopia Snowtubing, mountain coaster (4,500 feet steel track coaster), Euro Bungee tethered bungee jump. A 14-inch pie was 8 slices, 2 toppings $21. I have read other reviews where people did not enjoy the balcony but we did. Great wolf is closer to shopping. Great Wolf Lodge has an outdoor ropes course and indoor arcade. Both waterparks are easily accessible from the lobby, and the dining and shops are also centered around there. It is so fun for my children (12 & 4 years old) and for adults too!! Great Wolf Lodge: Outdoor ropes courses seasonal. Hi there! The food was overpriced but tasty. WEBSTER, Texas Texas is set to add another Great Wolf Lodge location to its ranks. Kalahari seems to have a bit more of a selection when it comes to very large rooms. Tiffany, Im so glad you found the post helpful. But, if or when we do return, I look forward to spending more time in that adults-only grotto. We are a family of 6 with four kids ranging in ages from 5 12 years old. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. The rides for the kids are great, it is an entired water playground for toddlers with amazing water slides! 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. Waterpark admission included with your stay! Once again, the food was mediocre at best. The outdoor small kids area with slides was a nice addition to the park however my daughter who is 53" tall was not allowed to go on them. Many months later (due to COVID) we stayed at Camelbacks Aquatopia. (If we wanted to watch tv, we could go to our room.) Great Wolf Lodge boasts tons of activities sure to put a smile on your children's faces. Been at least six years ago. Other than the water park & arcade our family hasnt really tried out any other ones. My family has stayed in themed rooms at both resorts. The wave pool alternates between wave / no wave cycles. CEO approval 75 % approve of John Murphy (Murph)'s performance 74 % approve of Todd Nelson's performance Salary satisfaction 49 % think they are paid fairly at Great Wolf Lodge 40 % We usually just order a pizza and eat it in our room with maybe a salad. (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. Which is better for his age? We did not rent any of the cabanas that were located throughout. This activity requires participants to roam all over the lodge to find clues and solve a quest. The size of the indoor water park is roughly 125,000 square-foot, which makes it slightly larger than the Great Wolf Lodge water park @ roughly 79,000 square-foot, but decidedly smaller than Kalaharis indoor water park which is roughly 220,000 square-foot. 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. Most times I find that the pictures or decorations in a motel/hotel really dont add anything to the experience. I am pleased to hear that our staff was friendly and that our facilities were well maintained throughout your stay. In our opinion, the splash park at Aquatopia was the weakest of the three. It's the easiest way to hit the slopes! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Kalahari Resort also has an adult spa and fitness center plus live music entertainment at the steak house and piano bar. We also enjoyed the balcony. I was wondering what your experiences have been with that. Expect to spend money on food, games, etc. 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. Aquatopia at Camelback Lodge in Pennsylvania is 125,000 square feet. We also only stayed one night, so Im not sure how often housekeeping visits. The farm is back a lane, and Lindt Chocolate Factory Outlet is located at 40 Logistics Drive in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In addition to the arcade, there are six amusement park rides, including the Screamn Centipede roller coaster with 360-degree rotating cart. 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. Answer 1 of 6: We want to take my son ( just turned 4) to either Kalahari or Great wolf lodge. Thank you for your support! This was one of the few exceptions! It was voted the #1 indoor water park in 2015 by USA Today. We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. 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. The 3 "kids" (ages 12-20) and I were impressed with the front of the resort. The Poconos location has 401 rooms and each wing of the lodge has 4 floors. You might prefer the chart we put together along with our conclusions. I actually have a hard time believing that the square footage of the park is larger than the water park @ Great Wolf Lodge. The view felt somewhat private and we really enjoyed it! Thank you, again. Located in America's Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, it was Great Wolf Resorts' first East Coast location. It had a pretty good selection of desserts and chocolates. This is an interactive game that has players moving throughout the Lodge on quests. Robert, 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. Hopefully you can come again soon but until then, take care! Lifejackets available, large amount of seating and tables!ARCADE - Another huge area! Great Wolf Lodges water park continues their wildlife theme. Embarrassing that I never realized it was the same picture! Clean, safe & staff so friendly! If you have visited all three waterparks in the Poconos please let us know which one YOU liked best! . That makes it easy for families traveling with toddlers (and their little legs!). TripAdvisor review of Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, TripAdvisor review of Kalahari Resort Poconos, Booking.com review of Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, MommyNearest Great Wolf Lodge vs Kalahari vs Camelback. The theming is carried throughout multiple aspects