Overall we felt like Kalahari was much better before the expansion. But having a wide variety of restaurants and foods was great! Once again, the food was mediocre at best. It was HORRIBLE! Camelbacks Aquatopia also had the highest resort fee and the prices quoted on the website do not include the $25/night parking fee. Wet bar, fridge, microwaveIMPRESSED with the upkeep.WATERPARK - The place is absolutely huge. It was, however, small. (Healthy, I know.) Anonymous. Kids hearing is much more sensitive! The front desk staff was extremely professional, friendly and helpful. Great Wolf Lodges water park continues their wildlife theme. Camelbacks Aquatopia had the greatest variation in price for a room being slightly cheaper during the week AND the most expensive on the weekend. Kalahari vs Great wolf lodge - Wisconsin Dells Forum This past visit however was somewhat disappointing. We went for the Italian the second night and the food was again wonderful. We changed in the bathroom/changing areas, located a storage locker (for a fee), and found a table. 2501 Great Wolf Dr> Mason, OH 45040 (800) 913-9653. Thats theming! Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky vs Kalahari Resort - trippy.com The clothing line in the bathroom was broken and the bed covers had an unpleasant smell. The NACHOS did not disappoint. For exact amenities lists, its best to view the Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari website of the locations you are comparing. 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. Finally, we did have a rather poor experience one morning ordering from the Cafe & Bar (AKA, Mountain Market, World Bazaar Coffee Shop). One of Kalahari's Kiddie Areas We recently made a trip to the Poconos in Pennsylvania to visit a water park resort but didnt know which resort we should go to so we went to all 3 of them! The Poconos location has 401 rooms and each wing of the lodge has 4 floors. We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. Water park temperatures at all three Poconos water parks is the same @ 84 degrees, year-round. more. The sound system is rather poor and the performance is rather loud. As the kids went ahead, employee Jeremy helped to take bags upstairs. So we decided to check it out and see how things had changed. The splash park area of the water park devoted to smaller children (toddlers Penguin Play Bay) is very weak compared to Kalahari and somewhat awkwardly placed on a second tier of the waterpark close to some steps going down. If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. Great Wolf is good for the small children, Castaway is good for everyone, and Kalahari is beautiful but I find it leans more toward the older children and adults. Kalahari vs. Great Wolf Lodge - Review of Kalahari Resorts The Poconos and Williamsburg Virginia location both have a small indoor wave pool. The lobby is ringed by various shops and the floor has wonderful decorative murals inlaid in the marble (Im sure these are probably decals??). Here we constructed tables comparing the 3 indoor water park resorts located in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. The IVORY COAST restaurant had a great selection of food and we thoroughly enjoyed doing takeout from there. We liked the artwork in the room. You all have multi room suites as well as an African Queen Suite.Let's talk about the African Queen Suite for a moment. 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. The distance from the lobby to our room was an extremely long haul for her. Hopefully you can come again soon but until then, take care! Right away we were looking for and expecting a wonderful customer service experience, and Kalahari did not disappoint. Kalahari vs. Great Wolf Lodge Review of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Sandusky Reviewed December 29, 2016 We stayed 2 nights in a two-bedroom suite in the North Wing for Christmas 2016. Thankfully, we didnt have a 2+ hour line to check-in. Top Educational & Inspirational YouTube Channels for Families 2022, Great Wolf Lodge Poconos Water Park website, Aquatopia Poconos Indoor Water Park website. We joke that we lost Sophie our 2 year old for 5 minutes in the immense suite! Adventure Update # 64: Summer Vacation 2022! Telephones have voice mail; TVs come with cable and pay movies. Magic wands are needed for this game, and there is a fee to activate them for a certain period of time. The overnight costs for both of these resorts can vary widely throughout the year. From the accommodation standpoint it was a much more memorable stay! It smelled like an overcrowded SPCA. Which do you prefer? I look forward to hearing back from you. Great Wolf Lodge vs. Kalahari vs. CamelBack's Aquatopia! THE POCONOS This is an interactive game that has players moving throughout the Lodge on quests. Kalahari Resorts water park has more of everything and also includes a Flowrider, which is popular with older kids and teens. As I mentioned earlier with 4 kids ranging in age from 2 10 we are not very often dining in @ a restaurant. At Kalahari, there are two separate, toddler play areas. I'm going to breakdown each part of the resort that we visited and give you the key points: We had no problem finding a table and chairs to rest our towels and use for eating later. Seriously, I'm not being dramatic. Keep in mind theres a third indoor water park resort in the Poconos: Camelback Mountain Resort. Hello and thank you for the review! They also enjoyed the Wiley & Friends video stories that you can find on one of the dedicated TV channels. This time we were on the third floor and had a balcony. Swim Up BARS - An absolutely genius idea! Hopefully you can keep returning and finding even more ways to have fun with us as the kids grow. I will note as a previous reviewer did