Illinois or Wisconsin Indoor Waterparks for Thanksgiving

Updated on February 22, 2013
A.R. asks from Tinley Park, IL
10 answers

Hi there,
We are planning a trip to an indoor waterpark for the week of Thanksgiving. I just got a week off which is a miracle and we would like to take advantage. Which is the nicest/highest rated that you have experienced? Water parks in general kind of creep me out but I know it will be a great trip. I am looking for cleanliness and nicer rooms. When giving your opinions, money or budget isn't an object...yet. I just really want to see what everyone thinks and I am not always the best judge of character doing online searches.

My son is 5 years old and really just likes to run and get wet. He isn't much for rides right now, or deep water swimming. He is kind of a gadget guy and has a fascination with elevators and remote controls. HA.

Thanks!

xoAR

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Thank you ladies! All great ideas that I am going to look into. You are the best!

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E.B.

answers from Chicago on

We LOVE the condos at Glacier Canyon Lodge at the Wilderness Territory in Wisconsin Dells. With the little ones, having a full kitchen and separate bedrooms made the stay so much nicer. They have all kinds of price ranges/specials and the whole complex is connected by heated walkways, so no need to get outside if it's cold or yucky outside.
The only thing we don't really like about the Dells is that there aren't a ton of dining options if you want to eat out. One breakfast trip worth making though is Paul Bunyan's.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Is there a Great Wolf Lodge near you? We LOVE the Lodge! It is so fun! We've taken my kids, who are now 5/3, a few times in the last two years and they both love it and there is stuff for both of them. They do have slides that are fun and you can do a double raft so he can do down with a parent. Plus there is a huge structure in the center that is all about climbing, water guns, buckets, etc. They have a few different pools too. Every night there is a story time and the have various other kids activities too. Plus there is an arcade and mini golf, although Nov in IL or WI might not be too conducive to that!

The other good thing about them is that every room has a fridge and microwave so it makes it very easy to bring your own food. We do it every time and always eat breakfast and lunch in the room. We usually get dinner from the restaurant.

Also, you get to use the pool most of the day of your check-in and check-out which really helps with getting more bang for you buck!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.K.

answers from Chicago on

I second Great Wolf Lodge in the Dells. It was cheesy for me but my 6 year old LOVED it and told me that he wished we could live there! The rooms were clean and I liked that they come with a mini fridge.

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

I don't have another indoor waterpark to compare it to, but 2 years ago we went to Key Lime Cove in Gurnee for Thanksgiving weekend. The beds were comfortable, the rooms were very clean, spacious (we had a suite), and cute. The pool was VERY busy, though. You had to wait to find intertubes and rafts to use for the lazy river, and there weren't enough chairs for the volume of people.

They had a great arcade and a few good restaurants. I think we paid about $300/night for 4 people.

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C.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

We liked the Kalahari, although we haven't been there for a few years. We preferred it to the Wilderness. How old are your kids?

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

If you must stay in Illinois then you have choice of Key Lime or Grizzly Jacks. I say if your gonna do it, do it right and go to Kalahari in the Dells.

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

I also vote for The Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. When we go there, we stay in the Glacier Canyon condos. They have a full kitchen, so we bring a lot of our own food and make our own meals. To eat at the restaurants on site is very expensive.

We used to stop at Paul Bunyon's for breakfast too, but I think the quality has gone really downhill there. I recommend Mr. Pancake instead.

V.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

Wisconsin Dells! Lots of hotels and parks to choose from with lots of other stuff to do as well :)

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S.N.

answers from Chicago on

We've been to many in the dells,and one in Shipshewanna,Indiana. I liked the kalahari the best . Water park was great with raft rides my 5 year old loved. The rooms were beautiful. It also has an indoor amusement park. I haven't stayed at Great wolf but my niece enjoyed it. The Wilderness is too huge and spread out. You have to take a bus to get to the other side. And the water parks are not connected so you run down the corridors all wet to go to another waterpark. Would not go back there.

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M.O.

answers from Chicago on

I've been to all of the dells water park/hotels, and the great wolf lodge was the cleanest and most little kid friendly.

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