Great Wolf Lodge in Manteca is a kid-friendly getaway that centers around an 84-degree indoor water park entirely housed inside a massive hotel.
About an hour from Berkeley or Oakland, Great Wolf Lodge Manteca isn’t all that hard to get to.
You can either make a weekend (or longer!) of it, or purchase day passes ($70 per person for weekdays; $110-$120 weekends). Either way, this is not a cheap proposition.
DEAL: As of this writing, significant discounts are available via Groupon >>
Our contributor Julie Herson, Berkeley mom of four, ventured to Great Wolf Lodge with her family and shared her experience with us. She offered her enthusiasm for the trip — and plenty of words of wisdom, particularly regarding the up-selling built into the resort experience.
“They’re smart; they offer so many “deals” to “upgrade” your stay. If you’re into that, no judgement here! But if you’re just there for the water park, make that clear before entering the hotel. Otherwise, it’ll be a constant negotiation.”
What to expect at Great Wolf Lodge Manteca
Recommended for toddlers to teens and the parents who follow them around, hotel stays at Great Wolf Lodge include passes to a fully inclusive water park resort. Every night’s stay gets you two days of play – with park access from the day of arrival until the water park closes on your departure date. WiFi, towels, and life jackets are included. It’s actually a great deal if you consider how much day passes cost.
Julie assures us there is enough staff in the pool and slide areas that it feels like plenty of lifeguards are watching. There are life jackets available too for extra peace of mind.
“The splash pad is one ton of water-spraying and dumping fun, and it’s totally fine for kids who can’t swim. The slides are a blast, especially if you have thrill-seeking kids. Three of my four kids were tall enough for everything, while my 6-year-old couldn’t do a few. But she was cool with that. Everyone’s favorite rides were the family slides, which hold up to five people on a huge raft. The more people the faster it goes!
There’s also an indoor pool with basketball hoops and a lillypad obstacle course, along with a fabulous lazy river that moves with a strong current for maximum fun.
ProTip: SShhhhh….The best bathroom that nobody seems to know about (meaning it’s super clean!), is behind the slides and lazy river at the back wall of the park.
“We didn’t reserve a cabana, though they did look luxurious. Finding a handful of chairs together never seemed to be a problem for us,” says Julie. They also have plenty of lockers near the changing rooms if you’d like to secure your belongings.
Beyond water play
Programming throughout the resort offers many family activities, all included with the stay and numerous upgrades for a fee. From BINGO to yoga to arts and crafts, the schedule of optional fun is packed. There’s even an app to help you navigate all the options. You’ll have to walk by all the extra activities in order to get to the water-park (they know what they’re doing!). That includes a ropes’ course, bowling alley, candy store and many many gift shops. Be ready!
“They’ve built a fun game within the resort, comprised of a magic wand, that you buy, of course, and interactions with multiple screens and stations throughout the place. It involves dragons and points of some kind (I don’t think I ever fully understood what they were doing).
Beware of the upsells: “They have a variety of fancy-looking variations on the wand that increase some kind of magical abilities and cost you waaay more than is necessary,” says Julie.
The lodging at Great Wolf Lodge easily accommodates families of up to seven people. The rooms do not offer kitchenettes (though there is a mini fridge and coffee maker) likely to encourage on-site dining. There are five restaurants, a bar, a Dunkin’ Donuts, and a deli market on the premises.
ProTip: There’s a Costco directly adjacent to the hotel. Head over there around 4 pm to grab some $10 pizza, a salad and fruit (maybe some wine/beer too?). You’ll likely spend under $50. Then after your feast, go back to the water-park and enjoy way shorter lines and less people as everyone else gets their dinner.
More Great Wolf Lodge tips from a mom who has been there
Thanks to Julie for navigating this close-to-home vacation and sharing her learnings!
- Budget for a weekend splurge or plan for a weekday. On weekdays you’re looking at day passes for $70 and nightly rates of $280 to $500 before tax; weekends are substantially more. My understanding is the prices are lower in the winter season because it’s not prime waterpark time. Either way, for most families it’s pricey enough to visit Great Wolf, that it requires planning ahead. (See if this Groupon deal for 51% off is still valid.)
- Investigate meal reservations before you go. There are several restaurants inside the lodge. On the weekends the nicer ones get booked in advance, but there are several places you can get a burger and fries for a reasonable price. Or, just stock up at Costco next door. I brought bowls and cereal for breakfast, along with snacks and fruit to bring into the park.
- There’s an outdoor pool as well. But none of us were at all interested since it doesn’t have any slides. Also, being outside means sunscreen, and the kids (and I!) were thrilled to enjoy a day of water play without having to deal with the torture that is sunscreen application.
- Bring your own towels/robes. Yes, they have towels available inside the park for free. But you have to return them before the long air conditioned walk back to your room.
- Set expectations. I found myself constantly saying what we can and cannot do. “We can get ice cream after dinner, but we cannot go into the candy shop.” I love taking my kids to a destination so well-designed to entertain and thrill them, but I feel the strain of the resort trying to entice those little minds with purchases at every turn. It might be doable with one or two kids but when you’re packing four, the price gets crazy town.” So have that discussion BEFORE entering the hotel.
- One night is enough. My kids slid and splashed and swam until the park shut on Saturday and were ready with bells on at opening hour on Sunday. The Lodge allows you to stay and use the water park all day. You can pack up all your stuff and put it in the car and be ready for check-out at 11 am. Just pack a change of clothes and plan to use the showers inside the water-park (the changing room has private showers and changing stalls).
- Don’t throw out your wristband. At least not before you use it to get out of the parking lot! Julie might have made that mistake.
- Leave your snobbery at home. Great Wolf Lodge offers a solid vibe of fun-loving families who worked hard for the experience of coming to live it up. This is Manteca, not Sausalito, so we’re not in tech money territory. The crowd reflects the location, and it’s a lot of jubilant energy.
The Bottom Line on Great Wolf Lodge in Manteca
Julie concludes that it’s a worthwhile investment in making family memories and enjoying the good times. She cannot help but advise, “When you’re in the car heading over there, remind the kids they don’t need all that extra plastic junk. We’re having quality time, gosh darn it!”
That talk always works, right?
1 thought on “Good Deal: Waterpark Hotel: Bay Area Great Wolf Lodge”
Looks like a cesspool for coronavirus!!!!!!