Whatever you think you know about GWL is probably true, but I am hoping this post helps you make the most of not only your stay, but your dime as well!
The Low Down
It’s big! You could spend a week here and never need to leave. It’s a hotel and indoor water park (as I am sure you are aware of). There is also an arcade, mini bowling alley, Magic Quest, Kidzone, outdoor mini golf (seasonal), outdoor pool (also seasonal). As far as food goes there is a restaurant, pizza place, Dunkin Donuts, ice cream and goody shop (the candy apples looked amazing), and a snack shop in the pool area.
How It Works
Pick from a selection of rooms from suites to themed. We stayed in a Family Suite. It had two queen beds and a pull out sofa bed which was behind a half wall. Fridge and microwave are standard. We had 2 adults and 3 kids in our room and we were very comfortable.
Check in is at 4pm, but you can show up as early as 11am and pop into the front desk to get your temporary wristbands to start enjoying the water park. There are locker rooms with changing areas, restrooms, and showers in the water park area (towels are provided, but are not allowed to leave the pool area). You can select a table to be your “home base” and put your stuff there or rent a locker. Once your room is ready you stop at a kiosk outside of the water park doors and your temporary wristband turns into a permanent one during your stay. Don’t lose it because it is also your room key via a microchip within the bracelet.
How Safe Is The Pool Area?
If you don’t know me then this is good place for me to tell you I am an Aquatics Director for a non-profit. I run 3 bodies of water 365 days a year and an additional body of water Memorial Day- Labor Day. I am a CPR/ AED/First Aid/ Oxygen Instructor Trainer, Lifeguard Instructor (a lifeguard too), Certified Pool Operator, and a Swim Lesson Instructor Trainer. I am also the Risk Management Coordinator for my facility so you can bet your socks I was assessing EVERYTHING! Yes I even caught a staff person and asked tons of questions ranging from pool operations, training, staffing, scheduling and breaks. I bleed chlorine!
Before you even walk through the water park doors the kids are given a colored swim band based on their height (not swimming ability). This bracelet tells you what rides your child can ride. There are also lifejackets freely available.
The guards are ELLIS trained. ELLIS guards are especially trained for water parks. They make terrible recreation pool guards because there is a huge difference in guarding a water park with multiple blind spots, water pouring everywhere, the concern for someone coming off a ride wrong, and a lap pool or kiddie pool.
The staff refer to themselves as robots and as soon as you see them you understand. There training is to scan is a certain pattern so that no spot in the pool is missed. Their head movements are over exaggerated (on purpose) and whistles stay in their mouths at all times. They guard the pools and rides only, so if your child is running on deck they have no idea. Prevention out of the water isn’t really a part of the training the way it in at rec pools. While I was there I witnessed 3 surprise drills done on the guards. The facility has a “Rescue Timmy” which is a dummy made for water. He is the size of a 3 year old and he sinks. Two of the drills were with him and yes the guards did a rescue. The other drill I saw was a higher up staff person came down a water slide and pretended to drown. These guards are on their game!
Personal Recommendations
-
If you decide to get there early on arrival day then pack a separate bag with things you will need to your visit in the water park. Leave your luggage in the car until you have your room.
-
We ate dinner at the Cracker Barrel right outside the hotel, but we did eat the breakfast in the lodge restraint the next morning and it was AWESOME!!!! They take the quality of their food seriously.
-
The web site says “no outside food allowed in the water park”, but I saw several people with their own goods…your decision!
-
Visit the web site before you go. The have lots of different packages and information about your stay. Be knowledgeable! http://www.greatwolf.com/concord
-
The wave pool is pretty gentle (unlike most I have been in). I didn’t find it having an undertow which was nice!
-
I honestly think I need to go back to have more opinions and information. ROAD TRIP!
**I did not take any pictures on this particular blog. I took the pictures off their web site.
Out of the House NC 
I read a lot of interesting articles here. Probably you spend a lot
of time writing, i know how to save you a lot of work, there is an online tool that creates readable, SEO friendly posts in seconds, just search in google – rewriter creates an unique article in a minute