How to Make the Most Out of 24 Hours at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg

Thinking about spending a day at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia and not to sure what to expect or even how to get the maximum amount of fun out of such a short time frame? Don’t worry, I have your back!

My family and I spent 24 hours at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg and we really made the most out of our time. Today, I’m doing a recap on what we did and sharing some tips that could help you get the most out of your trip.

What to Pack

Make sure you have everything you need for you and the kids before you head off to the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg.

I would suggest packing the following:

• Water shoes for the kids
• At least 2 swimsuits for everyone (you have one for the day you arrive and a dry one for the next morning before you leave)
• Towels (towels are available in the waterpark; however, they cannot leave that area)
• Waterproof phone case

You might also want to take along some food so you’re not scrambling for dinner at midnight like I was. The rooms at the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg have mini fridges and a microwave inside, so you can save some money and get the most out of your trip by bringing some food from home.

What to Expect Upon Arrival

So, your car has just pulled into the parking lot and it’s time to enjoy your next 24 hours at the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg.

The first thing you should do is walk through the main doors and collect your wristbands and Wolf Ears for the kids. Rather than room keys (which are so easy to lose!), you’ll use these wristbands to open your room and to charge expenses that you’ll pay when you leave.

The wristbands for the kids work for the waterpark but won’t work for the room or as a charge card. So, you don’t need to worry about a big bill.

For the charge card to work, they’ll ask you to put your credit card on file, which will be charged $50 for incidentals and any additional things you buy via your wristband.

Check-in time is at 4 pm, although sometimes they’ll have the room ready early, where you’ll have snacks, milk, and water available. You can also start exploring the waterpark as early as 1 pm.

From my experience, Check-In was a breeze and the front desk provides excellent customer service.

Photos of Our Suite

To Get a Pass or Not to Get a Pass

You probably already know that Great Wolf has passes that allow you to experience things that aren’t included with your room. So, the question becomes to get a pass or not to get a pass?

If you do decide to get a pass, you can choose from the Pup Pass, Paw Pass, and Wolf Pass. I personally experienced the benefits of the Wolf Pass, but these are the main benefits you get from each one.

• Pup Pass – available for $45 and is aimed at the youngest children, who will enjoy: a Color-Your-Own item at the Cub Club, a Creation Station animal, and a Great Wolf Kids Character outfit.
• Paw Pass – available for $79 and provides you with benefits including A MagiQuest game, a Creation Station animal, a glitz glitter tattoo, and a free game of bowling at Ten Paw Alley.
• Wolf Pass – gives you most of the benefits of the other passes and: a visit to the Howlywood Theater, great wolf lodge branded goggles, and 3D Paw Prints photo and frame. And it only costs $99.

Look at the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg website for more details on the benefits of each pass.

What to Do the First Evening

When you’re settled it’s time to take the entire family and enjoy your first evening. There are a bunch of things to do around the lodge at this hour.

Two Waterparks

If you arrive in the early evening you should take the kids to the outdoor waterpark first. This closes earlier so it’s wise to head there.

Here your kids can explore the Raccoon Lagoon, which is filled with activities. They’ll be able to have hours of fun with basketball, water geysers, fountains, or just hanging out by the pool.

When it’s closing time, you can move over to the indoor water park, where you’ll find paddle boarding, water slides, hot tubs for both adults and kids, along with a wave pool. And there’s no shortage of slides and pools!

You have the four-story Alberta Falls tandem tube ride, the excitement of the family wave pool at Slap Tail Pond, and sail down the Crooked Creek on your own tube.

I recommend checking out the Cub Paw Pool if you’re with the little ones.

The best part is even Bentley was able to able to do everything except for one water slide.

Check Out the Bar

Just because you brought the family doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a drink at the same time. Wait until the kids are in the pool and head to the bar.

The outdoor bar has a special offer where if you buy one of their $15 margaritas you get a special cup. This cup gets you discounts on various drinks later, so you can save a lot of money if you plan on some late-night beverages.

