Finding the perfect family vacation can feel like striking gold. A place where the kids will have fun, parents can relax, and the budget won’t break.
When a Boston mother spotted a Groupon deal for Great Wolf Lodge, it seemed like the answer to her prayers. But what looked like an affordable getaway quickly turned into an expensive disappointment, leaving her with buyer’s remorse and a warning for other families.
Not only did the outing fall short of expectations, but her wallet took a hit she didn’t anticipate.
What Is Great Wolf Lodge?
According to the company’s website, Great Wolf Lodge is “North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts.” The chain features themed suites, attractions, daily events, and dining options, marketing itself as “a world of play all under one roof.”
Mom Says Great Wolf Lodge Isn’t Worth The Hype
In a viral video with more than 666,000 views, Jackie Reinhart (@jackrein316) delivers a stark warning about Great Wolf Lodge.
“I would not recommend anyone go to Great Wolf Lodge. And if you’ve already booked your trip, I’m so sorry,” Reinhart says.
Her main complaint centers on the experience itself.
“Number one thing I’ll say is it wasn’t that fun. Like so the whole thing is supposed to be fun,” she says.
With two children both under six years old, Reinhart says neither child enjoyed themselves despite that being an easily entertainable age.
The lackluster experience wouldn’t have been such an issue on its own.
“Literally, if they had fun, I wouldn’t even care, but everything else combined with the fact that it wasn’t that fun really makes me not wanna recommend it to anybody,” she says.
For families who have already booked, Reinhart offers several tips.
She recommends being strategic about room location, noting she ended up next to the mini golf area, which meant a long walk to the pool. She also advises bringing outside food and snacks because the resort’s food is not good and overpriced. Other frequent visitors told her they drive off-site to eat at local restaurants, but Reinhart found that impractical with young children.
Budget concerns were a major issue. Reinhart suggests doubling whatever you think you’ll spend on food because everything is expensive.
She expected more complimentary activities at a resort but found that many activities required additional payment. One example: light-up toys that other kids had cost an extra $40. The arcade added more expenses.
Reinhart admits she misjudged the pricing.
“I guess I should have expected things to be that expensive at a resort, but I was like, it’s a resort in Western Massachusetts. It’s a chain resort. I didn’t think that it was going to be that expensive,” she says.
Final Assessment Combines Both Issues
“The experience is so mid and expensive. So two things I hate. If it was fun and expensive, I could wrap my head around that. If it was easy, but, you know, and not expensive, fine. This was like not fun and expensive,” Reinhart says.
In her caption, Reinhart notes she got a Groupon deal that made two nights cheap but adds, “Between the food and lack of things to do, I would never go back. I’d saved my money for a different trip.”
She suggests that older kids might have more fun and that a day pass for locals could work better than an overnight stay.
In an email update Reinhart shared the following:
“I didn’t expect the post to resonate with so many people . It felt like comments were split with half agreeing and half disagreeing but my main point was meant to be about it not being worth the money.”
“I said in a comments that my kids have had more fun at cheaper local events and it was really about the value. It also seems like they vary widely by location and I should have been more clear about the one I went to.”
Great Wolf Lodge’s Pricing Structure Draws Mixed Reviews
Great Wolf Lodge’s pricing model has been a common source of frustration among guests. According to TripAdvisor reviews, one family reported paying $1,325 for two rooms over two nights at a promotional rate.
The review noted that restaurants inside the lodge were “too expensive,” leading the family to use Uber Eats instead.
Another TripAdvisor reviewer explained that while the resort seems costly, meal plans can help—priced at approximately $45 per day for adults, which includes breakfast and dinner buffets plus one grill meal.
Reviews on Trustpilot echo similar sentiments about unexpected costs.
One reviewer noted that “dining and playing comes with a price so don’t expect this to be a cheap trip, even if only staying for one night,” though they were able to save money through a Groupon deal.
Another Trustpilot reviewer explained that while food quality at the breakfast buffet was “well stocked,” the wood-fired grill was “a little disappointing especially for the cost.”
Peanut Butter Fingers blog provides insight into activity costs, noting that “most activities at Great Wolf Lodge cost extra money” beyond the water park access. The blog explains that Great Wolf Lodge offers three pass options—Wolf Pass, Paw Pass, and Pup Pass—which bundle activities together. Whether these passes are worth it “depends so, so much on what your kids enjoy and how much you’re planning to do during your visit,” according to the blogger.
@jackrein316 I had gotten a Groupon deal to Great Wolf Lodge so the two nights were cheap but it was just not fun. I could see older kids having fun but even then, I can’t see what the do all day. I could see a day pass if you lived nearby being good but between the food and lack of things to do, I would never go back. I’d saved my money for a different trip #storytime #travelingwithkids #greatwolflodge
The site also notes that weekend day passes often run close to $100 per person, making overnight stays sometimes more cost-effective than day passes for larger families.
Commenters React
“This place seems like a wet Chuck E. Cheese,” a top comment read.
“Great wolf lodge was the highlight of my childhood fr,” a person said.
“If you don’t have water kids then don’t go. We go as a family but mine can spend 10 hours in a pool no complaints. I have to force them to eat lunch. And the food thing is a rookie mistake. Water parks, theme parks, even Disney we bring food,” another wrote.
“There was a turd just casually floating by me in the pool when I was a kid. PTSD. Never ever would take my kids there lol,” a commenter shared
BroBible reached out to Reinhart for comment via email and TikTok direct message and to Great Wolf Lodge via email.