Our Favorite Activities At Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg VA
By Dane Eyerly | Double Decker Fam
There’s nothing quite like a getaway that’s guaranteed to make everyone in the family happy. As a big family traveling the United States in our double decker RV (if you’re new here, we’re the Eyerlys—aka the Double Decker Fam—RVing all 8 of us coast-to-coast!), we’ve visited a ton of resorts and parks, but few compare to the family fun and memories you get at Great Wolf Lodge. This past year, we checked in at the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg, VA—a top family adventure that’s tailored to everyone from our energetic twins (5) to our “almost too-grown-up” ten-year-old.
Today, I’m breaking down our absolute favorite activities from our Williamsburg Great Wolf Lodge visit. Whether you’re planning your own waterpark adventure, searching for rainy day activities, or just thinking, “Can Great Wolf Lodge really entertain my whole crew?”—this guide’s for you!
Why We Chose Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg, VA
Traveling with a big family, we’ve learned that picking just one attraction often means someone’s disappointed. That’s the magic of Great Wolf Lodge—everything’s under one roof. Our six kids (spanning 10, 8, 7, and our 5-year-old twins) have a huge range of interests and attention spans, but Great Wolf was a hit for each one.
Plus, Williamsburg is one of those areas that’s fantastic for family travel generally. There’s Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, and historical sites galore. But when the Virginia weather turned wet and chilly, we needed an indoor resort ready for all-day awesome. Great Wolf delivered.
Here’s a quick link to the official Williamsburg tourism page if you want to explore more things to do in the area!
First Impressions & Family-Friendly Touches
Driving onto the property, our kids immediately spotted the giant talking wolf statue—a classic, but still magical every time. Check-in was a breeze. One of the main perks of Great Wolf Lodge for big families: room layouts.
The Williamsburg location has plenty of suite options, with themed “KidCabin” suites that give kids their own sleeping nook (imagine wooden cabin bunks right inside your room). The older kids loved having their “camp” spot, and it made bedtime less of a wrestling match for us!
Pro Tip: If you’re RVers like us, you can’t stay in the parking lot overnight, but there are a handful of quality campgrounds nearby. American Heritage RV Park is our favorite—about 10 minutes away.
Indoor Water Park Wonderland
Let’s be honest: The water park is 99% of the excitement for the kids.
1. Wolf Tail & Howlin’ Tornado
Our older kids (and much braver adults) couldn’t get enough of the Wolf Tail and Howlin’ Tornado slides. If you’ve never tried a launch capsule slide, the Wolf Tail drop is heart-pounding fun—our 10-year-old claims it’s better than any theme park ride she’s tried.
For our more cautious 7 and 8-year-olds, the Howlin’ Tornado was the fan favorite. It’s a massive funnel slide where you ride in a raft—it’s scary looking but not too overwhelming for most elementary ages.
2. Otter Run & Alberta Falls
Perfect for whole-family fun, these slides even let Tim (5) join on with an adult, and laughter was guaranteed (plus a few “again, again!” requests).
3. Cub Paw Pool
I always appreciate when big water parks remember their tiniest guests. The Cub Paw Pool is a tot-sized area with mini slides and super shallow water, so even my twins felt like big kids, able to slide and splash with ease.
4. Fort Mackenzie
This giant treehouse/fort with interactive water toys is a classic for a reason—especially because that GIANT bucket tips over with zero warning (okay, there’s a bell, but it’s always more sudden than you think!). Ethan and Sam had a full-on water blaster battle at least three times in the first hour.
5. Indoor Wave Pool, Hot Tub & Lazy River
We ended every swim session with a family float around the Crooked Creek lazy river or a soak in the North Hot Springs.
Quick Tip: Great Wolf keeps safety in mind. Lifeguards are posted everywhere, and they run regular drills. It actually made us feel more secure letting our bigger kids explore independently, but obviously, the littles stayed close.
