Has your family been to Great Wolf Lodge yet? Our kids had been wanting to go for awhile and we were able to go last fall. We secured a great deal on a room through their annual 84° Sale–more on that later. I’ve finally summed up our visit in a blog post all about Great Wolf Lodge Manteca. This property is only a couple of years old and has some unique attractions that its SoCal counterpart doesn’t have! Only about an hour from San Francisco in one direction and Sacramento in the other, it’s a fun family destination that’s perfect any time of year. Keep reading for your ultimate guide to this resort hotel and water park.
Great Wolf Lodge Manteca activities
There are so many activities at any Great Wolf Lodge location that it’s a destination in itself. The premier entertainment at every Great Wolf Lodge is the water park. However, Great Wolf Lodge Manteca has other attractions that your kids will love as well. There is a waterpark-lover gene in our family’s DNA, so that was our main reason for going. In this ultimate guide I’ll focus on the water activities. No fear though, we’ll definitely be going over everything Great Wolf Lodge has to offer. And not only is there plenty to offer, but there is something for all ages to enjoy.
Insider tip for check-in: Everyone on the reservation gets a free pair of wolf ears! When we checked in we were told to pick them up from the gift shop. In addition to the free pair you can pick up, you can also purchase several fun pairs of ears, including some that are limited edition for certain events or seasons.
indoor water park & outdoor pool
water slides and pools
As I mentioned, the heart of any Great Wolf Lodge is its sprawling indoor water park. In fact, Great wolf Lodge takes such pride in their indoor water park, which is maintained at a comfortable 84° degrees year-round, that they offer a yearly sale to celebrate it. Their 84° Sale happens every year on 8/4 (get it?) and the best deals can be found when you search for mid-week stays. You can also find ongoing specials and sales for Great Wolf Lodge Manteca by clicking here.
thrilling water slides
If you’ve got big kids in your group, the water park at Great Wolf Lodge offers a few high-speed water slides that are sure to pass the thrill test. One of them specifically, Wolf Tail, is a vertical drop for the bravest in your pack and I must admit, I didn’t go on it. Some of my kids did though, and loved every second!
| Read: All the Tips You Need to Know for Schlitterbahn Waterpark |
family-friendly slides
If your family enjoys being competitive then the Rapid Racer slides are perfect for you. You can ride in a single or double tube and race each other to the bottom! Or, if you’re looking for something the whole family can ride together, River Canyon Run is a fun choice that four of you can ride at the same time. Sequoia Splash is another fun family raft ride that is completely unique to the Great Wolf Lodge Manteca location!
pools and play areas
Maybe you prefer to take things easy at a water park. Then Crooked Creek is the attraction for you–a lazy river that winds around the Fort Mackenzie kid area. Have a wave pool fan in your crew? Slap Tail Pond is part of the indoor water park, and life jackets are available for anyone under 48″. Cub Paw Pool is specifically for your youngest little guppies. It’s an interactive water playground that features smaller slides, splash zones, and water jets. Don’t miss the Chinook Cove and Bigfoot Pass water play areas as well.
There is also an outdoor pool and play area called Racoon Lagoon. This pool is seasonal and when we visited in November is was closed and drained. It looked like a great place to enjoy on a sunny day though, with plenty of outdoor seating. There’s also fire pits outside you can utilize on cooler evenings!
Insider tips for the water park: Arrive at the water park when it first opens, lines will be shorter and you can scope out a good seat. Consider taking a mid-day break, and then going back in for the last couple hours of the day, especially during busier times of the year! Going for a special occasion or during a particular busy time? Think about renting a cabana to reserve a spot and get other perks.
more than just a water park
While the water park is the star attraction, Great Wolf Lodge Manteca offers plenty of other activities to keep your family entertained! Some may be familiar, but this location does offer something that its SoCal sibling doesn’t have.
