Doing a staycation for my kids birthday at the end of January.

Lessons learned? Dos and Don'ts?

We live in RR. Staying one night and plan to hit the water park before and after check in. Friday to Saturday.

Thanks!

We live in the Forest Creek area and recently did a night at Khalahari for our son.

I would say to avoid buying beer at their mini grocery store as the selection is slim and the prices are high. I think four domestic cans (they didn't have anything I really wanted, but I didn't have a choice at that time of day) were like $32. The B-Lux Bar and Grill was really good and we will go back to just eat here and play games. Speaking of games, they are all working, wiped down consistently, great selection, but pretty pricey. We spent about $300 which lasted for two or three hours worth of games -- my wife and I did play some games along with our kid. The prizes are decent as well.

As far as the waterpark, the outside was closed when we went. I enjoyed the pool with all the basketball nets and the wave pool. I am spoiled by the lazy rivers at Schlitterbahn and their depth and don't like a really shallow lazy river, which you will find here and at Typhoon Texas.

The confectionery shop was really good and the pizza place was decent.

The rooms were very nice and spacious. There was a tv in the main area, the kids room and the master. The kids room (at least in our room) had a bunk bed and was a really cool space that can be partitioned off.

I don't know what else to really tell you. You're going to spend money, but it's a good time. Oh, and I think each room came with 4 passes for the waterpark. The passes were good for the day of check-in and the next day as well.

When you buy a room for one night, can you enter the park when it opens or the first day? Or wait until check in?

discobrob said:

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When you buy a room for one night, can you enter the park when it opens or the first day? Or wait until check in?

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All day on both days.

We live close enough that I drove over, checked in myself around 9:30am, got everything settled and then went back for the rest of the family. We got a text about noon that our room was ready.

You can't bring food or drinks into the water park, including water. The bars have Gatorade type jugs with cups if you want water. I think you can now buy a reusable cup at the Zulu Bar & Grill and refill it there for free. It cost money to refill when we were there over the summer but I think monitoring it wasn't working out.

If your kid is less then 48" they will have to wear a life vest, no exceptions. It was easier for us to bring puddle jumpers for the kids then use the park life jackets.

For the basic room, you get 4 tickets to the water park included. You can add two additional guests for $50/piece (6 tickets total) and they are good the entire stay. If you have friends that you might want to join for the day portion, this is a better deal then buying a day pass separate.

If you get a good bundle deal on Tom Foolery, do that, but otherwise it's a waste of money. The unlimited rides are kind of meh. It would have been cheaper for us to pay individually per ride with arcade tokens. If the kid isn't tall enough to ride alone, they let a parent on for free. When we were there they had a deal where it was $200 for 1000 tokens and 1000 tickets. They let us split the tokens into two 500 token cards for the kids (tickets have to stay together). Kids used that the entire time and didn't run out until near the end.

We didn't do the bowling or the escape rooms, but reserve them online. They can fill up quick.

The milkshakes at B-Lux are good. Water park pizza is good. Sortino's pizza was good. Sortino's Italian restaurant was mediocre. The breakfast buffet was bad for how expensive it was. We didn't eat at Cinco Ninos or Double Cut.

Otherwise the kiddos had a blast and we'll be back at some point!

**Oh, bring your own towels or a robe to go back to the room. It's a $20 charge now if you don't bring your towel back to the park and they are small towels. Not worth accidentally losing one and getting charged. If your kids are small, consider a wagon to get around the lobby to water park. It can be a bit of a hike.

Thanks guys I appreciate the detailed advice!

Piano bar is a lot of fun and the service was great.

My wife said the arcade area reminded her of Las Vegas for kids. There are bright lights everywhere and no windows/clocks, so you don't if it is night or day outside.

It is also very nice when you leave and you're home in like five minutes. A lot easier than hopping on a plane or making a long drive back from somewhere.

baseballaficionado said:

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My wife said the arcade area reminded her of Las Vegas for kids. There are bright lights everywhere and no windows/clocks, so you don't if it is night or day outside.

