Please be aware that this Nice Wolf Lodge assessment could be very particular to the Harmony, North Carolina location as that’s the solely location now we have visited as a household, nonetheless they’ve numerous places everywhere in the United States and lots of seem like very related.
I formatted this assessment publish based mostly off the questions you guys despatched my manner on Instagram however you probably have any questions you’d like me to handle that you simply don’t see the solutions to under, merely let me know within the feedback part and I’ll you should definitely get again to you!
Disclosure: Our household has been invited to Nice Wolf Lodge for a media go to up to now however we’ve paid for our keep and returned to go to on our personal as nicely. This publish is just not sponsored or affiliated with GWL in any manner and is an sincere rundown of our experiences as patrons of the Harmony, NC location a number of occasions over.
Nice Wolf Lodge Assessment
Nice Wolf Lodge Resort
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What age is finest for a first-time go to?
(Flashback image from our first go to in 2018)
We visited Nice Wolf Lodge for the primary time when Chase was 3.5 years previous and Ryder was 6 months previous and had one of the best time. They each beloved the water park and numerous actions and Chase thought it was enjoyable to try MagiQuest (we simply purchased him a wand and he went round lighting issues up however couldn’t actually do it but).
Quick ahead six years and I now suppose the candy spot for Nice Wolf Lodge actually exists for ages 4+ and perhaps even 5+. At this age, they’re sufficiently old to do a lot of the actions, they don’t have to nap and so they can have a blast in additional areas of the water park however they will nonetheless get pleasure from a few of the youthful child actions (crafts, story time, character meet-and-greets) as nicely.
Tip: I extremely advocate trying out the Discover by Age software on the Nice Wolf Lodge web site to see what actions may match finest and be probably the most applicable in your youngsters’ ages.
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What time of 12 months do you want to go to?
We’re ALL about winter visits to Nice Wolf Lodge for a myriad of causes: First, by the point we go to in December, it’s usually been months since our boys have had the possibility to swim, in order that they’re further psyched for some pool/water park time. Second, the lodge is totally decked out for the vacations as a part of their annual Snowland celebration so it feels further magical. (Really simply strolling into the foyer will get our youngsters SO excited!)
They’ve a faux-snowfall happen within the foyer twice a day and Christmas music is taking part in within the halls, including to the vacation magic. Plus, most households who go to throughout this time of 12 months appear to essentially lean into the vacation magic so that you’ll see lots of people carrying their matching vacation pajamas 24/7 which is one thing we’ve additionally absolutely embraced!
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What number of nights do you want to remain for while you go to Nice Wolf Lodge?
We’ve stayed for one evening and two nights and, for our household, one evening is our candy spot. Why? We solely dwell half-hour away, so it’s not an extended journey to get to Nice Wolf Lodge (it’s one in every of our favourite day journeys from Charlotte) and, truthfully, we don’t sleep nice once we go, primarily as a result of we keep up late as a result of our youngsters need to benefit from all of the actions (just like the 9 p.m. snowfall within the lodge throughout Snowland) after which they’re all up earlier than 7 a.m. as a result of they’re so excited to start out the day.
As an alternative of staying two nights, we maximize our single evening keep by arriving within the late afternoon once we go to so we are able to do the water park, MagiQuest and arcade on day one. Then, we keep all the best way up till time for supper on the second day. Throughout our most up-to-date go to, we paid for a late take a look at (2 p.m.) for our room (it was $69) so we had been capable of go away our belongings in our room as a result of it’s very, very useful to have a room to go to while you’re flip-flopping forwards and backwards between so many actions (particularly the water park). After take a look at, we simply locked our belongings within the automobile and went again into the lodge till we had been prepared to go dwelling.
For households touring from farther away, I can see how a two-night keep may make the journey really feel extra worthwhile and I’m pretty sure we’d keep for longer if we had been visiting Nice Wolf Lodge from a farther distance or if we had been making it a giant household trip with a number of households, associates, and so forth. which we’ve seen lots of people appear to do once they guide a keep.
