Great Wolf Lodge- tips & tricks to save you money

Location: Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Planning a trip to Great Wolf Lodge can be incredibly fun, but it can also get expensive if you are not prepared. These practical Great Wolf Lodge tips will help you save time, avoid crowds, and keep your budget in check while still enjoying everything the resort has to offer.

Our family has visited the Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, Massachusetts several times, and along the way we have learned a few simple strategies that make the experience smoother and more affordable.

If you are planning your own trip, these Great Wolf Lodge tips will help you get the most out of your stay.

Table of Contents

Tips & Tricks to Save You Time and Money

1. Look for Deals Before Booking

One of the best Great Wolf Lodge tips is to always check for promotions before you book your stay. Great Wolf Lodge regularly offers seasonal deals and discounts directly on their website under the “Deals” section.

You can also sign up for their email newsletter to receive special offers. Sites like Groupon often feature discounted packages as well, which can help lower the cost of your trip.

If you are unsure which promotion works best for your travel dates, calling the reservations line can sometimes help you find the best available rate.

2. Avoid Peak Travel Days

Another important Great Wolf Lodge tip is to avoid weekends if possible. Friday through Sunday is the busiest time at the resort.

If your schedule allows, consider visiting during the week. We once saved more than $200 by booking a Sunday to Monday stay instead of a weekend trip. The crowds were noticeably smaller and the experience felt much more relaxed.

3. Book a Themed Room

If you are traveling with kids, one of the most fun Great Wolf Lodge tips is to book a themed room.

The two most popular options are:

• Wolf Den Suite, designed to look like a cozy cave with bunk beds
• KidCabin Suite, styled like a log cabin with three beds

Our kids absolutely loved the Wolf Den because they had their own sleeping space with bunk beds and a TV. They thought it was the coolest room ever and could happily spend hours hanging out in their little “den.”

4. Choose Your Room Location Carefully

Room location can make a big difference during your stay. Many themed rooms are located near the Howlin’ Timbers Play Park, which can mean a longer walk to your room.

On one visit we upgraded to a Wolf Den King Suite for about $40 more. It included an additional bedroom with a king bed, which was incredibly helpful for our family of five.

The larger suites are typically located in the main lodge, making them much more convenient. We have stayed in room 404 at the Fitchburg location twice and loved the extra space and easy access.

5. Utilize pre check-in

One of the most useful Great Wolf Lodge tips is to use online pre check-in on the day of your arrival.

Once you complete the process, you will receive an email when your room is ready. You still need to stop at the front desk to pick up your wristbands, but it saves a lot of time.

The wristbands act as your room key and can also be used to charge purchases around the resort, so you do not need to carry your wallet around.

Guests can start using the water park as early as 1:00 PM, even if their room is not ready yet. We usually arrive around 12:30 so we can get our wristbands early and beat the long check-in lines.

6. Save Money on Food

Food can add up quickly, so one of the best Great Wolf Lodge tips is to bring some meals and snacks with you.

Some families bring toaster ovens or slow cookers to prepare simple meals in their rooms. Even packing easy items like sandwiches, fruit, and snacks can help keep costs down.

A quick meal at Hungry As A Wolf can easily cost $15-20 per person. When we do eat at the resort, we often opt for pizza because it tends to be one of the more affordable options.

For breakfast, we usually grab bagels and coffee from Dunkin’ and eat in our room. Packing refillable water bottles and plenty of snacks for the kids is another easy way to save money.

7. Set Arcade Spending Limits

The arcade can be one of the most expensive parts of your trip. One of my most important Great Wolf Lodge tips is to decide on a spending limit before your kids start playing.

The games go quickly. I once loaded $20 onto a card and it disappeared in just a few minutes.

Instead, we often spend more time at Howlin’ Timbers Play Park, where you can enjoy activities like mini golf or bowling together as a family.

8. Keep Your MagiQuest Wand

MagiQuest is a scavenger hunt style adventure that sends kids around the lodge searching for clues. Using a wand triggers interactive effects like roaring dragons or opening treasure chests.

The starter package with a wand and game costs around $30. However, one of the best Great Wolf Lodge tips is to keep your wand after your visit.

On your next trip you can simply purchase the game activation for about $15. The same wand works at any Great Wolf Lodge location.

9. Take Advantage of Free Activities

There are many free activities included with your stay, so be sure to check the daily schedule when you arrive.

Throughout the day you may find:

• Morning yoga
• The Forest Friends show
• Educational wolf walks
• Craft time and face painting
• Balloon twisting
• Character meet and greets

Each evening typically ends with a pajama dance party and story time in the grand lobby, which is always a highlight for kids.

10. Check for Coupons Before You Arrive

About 48 hours before your visit, Great Wolf Lodge usually sends an email with helpful information about your upcoming stay.

One of the most overlooked Great Wolf Lodge tips is to scroll all the way to the bottom of that email. There is often a link to printable coupons that can be used during your trip.

11. Consider a Paw Pass

If you know your kids will want to participate in several activities, purchasing a Paw Pass can save money.

The Paw Pass bundles together popular experiences like:

• MagiQuest
• Build-A-Bear Workshop
• Candy cup
• Arcade credits

Prices usually start around $49.99. If your kids already plan to do several of these activities, the pass can be a good value.

My kids were all about the Build-a-Bear Workshop this year. Each bear costs about $25, so it would have been worth it for us to get the pass. Another way to save is to bring a bear your child already owns and let them buy a new outfit for them.

12. Ask About the Howling Heroes Discount

Great Wolf Lodge offers a special discount called the Howling Heroes rate. This promotion provides about 30% off the best available rate for:

• Active military
• Veterans
• Firefighters
• Police officers
• EMS personnel

If you qualify, this is one of the easiest Great Wolf Lodge tips for saving money on your stay.

13. Watch for a Return Guest Discount

After your visit, Great Wolf Lodge often sends an email offering up to 50% off a future stay if you book within a week.

If you already know you would like to return, this can be one of the best Great Wolf Lodge tips for planning your next trip at a significant discount.

Here are some highlights from our stay

Final Thoughts

We love the atmosphere at Great Wolf Lodge. It feels like one giant family slumber party. After a day in the water park, everyone changes into pajamas and wanders around the lodge playing games and joining activities.

Then we head back to the room for pizza and a family movie night. It has become one of our favorite winter traditions, and these Great Wolf Lodge tips help us make the most of every visit.