GWL Mason one of AAA's 12 Best Places To Experience Holiday Cheer:

...Great Wolf Lodge at Kings Island, Mason, Ohio, AAA Three Lodging

What better place for families to soak up holiday spirit than at a "Snowland" themed lodge with a heated water park? During the holidays the lobby resembles the vast North Woods, decorated with trees, artificial snow and Christmas characters. The lodge hosts a nightly story time and lobby snow show, and the Cub Club offers themed activities....

http://www.prnewswir...t-79303652.html

I never been to Great Wolf Lodge since I only live about 20 minutes from park but it does look like a great place to stay.

From the press release:

...AAA polled its professional inspectors for their favorite places to enjoy holiday festivities. Discover the top 12 picks below...

Ah yes...Winterfest...what once was, could have been, isn't, and isn't likely to be again any time soon....

My family went to GWL over break last year. It was a LOT of fun with the waterpark, but everything else wasn't that great. I thought our room was VERY overpriced, as well as the food. So many kids were running around outside our room at, what...12am-1am?! Not to mention weird mechanical noises I heard that woke me up...and I'm not a light sleeper.

I wish I could go just for the waterpark, because they have really high quality rides. Everything else...very meh.

To be fair, going to Great Wolf Lodge for the hotel portion of the visit is not unlike going to Kings Island for the food! Then again, it's easier to eat (and legal, so far at least) in the parking lot from your car, but sleeping in the car is a whole nother thing....

Yeah my family and my neighbor went their this June. It was my first time and it was a blast! We went to the water park and then KI spent the night and went to KI the next day. I also have a two year old sister and their was a lot of activities for her too. Overall, it was a great visit.