Aquatopia at Camelback Lodge in Pennsylvania is 125,000 square feet. This activity requires participants to roam all over the lodge to find clues and solve a quest. Hello, Erika! Heres a comparison guide for all three of these resorts. We had no real negatives about Great Wolf but in all honesty, Kalahari Resort surpasses them on almost all levels, but to no fault of Great Wolf. We certainly do have a lot of different ways to entertain and excite the kids! Both Great Wolf and Kalahari have very luxurious condos that can accommodate a whole family easily. 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. 6 Best Texas Indoor Water Parks - VacationIdea The clothing line in the bathroom was broken and the bed covers had an unpleasant smell. (Basically a jumpy seat for adults.) Poconos Waterpark Comparison Guide: Kalahari versus Aquatopia & Great Wolf Lodge! For part of our stay both lazy river attractions were open and there were other times when only one was open. Compare management, culture and compensation ratings for Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Kalahari is absolutely immense! The room was not only spacious, but didn't reek like cat urine. Some of the profit from any sale may merely make it intoourpocket instead of Jeff Bezos'! With Kalahari Careers, you become part of our dedicated team at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. Whereas, the roofline @ Great Wolf Lodge is blocky. Hopefully you can come again soon but until then, take care! Great Wolf is more for kids, but I feel like Great Wolf service is better than Kalahari. Not quite as good as the one @ Kalahari but better than you will find at Great Wolf Lodge. The top 10 winners in the category Best Indoor Water Park are as follows: Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark - Tannersville, Pennsylvania. Tom Foolerys also has a mirror maze, escape rooms, indoor ropes course, laser tag, rock climbing wall, XD dark ride and bowling. There are currently 4 locations for the chain with the Poconos location being its largest facility. The wave pool was on par with that at Great Wolf Lodge. Although I am admittedly not a big fan of buffets, we figured it would be easy for everyone to find something they liked. Each wing of the resort is 8 floors high and it has 977 rooms in total. The splash park or toddler area of the water park was rather small. 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. However, if our kids were younger, Great Wolf Lodge would be more manageable due to its smaller size and its mascots that appeal to younger kids. Management thanks you for your suggestions and for noting how well-trained our associates are! Tom Foolery's Adventure Park provides hours of playtime, with 80,000 square feet of interactive rides and attractions. We may also participate in other affiliate programs from time-to-time and be compensated for referring traffic & business to these companies. However, Great Wolf Lodge has a higher percentage of themed rooms available at a more reasonable price. It is hard to believe that Aquatopia/Camelback would actually be charging extra for the balcony /patios at this level! I am pleased to hear that our staff was friendly and that our facilities were well maintained throughout your stay. There were a few things that we liked about the expansion. 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. 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. The room was spotless. 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. 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. Both seemed to make a small room work a little better and not feel as small as it actually was. This was one of the few exceptions! One of Kalahari's Kiddie Areas We were really looking forward into the expansion since we really loved how great Kalahari was the first two times we visited. Kalahari vs. Great Wolf : r/Poconos - reddit Thats an AMAZING 425,000 square feet of indoor water parks in a very small geographical area!! Rooms are bigger and have fun themes. For example when booking your accommodations you can select a themed suite, such as the KidCabin Suite which we did. The NACHOS did not disappoint. 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. Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge: Discover the Differences We stored our bags with the assistance of bell staff and we went downstairs to check out the facilities.We had to go through a large (and very noisy) arcade to get to the turnstiles to the waterpark. I will be sure to pass your kind words along to Kassi, David, Robin, and Amanda! Overall we felt like Kalahari was much better before the expansion. 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). 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 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. Mary Claire Patton has been a journalist with KSAT 12 since 2015. 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. We changed in the bathroom/changing areas, located a storage locker (for a fee), and found a table. I went back into our pictures and corrected the post with the actual picture of the Great Wolf Lodge bathroom. The Great Wolf Lodge resort in the Poconos was constructed in 2005 and is one of roughly 19 locations for the chain. Use Great Wolf Lodge for what it is really good at and skip the rest! 