Great Wolf Lodge: Day 1

After having a big birthday party last year, we decided to try something a little different this year. Anabella had such a good time at Sara's birthday sleepover at the Hilton Alexandria in October, it made me think Daniel and Anabella might enjoy a "destination birthday" of their own for this year's birthday.  When we presented it as an alternative to a birthday party, the results were unanimous: hotel with an indoor water park- let's go!

Since the dogs were staying with my parents, we could make more than a quick pit stop on the road and eat a real meal- where better to eat a real meal on the road than Cracker Barrel!

Great Wolf allows you to check in as early as 1pm on the night of your stay. They give each guest a wristband which gives you access to the water park, so you get two days of water park for one night's stay!

We took full advantage and arrived just after 1pm along with the other 300 guests staying that night.

It took us a little over an hour to get through check-in, but we took turns standing in line so we had plenty of time to explore the lodge.

First view of the water park

Daniel: I want to do that! 

They found this photo booth which occupied them for a long time.

Whew, he doesn't bite!

Hey, are we at Great Wolf Lodge or Maw and Dee's?!

As we neared closer to check-in, Anabella had to potty.  She really, really, really wanted to put on her bathing suit.  It was chilly as the door opened and closed, but she didn't complain.

Dan was content with Daddy's phone. I don't even think he knew Anabella had on her bathing suit! 

Our room wouldn't be ready until 4pm, so we put on our swimsuits and hit the water! I didn't take my camera, so no pictures of that until Day 2.

Water parks make you hungry. Good thing there was a Dunkin' Donuts!

Our room wasn't ready until 4:30 or so, which with two preschoolers who were anxious to get to their room, particularly so after their donuts, that 15 minutes was longer than the hour in line! Their trunkis, a Christmas gift from Beth, helped a lot. First they pulled, then they hopped on and we pulled them. At one point, while Chip went down to check on the room, I pulled a book from the Trunki in an effort to settle them down. We were all a little testy at this point.  The line for check-in, that's understandable (sort of), but not having the room ready? Seriously? (not okay) 

Hurray for elevators! 

Alas, Our Room!

Originally, we had a family suite with two queen beds.  Considering these kids haven't stayed in a hotel since Stephanie and Russell's OBX wedding when they were 18 months olds, just staying in a hotel would be exciting enough. But, since Great Wolf knows how to market, they offered us this Kid Kabin suite as as upgrade at half the cost in an email the week before, and since it was their birthday and all, we took it.  

I'm so glad we did. They had so much fun having their own little room. They even had their own TV, complete with their own REMOTE, which excited Daniel more than a water park ever could! No kidding. He was so cute with the remote. He even brought us the remote for our TV, making sure we knew that this was his and all.  

Is he checking for bed bugs? (heehee, no that was Mommy)
No. He's hiding his remote!
That, and he designated this his bed. 

Anabella declared the upper bunk hers.
(She changed her mind later with a little gentle persuasion.)

Nighty, night.

I added the birthday banner and look who struck a pose for his picture! 

I brought along a few small gifts for the soon-to-be- 4 year olds. Do you see the ringlets in Anabella's hair? I was so afraid she was losing her baby curls. No, the curls are still there, just more prominent in the humidity. 

Dan was all about his new toy, but Anabella was more interested in  laying out her clothes. This cracked me up. While I cringed that she was putting her clean clothes on a hotel floor, I couldn't help but smile (and chuckle) as she announced that she would be wearing this dress tomorrow.  She is definitely a dress girl.  Insists on wearing a dress (or skirt) every day. She even likes tights. Weird, huh? While I have my fair share of girly genes, I never liked tights.  She does though.  Do you see how she tossed the other outfit (the comfy one she never wants to wear), to the side?

They played for the longest time in these beds, going from one to the other.
Silly 3 year old fun.
Definitely glad we took the upgrade. They really did need (excuse me, use) three beds.   

We'd had a big day, and so far moods were still chipper, but I couldn't help but hear the time ticking as we were approaching the dinner hour and wondering where we should eat.  They both wanted pizza, and since we'd read mixed reviews on Great Wolf Lodge, the one thing that was not mixed was the reviews of the food.  Everyone claimed it was expensive (given what we were paying for the room, I was not surprised) and not very tasty. Does anyone really go to a family resort for the food?  Come on, people.  The quality of food was not a deciding factor, but the thought of paying a lot for crummy food with two kids who'd had a big day and no naps, not to mention the fact that I couldn't imagine what the wait might be, given the track record of our day and all, it didn't take long to decide we'd be going off property for dinner.

