rivertowngirl

They need to light that area up somehow then.

I noticed that all the Peanuts characters and lights on the trees near the Eiffel Tower are gone (the little Charlie Brown shirt signs saying stay off the grass are still there). It was really dark without all that there. I wonder if they plan on putting them back up?

I am so thrilled about the 10% off purchases with the Gold Pass! I never would have realized it they offered that this year if I hadn't read it here. When we went today we bought a pretzel, fries, and a funnel cake (a funnel cake sundae! Ohmygoodness!). All of the cashiers asked if I had a Gold Pass for the discount. For me, this is a million times better than the Fun Perks program. I didn't realize that Dinosaurs Alive was free with Gold Passes too.

I thought this was a really fun store too! Funny shirts. But what a shame to have Castle Greyskull sitting in the window to get all faded by the sun! That thing is a total classic. Wish I had known there is MS. PACMAN ARCADE GAME in this store!!!!!! I am assuming it works? Next time, I am bringing quarters

The crowds really pick up around noon. Best bet is to get there and get parked before they open at 10. That will give you at least two hours of small crowds and decent lines.

Thanks for posting this, DBru! You are so right! It looked like there were a few places where they had replaced the wood...very recently (you could still smell the new wood!). Wow, I think it was the smoothest ever. Normally I get all bounced around and bruised up on that right to the point where it isn't even worth riding it. But this was a completely different experience!

But then what do you do with your key and passes? It sucks to pay for a locker every time but it is worth it to not have to worry about my stuff. It astonishes me how many people are willing to leave their belongings out in the open. I bring the cheapest flip flops to where to walk between areas at BB and I hate to even leave those unattended (the last time we were there my family left our flip flops next to a chair and when we came back to them someone had either poured water on them, which is fine, or who knows what type of puddle they were now in!!!). Point being, I trust no one with even the least valuable stuff. There are too many unattended kids and crazy people at KI. The locker price went up $2 from last year though. UGH!

