On Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, we stayed one night at Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls, taking advantage of a Local Appreciation special for Niagara residents, advertised to have rates starting at $149 (for a family suite, with balcony). GWL also offers more expensive themed rooms, such as the Kids Cabin. However, we asked if there were lower priced rooms available, and were offered a family suite, without balcony, for only $119. With taxes (GST 6%, room tax 5%), total price for our stay was $132.09. Room #1001 was located on the first floor (one level below the lobby), at the very end of a long hallway.
Admission for two full days to the waterpark was included (for 2 adults, 2 children). On the day of check in, we arrived at 1:00 pm (official room check in time is 4:00 pm). Our room was ready, but had it not been ready, we would have been allowed to go to the waterpark for the afternoon while waiting for our room. Next morning, check out was at 11:00 am. If desired, we could have kept our wristbands on and stayed at the waterpark all day, until 10:00 pm (closing time). Even after check out, your wristband will allow you access to the lockers at the waterpark until 10:00 pm that night. The family suite without balcony is their most basic room. It is, however, a very comfortable room, attractively decorated in a rustic theme, having two queen beds, and a very tall ceiling height. A partition wall (about 6.5 feet high) separates the sleeping area from a small living area, which has a sofa (pull-out bed), coffee table, and dining table with two chairs. Our window overlooked the outdoor pool area. The room also has a kitchen counter with microwave, coffee maker, and mini fridge. I appreciated the supply of coffee, and the set of four coffee mugs (instead of paper coffee cups).
The main attraction here is the waterpark, Bear Track Landing, open only to guests of the hotel. Operating hours are from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm. All guests must wear wristbands (issued by the front desk on check in). Towels are provided at a stand just inside the entrance doors. A microchip inside your wristband will allow you to use a locker, for no charge, inside the change rooms. The most thrilling water slides are accessed by climbing a tall flight of stairs. The ?Niagara River Run? is a roller coaster type water slide, featuring many dips and a conveyer belt which pulls your raft (capacity 3 riders) back up hills. The other major thrill slide is the ?Woolly Mammoth?; riders hold on for dear life in a round raft (capacity 4 people). My son?s favourite ride was the ?Canada Vortex?. Riders can go on single inflatable tubes, or ride with a friend on a double tube; you?re shot down a dark enclosed tunnel, then out into a big round bowl, the size of a room. Your tube might go around three or four times before being sucked down into the centre of the bowl, to the end of the slide. There are about five more water slides, plus a few more for younger children (48? or less). Plenty of other water activities are included, such as a lazy river, a giant water fort with spray guns, water wheels and a tipping bucket, a rope course over a pool, a wave pool, and a swimming pool area with water basketball.
To top it all off, there are three hot tubs: one family tub (the temp is not so hot here), a nearby adults-only tub, and an outdoor adults-only tub (the entry to this hot tub is inside). There is also an outdoor water park, but we did not visit this area, as it was a cool October weekend during our stay. We did, however, see a few hardy souls swimming in the outdoor pool.
My only complaint about our entire experience at GWL is the noise level at the waterpark. Most people won?t likely be as bothered by the noise as I was, as I am prone to auditory overload. At times, I felt like I was in an airplane hangar with jet engines running. There are so many layers of noise echoing inside this cavernous indoor park, from water splashing, to engines whining, exhaust fans blowing, girls shrieking, lifeguard whistles blowing, and to top it off, loud bass-heavy music blasting. To overcome the noise (if one is sensitive), I suggest wearing earplugs. I also found some respite from the racket at the adults-only hot tubs, especially the outdoor one.