It’s been a few weeks since we returned from our Great Wolf Lodge experience and I’m happy to report no one was infected with Norovirus. Before we embarked on our journey, I was a bit befuddled by what to take along with us. As it is, I tend to pack very light when traveling with my family of 5. Overpacking bothers me, but so does under-packing. I hate having my time away interrupted with unexpected trips to the store or trying to rough it. That’s just not my speed.

Recently, it occurred to me that I didn’t have a clue what to pack (or leave behind) when taking off for our 48-hour Great Wolf Lodge trip, and I’ll bet there’s someone out there who could benefit from a comprehensive packing list and reduction in mental load. So that’s what we’re here to do today.

Let’s do this!

Life Vests

I prefer to bring my own life vests wherever we go. My kids are more likely to wear something they are accustomed to, and I don’t have to worry about fitting them appropriately. Great Wolf Lodge does supply life vests; however, they are the type that have fabric over foam, which means after they’ve been worn and sitting, they are chilly and damp to put on.

If you decide to bring your own, ensure it is coastguard approved. Otherwise, the life guard will have something to say about it. I’m not a big fan of puddle jumpers, but I did see quite a few in the water. I own a couple of these because what’s good enough for Disney is certainly good enough for my house.

Sandals or Crocs (1 pair)

Bathrooms or locker rooms with bare feet? No, thank you. Just say no to athlete’s foot. I’m also not a fan of putting wet feet into my street shoes (pee-ew) or wearing street shoes on a swimming deck. It’s also worth noting that doing either of those things can also cause athlete’s foot, but street shoes on a pool deck can contaminate the pool, as well. You can never be too sure that your shoes aren’t carrying some weird organisms. In fact, you can be sure they are.

Swimsuit(s)

Depending on your family’s swim preferences, I’d opt for two swimsuits per person. I don’t like putting on cold/wet swimsuits, and there was no good way to hang / dry the swimsuits in the room.

Wetsuit(s)

Okay… the Great Wolf Lodge DOES heat its pool. But little kids lose heat in the water quickly. The only thing that saved us was putting our littles in wetsuits. We opted for a 2.5mm and the kids were quite satisfied. I will note, however, that they did try to swim without their wetsuits and that lasted about 3 minutes. Living in New England, this is a no-brainer for us, as the beaches here are typically very chilly through the summer.

Swimsuit Cover (1)

The Great Wolf Lodge swimming area is very much separate from the hotel area. At the Fitchburg site, we had to travel in the elevator, cross the lobby, pass a restaurant, walk through the arcade, and stroll past the Magi Quest to get to the swimming area. I’m not that confident in my post-baby-body to be strutting down this catwalk. Just look at how long that hallway is! I also don’t like being damp and cold. You do you.

“Street” Clothes

You’ll want a few outfits, depending on how long you’re staying. Plan for one outfit per day PLUS an extra in case it gets wet, or someone is rolling on the ground.

Socks

I’m not a big fan of reusing socks in public spaces. You could probably get away with one pair per two days, but you’ll have to determine your own comfort level. I believe the kids play area is a sock-only environment, so take that into your sock calculus when packing your luggage.

“Street” Shoes

You’ll want “street” shoes both for arriving and departing, but also for navigating the complex and participating in any activities that aren’t swimming. I suppose you could wear your crocs or sandals for this, provided they are allowed on the ropes course.

Pajamas

This is pretty self-explanatory. We took one pair, but I’d recommend taking an extra pair if you have a potty-training kiddo / bed wetter or someone who is otherwise very sweaty.

Toiletries

Unless you are accustomed to using harsh chemicals on your skin regularly, you will probably want to bring your own toiletries. Being in a chlorinated pool for a long duration of time will dry your skin out, and the toiletries provided by Great Wolf Lodge are only going to strip it further. I gave them a whirl for the sake of this blog and instantly regretted it.

Reusable Swim Diapers (if needed)

Listen: you do not want to be the parent whose child poops in the pool and closes the whole thing down. Years ago, I was at pool when a child vomited at the other end and I’m still not sure I’ve washed thoroughly enough. I’m sure the parents were mortified – as was everyone else in the pool. You should’ve seen how fast I scooped my toddler up and jumped out of there. I’m sure it was worthy of America’s Funniest Home Videos. Moving on.

I’m not even sure why disposable swim diapers are a thing. It feels like exploitation of parents. So I’m going to tell you a little secret: buy a couple of reusable swim diapers that snap up the side. They hold poop in better and two or three will last you the whole summer. You’re welcome. I’ve only had one pool-pooper out of my three kids. If this is you, spray it out with a hose, then throw it in the wash and move on with your life. Your washer has seen nastier stuff, let’s be real.

Large Bag (1)

Don’t even consider heading to Great Wolf Lodge without some sort of beach bag or other bag to transport your swim gear / street clothes in. You won’t want to go all the way back to the room to change and move on with your day – trust me on this one.

Wet Bag(s)

You can get away with recycling plastic bags, but those will eventually leak. I am not a fan of wet luggage, especially when what’s “wet” is soaked with chlorinated water. We use these to keep everything dry inside our bags / luggage.

Healthy Snacks

The way these saved us is a bit like public health. Healthy snacks will never get credit for the lack of Category 5 Meltdowns, but you can be sure they had an impact. We took our cooler backpack and stopped at the local grocery store before heading over to Great Wolf Lodge. I’m so glad we did, otherwise our bodies would’ve felt like total trash when we left. Below are a few I recommend keeping in your room (and taking with you to the pool deck).

Individual Serving Hummus + Pretzels + Carrots

Wholly Guacamole Minis + Plantain Chips

Tortilla Chips + Salsa + Refried Beans

Microwaveable Oatmeal + Fruit

Cheese Sticks + Grapes

Yogurt + Granola

Towels

Last but not least, consider taking towels. I do not fully recommend this because there is no way to properly dry them in-between swims and they take up a ton of valuable packing real estate. On the other hand, you’ll want to be aware of the Great Wolf Lodge towel policy before you disembark. The Great Wolf Lodge provides towels, but you have to scan your wrist bracelet. If you do not return said towels, they will charge your credit card $15/towel. Okay – so just return your towels and you’re fine, right? Who’s stealing towels?

Great Wolf Lodge does not scan the towels back in. It’s a dump-and-go situation. Then… surprise! A $75 charge appears on your credit card within a week or two of departure. If you opt for utilizing the towel service at Great Wolf Lodge, keep checking your credit card statement and then call them to complain if this happens to you. They will quickly remove the charge because it’s all smoke in mirrors.

And Now This….

One thing you can/should leave in your room? Your phone. I had to rescue a kid that’s parent was glued on his phone when she was shot out too quickly from the slide and couldn’t recover. She was terrified. This was on a lifeguard free-for-all day. I witnessed so. many. parents. glued to their phones. It was, quite frankly, disgusting. I even saw someone with a phone… in a bag… around their neck… sending texts from the pool. This nonsense has got to end.

The whole point of a trip with your family is to spend time with them, and you can’t do that if your phone is glued up your ass. Consider how you want your child to remember this trip. Then take this opportunity to detox from your phone if for no other reason than to ensure your kid doesn’t drown.

Get Packing!

If you’re heading to Great Wolf Lodge, you’re officially armed with all you ever wanted to know about what to expect, and what to pack. The only thing that’s left to do is get packing… and maybe send Fido to his dog sitting destination. Then live free and drive.