My 4 year old son has been asking to go to GWL. Several months ago I started researching how to find the best deal. Finding the best deal: GWL offers several deals through the website or through their newsletter (sign up with your email address). Most of the deals I found only applied to a stay or two or more nights. We only wanted to stay one night and wanted the check-in day to be Sunday so that my husband could spend the day with us and hopefully the crowds would be smaller. I used a promo code ("gold pass" because I have a KI Gold Pass) that took 20% off my stay. I plugged in several dates on the calendar until I found the cheapest price with my promo code. We ended up booking a one night stay for $151 ($181 total with taxes and other fees). Usually you will find a better deal if you book it a bit in advance. Some companies get discounts too so ask around before booking. Checking In: Check in (to get in your room) is at 4 but you can check in to the hotel as early as 1 and start using the water park at that time. I had read other travel reviews of the check in process being long but I did not experience that. There was a short wait in line and we checked in in just a few minutes. We were given our wristbands and a booklet with information. They take your cell phone number and tell you they will call when your room is ready. We checked in at 2 and received the recorded message at 3, telling us our room number. Your wristband gives you access to the waterpark and also acts as your room key (just wave the wolf logo in front of the scanner until the light turns green). Accommodations: Our room was a family suite with fireplace and balcony. The room had two double beds, a sofa, small table with two chairs, gas fireplace, two tvs (with a small selection of cable channels), a small fridge, coffeepot, small microwave, hair dryer, ironing board (I assume an iron in the closet too though I didn't notice), some extra pillows and blankets in the closet, alarm clock, and phone...standard hotel room. The bathroom was very clean (also included small bottles of lotion, shampoo, kids body wash, and two bars of soap). The room was also very clean (and yes, I checked for bed bugs!). There were plenty of towels in the bathroom. They were pretty scratchy though. If you have very young kids, especially babies, I would advise bringing your own bath towels. The shower/tub had decent water pressure and one of those shower rods that curves out so the liner doesn't touch you while you're showering. The hotel was quiet at night but the beds were so uncomfortable! If we go again, we will just drive back home (we live very nearby) to sleep. Waterpark: Obviously this is the main draw to the GWL. My family of 3 liked it. I felt there were plenty of activities for all ages to stay entertained. The lifeguards were very attentive. Life jackets are available, free of charge. Plenty of super scratchy towels are also available so you don't need to bring any (depending on how much you value a soft towel). Lockers are available. You pay for the locker in the gift shop. They ask for $20 and give you $10 back (or the option of a plush wolf toy) when you return the key 30 minutes before the waterpark closes. The lockers are bigger than the lockers at KI and you can get in and out of the lockers until you turn the key in. I rented a locker on day one but didn't bother the following day (all of my valuables were in the car except for my car keys). I didn't like that the tubes didn't have a bottom (like at KI) for the younger kids to sit in. It would be nice to see a child sized tube at a place that is geared at young children and families. The water was very comfortable. I didn't find the chlorine to be too strong. Usually after an hour or two of playing in the water at other places my son will shiver but it is so toasty in the waterpark area so that wasn't a worry. Outside toys or other water toys are not permitted in the waterpark. I found everything to be very clean. There are a few restrooms in the water park area. There are several changing rooms and showers for men and women but only one large family changing room/restroom. There are hair dryers in the restrooms and one of those bathing suit spinners to squeeze out the excess water from your suit (bring a plastic bag to put your wet stuff in). Extras: There are two gift shops, an arcade, a few eating places, and a spa. Aside from the one day locker rental I didn't spend any extra money at GWL. I can't review the food and I would suggest bringing your own or going elsewhere to eat if you want to save some extra money. You can't bring food/drinks into the waterpark. If you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel you will really be paying more than necessary. Remember there is a small fridge and small microwave in the room. We brought some drinks, popcorn, and granola bars for snacks. I recommend going to one of the restaurants at the Kings Mills exit if you want to go out (there's Skyline, Bob Evans, Perkins, McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut, Frisch's, Taco Bell, Outback, Ruby Tuesday's, and Viva Tequila...and Kroger is up there too - Jimmy John's, Chipotle, and Dairy Queen will also be open soon, just a minute drive from GWL). We didn't bother with the arcade but did go in to take a peek (it is LOUD in there!). The clock tower show and story time is at 8 p.m. in the main lobby. Wiley the wolf came out and one of the employees read a story to the kids. The clock tower show reminded me of the singing band at Showbiz Pizza but they sang some little songs about loving nature. My son liked it and it seemed best suited for the under 6 crowd. We did not do the Magi Quest thing (pay extra for it) but it looked like fun for the older kids (maybe ages 6 and up). Checking Out: Check out is by 11 a.m. There are a few options for checking out. I just called the desk and that was it. On the day that you check out you can continue to use the waterpark until it closes that day. We moved our belongings from the room to the car when we checked out and just brought a bag with our swimsuits and a change of clothes back in to go swimming more. Problems we encountered: Apparently there was some sort of power outage early in the day when we were there. Because of it one of the water slides was not running and some of the sprayers in the kiddie area were not working. They were not fixed until the following day. The rooms did not have hot water because of some problem with the boiler, because of the power issue. Thankfully that problem was fixed but not until 9:30 p.m. The 8 p.m. clock tower show was also not working because of the power issue but they did fix it and at 9 p.m. the show worked. Overall, I thought it was fun. But for almost $200 for 3 people for one night/two days? It is a bit out of my budget and I wasn't wowed by the hotel. For the three of us it comes out to about $30 per person per day which isn't too bad. I hear it is really pretty during the holidays but I enjoyed being there when it wasn't very crowded. We may go again next year during the winter if I can find a decent deal again.

I had the exact same question. I just emailed KI about this. I will post their reply as soon as I hear back.

My family is thinking of doing a one night stay at GWL before the summer. We live very close to it so travel is not an issue and I think my 4 year old would enjoy it. In fact we live so close I am almost thinking of coming home to sleep. I hate sleeping in hotels! If you have been there, is it worth it? We are not interested in doing any of the additional activities that cost extra. We plan on spending the whole time in the water park though I read the storytime at night might be worth checking out. Any deals that I am missing? I used the KI Gold Pass code to get a small discount and the lowest nightly rate I could find was $151 (taxes not included - I think it is around $181 with taxes). Is there a fee for childrens life jackets? A fee for lockers in the waterpark area? What do you recommend bringing? Anything to avoid? We would probably go home or go out to eat (not at the lodge). Thanks!

If memory serves, there are a few photo booths in the park. That's my suggestion.

Well, since I take my kid there now I guess I can't really answer this one. I will say this though...the rides that I wish were still at KI, that I remember riding when I was younger, that I really wish were still there for my kid to ride are the flying eagles, the smurf ride, and the spinning barrels or tea cups. He would really love the flying eagles. So sad those are gone!

