Great Wolf Lodge is breaking with tradition in a move to make its waterpark facilities accessible to more people.
After 22 years of offering its water attractions strictly as a benefit to overnight lodge visitors, the company is launching a day pass for those who want to visit the waterpark only. Starting at $50 per person, the passes will be available at U.S. resorts this summer.
“We believe time together as a family is a precious commodity, and the ability to slip away for day, or even a few hours, to have fun at our waterparks is something we feel families will be excited about,” shared Murray Hennessy, chief executive officer for Great Wolf Resorts. “While an overnight stay provides families with the most immersive and comprehensive Great Wolf Lodge experience, we recognize that many families are pressed for time and can’t get away for a night, so we wanted to provide another option.”
A day pass allows access from 10:00 a.m. until the waterpark closes that day. They are currently available for all facilities, except Great Wolf Lodge Minnesota in Bloomington, where passes are expected to begin selling in July.
To ensure that the increased traffic doesn’t impede on overnight visitors’ enjoyment, the parks will limit the number of day passes available, based on the projected number of rooms occupied.
“Families love knowing that when they come to the waterpark at Great Wolf Lodge, they won’t need to wait in long lines for their favorite slides, struggle to find a deck chair, or swim shoulder to shoulder in our pools,” Hennessy said. “By managing capacity levels at our waterparks we will continue to offer a stress-free waterpark experience, just as we have from the onset of Great Wolf Lodge.”
As another move to control crowds, the company stipulates that the passes must be purchased at least a day in advance online. Children two years old or younger can enter for free with an adult pass holder.
As part of its launch, the waterpark resort chain is donating $5 for Make-A-Wish for every day pass sold by June 30 and used in June, July or August.
“As a new corporate partner, we are grateful to Great Wolf Lodge for their generosity, which will help more children battling critical illnesses replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope,” said Richard K. Davis, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. “This month, by purchasing day passes, guests can join the Make-A-Wish community in improving the lives of wish families – many of which are likely guests’ friends, neighbors and relatives.”
Great Wolf Resorts has 17 locations throughout the U.S., in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash., Fitchburg, Mass., Charlotte, N.C.; Garden Grove, Calif., Colorado Springs, Colo., Bloomington, Minn., LaGrange, Ga., and Gurnee, Ill.
In 2019, a resort is scheduled to open in Scottsdale, Ariz. Next year, another is planned for Manteca, Calif.