Waterpark Weekend

It seems like there are constant discussion threads about the difference between Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge. General consensus among parents of young children is that Great Wolf Lodge is a better choice. After this weekend here's what we like about each place:

Great Wolf Lodge-
1. With an accompanying adult, all but one slide is accessible to little ones
2. Everything is kept at a relatively comfortable temperature
3. The size of the waterpark and hotel is much more manageable for small children
4. Great Wolf tends to be more reasonably priced
5. Children 3 and under can eat breakfast for free

Kalahari-
1. There are plenty of options to keep little ones occupied in the waterpark
2. The outdoor pool, playground, and petting zoo offer additional activities during warmer months
3. The indoor treetop play area is a great place to spend some out-of-water time
4. There are a variety of dining options
5. Check-in is usually quick and luggage can be held if your room isn't ready

Some other observations-
1. They both have nice arcades, but Kalahari's is larger and has better junk to choose from when redeeming tickets.
2. The food at Kalahari is much better
3. Checking in at Great Wolf took half an hour
4. We didn't participate, but kids looked like they were having a lot of fun playing the MagiQuest Game at Great Wolf Lodge.
5. The Cub Club at Great Wolf Lodge has games, books, coloring pages, and a few crafts.  We spent some time here, but it didn't keep the girls entertained for all that long.

6. At Kalahari, life jackets are required for non-swimmers. At Great Wolf Lodge, they are optional.
7. Great Wolf Lodge is located right next to quite a few shops and restaurants.  Kalahari is more self-contained.
8. We could stay at Kalahari more than one night, but thought one night at Great Wolf Lodge was enough

After experiencing them both, I can see why people have trouble deciding between the two.  For our family, I think Great Wolf Lodge is a good choice for winter months.  It really is well suited for a night away with young children.  Kalahari has so much more to offer, especially in the Summer, so I would go there during that time of year.  Needless to say, we had a great weekend and look forward to returning to either place.