One sizzling tip: Nice Wolf Lodge usually affords a second evening keep for a critically discounted worth the day you’re set to take a look at in the event that they aren’t utterly full. If we determined we DID need to keep a second evening, we might’ve booked a second evening for round $150 (plus all the additional charges), although we’d’ve needed to change rooms. (You’ll be able to keep in your identical room if nobody else has it booked which might be further handy!) This requires some flexibility however is price holding in thoughts in case you are versatile.
One other tip: Once you test in on the entrance desk, you’ll have the choice to have your wristband activated so you may cost issues on to your room quite than fear about carrying your bank card round with you. I extremely advocate benefiting from this because it’s fantastic to really feel like you may go away your room with completely nothing aside from your youngsters!
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What sort of room do you guide for your loved ones?
There are a whole lot of completely different room choices and we’ve stayed in fairly a number of! After a handful of visits, now we have our most well-liked room selection nailed down and it’s the Youngsters Cabin, one of many themed rooms, which has a separate sleeping space for 3 youngsters (and not using a door although, so that you’re all nonetheless very a lot collectively).
Our boys flip for the bunk mattress and twin mattress within the little log cabin-like youngsters’ sleeping part. (For households with two youngsters, the Child Kamp is an analogous possibility with out the additional twin mattress.) The principle space has a queen-size mattress Ryan and I share and likewise has a sleeper couch in case you want it. One thing about staying in a themed room actually provides to the thrill for our youngsters, now that they’re somewhat older.
Right here’s a photograph tour of the Youngsters Cabin Room:
Once we had one toddler and one child, we stayed in a typical household suite and one in every of us shared one of many queen beds with Chase in the primary space, whereas the opposite particular person obtained their very own mattress after which we arrange a pack ‘n’ play for Ryder across the nook of a partitioned wall. This was positive for an evening or two for our household. One in every of my largest complaints for GWL lodging is that there aren’t any closets or separate sleeping areas for pack ‘n’ performs for little ones to be utterly separated from the household for higher sleep until you need to critically splurge for one of many premium suites that accommodate 6+ visitors.
One other tip: Should you’re somewhat bougie about your pillow while you sleep, for the love of all issues, pack your individual pillow. The pillows at Nice Wolf Lodge are horrendous.
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How do you’re feeling in regards to the cleanliness total?
I do know there are set jokes on the market about the way you’re mainly assured to get sick after a go to to Nice Wolf Lodge (or actually another kids’s play place) however fortunately we haven’t had that occur in our household. Additionally price noting: I’m positively a type-B particular person in terms of freaking out about germs however we do our greatest to scrub fingers in spite of everything actions (particularly the arcade) and have discovered our resort room and the general public bogs within the resort to be clear. Waterpark bogs gross me out typically, however this isn’t particular to Nice Wolf Lodge. One thing about water + bogs makes me need to gag. Very not often I’ve seen folks neglect to scrub up meals or cups in the primary areas but it surely’s by no means been one thing that’s taken away from me feeling like I’m in a comparatively clear surroundings created for teenagers and households.
Nice Wolf Lodge Waterpark
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Inform us in regards to the waterpark! Good for all ages?
Nice Wolf Lodge’s indoor waterpark is such a spotlight for our youngsters and an enormous draw, particularly within the colder months when swimming and water play is so restricted. At Nice Wolf Lodge in Harmony, the waterpark is kind of massive with a number of water slides, tube slides, a wave pool, toddler play space, a large splash pad treehouse and extra. It’s the primary exercise provided at Nice Wolf Lodge and a “should do” for many households who go to, and for good cause. Whether or not your child is a thrillseeker and desires to fly down quick waterslides, prefers to swim round within the wave pool or simply enjoys splashing in a calmer toddler pool, youngsters of all ages who get pleasure from swimming and water play could have a blast. (Word: The waterpark is nowhere close to the dimensions of your typical out of doors waterpark, but it surely’s a lot massive for a day or two of water enjoyable and has by no means felt too small to our household.)
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Can your youngsters do all the waterslides?