Onward to Cici's Pizza!

It was only 2 miles, but 5 minutes in the car when you're tired from a big day and used to napping in the afternoon, was enough to put Anabella to sleep (before we even realized it!).

Oh boy.

We got the pizza to go.

I brought along some snacks and drinks, so we had a little pizza picnic in the room. It was tasty, cheap (really cheap- we fed our family of four for $10 if you can even believe it), and left us all with full bellies and energy for more exploring.

I'd read online that there were lots of children's activities in the evening; even a story time, which you were invited to attend in PJs.

Fun!

It was a little early for story time, so we didn't put on our PJs, though some kids were wearing them (next time we'll know), but we did head to the lobby to check out the entertainment.

Two fun things you can do in a hotel but not at home: 1.  jump on beds
2.  run down halls!
I snapped this picture just as they dropped hands while running down the hall. Made my heart melt.

After watching for a while, they grabbed hands and did the limbo! 

Look at them holding hands....so sweet. 

Next, they got in a circle and did the chicken dance. Dan wasn't interested in this game.  He and Daddy walked to the arcade.

They'd had enough at this point, and while the entertainment was still in full force, neither of them was interested in staying for the next activity, more dancing, so we headed back to the room.

They got a second wind upon returning to the room (running on pure adrenaline at this point), and they played for a long time (pure silliness) in the room.  We were pooped out before they were. (I have to be careful using the expression "pooped out" as they always call me out on it- Mommy said poop-  and then take the opportunity to do their own bit of poopy talk which always leaves me kicking myself for saying it in the first place).

Of all the pictures I took, this is my favorite. :)
My three favorite people in their undershirts reading before bedtime.
Meanwhile, they're in undershirts because the thermostat wasn't adjustable, and while 72 is comfortable for most people in the winter, when you're used to living in an icebox, 72 degrees is balmy! 

A little after 9pm, just as we'd gotten them settled into bed, but fortunately before they had fallen asleep.....BEEEP, BEEEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEEP....

it didn't take long to figure out what it was.  We quickly got dressed (I wasn't kidding about sleeping in underclothes) draped ourselves in layers and joined the other families sprinting to the closest exit, only to get there and hear the announcement to return to our rooms.

Only BEEEP, BEEEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEEP....the alarm continued for what must have been another good 10 minutes. In fact, it was so bad, we were actually on our way back to the exit to wait in the van (where a lot of families were already) to wait until it stopped. But, just as we reached the exit, it stopped.

Thankfully.

Whew.

Finally.

Silence never sounded so good.

Time for sleep.

Only to be awakened a few hours later.....2 AM.....yes, I'm serious:

BEEEP, BEEEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEP, BEEEEEP, BEEEEEP....

Only this time they made an announcement that they were experiencing difficulties with their alarm system (PLEASE EXCUSE THIS INTERRUPTION. MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE. MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE (he had our attention) WE ARE EXPERIENCING ERROR WITH OUR EMERGENCY ALARM SYSTEM. IT IS SAFE TO RESUME TO YOUR NORMAL ACTIVITIES (that would be sleep, and we will go back to our normal activity, which would be sleep, thank you, when you stop ASKING FOR OUR ATTENTION PLEASE). 

So, while we didn't have to bundle up to evacuate, we were woken from our slumber, after what was a fun but albeit long day, not to mention startled by the sound of ANOTHER alarm, this time only lasting 2-3 minutes as opposed to the  15 minutes from before.  Only this time the intercom announcement must have played as long, if not longer, than the alarm itself. (MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE- I must have heard it in my sleep for hours....about as long as it took me to fall back sleep.)

Oh my.

So, no bed bugs at Great Wolf (according to reviews, they did have a problem with this at some point), but beware of long lines and fire alarms.  And, be sure to pack your provisions. Chip forgot his toothbrush. Usually when this happens, you call the front desk and someone brings you one. Right? Nope. Not at Great Wolf Lodge. No complimentary toothbrushes, though they did have a small shampoo, soap and some bubble gum scented kids' body wash in the bathroom.  Toothbrushes are for sale in the gift shop (along with the bubble gum scented body wash).  

Other than that, highly recommend Great Wolf Lodge.  :)

Stay tuned for Day 2 and some water park pictures coming soon!