great wolf lodge review

We recently had the pleasure of organizing a group trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This was our third trip to the lodge and we enjoyed it as much as ever. In fact, we highly recommend visiting with friends! If you've never been here are some reasons to try it out:

The kids will love it: from the moment you arrive, the kids will clamor to get into the water park. It is hard to wait for the park to open in the morning and hard to leave at the end of the day. Parents might need a few breaks from the noise but the kids won't notice. 
Parents can enjoy it too: There are a few ways to grab some R&R. The adult only hot tub is outside (and outside the noise); the spa is full service with massages and facials; you can grab a hot drink any time of day and enjoy the giant fireplace; and you can pay extra to have your children attend the kids only pajama party.
There are slides for all ages: The slides are big enough to thrill grown-ups and kids alike. Even small children will enjoy the fun water features and the slides made just for them. On our first trip, we relaxed in the water while watching our toddler go down the little water slides and become confident in the water. Fast forward four years and he braved the Wolf Tail, a slide with a 20-foot free fall. 
One night stay equals lots of fun: you can enter the water park as early as 1pm the day you arrive and you can stay until 9pm the day that you leave. That is 19 hours of water park per one night stay! If you purchase the meal plan you don't have to leave the property; this maximizes your time at the lodge (especially because there aren't any restaurants right nearby).
Rooms are a good size: standard rooms have two good sized beds and a pull-out couch that is separated by a small wall. You can fit 6 people in one room. While you would have to pay extra for the two additional people to use the amenities of the lodge, this can be a good deal for two families to split.
The food is great: we have been consistently impressed by the variety and quality of the food at the buffets. The chef also welcomes any dietary requirements.
The meal plan is great value: Adults can eat three meals for $50 and children for $25 (plus HST). Dinner is a large buffet complete with prime rib and lots of desserts. It has multiple mains, sides, salads and soups that are all delicious. Breakfast is another large buffet that includes waffles, lots of different types of potatoes and meat, an omelet station and even breakfast pizza. Plus the items on the buffet rotate daily. Lunch is either a slice of pizza with chips or a burger & fries. We would like to see healthier lunch options and more places to eat lunch (we were disappointed by the number of tables being "saved" with no one sitting at them).
There are lots of extras: You can buy wands to activate the magic quest game, stuff your own animal, go bowling, play mini golf, visit the arcade, get a children's spa treatment, and even buy photos of yourself on the slides. But there really is enough to do without spending money on these extra activities.
Take advantage of the freebies: the hidden surprises in the lobby are fun to discover. If you howl at the wolves they just might howl back. There are wake-up activities including kids' yoga in the morning. Kids can enjoy crafts, face painting and balloon animals at lunch. In the evening take advantage of game time, story time for little ones and dance parties for older ones.
It is possible to save $: September is the best time to get a great deal. Stay mid-week to enjoy smaller crowds.