that Great Wolf Lodge had SPECTACULAR lifeguards. We did not have a car on the premises so driving was not an option, and walking was not very appealing since we tend to patronize the indoor water parks during the colder months and it was late November when we were at Aquatopia. Most of the activities (at all of the resorts) are priced a la carte. The employees at Great Wolf are s. I worked at Great Wolf Lodge for a year, and I have been to Kalahari before. In November 2020, a competitor to GWL opened in Texas. Most times I find that the pictures or decorations in a motel/hotel really dont add anything to the experience. In particular, it felt narrow. Hi Lexi! Chip Williamson All Rights Reserved. The indoor waterpark is open all year with various slides, play areas, a wave pool, and even a four-story interactive treehouse. Kalahari Resorts opened in 2015 in the Poconos. To the right of the entrance is check-in / hotel services. Kalahari has the largest indoor waterpark of the 3, and is the largest resort located in the Poconos. Find not only one but TWO Great Wolf Lodge water parks in Ohio. Another note worth mentioning the bathtubs @ Kalahari are huge! Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. African photos, statues, pictures, all kinds of things that mentally transport you to another world. However, there were at least 6 employees assisting at the registration desk and the line moved relatively quickly. Great Wolf Lodge has more traditional tube, body slides, and a bowl slide. The Lobby is one of the things I, and everyone in my family, really liked about Kalahari! Inspired parents sharing the joys & adventures of the parenthood journey! You could definitely capture everything this place has to offer in 2-3 days. Why do the adults with hearing damage always make the decisions with regards to volume level! ==> Kalahari: Kalahari is the BEST indoor water park & resort for families looking for a balance between kid activities and adult luxuries on vacation. Some of the profit from any sale may merely make it intoourpocket instead of Jeff Bezos'! I asked everyone in the family if we are going back down to the Poconos and staying at one of the resorts tomorrow night where would you want to stay? 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! We may also participate in other affiliate programs from time-to-time and be compensated for referring traffic & business to these companies. Jamison is a small town in Warwick Township, Bucks Ringing Rocks County Park is located on the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, along Ringing Rocks Road, in Upper Black Eddy, QuiNBy's Playground recently opened in 2022. Both resorts have huge water parks that include a wave pool, lazy river, splash areas and of course water slides. We also liked some of the efficiency features of the room. bellyrubbah1 3 yr. ago. We were on the bottom level and we had a small patio walk out area next to the ropes course. See you soon! We stayed @ Great Wolf Lodge on a Tuesday night and then Kalahari on Wednesday night of the same week. (Remember that Kalahari is actually a desert in southern Africa.) It is especially better for younger kids ones who dont want or need a life jacket! We had a cabin themed room for this stay (KidCabin Suite) and the kids enjoyed it more than I had expected! I look forward to connecting with you. Great Wolf Lodge is better for younger kids, IMHO (ages 2-12, maybe); there are more self-contained areas for easier supervision, whereas Kalahari is better for slightly older kids (maybe 5-15,). 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. Kalahari has the largest indoorwater park of the 3, and is the largestresortlocated in the Poconos. On a subsequent trip (after COVID) we also visited Camelbacks Aquatopia. EXPECT IT and you will have a great time. There are also many more food choices. 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. 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. I know that camelback has a swim up bar at its resort but I have never been to the other two. 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. Camelbacks Aquatopiaseems to strike a particularly good balance for children in the 10 + age group. 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. Likewise the lobby is magnificent! Im pleased to hear that you enjoyed the various sections of the waterpark. 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. Kalahari activities and attractions differ with each location. Located below the main lobby is both the entrance to the water park and the arcade. The room was very clean and up-to-date. 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. After reading this post - which Poconos waterpark do you THINK you are most likely to go to? Activities could include yoga, character appearances, crafts, a nightly Forest Friends show, story time, and a dance party. We did not rent any of the cabanas that were located throughout. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. Recently, my family visited Kalahari Resort for the first time. I will say we were on the 7th floor..and it was perfectly quiet. However, each locations water parks and amenities vary. Guestrooms at Great Wolf Lodge Sandusky Oh offer furnished balconies and separate sitting and sleeping areas. They did a fabulous job with the design of this place. It is really the other aspects of the resorts and accommodations that will determine which resort is the better choice for your family! Kalahari has a better reputation locally. 2 of themone outside by the immense outdoor pool and one heated one inside. If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. A microwave, refrigerator, and small coffee maker are other amenities in the room. The king of indoor waterparks, . Great Wolf Lodge Kalahari Resort has an African safari theme. We love knowing that our attractions were fun for both the children and adults in your family! Especially liked the Learn to Surf place. For the price I would expect better service. 