Comments on: Great Wolf Lodge

By: Tedd

Tedd — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:41:26 +0000

I now can say I'm very disappointed with this place. It started out fantastic, but we have learned of extremely poor management practices. The hire and fire rate is extremely high with this place…so much in fact, that it has made the attention of local businesses and the unemployment office. So I guess along with the poor food quality, we can add the fact of complete noobs working here, all the time.
It's too bad. The place is worth at least 1 visit. Pricey, so be warned you will need to bring your wallet.

By: schrecv

schrecv — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:27:04 +0000

Thanks for the message. It's nice to hear that the GWL has made a positive impact on the community in these economically-challenged times.

Vince Schreck, Ed.D.
Instructional Designer, Portland State University
Editor: Portland Family Adventures
www.pdxfamilyadventures.com

By: T-Man

T-Man — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:57:54 +0000

Hello I live just 3 miles from the GWL.. and my wife works for them. It really is one of the best things to happen to our little community, let alone Washington State. If anyone needs help with info about the lodge, or recommendations, I can help.

We will be going (again x 6) this May.. My wife gets water park passes as an employee… cost is lower for us, but still an investment..buts its so much fun.

By: schrecv

schrecv — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:07:09 +0000

Kip,

Thanks for the tip about the Mexican restaurant. We're going back in February, and we'll go check it out. Also, we didn't get to play the Magic Quest game, and we're planning on doing that this time. When we were there last time, people were really into it!

Vince Schreck, Ed.D.
Instructional Designer, Portland State University
Editor: Portland Family Adventures
http://www.pdxfamilyadventures.com

By: Kip Johnston

Kip Johnston — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:16:40 +0000

Yes, we'll go back. We really enjoyed everything else. My kids played with Magic Quest almost as much as they were in the water, and they can't wait to play again.

Despite the food, I would still recommended off days, as we had so much more fun on the weekdays when attendance was very low, compared to the Friday afternoon and Saturday when it got very busy..

We did find a great Mexican restaurant up the road in Centrailia called La Tarasca that we we can't recommend highly enough. It reminded me of my Mexican godmother's kitchen growing up.

http://maps.google.com/maps?um.....#038;amp...

We were all happy to eat ever dinner and a lunch there for several days.

By: schrecv

schrecv — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:57:19 +0000

OUCH! Sorry to hear about your experience with the food. It's funny because we're kind of food snobs (i.e., my wife is a Naturopathic Physician…we generally eat only whole, organic/local food, shop at New Seasons, or co-ops, etc.). We thought we'd be disappointed by the food, but it was really good. We didn't eat at "Camp Critter," which we will do next time we're there.

We're visiting again in early February. I'm anxious to see if your experience continues…hope not! I know what you're saying…I was wondering what they were going to do when school starts up. It seems like they have to retrain and find a bunch of new people.

Since you'll go back, I'm assuming the rest of your experience must have been positive, correct?

By: Kip Johnston

Kip Johnston — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:18:46 +0000

I'm glad to hear that this reviewer had good food when they were there. We didn't. Even after talking to the food service manager, they still were unable to bring us food that was even edible (omelets burned on the outside with raw eggs on the inside). We tried three different meals there and they were all awful.

Even the clerk at the grocery store in Centralia knew how infamously bad the food is at GWL,

We'll go again, but the food quality was a huge disappointment.

In their defense, we went the first week school was back in and it seemed like they had let all the hourly staff go because there were mostly managers doing the cooking. Maybe at the height of the season, the regular line cooks would do a better job!

By: schrecv

schrecv — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:59:08 +0000

OUCH! Sorry to hear about your experience with the food. It's funny because we're kind of food snobs (i.e., my wife is a Naturopathic Physician...we generally eat only whole, organic/local food, shop at New Seasons, or co-ops, etc.). We thought we'd be disappointed by the food, but it was really good. We didn't eat at "Camp Critter," which we will do next time we're there.

We're visiting again in early February. I'm anxious to see if your experience continues...hope not! I know what you're saying...I was wondering what they were going to do when school starts up. It seems like they have to retrain and find a bunch of new people.

Since you'll go back, I'm assuming the rest of your experience must have been positive, correct?

Vince Schreck, Ed.D.
Instructional Designer, Portland State University
Editor: Portland Family Adventures
www.pdxfamilyadventures.com

By: Portland Family Adventures - Interview | On Portland

Portland Family Adventures - Interview | On Portland — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:02:03 +0000

[...] many businesses are so family-oriented that it’s been hard to ignore them. For example “The Great Wolf Lodge,” which is a giant, indoor waterpark 90 miles north, had our family up for a visit this past [...]