Lots of the waterslides have top restrictions (usually between 42” and 48”) so our 9-year-old can do all of them, our 6-year-old can do all however one in every of them and, regardless of a top requirement of 42” (which I truthfully didn’t find out about till I noticed it on their web site when scripting this weblog publish), when our boys have been youthful and smaller, they’ve at all times allow them to do the slower, simpler slides within the water tree home (Totem Towers in Fort Mackenzie), which our 4-year-old likes to do. One enormous spotlight is that fairly a number of of the waterslides are tube slides two (or extra!) folks can do collectively which makes the waterpark a whole lot of enjoyable for the entire household to expertise collectively.
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My child can’t swim. Will they nonetheless have enjoyable on the waterpark?
Once we first went to Nice Wolf Lodge, we had a 3-year-old and a 6-month-old and each had been nowhere close to swimming independently but. They nonetheless had a blast within the toddler space of the waterpark, created only for youthful youngsters.
The flexibility to expertise the waterpark absolutely could be very restricted, however at their ages, our boys didn’t care and had been thrilled to take a seat on jet skis that squirted water (however not of their faces) and splash round. There may be additionally a bigger, extra standard-size pool (aside from the wave pool) the place they will swim with you, in the event that they really feel snug swimming and and splashing round with an grownup. Additionally, Nice Wolf Lodge gives life jackets in case you want one in your little one, although chances are you’ll want to deliver your individual if there’s a sure model/suit your little one is used to carrying. (Rhett is carrying one of many offered life jackets within the above image from 2023 if it helps to see what they seem like!)
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Do you pack your individual towels while you go to the Nice Wolf Lodge waterpark?
We don’t deliver our personal towels once we keep in a single day. Nice Wolf Lodge gives towels to visitors that you simply scan out and scan again in utilizing your wristband while you’re performed utilizing them earlier than you permit the waterpark. When Chase went to the waterpark as a part of a birthday celebration, I packed a towel for him to make use of so this was not one thing he needed to fear about doing on his personal.
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Any negatives to share concerning the waterpark?
That is very particular to me personally, however I completely HATE chilly water and I really feel just like the water at Nice Wolf Lodge may very well be hotter. Our children have a blast once they’re operating round and swimming up a storm but it surely feels just like the minute they decelerate a bit, they’re left shivering and asking for towels. I believe hotter water would assist our complete household final a lot, for much longer on the waterpark and hate that everybody feeling chilly is usually the explanation we’re performed with water enjoyable.
Moreover, a whole lot of the waterslides have top restrictions which is comprehensible however a bummer for teenagers who’re *virtually* on the applicable top however robust swimmers. Our massive youngsters (and Rhett, too, truthfully) are very robust swimmers and we’ve been grateful that when they’re nearing the required top to journey a sure slide, the lifeguards have provided them somewhat little bit of wiggle room.
Additionally, I’m not certain if different Nice Wolf Lodge places have a lazy river, however the Harmony location does be aware. I believe an indoor lazy river could be such a beautiful addition to the waterpark, as our youngsters love a lazy river and so they’ve been such a enjoyable exercise for us to do collectively as a household in any respect ages at different waterparks we’ve visited.
One extra be aware: It may be quite loud within the indoor waterpark, with numerous youngsters taking part in and likewise with numerous water spray stations, the massive bucket of water within the treehouse space spilling over, and so forth. I can simply see how this may be very, very overwhelming to youngsters who’re somewhat nervous in regards to the waterpark to start with or those that are simply overstimulated. Simply one thing to bear in mind as you determine whether or not a waterpark go to is one of the best match for your loved ones!
Issues to Do At Nice Wolf Lodge
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What are your youngsters’ favourite actions?
For our youngsters, the waterpark and MagiQuest make a visit to Nice Wolf Lodge price it. These two actions are truthfully all they should suppose Nice Wolf Lodge is the good place. MagiQuest is an absolute blast for them (extra on this under) and so they additionally love splashing round within the waterpark. We’ve been to Nice Wolf Lodge a handful of occasions at this level so the extra actions they get pleasure from outdoors of those two issues have various a bit in line with their ages. They’ve at all times beloved the arcade, in order that’s one other must-do for our household. We’ve additionally had enjoyable bowling (it’s a mini bowling alley, so ideally suited for small youngsters) and gem mining (that is small as nicely) however now we have but to strive laser tag, mini golf, Construct-a-Bear and the XD theater.