of the total experience. The balcony/patio was laughable. Only 2 of our bracelets worked, but we were able to get around that on more than one occasion. Learn how your comment data is processed. We stayed @ Great Wolf Lodge on a Tuesday night and then Kalahari on Wednesday night of the same week. And the staff was friendly. For exact amenities lists, its best to view the Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari website of the locations you are comparing. Just about everything seemed to be swimming in butter or oil, including the overcooked/overheated vegetables. Kalahari Resorts opened in 2015 in the Poconos. EXPECT IT and you will have a great time. Note that it may be quite a walk from your room to the water park, or any other destination on the Kalahari Resort campus. Please see our partners for more details. It seems, for obvious safety reasons, that a toddler area would be better located on the lowest level of the water park. 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? Better selection of local foods near Great Wolf. I can't honestly say that anything bit me in the room, we may have been bitten while we were sleeping, or in all the time we were forced to spend on the patio because of the smell.The resort was fine, but I'd avoid this "upgraded suite". Right away we were looking for and expecting a wonderful customer service experience, and Kalahari did not disappoint. The room was not only spacious, but didn't reek like cat urine. How does the resort compare to Great Wolf Lodge? Towel check-out is something new since our last visit. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Both resorts in the Poconos have a water coaster. For our Wednesday June 26th, 2019 stay @ Kalahari the cost of our room was $249.99 with taxes & fees amounting to $66.09, bringing the total to $316.08. Why Kids Love It Both resorts also have bunk bed suites with small alcoves just for the kids. Billing Issue: I did have a billing issue with Aquatopia / Camelback. LOVED the concept - didn't like the fact that they were not full bars - they only made a few specialty drinks and offered beer and wine. The suite had an interesting layout, but who could enjoy it when you were struggling not to vomit. TheParenthoodAdventures.comis owned & operated byChip Williamsonwho is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that enables websites like this to earn advertising fees from Amazon.com. Great Wolf Lodge also has a small bowling ally, gem mining, outdoor ropes course, arcade, and glow golf. 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. This happened before on our previous visits but given the number of people this time, they kept closing the areas for cleaning constantly. The advent of Great Wolf Lodge represents one of the most monumental The advent of Great Wolf Lodge represents one of the most monumental accomplishments in the Citys history, Webster city officials said. Thank you for your feedback. 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. My sister, who was also staying at this resort had the African Queen suite and there was PLENTY of room for all of us if they would have moved us. Fortunately we only live about 2 hours away. This was terrific we will likely do all three spaced out over a few years, but this absolutely helped us figure out what order to go in. Copyright 2023 The Parenthood Adventures! I hope you have a wonderful time with your family! 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. Weve stayed at GWL Williamsburg and Kalahari in the Poconos. 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). 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. Kalahari Resort has Tom Foolerys, a gigantic indoor adventure park. There were not lights on both sides of the queen beds which made night-time reading hard for the person on the side with no light. Advice: you can't come to a place like this and complain about how much things cost. GWL has excellent sales. Winner: Kalahari Resort (especially for older kids and teens). Poconos Waterparks: How to Get the Best Deals at Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Aquatopia! Life-size animal statues adorn the outside. Round Rock Source: Round the Rock With so much fun and excitement in one place, Kalahari remains a top destination for families throughout Texas. Water park access was included. 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! For the volume of people passing through it ( to check-in, check out, shop at the shops and access the activities) it feels a little small and congested. This is probably the one area that Aquatopia beats both Great Wolf Lodge & Kalahari. 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. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July. Overall we felt like Kalahari was much better before the expansion. but also read water is cold. 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. Unfortunately, the kids loaded up on an assortment of dessert and we went back to the room to change back into our swimwear for a last hurrah in the water.Off the lobby there are also a sweets shop, bakery, and ice cream shop, with what appears to be a nice selection of goodies.The next morning, the kids wanted to get in a few hours at the waterpark before our 11:00 checkout. Each lane allows for up to six bowlers at a time. For the size of the main lobby, it is the same order with Great Wolf Lodges lobby being the smallest, Kalaharis main lobby being the largest and Aquatopias lobby size somewhere in the middle. It is always wonderful to receive complements on our dcor as we want our guests to have as authentic an experience as possible. I actually made the kids wear earplugs (as did I) to go to this! more. 