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Great Wolf Lodge - Sandusky, Ohio

Cedar Point: Review request.

From Kathy Scarbeck
Posted April 19, 2009 at 1:20 PM
I'm interested in hearing about your impressions of Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio. I'm considering taking my family there. I went to the GWL in Williamsburg, Va., three years ago but found it overpriced and too far away from cheaper off-site restaurants.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Derek Potter
Posted April 19, 2009 at 3:43 PM
From what I've heard, the GWL's are pretty much the same everywhere.

Sandusky has a few other selections for indoor water parks. Cedar Point has Castaway Bay, and there is a Kalahari as well. My personal preference is the Kalahari.

From Audra Distler
Posted April 19, 2009 at 3:54 PM
I just got back from Castaway Bay today, and I've been to Kalahari in Sandusky, but never Great Wolf. Castaway Bay doesn't have a lot to do for older kids. My 6 and 2 year old nieces enjoyed it a bunch, but all the waterpark has is a water roller coaster, a small wave pool, a toddler pool, 3 tube slides, a few of the "activity" pools, and one of the big water play areas with the bucket that dumps every so often.

Kalahari when I was there hadn't added on, but it seemed to have more to do. I've heard that Kalahari and Great Wolf are both better for the older kids, though.

From Erin B
Posted April 19, 2009 at 4:24 PM
I'd suggest trying Kalahari. I've been to both Kalahari and Great Wolf, but they were very different experiences. I believe I went to GWL when I was in eighth grade [give or take a few years], so it's been about 8 years now. I had fun but my friends and I got bored pretty quickly.
My family and I stayed at Kalahari in December 2007 and had a good time. There was more to do both in and out of the water park. Also, my then-14 year old sister had a BLAST, so it's good for that age group too.

From Audra Distler
Posted April 20, 2009 at 5:42 AM
Oh, and to add to it, looking at your message again, I think that Great Wolf is actually closer (not to far from one of the main shopping strips in Sandusky!) to off site restaraunts than Kalahari is, so there is that too! But I'd probably agree that Kalahari may be the better choice, have you checked out both websites to see what the layout of the waterpark looks like? that may also give you an idea!

From Tom McGill
Posted April 20, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Ok, I have been to GWL in Sandusky twice and will never go back. It is by far the smallest of the big 3 indoor waterparks in Sandusky and once you hit 42" you can do everything. Staying in the lodge is a nightmare due to the fact that many people travel in groups and run up and down the halls until 11:00pm or later, and they flip the door latch so the door won't close so there is a constand BANG BANG BANG from them. Then while checking out the lady in front of us told us that her car and 4 others by it had had their windows smashed and many items stolen due to NO security in the parking lot. and their cars were NOT far from the main entrance. That coupled with two separate run-ins with some extremely rude employees made our decision to never go back easy. We have since gone to Castaway bay 3 times on day passes and found the experience extremely pleasurable, with plenty for our older 48" plus girl and 45" boy to do. I do eventually want to go to Kalihari because it is MASSIVE by comparison, but the day pass price is way too high and considering we get into Castaway Bay for $15.00 apiece due to having Platinum Passes it may not happen for a while. I can tell you that many of our friends have been to Kalahari and I have not heard one complaint about it. Yes, GWL is close by multiple off-site food choices, but Kalahari is really not that far away. Castaway, however, is a bit of a trip to get to something other than McDonalds or Pizza Hut.

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