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. And the staff was friendly. Overall, my family prefers Kalahari Resort. In the center right past the check-in area there is a large animatronic display where the nightly bedtime story (The Forest Friends Show) takes place. This is an exciting place for kids to be with lots of fun things to do from arcade games galore to a huge indoor water park. I actually have a hard time believing that the square footage of the park is larger than the water park @ Great Wolf Lodge. We certainly do have a lot of different ways to entertain and excite the kids! Poconos Waterparks: How to Get the Best Deals at Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Aquatopia! Both resorts have themed rooms that accommodate a wide-range of family sizes from two queen rooms to much, much bigger. 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. How does it compare to Great Wolf Lodge? The wolf mascots host a nightly dance party and pj story time. I love the theming of GWL and my kids are obsessed with Magi Quest, but the adults only things at Kalahari cant be beat! Kalahari Resort has Tom Foolerys, a gigantic indoor adventure park. I would like to further discuss the details of your stay. If I had to ask in your personal opinion which resort do you think would be the best for an adult couple (26 year old newly weds) without children to go to? Shooting Range (tourist favorite) is closer to Great Wolf. Report inappropriate content Conard10 Cleveland, Ohio Level Contributor 357 posts 21 reviews 83 helpful votes 5. Thank you for your support! > *Valid exclusively for past guests of Kalahari Resort - Sandusky, Ohio. Across from that there is a small decent sized souvenir shop / store and a small dessert kiosk. (But It Wasnt Horrible), Using United Miles to Increase my Relatives Chances of Getting Hungarian Visas. 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. Kalaharis waterpark is the largest at 220,000 square feet & Camelbacks Aquatopia indoor waterpark is right in the middle at 125,000 square feet. 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? Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney. We were told that the elevator was on the convention center side, which was not really convenient for her. Kalahari is a better choice for families with adolescents and teens, while Great Wolf Lodge is perfect for elementary-age children. The other kids and I voted for Great Wolf Lodge. Speaking of loud There is usually a dance party in the evening which we found to be extremely loud! We also only stayed one night, so Im not sure how often housekeeping visits. Apparently they were experiencing people taking the towels as souvenirs?? Lifejackets available, large amount of seating and tables!ARCADE - Another huge area! Which Poconos waterpark do you like best? That was almost inedible. It felt cozy and definitely complimented the whole lodge theme & experience! At times Kalahari actually felt a littletoo bigfor us. Our suite @ Kalahari was HUGE! Both are great options for kids. We are still having a debate on what it actually was. Both resorts have huge water parks and other indoor activities. On our previous visit a couple of years ago we felt the place was showing some wear and tear. Great Wolf Lodge is smaller than Kalahari. Well manicured and landscaped lawns.We arrived in the main lobby on Sunday 7/2 a little after 1:00 p.m. 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. Generally $50 if canceled 8 or more days before arrival. We stayed from Tuesday through Thursday during July. Better selection of local foods near Great Wolf. Hey, thanks for the great reviews! Although the room was designated for up to 6 people it felt like we were on top of each other at times. Aquatopia offers a great selection of activities for tweens & younger teens, both inside & outside! However, we felt $26 for chicken parm was a little steep. $25 if more than 3 days prior to arrival. We did really like the lazy river at Aquatopia. To read more aboutHOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL& aPRICE COMPARISONof ALL THREE POCONOS WATERPARK RESORTS check out my NEW post:Poconos Waterparks: How to Get the Best Deals at Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Aquatopia! Multiple-Room Suites Also, Outdoor pool and some small outdoor water slides (all seasonal). I felt the prices were reasonable for this type of American Pub food. The fact that Camelback ALSO has the Mountain Resort (skiing, tubing, etc), the outdoor water park (Camelbeach) and its nightime illumination make it unique. Were going in January. One of Melani and my pet peeves with regards to hotel accommodations is when there is only one night stand for a queen bed. Have you been to both Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resort? 10 Best Family Resorts in Texas for 2023 - Great Wolf Lodge Family Fun We inquired about an potential upgrade and they granted us a special price to upgrade to an African Queen Suite which had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms - perfect to provide privacy with 2 girls! Poconos Waterparks: How to Get the Best Deals at Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Aquatopia! Sincerely, Tiffany, Im so glad you found the post helpful. Kalahari Resort, located in Round Rock, Texas, is similar in many ways to Great Wolf Lodge. In our opinion, the splash park at Aquatopia was the weakest of the three. It is disappointing to hear that you did not have as great of an experience this time around compared to your first two.