Of their youthful years, our boys have actually loved the character-led dance events within the foyer (particularly throughout Snowland when it “snows”), arts and crafts tasks and the scavenger hunts led by Nice Wolf Lodge employees, however these actions can fluctuate relying on while you keep.
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Do you suppose the Paw Passes are price it? Which one would you advocate?
I believe this relies so, a lot on what your youngsters get pleasure from and the way a lot you’re planning on doing throughout your go to. We’ve performed passes up to now (they had been nice for once we had been first stepping into MagiQuest as they included a wand) and our boys actually loved them as a result of they primarily gave them a guidelines of issues they knew they may do and take a look at throughout our go to. Most actions at Nice Wolf Lodge price extra cash, so in case you worth out the actions you’re planning on doing throughout your keep, a move will be price it. Nonetheless, in case you possible wouldn’t pay to do a few of the actions included in a move, paying as you go may make extra sense financially.
This 12 months, we opted to skip passes as a result of we already had MagiQuest wands and knew we’d be spending most of our time in three places: MagiQuest, the waterpark and the arcade.
Word: There are three move choices — Wolf Move, Paw Move and Pup Move — and costs fluctuate for every move relying on the variety of actions and perks every move comprises. I personally don’t suppose the Pup Move is price it for toddlers because it’s mainly a move that will get them a single stuffed animal, and a bunch of sweet/treats.
All about MagiQuest
Throughout our first go to to Nice Wolf Lodge, I had NO thought what MagiQuest was however discovered shortly after noticing a bunch of youngsters operating everywhere in the lodge with wands of their fingers. MagiQuest is basically an interactive sport the place gamers use a magic wand to finish quests and adventures. Wands permit gamers to work together with objects, defeat legendary creatures, accumulate magical gadgets and progress by way of numerous ranges of the sport. Quests fluctuate in problem and can take you everywhere in the lodge looking for gems, runes, work, maps, and extra. (We simply stroll 5+ miles up and down the varied flooring of the lodge simply taking part in MagiQuest everytime we go to GWL.)
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What’s the finest age to start out MagiQuest?
MagiQuest is the HIT of Nice Wolf Lodge for our massive youngsters (ages 6 and 9). They’re completely obsessive about finishing numerous quests and suppose changing into a Grasp Magi is the good factor on this planet. (Chase additionally went to GWL for a associates’ birthday celebration this previous fall and his associates’ mother stated the group of 8- and 9-year-olds spent half of the time on the water park and the opposite half of the get together doing MagiQuest collectively, so I don’t suppose that is distinctive to Chase!) That being stated, whereas youthful youngsters Ryder’s age (6-years-old) can have a beautiful time with MagiQuest, once they’re somewhat older (7+) they will learn and do extra of the quests with out the necessity for a grownup to be over their shoulder the entire time which I believe makes it somewhat extra enjoyable for them. (We see pre-teens and younger teenagers operating throughout GWL with associates/siblings and no adults and so they at all times appear to be having one of the best time finishing the quests.)
At Rhett’s age (4-years-old), we obtained him a wand which let him mild up treasure packing containers, gems and different MagiQuest objects round Nice Wolf Lodge, however we didn’t pay to activate his wand as a result of he didn’t know the distinction and was merely thrilled to have a wand to level at interactive stuff all weekend lengthy.
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Are MagiQuest wands reusable?
Sure! We purchased the massive youngsters’ wands years in the past and pay to reactivate their wands once we go to so wands are a one-time buy you should utilize once more for all future visits. We’ve paid for brand new wand toppers (they screw into the highest of the wand) as a particular deal with for the boys however their wands are the identical.
Locations to Eat Round Nice Wolf Lodge
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Are there eating places on property?
Sure. Nice Wolf Lodge in Harmony has a myriad of eating choices, together with Free Moose (a buffet-style household restaurant), Lodge Wooden Fired Grill (the nicest however most costly possibility), Dunkin’ Donuts, Hungry As A Wolf (our household’s go-to for pizza), Buckets (the waterpark eating possibility that provides burgers, fries, alcohol, and so forth.) and Bear Paw (for grab-and-go ice lotions, desserts, cupcakes, and so forth.). There’s additionally a fill-your-own-cup with sweet station within the present store.