Well today I saw it taken to a new level! (I drive by KI everyday from home to work) A group of ladies had a large table, with a tablecloth even, set up at the end of the parking lot. They had their cooler and lawn chairs set up around it. I won't share my thoughts on this

So I stepped on an unwrapped (used??) condom in the goldpass parking lot last week. Lovely. Today I saw a big hot dog car parked in the general lot. I almost drove in so that my son could see it (the hot dog car, NOT the condom, in case of any confusion).

Oh, interesting. Thanks for the reply. Now I will judge all those people I always see eating in the parking lot! Why in the world would you sit in a baking hot parking lot eating pb and j out the trunk of your car when you could just leave and go to an air conditioned restaurant??

Something to consider...if you don't have a season pass, you can get back in with a handstamp but do you have to pay to park again? That's another 10 bucks! I assume so since many people bring a cooler and go eat in the parking lot. I have found that you can eat in the park without spending a ton. My husband and I split two slices of pizza and potato works then maybe get an ice cream or something. I think it comes up to less than $20. And we always just get water because it is free, better for you anyway, and the price of pop is out of control!

LOL! When I worked in rivertown I also had to go into that Beast storage area and inventory that stuff and pitch the sweatshirts that had giant raccoon prints (and pee stains) on them. Apparently raccoons really like Chic-o-stiks too. I saw skunks pretty often at night after closing, back in the rivertown area.

I am curious what was on the cards? It may be helpful to me as I wouldn't hesitate to approach a smoker (who doesn't look like they might kill me) next time I am at KI. I am making it my mission to nip this issue in the "butt." If you happen to see at the park, say hello, it is probably me

So what can be done? Am I the only crazy person that will approach people and tell them to move to a smoking area? Should I (and hopefully others!) continue to contact KI and complain?

I was at the park yesterday and today and rode Boo Blasters with my son. Both days the feature at the end up the ride with the skeleton face in the steam was not there. Anyone know of it is just broken or if they changed the ride?

OK, I am just going to keep beating this dead horse... We have gold passes and go to the park pretty often with our toddler. I am so annoyed at the number of people smoking all over the place, NOT in the MANY designated smoking areas. My current vent is with the smoking in Boomerang Bay. Today there were people smoking near the lounge chairs in the kid area, in the lounge chairs near the wave pool, and in every single eating area I walked past. I approached one of the women I saw smoking in the kiddie area. She was sitting in one of the lounge chairs and clearly trying to hide her cigarette. I politely told her that there is a designated area for smoking near the entrance. She said "Oh, I didn't know that," and she continued to smoke. I added that it was dangerous to be smoking in this area because children were walking around barefoot (as I am holding the hand of my young barefoot child) and could burn themselves on a discarded cigarette. She continued smoking and I walked away. There happened to be an ecology person walking by and I mentioned it to her. She walked by the woman that I pointed out but didn't say anything to her. The several other people that I saw smoking looked like they might punch someone who told them to go to the designated area and as my child was with me I thought it best not to say anything. But I am seriously annoyed about the whole situation. I want to see employees and security guards telling people to put out their cigarettes and go to the correct area if they want to smoke. I think it would also be helpful if there were "No Smoking" signs posted throughout the park, particularly in kid areas, the waterpark, and eating areas where people tend to light up.

Interesting. I went twice yesterday, had my Gold Pass scanned each time I went to park, and was not asked to pay.

I would definitely call and ask. There is a "baby care" center near the Eiffel Tower where they have family bathrooms. I don't know that they are any larger than the typical handicapped restrooms but you may have more privacy...and light! For some reason I find most of the bathrooms are really dark.

Thanks for putting this together, selective! I have two vegetarians in my family and we usually just stick to cheese pizza and fries when we go but it is nice to see what/where all of our other options are.

We did end up going today and had a blast. FYI, locker rental is $13 (!!!!!) and when you turn your key back in you get $5 back. You can open the locker as often as you want with your key. My son, age 3, was able to wear his water shoes on everything he went on but I think I saw a sign at the entrance of the water park that said aqua socks couldn't be worn on all the attractions (I assume they mean the larger slides). I am really glad he had his water shoes. The pavement was hot and my feet were killing me from walking on the flat concrete. Next time we go I will definitely bring some flip flops for me to wear.