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. You used the same bathroom photo for both resorts. The KSAT 12 News Team provides a look at local, regional, statewide and national news events and the latest information on local traffic and weather issues. Seriously, I'm not being dramatic. Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine has one adults-only hot tub. 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. Just a small thing that can be easily rectified. Both are reasonable attempts at having a meal on the healthier side. Here is a quick breakdown of the outdoor activities offered at each resort: Kalahari: Monkey climb ropes course, zip lines and mini golf. https://www.theparenthoodadventures.com/waterpark-comparison-chart-kalahari-aquatopia-great-wolf-lodge/ Aquatopia offers a great selection of activities for tweens & younger teens, both inside & outside! The Kalahari wave pool is much bigger than the Great Wolf Lodge wave pool. You can use the water park at 1pm on the day of check in until close on the day you leave. Our Dallas, TX resort offers an 80,000-square-foot indoor water park and exciting land attractions for the entire family. We liked the water park @ Great Wolf Lodge! At the towel dispensary you simply swipe your wrist band and the attendant will hand you the number of towels you request. The Lobby is one of the things I, and everyone in my family, really liked about Kalahari! Kalahari has the most toddler slides by far when comparing the three resorts. Our suite @ Kalahari was HUGE! Definitely two thumbs up for the adults area at Kalahari! Great Wolf Lodge. Socks are required in order to bowl. Both seemed to make a small room work a little better and not feel as small as it actually was. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. There is a huge fireplace towards the back of the lobby that is adjacent to a huge window that overlooks the water park. Which do you prefer? I look forward to hearing back from you. Our suite was located on the same level as the entrance to the water park which was below the main level. Many of the activities are located right on the main level off to the left of the main lobby so they are very visible. The resort's mammoth 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark has nine waterslides, six pools, and a four-story treehouse waterfort and utilizes nearly 380,000 gallons of water.Beyond the massive indoor waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge offers families daily activities and amenities on the dry side. There was one dedicated dessert/pastry kiosk located off the main lobby nestled in there with the souvenir shop. What are you waiting for? 2) With COVID still hanging around and the holidays right around the corner it seemed to be prudent. Kalahari Resorts water park has more of everything and also includes a Flowrider, which is popular with older kids and teens. Although the room was designated for up to 6 people it felt like we were on top of each other at times. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. However, please be aware that Camelback / Aquatopia charges for general parking I think it is $12 if you are just coming to engage in one of the activities. Kassi was terrific! Camelback charged my card the correct amount when I made the deposit on November 24th and then on November 27th (2 days after we had left the resort) I was charged $25 for a parking fee. The new Italian restaurant had a nice design and the food was good. For our 6 and 8 year olds who have never been to an indoor waterpark, were doing GWL first and will get to the others later. Great Wolf Lodge was nearly as inexpensive during the week as Aquatopia ($249 vs $238), and the cheapest on Saturday night. Kalahari was definitely newer and nicer but also more expensive. Great Wolf Lodge is smaller than Kalahari. And with new locations in Arizona and Illinois, Great Wolf Lodges are becoming easier to reach wherever . It was unpleasant to see and to step on. Adventure Update # 020: 10 Years and 1/2 an Inch! Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Camelbacks Aquatopia resort are all located in the Poconos and are VERY close to each other! Both resorts also have onsite dining that continues the decor. 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. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July. Life jackets are not required but are available as well as puddle jumpers. As part of the U.S.' largest group of family-friendly water parks, this indoor water park has perfected how to maximize family fun for all ages. Burger and fries for $12, other sandwiches $12-$15.not excessive. The kids had a blast, and I think with some minor changes, this place will exceed 5 stars. The splash park or toddler area of the water park was rather small. We appreciate it! (It was almost like an obstacle course with the running kids, machines, flashing lights, and noise.) Report inappropriate content msmejkal chicago Water park temperatures at all three Poconos water parks is the same @ 84 degrees, year-round. We can engage in many of the other activities closer to our home (and probably at less expense). You can also see the water park from the windows on this side and from the Cafe & Bar. A night at either place costs a small fortune, and the food is over-priced and mediocre. Mind you definitely not Disney level theming or branding but a good job. Kalahari has one indoor and one outdoor area - both are huge (Kalahari's is one of the largest indoors in the US). Camelbacks Aquatopiaseems to strike a particularly good balance for children in the 10 + age group.

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