It is also very nice when you leave and you're home in like five minutes. A lot easier than hopping on a plane or making a long drive back from somewhere.

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The whole property is kids Vegas. Can't get to the water park without passing the candy store. Then you pass the arcade THEN you get to the water park. I'd blindfold your kids and I'll second what the above poster said, "you're gonna spend some money" but it is a fun time.

My inlaws are going to be tagging along. Might have a few mins to ourselves.

The GROTTO adults only pool/bar looks pretty sweet.

Is it?

My kids love the Tom Foolery pass and it's a great value for us (8+11 y/o boys). They do a bunch of the same rides over and over and it keeps them away from the pay to play games.
I have always been really impressed by the food in all the restaurants considering they could probably mail it in and serve stadium food like great wolf lodge. I thought the breakfast buffet was pretty good - better than most resort buffets and even the snack bar at the water park is decent. I had a really bad first impression at the Italian restaurant which was salvaged by an excellent waiter.
There are actually 2 outside swimming areas I believe - one attached to the main park and another accessed via the lower level of the lobby. I doubt either are open now but the indoor/outdoor hot tub will be and it's very nice. Be prepared to climb a LOT of stairs. As others have said - one night is 2 full days at the park which is plenty.
It's 1000X better than great wolf lodge which I will never step foot in again if I can help it. Don't forget your wallet.

MarathonAg12 said:

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My inlaws are going to be tagging along. Might have a few mins to ourselves.

The GROTTO adults only pool/bar looks pretty sweet.

Is it?

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Yes- it's pretty nice . Swim up bar In a warm pool that extends outdoors with tvs etc at the bar (at least that was the setup in summer - I assume the outdoor are is open year round). A few semi-private cutouts to chill with spouse.

The taco place has a surprisingly great tequila selection.

I do love some tequila.

I see they give a little military discount so thats nice too.

Just got back from kalahari the last two days. Middle of the week in January is the way to go. They told me they were 20% full. No one was paying attention to whether you brought in water or snacks. Probably couldn't have rolled in with an ice chest. Soda refills were free with a fountain drink even though that's not what the menu says. No lines at the rides.

Two days in the park are plenty. My kids were done early on the second day. Only down side was my wife got injured like the first hour we got there. Possibly broke her arm. Kalahari hasn't been extremely helpful as of yet but we will see.

discobrob said:

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Just got back from kalahari the last two days. Middle of the week in January is the way to go. They told me they were 20% full. No one was paying attention to whether you brought in water or snacks. Probably couldn't have rolled in with an ice chest. Soda refills were free with a fountain drink even though that's not what the menu says. No lines at the rides.

Two days in the park are plenty. My kids were done early on the second day. Only down side was my wife got injured like the first hour we got there. Possibly broke her arm. Kalahari hasn't been extremely helpful as of yet but we will see.

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What did your wife hurt herself on? Just asking because I drink and hang out in the pools, but my wife said some of the ride endings were rough.

It was the one where you ride on a mat. She slammed into the wall at the first turn and may have broken her humerus near her shoulder. Getting X-rays to know for sure.

Avoid the steakhouse. Took the wife there for her birthday on Saturday. Was extremely underwhelmed.

We go to the piano bar every now and then. They have different people performing (on the weekends at least) - sometimes you get a good one, sometimes not so good. We usually grab a slice of pizza from Sortino's and carry it over to the bar for drinks. If the guy/girl is good we'll stay all night, if not we'll just have a drink or 2 and leave. When they get a good one the place can get rocking.

We stayed there a few months ago. I was dreading it after my experience at Great Wolf Lodge a decade ago. Fortunately, it was nothing like that. The place was nice, and laid out well. We all enjoyed it.

Thanks for the update!

Oh I tested positive for Covid 3 days later. I'm alive and doing well. I'm stuck in frozen purgatory.