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. Both resorts have themed rooms that accommodate a wide-range of family sizes from two queen rooms to much, much bigger. Im not sure when we will make it back there since we have a lot of other travel plans. 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. Once again, the food was mediocre at best. Better selection of local foods near Great Wolf. On the lower level by the entrance for the water park, there is a pizza place with some tables in the lower lobby area. kalahari waterpark passes - tidningen.svenskkirurgi.se If you're not up and about a 4:30 a.m., though, you can still get a. I am on the mailing list and recently got a promotional offer that indicated the rooms had recently been renovated. 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. Kalaharis water park does the same, except with a jungle theme. 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. Located in America's Historic Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, it was Great Wolf Resorts' first East Coast location. We liked the water park @ Great Wolf Lodge! Virtual reality, tons of games, golf, bowling - this place though of everything. Kalahari Resort has Tom Foolerys, a gigantic indoor adventure park. The Undomestic Goddess: Great Wolf Lodge vs. Gaylord Texan - Blogger The lobby is big but not massive like it is at Kalahari! It smelled like an overcrowded SPCA. The closet was pretty small, and the bathroom was almost as small (with the sink located next to the fridge); however, those were relatively minor inconveniences.We went to Great Karoo Buffet around 5-5:30 and was relieved to see that it wasn't that crowded. lindakmonty He's like "OH NO YOU DIDN'T" Joined Jun 24, 2005 Jun 30, 2006 #7 2 of themone outside by the immense outdoor pool and one heated one inside. Our suite was located on the same level as the entrance to the water park which was below the main level. Reservations are strongly recommended. Part of the joy of Great Wolf Lodge is its size. When you leave make sure to return the towels and swipe the wrist band again or you will be charged for the towels. Expect to spend money on food, games, etc. Keep in mind theres a third indoor water park resort in the Poconos: Camelback Mountain Resort. We visited Kalahari in the Pocono Mountains for a last minute trip with our two girls, ages 8 and 9. Hours: Depending on the day, the indoor water park is open from 9am to 9pm or 10am to 8pm. Kalahari Resort's water park has more of everything and also includes a Flowrider, which is popular with older kids and teens. African photos, statues, pictures, all kinds of things that mentally transport you to another world. Career Site - Self Service - ADP Read on to find out which one is the BEST water park for your family vacation! Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. There is a huge fireplace towards the back of the lobby that is adjacent to a huge window that overlooks the water park. With that being said it does appear that the ropes course and zip lines are something that we may try in the future. Our obstinate 2-year-old was NOT able to enjoy ANY of these activities / attractions, or even the wave pool due to the fact that she refused to wear a life jacket which Kalahari required children under 4 feet in height to wear at all times when in any water. Kalahari was definitely newer and nicer but also more expensive. We just stayed at Camelback the night before Thanksgiving and are actively working on updated the post. There are quite a few activities to engage in @ Kalahari. Finding fun places to take your kids in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. Kalahari Resort, located in Round Rock, Texas, is similar in many ways to Great Wolf Lodge. See All Waterpark Features Waterpark (and more!) Enjoy your family vacation at one of the great indoor water park resort choices in your area! The food was overpriced but tasty. Comparison between Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge water park Most of the time we were at Aquatopia we ate FROM Trails End Pub & Grille. (It was almost like an obstacle course with the running kids, machines, flashing lights, and noise.) Confusingly enough she was allowed to go on the small kids slides that were inside the waterpark. Mind you definitely not Disney level theming or branding but a good job. 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. That makes it easy for families traveling with toddlers (and their little legs!). Yes My oldest daughter and wife voted for Kalahari. This is probably the one area that Aquatopia beats both Great Wolf Lodge & Kalahari. There was one dedicated dessert/pastry kiosk located off the main lobby nestled in there with the souvenir shop. Kalahari still boasts plenty of kiddie water slides, but it also has more thrilling slides for older children. Great Wolf Lodges water park is 80,000 square feet, but Kalaharis is over 220,000 square feet. Let's talk about the Royal Hospitality Suite at Kalahari Pocono. 