I love Colonial Williamsburg and I wish my kids did too. They just don’t get excited at the idea of going to walk around all day in the middle of summer looking at historical sites. But the promise of going to Colonial Williamsburg AND Great Wolf Lodge for the weekend was good bargaining power.
I originally booked a cabin at Great Wolf Lodge for two nights in July but we only stayed for one. Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg is an older park in need of renovation. If you have younger kids, they’re not going to notice the dated rooms and attractions but our older kids definitely did. What I didn’t plan for was paper-thin walls and our entire family not being able to sleep because of loud stomping in the room above us. I am not usually one to complain but when the kids are tired and it’s approaching midnight, I was left with no choice but to make multiple trips to the front desk about the noise. The staff was friendly and sympathetic but could do little to stop the noise from the party in the room above us. The hotel was packed that weekend so they had no other rooms to move us to. In the end, we decided to cut our trip short and Great Wolf Lodge refunded our money for the following night.
The waterpark is nice but it costs a small fortune for a family of six to stay here and do all of the things. We spent $100 in the arcade which lasted a matter of minutes. It is Disney pricing for not nearly the same level of service and enjoyment. My daughters did love the Build a Bear Workshop located at the lodge.
Food at the Loose Moose Bar & Grill was included in our package. It is cafeteria food in a buffet style which was okay at best. Other restaurants on the property were additional costs.
I felt like our time was better spent exploring the history of Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown Settlement. Our kids went along with it with little complaints, although my husband I both agreed that a trip back here soon without kids would probably be more worth our while!
2-Day Itinerary With Kids
| Day | To | From | Mode | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Trip Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Fri | Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg, VA | FredCo, MD | Car | 2:30PM | 7:00PM | I-95 on a Friday evening, or any time of day for that matter, is a nightmare. What should’ve been a 3-hour trip took us almost 5 hours because of traffic. |
| MagicQuest Game, Great Wolf Lodge | Our room | Walk | 7:30PM | 8:00PM | The girls enjoyed the MagicQuest game throughout the park but didn’t have an interest in finishing the game. | |
| Arcade at Great Wolf Lodge | Our room | Walk | 8:30PM | 8:30PM | ||
| 2 Sat | Build a Bear, Great Wolf Lodge | Our room | Walk | 9:00AM | 9:05AM | |
| Great Wolf Lodge Water Park | Our room | Walk | 9:15AM | 9:20AM | ||
| Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA | Great Wolf Lodge | Car | 1:00PM | 1:10PM | A must-do! We did a self-guided tour and visited a few shops. We talked to a few of the reenactors who bring history to life. The Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area is open to the public for free, but you do need a ticket to get into any of the historical sites or trade shops. Open sites have a flag posted out in front . There’s a great candy shop in Merchant’s Square called Wythe’s Candy that was a big hit. | |
| Jamestown Settlement Living History Museum and Shipyard, Yorktown, VA | Great Wolf Lodge | Car | 3:00PM | 3:15PM | A must-do! Take time to explore exhibits that trace Jamestown’s beginnings in England and the first century of the Virginia colony through 1699. In the outdoor living-history areas, costumed historical interpreters describe and demonstrate daily life in early Jamestown. Explore the re-created 1610-14 fort and town. Climb aboard a re-creation of one of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607. | |
| Home (FredCo, MD) | Williamsburg, VA | Car | 6:00PM | 10:00PM | I-95 traffic was still bad so I have no advice on what time is best to travel I-95. Perhaps try leaving at midnight instead? |
Lucky Ladybug Travel Blog 