MagiQuest: The Ultimate Resort Adventure
If your family loves scavenger hunts, interactive games, or a bit of fantasy, don’t skip MagiQuest. At check-in, we opted for the Paw Pass (I’ll break down why it’s worth it later), which gave each of our kids a MagiQuest wand.
MagiQuest is part live-action video game, part escape room, and part treasure hunt spanning literally every floor of the resort. The kids ran miles (literally tracked it on my watch) up and down stairs, waving their wands at treasure chests, answering riddles, and earning “runes.”
Kids up for a real challenge (think: 7 and up) got the most out of the storylines, but even our littles were entertained following their siblings and activating magic portals. For families staying more than one night, it’s the best “non-pool” activity to keep things exciting!
Bonus: You can save and reuse your MagiQuest wands at other Great Wolf Lodge locations. Good news for repeat visitors (like us).
Daily Activities: Storytime, Crafts & More
When our crew finally dried off their pruney fingers, there was still plenty to do. The resort posts a daily schedule with activities that don’t cost extra (very important for big families on a budget!).
Story Time & Dance Parties
Every night, right around bedtime, the lobby transforms for “Great Clock Tower Show” and group storytime. There are costumed characters, silly dances, and lots of audience participation, which winds the kids down post-waterpark. The twins were genuinely star-struck meeting Wiley and Violet Wolf in real life.
Arts & Crafts
We spent a rainy afternoon decorating wolf ears, coloring tote bags, and making sand art. These crafts are included for all guests—no extra charge—a small touch that sets Great Wolf apart from amusement parks.
Arcade & Mini Golf
The Northern Lights Arcade is a classic (think: skee ball, air hockey, and video games). While this does cost extra, the kids pooled their Paw Points (think resort-specific tokens) and racked up tickets for some decent prizes—definitely a fun reward after conquering MagiQuest.
Mini golf and mini bowling (Ten Paw Alley) are great rainy day “dry” activities. The courses are short and just right for short attention spans.
Dining for Every Appetite
Feeding eight people sometimes feels like a full-time job. Luckily, Great Wolf Lodge has plenty of kid-friendly and adult options. Our favorites:
- Lodge Wood Fired Grill: Family-friendly sit-down, with adult entrees (tip: the brisket sandwich is awesome) and a kids’ menu that covers all the picky eater staples.
- Hungry as a Wolf: Takeout pizza for easy in-room dinners after a full swim day—plus salad and breadsticks for squeezing in a veggie.
- Buckets Incredible Craveables: Poolside treats—don’t miss the loaded fries and bear paw ice cream sandwiches!
- Snack Shack: Grab-and-go snacks for between activities.
If you’ve got food allergies or sensitivities, the staff is helpful about adjusting menus or preparing special foods—just let them know ahead.
We did also pack some basics in our cooler (they allow outside food in guest rooms), especially for the early breakfast scramble. Pro tip: the in-room microwaves mean you can reheat leftovers or quick-breakfast stuff with ease.
For useful tips about eating at theme parks and resorts, check out this guide from TravelingMom.
Is the Paw Pass Worth It?
We did the math, and for families planning to do MagiQuest, crafts, arcade games, and bring home a plush souvenir, the Paw Pass is a no-brainer. You’ll save enough in bundled deals that our kids each got a wand, arcade tokens, and activities without us nickel-and-diming every extra.
The Wolf Pass and Pup Pass are worth comparing based on how old your kids are and if you want more “experiences” or “stuff.” We found the middle-tier Paw Pass worked for every age (even the twins got plush animals and crafts out of it).
What We’d Skip (Or Plan Differently)
- Pack extra swimsuits and flip flops. That many kids means at least one suit doesn’t get fully dry overnight. Bring two per child!
- The Dunkin Donuts line gets long in the morning. If you’re caffeine-dependent (aren’t we all?), hit it early or pack your own.
- Budget for the gift shop. Because… kids. It’s packed with wolf-themed everything!
Also, plan your visit outside peak holiday weekends if you can, the crowds grate on little ones quickly. Going midweek felt so much more relaxed and let us take our time at every activity.