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. I hope you have a wonderful time with your family! The room was nice and clean but nothing particularly memorable. Offers more free activities in the main lobby. Right away we were looking for and expecting a wonderful customer service experience, and Kalahari did not disappoint. Various restaurants, childrens amenities and retail establishments will also be included in the new development. Keep reading our Poconos water park guide & comparison to find out! We are happy to report that there were two night stands with our queen bed! Annapolis Area Doulas | Kalahari Resorts vs. Great Wolf Lodge Kalahari Resort has an entire grotto (both indoor and outdoor) for adults with a swim-up bar. 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. We usually just order a pizza and eat it in our room with maybe a salad. Here's Where You Should Eat Hot Dogs in Philadelphia The best Wisconsin Dells waterpark for you and your crew - OnMilwaukee If you have visited all three waterparks in the Poconos please let us know which one YOU liked best! On a subsequent trip (after COVID) we also visited Camelbacks Aquatopia. The water park @ Kalahari is HUGE. When he pulled down the Murphy's bed, dirty nastiness came down with it. Two of the biggest and best (and among the industry's early pioneers) are in the water park capital of the world, Wisconsin Dells: Kalahari at 125,000 square feet and Chula Vista at 110,000 square feet . We stayed @ Great Wolf Lodge on a Tuesday night and then Kalahari on Wednesday night of the same week. Most of the activities (at all of the resorts) are priced a la carte. There is one primary restaurant on the main level on the left side of the lobby / front entrance. Our Locations - Great Wolf Resorts This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Kalahari is newer and more efficiently run. One of the other simple theming aspects we enjoyed were the 2 Great Wolf Lodge video book stories playing on the resort TV channel. 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. (Healthy, I know.) A report from KSAT sister station KPRC states that the indoor water park will break ground in 2022 in the city of Webster, just south of Houston. It is a smaller resort, with plenty of employees who are prepared to work with young children. Thank you for reading & for your comment / question! 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. What are you waiting for? This post will focus on the Leola New York City and upstate New York are close to many amazing indoor water parks. 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. Great Wolf Lodge also has activities that vary with the timing of your stay. Age and height requirements vary by location. Kalahari and Wilderness are kind of overwhelming. Great Wolf Lodge boasts tons of activities sure to put a smile on your children's faces. As I indicated above I should not have been charged a fee for parking since we did not leave a vehicle at the resort and were dropped off. Weve stayed at GWL Williamsburg and Kalahari in the Poconos. Coming Soon: Great Wolf Lodge in Webster! Both are reasonable attempts at having a meal on the healthier side. 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. Kalahari . Kalahari has the largest indoorwater park of the 3, and is the largestresortlocated in the Poconos. Otherwise, she and the others had a very good time.Kalahari was worth the trip. Its really a question of what the individual family prefers, as far as water park size, features and resort amenities. The Poconos Great Wolf Lodge location has more kiddie water slides than the Williamsburg location. It's the easiest way to hit the slopes! The side-lite mirror was a nice feature that we enjoyed. Camelbacks Aquatopia resort opened their indoor water park in May of 2015. The wave pool alternates between wave / no wave cycles. 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. There is also a cafe (Cafe & Bar) and a restaurant (Horizons) located right off the main lobby. (Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari & Camelbacks Aquatopia) Which is the right waterpark resort experience for your family? Sincerely, Chip. Embarrassing that I never realized it was the same picture! I look forward to hearing back from you. Location: 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun, PA. Round Rock Source: Round the Rock With so much fun and excitement in one place, Kalahari remains a top destination for families throughout Texas. Thank you for your support! If you can't afford it, don't bother making the trip. It felt like you were rubbing shoulders with other people all the time. There are other places with better miniature golf courses and a regular bowling alley does a better job for bowling so we tend not to spend our dollars on those activities when we are at Great Wolf Lodge. Robert, Address: 100 Great Wolf Drive Grapevine, TX 76051 Phone: 817-488-6510 Website: greatwolf.com EXPERT TIPS BY: Ilene Jacobs Dallas Local Expert Water Parks: "Day passes can be purchased online or. When you check in the lodge they should offer you and / or the kids wolf ears at no extra charge since, after all it is the Great WOLF Lodge!. It is also something that Kalahari does well . Kalahari even has a five bedroom suite that can have a maximum of 22 guests. 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. but also read water is cold. The Kalahari Resort is well appointed, nicely decorated, and the facilities are well maintained. [3] Great Wolf Resorts is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.