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How do you deal with meals throughout your keep? Looks as if it may get costly!
An enormous caveat price sharing: Our children couldn’t care much less about meals and sit-down eating experiences. Eating collectively in a restaurant could be soooo low on their listing of priorities throughout a GWL go to, so it’s not one thing we do throughout our keep. (Going out to eat with our youngsters typically is just not one thing we like to do as a result of play > meals for all 3 of our boys.)
A couple of food-related issues we do throughout our keep: Most (if not all?) rooms include a mini fridge and we make the most of the heck out of that factor. We fill it with fruit and pre-sliced veggies, yogurt, sandwiches from dwelling, and so forth. as a result of contemporary, wholesome meals is difficult to return by at GWL and our complete household features higher if we aren’t consuming junk 24/7 throughout our keep. (Value noting: Lodge Wooden Hearth Grill has extra meals choices that enchantment to me — salads, salmon, steak, veggie bowls — and I believed the meals I had there throughout a previous media go to was good. It’s simply not the best choice for our household with youthful youngsters, because it’s a sit down restaurant and we desire grab-and-go on this part of life.)
For breakfast, you’re restricted to the buffet-style restaurant or Dunkin’ Donuts on property however our location is a 60-second drive from among the best donut retailers within the space, so we usually elect to eat fruit and yogurt in our room and head off-site for a deal with at OMGDonuts (and occasional)!
For lunch, we virtually at all times eat the meals we packed from dwelling and saved in our mini fridge. For dinner, our household at all times orders pizza from Hungry As A Wolf to deliver again to our room. (We make the most of the app for this so we are able to order it forward of time and simply choose it up when it’s prepared.)
We’re additionally a sucker for Dippin’ Dots in our home, in order that’s normally our dessert of selection that seize from Bear Paw towards the top of the evening.
Nice Wolf Lodge Day Move
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Have you ever ever purchased a Nice Wolf Lodge day move and simply gone for in the future? Would you advocate?
I believe a day move is a superb thought and a unbelievable possibility, particularly in case you’re not sure whether or not or not your loved ones would actually love Nice Wolf Lodge, or in case you’re feeling anxious about staying the evening with youngsters in a resort room (particularly throughout the child days — phew)! As a household we’ve by no means purchased a day move and have at all times stayed in a single day, but it surely’s completely one thing I’d do and one thing I’ve thought of, particularly for one of many boys’ birthdays. Chase, our 9-year-old, has been as soon as by way of a day move for a birthday celebration and thought it was one of the best birthday celebration ever.
Value noting: Once we’ve priced it out, it has made extra sense financially for our household to guide a room and keep in a single day within the model of room we usually decide to guide versus shopping for 5 weekend day passes which, on the weekend, usually run near $100 a bit. After all this doesn’t embrace the worth of meals, different actions, and so forth. however these are additionally issues chances are you’ll be paying for out of doors of a day move as nicely. I’d positively worth it out earlier than assuming a day move will prevent cash. Day move costs do fluctuate, nonetheless, and you probably have weekday availability, they could be a far more reasonably priced choice to look into! I’ve seen day passes as little as $50 and as excessive as $130, and the pricing seems to be very calendar-dependent with holidays and weekends being the most costly. Half day passes are additionally accessible with waterpark entry from 4 p.m. to closing.
Tip: We’ve had associates guide a day move, and both on the day they had been set to reach or the day earlier than, they obtained an e-mail from Nice Wolf Lodge asking in the event that they wished to guide a room as a critically discounted fee, so maintain an eye fixed out in case you may need to keep in a single day and have a day move booked.
Query of the Day
Have you ever ever been to Nice Wolf Lodge? If that’s the case, please share any ideas, methods or suggestions under for anybody who hasn’t been earlier than!
Should you haven’t been to Nice Wolf Lodge and would really like one thing addressed that I didn’t cowl within the above weblog publish, please be happy to ask under!
