So you want to save money at Great Wolf Lodge? You totally can! I love this indoor waterpark but the prices can add up, especially if you have several kids.
We recently spent 2 days at Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta and we had a ball. While Great Wolf Lodge gave us a complimentary room for one night so I could write this review, we were on our own for everything else. I started to notice things adding up so I took notes on how families can save money at Great Wolf Lodge. From Great Wolf Lodge promo codes to the best place to have a cheap dinner, here’s what I found!
Visit Great Wolf Lodge during October for their Howl-O-Ween event.
13 Ways to Save Money at Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta
1. Get ready for the extras.
One of the best and worst things about Great Wolf Lodge is that there are tons of extras outside of the water park. Miniature golf, rock wall, ropes course, bowling, arcade, spa…the list is exhaustive! It’s super cool that they have lots of extras to do outside the water park but they all cost money. With 4 kids that can add up. If you can swing it, add the Wolf Pass onto your stay. It is one stop shopping for pretty much all the activities your kids will beg you for (including candy and an ice cream cone). At $59.99 per person it can be pricey though.
2. Bring food to your room.
You can’t bring food or drinks into the waterpark. You can and should bring them into your room though. There’s even a minifridge in most rooms. The cost of food can add up so think about taking snack breaks during the day to eat in your room.
3. Buy the pizza.
Head to the pizza place, Hungry as a Wolf, for one of the best food deals at Great Wolf Lodge. You can get a whole XL cheese pizza for only $15.99. Our family of 6 ate 1 1/2 pizzas and had the leftovers the next day!
4. Consider buying a refillable mug.
At $14.99 they aren’t cheap but if you plan on buying drinks during your stay, it might make sense. You can refill it as many times as you like from self-serve stations for the duration of your trip and quench your thirst. Stays of 2 nights or longer make it a better buy.
If you are looking for something special, Great Wolf Lodge hosts fantastic events. We attended the Gen Z Summit at Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta which spurred our interest in staying at the Lodge overnight.
5. Don’t buy every kid a magi wand.
Make them work in teams! The wands start at $17.99 and the games are $7. While I typically don’t like magic and wizards and all that, the MagiQuest game here is pretty sweet. It’s a great thing to do before bedtime. It’s even better if you have a preteen or teen who can lead the young ones around so you can sit and have a drink!
6. Book early.
Unlike many hotels , Great Wolf Lodge doesn’t offer many last minute deals. When I was checking prices, they stayed pretty even. If you have a last minute hankering to go to Great Wolf Lodge you may be able to get a last minute day-of rate. Maybe. However, that will be pretty unlikely in the summer or during school breaks.
7. Always use a Great Wolf Lodge promo code.
Always. You might have to Google for 5 minutes or so but it is worth it. I found a promo code that dropped the base price of the room by 40%! Here’s some Great Wolf Lodge promo codes that I’ve found as of today:
Great Wolf Lodge Promo Codes
- MOREFUN (Stay 2 or more nights and save up to 30%)
- FALL (rooms starting at $99/night).
- esave (Save up to 50% when booked more than 60 days in advance)
8. Go premium. Maybe.
I was shocked to see that sometimes premium rooms at Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta are cheaper than the standard rooms. It all depends on inventory. I haven’t stayed in the premium rooms myself, but for those who want a step up from a very nice but no frills room, this is the way to go. The 2-bedroom suite looks AMAZING. And you never know what kind of deals you can get!
9. Go midweek.
Not only will you most likely save money at Great Wolf Lodge if you go during the week, you will have less crowds to deal with too. We went on a Thursday and there was no wait for anything in the water park, but by Friday afternoon, it was getting crowded.
10. Nearby fast food restaurants can save you big time.
You will not WANT to leave Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta during your stay, however if you are trying to save a few bucks, eating at an outside restaurant will help. There is an Arby’s, McDonald’s and Wendy’s all within ½ mile from Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta.
11. Buy a pint of ice cream.
Only at an amusement park will buying more, cost less! A pint of ice cream at Baskin Robbins is about $6. One scoop of ice cream is about $5. A family of 6 can totally share 2 pints. (The kids got one. And mom got the other. Dad got a beer.)
12. Stock up at nearby grocery stores.
Forgot something? Want some snacks for the room? There is a grocery store, and even a Walmart, about 3 miles away. Great Wolf Lodge does have a store with pretty much everything you need but you will pay for the convenience!
13. Become an Early Saver member.
It’s free! Sign up to become an Early Saver member and book more than 60 days before your trip to save up to 50%. Now you can stay twice as long!
Summer Camp-in at Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta
The Summer Camp-in at Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta is a brand-new summer family vacation is the (mostly) indoor way to experience summer camp like never before. With free extras and special events, it’s another way to make your money stretch. There will be pool parties that royally rock. Barbecue dinners with grilled grub. And families can join the Great Wolf Kids characters at breakfast for fun, food, and festivities. You can even make s’mores and participate in the Trailblazer Challenge that rewards you for having fun.