Magi Quest

Not sure what to do to keep the kids entertained after the water parks have closed for the day? Then consider Magi Quest. It’s an epic adventure that takes the kids all over the lodge. The adventure takes a few hours to complete and is also a great way to get them ready for bed as there’s lots of running up and down the steps.

Your kids get a special wand that turns the entire lodge into the live action game set in the world of Vellara. They will go on quests and their wand will remember any quest they’ve completed, so they can come back and continue the adventure at any Great Wolf Lodge.

If you got the Paw Pass, this is already included.

What to Do the Next Morning

After you’ve enjoyed a great night’s sleep in your suite, you still have a lot of hours of fun to go. Remember that checkout time might be at 11 am, but you still have access to the waterpark until you leave.

So, plan your time wisely. Don’t throw yourself into the pool again just yet.

Yoga Tails

Wake up right with Yoga Tails just for kids. Join your kids as they master breathing exercises as they hear about the Great Wolf Kids. It’s sure to spark their inner yogi and bring forth their imaginations. And it’s an excellent way to keep them relaxed and ready for the fun day ahead.

Northern Lights Arcade

The Northern Lights Arcade is filled with bright colors, flashing wheels, and lots of fun. Help your kids win special prizes as they take on skee ball lanes, air hockey, and car racing. Whether it’s games of luck or games of skill, they’re sure to find something to keep them busy in the morning.

 Build an Animal at Creation Station

Pick your favorite Great Wolf Kids character and make them into a friend for life at the Creation Station. These stuffed animals can be customized with accessories and taken home.

You can even dress up your kids in a special costume that matches their new best friend.

Something else that’s fun at the Creation Station is to have a name bracelet made. Take home a memento of your memorable stay at the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg. Kids love it as these bracelets come to life in front of them.

Creation Station also has other trinkets that you can take home as souvenirs. I ended up getting the kids some cups and a pair of wolf slippers for myself.

Play at 4D World

The magic of 4D World is that the entire family can play alongside each other. Compete to earn points as you zap moving targets and enjoy a new experience every time.

Play at Oliver’s Time Challenge

The Oliver’s Time Challenge game is fantastic for kids that are just bursting with energy. It’s harder than you think as you must sprint between LED boards and punch the lights before the time runs out.

It’s one of the most popular attractions and there are always tons of people here, so try to get there early.

We did this early in the morning and were able to play right away. We split up in teams to see which team could reach the maximum amount of points before the timer went off. I must admit, as an adult I found this to be pretty fun.

Ride at the Howly Wood XD Theater

The Howly Wood XD Theater is such an experience that you won’t have to feel bad about starting off the day with a movie. Not only does it use 4D glasses to feel all the senses, but you sit in a motion-enhancing chair, which only adds to the experience.

Your kids will feel like they’re in the movie!

The best part is there are cameras inside so parents on the outside get to see how their kids are reacting.

Play at Ten Paw Alley

Or why not head down to the bowling lanes and knock down some pins at Ten Paw Alley?

These are half-length lanes and come with five-pound balls, so kids of any age can love the sport of bowling. You don’t even need to bring your own bowling shoes because there are none required at these lanes.

With the five of us it did take about 45 minutes to get through the game, however, time flew by.

Take a 3D Paw Prints Photo for Memories

Remember this family moment forever with a 3D Paw Prints Photo. Every photo comes with a frame and the store stocks a variety of other keepsakes, including keychains that can be fully customized.

Go Explore the Waterparks Again and Finish What You Couldn’t the First Day

I can’t emphasize enough how huge the waterparks are at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg. If you don’t have time to stay another night, use the time after checkout time to explore the waterparks again.

You can still splash around in both the indoor and outdoor parks with no pressure to hit the road.

Final Thoughts – You Can Make So Many Memories in 24 Hours at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg

This was our first visit to Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg. However, I can tell you that it won’t be our last. With two kids having summer birthdays I plan to do at least one birthday party there, so they can experience the things we missed last time and of course make some more summer memories before school goes back in.

Have you ever been to Great Wolf Lodge? How did you make the most out of your trip?