Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket

The kids had lots to do, which helped make the visit enjoyable. Check-in went smoothly, our room was ready, and the front desk staff were friendly and helpful. The water park had plenty of slides and seating, though some slides weren't staffed during quieter periods, which held things back at times. At Hungry Wolf, the floors were extremely sticky and the fries we got were stale. Prices seemed high for the food quality, although the rest of the meal was adequate. On checkout day, we left the room early with most of our belongings, but housekeeping had started cleaning before the official checkout time.

All the staff we dealt with were kind and attentive. The rooms had a nice amount of space and worked well for kids, with few spots where toys or clothes could get lost. The GW Kids channel was a hit. Great Wolf Lodge was a great price for a family, and the whole place felt thoughtfully set up for children. Arriving on Sunday felt a little overwhelming because of the crowds, but the lines weren't huge. If something had a wait, we could leave and try again a little later. There are lots of add-ons, though you don't necessarily need them. Crafts, character meet and greets, and the dance party in the main area were louder than our family liked. There were only a few swimsuit dryers, and stools in the rooms would help kids who can't reach the sink. I heard other GWL locations have music in the hallways, which would be nice here too.

There was plenty for younger kids, and the lifeguards seemed very on top of their training. The property was very clean. But check-in was a nightmare and needs better organization. Even the kids suite felt basic and sterile, not especially homey. My kids were excited about a water slide shown on the website, but it wasn't there, and it was advertised in more than one place. The lobby restaurant was closed, which was really inconvenient during a snowstorm. The Lunchables in the grab-and-go shop cost $11 each, way too much.

We had a lot of fun at the lodge itself. The rooms were fun, the lodge was beautiful, and my daughters enjoyed story time, character meet and greets, kids yoga, mini golf, and the free wolf ears. The food at Fireside was pretty good, the kids' menu prices were reasonable, and we especially liked the s'mores dessert platter. The water park was another story. It was packed on a Friday and Saturday in winter. My husband and older daughter mostly did slides and may have had a better time, but my younger daughter prefers other things. The wave pool, lazy river, hot tub, basketball pool, and splash pad were all so crowded we could barely move or swim. In the lazy river we got elbowed and pushed because everyone was shoulder to shoulder, though it didn't seem intentional. There were no chairs; after about ten minutes we found one for our family of four to leave our things, but nobody could sit down. Several foods we tried to get and even water were unavailable, and there were lines for everything, including towels, towel drop-off, and showers. As a local, I'd bring the kids back for things like mini golf or the zip line, which looked cool but we didn't have time for. I wouldn't return for the water park. Weekdays might be more enjoyable if you're willing to take kids out of school. I also think charging for parking at a hotel is greedy unless it's in a city where space is scarce and cars aren't needed.