Will Teens & Tweens Enjoy Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg?

As we headed toward our room, we stepped aside as smiling kids rushed through the halls with their wands, giggling with delight as they watched a tree light up or crystal glow letting them know they scored more points. When we walked into the waterpark, we saw a little boy grab his mom’s hand and pull her toward the water fort tree house as wolf howls blared through the speakers. It had been years since we visited Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg and it was wonderful to be back. I have fond memories of my kids splashing, swimming and sliding at the large waterpark and heading back to our room with friends after a day of fun.

Still, I was a bit hesitant when booking our stay. Would my tween and especially my teen still enjoy Great Wolf Lodge? Were they too old?  While the best ages to enjoy the lodge is 7 – 13, that doesn’t mean older kids can’t have fun too! There are still plenty of attractions and activities to keep kids of all ages entertained with parents following behind letting their children lead the way.

Let’s Look at the Rooms in Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg:

All 450 rooms received a full renovation in January and February 2019! The rooms even have new 50” TV’s which will be perfect for helping kids wind down and enjoy a movie night after a day of adventure and excitement.

I love the long counter with microwave, coffee machine, a mini fridge, 2 free water bottles and granola bars. Having the microwave and fridge is perfect for families who might want to heat up a snack, store milk or juice for little ones and maybe a bottle of wine for mom and dad to enjoy on the balcony after the kids fall asleep.

The large dresser, couch and sofa table are perfect for families to spread out. This is a great asset when traveling with teens. They start to take up way more space in a hotel room! The large vanity and sink is located outside the bathroom which is useful for families as well. The pressure in the shower was great which is always a plus!

What are the best attractions for tweens and teens?

Again, there is a ton of stuff for younger kids at Great Wolf Lodge. Older kids may feel a bit “too cool” for some of the activities, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to keep them occupied.  K and Lucy’s picks for older kids include:

• Oliver’s Time Challenge
• Northern Lights Arcade
• Howly Wood XD Theater
• Howlers Peak Ropes Course
• Wave pool
• Wolf Rider Wipeout (Flowrider)
• Howlin’ Tornado waterslide

My kids enjoyed all the (larger) waterslides but Howlin’ Tornado was their absolute favorite. They also spent a lot of time on Totem Towers and Alberta Falls. River Canyon Run is a great waterslide for the entire family to enjoy together.

What About the Food?

Kids love to eat and there are several restaurants inside Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg to tempt your families taste buds. You’ll find fresh pizza, hamburger ground from high quality sirloin steak, handmade every day, and pastries made on site plus homemade ice cream cones.  We didn’t get a chance to eat at the Lodge during our visit with the exception of our morning Dunkin’ Donuts coffee which was great. There are also plenty of restaurant options just a short drive away if you want to venture out.

When traveling with older kids, you may want to have their Great Wolf Lodge water park wristbands activated to allow room charges and the ability to unlock the hotel room door. Teens and tweens will enjoy the freedom of grabbing a bite to eat, playing games in the Northern Lights Arcade or visiting the Howly Wood XD Theater without mom and dad hovering the entire time.

Even parents seemed to enjoy this quality time with their kids – going down the slides, floating along in the Crooked Creek (lazy river), and trailing along as they played MagiQuest. I witnessed one dad come back and take a seat for all of 5 seconds before the kids were there asking him to ride. He smiled and followed along as his little girl, huge smile on her face too, took his hand as they walked to the next water adventure.  At Great Wolf Lodge, the kids are the customer and parents are just along for the ride.

Looking for more fun in the area?  See 13 things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia to help plan your trip.

Disclosure:  We were guests for the night at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg.  As always, opinions are 100% my own and may differ from others.