MagiQuest
One of the most popular attractions at Great Wolf Lodge is MagiQuest. This is an interactive family-friendly adventure that will take you all over the resort. Separate purchases are required to participate, but once you’ve purchased your wand you can use it again and again. As I mentioned, we were focused on the water park so we didn’t participate on our last visit, though we probably will in the future. Note: Great Wolf Lodge Manteca does not offer ShadowQuest.
Build-A-Bear Workshop
You are probably familiar with Build-A-Bear Workshop. It’s true that there are many locations around the country and you don’t need to visit a Great Wolf Lodge to enjoy the Build-A-Bear experience. However, at Great Wolf Lodge your children can create their own stuffed animals that are exclusive to the Great Wolf Lodge brand, complete with unique accessories only sold at lodge locations. This would be the perfect family trip souvenir! Keep in mind that Build-A-Bear gift cards are not valid at Great Wolf Lodge locations.
Howlers Peak Ropes Course
Howlers Peak Ropes Course is not unique to Great Wolf Lodge Manteca, but it is something that the one down south in Garden Grove doesn’t have. This fun ropes course is indoors over the mini golf area. There are multiple levels of difficulties are many safeguards are in place to help calm even the most nervous littles ones. This experience is included in the Wolf Pass attraction bundle.
Oliver’s Mining Co. & Moonstone Mirror Maze
Great Wolf Lodge Manteca offers a “mining” experience similar to the one that they also have at Jellystone Camping Resorts. You purchase a gem mining bag and use their mining sluice to wash away the dirt and reveal the gems and rocks inside! Along with this activity you can purchase an interactive walk through the Moonstone Mirror Maze. Family packages are available.
Northern Lights Arcade
If you love to game together as a family, check out the Northern Lights Arcade. There are plenty of fun games for everyone in your family. You’ll be able to find classic arcade games as well as the latest video games. You can redeem your tokens for prizes at the end of your arcade experience and an arcade card is included with each level of Attraction Pass bundle.
mini golf and bowling
Great Wolf Lodge Manteca also offers a small mini-golf course and bowling alley. These are each an extra fee that can be purchased ahead of time or included in an attraction pass. Howl in One Mini Golf takes place in the center of the indoor entertainment area underneath the ropes course. Ten Paw Alley is right next door and features lanes perfectly sized for kids. Plus, no special shoes are required to play.
Insider tip for other activities: If you’re interested in more than just the water park, consider purchasing an attraction bundle pass. There are different levels of passes for different ages or interests. This pass will include access to several attractions and activities at a discounted rate. Find out more about the passes by clicking here.
accommodations at Great Wolf Lodge Manteca
Great Wolf Lodge Manteca offers several room types for various sized families and groups. And yes, you do need to state every person in your party on the reservation because only those on the reservation will receive a wristband for the waterpark at check-in. I was very impressed with the size of the suite for our family of nine!
suite options at Great Wolf Lodge Manteca
standard suites
The standard suites will comfortably sleep 4-6 people with two Queen beds and a sleeper sofa. All rooms have a mini fridge and a coffee maker.
KidCabin suites
The KidCabin suites sleep 6-7 and feature a fun cabin-themed bunk space for kids. There is also a Queen bed a full sleeper sofa.
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wolf den suites
The Wolf Den suite is simliar to the KidCabin suite, but sleeps 4-6. There is a cute cave-like bunk area for the kids in this suite as well, but one less bed is in it.
premium suites
Premium suites are themed like the KidCabin and wolf den, but are two separate rooms and bathrooms, so you have an adjoining standard suite with the themed bunk suites. We stayed in a premium wolf den suite and had plenty of room to spread out and sleep comfortably after a long day of playing in the water park.
dining options at Great Wolf Lodge Manteca
Great Wolf Lodge Manteca provides a variety of dining options from quick bites to sit-down meals. There are also options when you’re booking your reservation to add-on dining credit or a breakfast buffet that might save you money.
on-site restaurants
From buffets, to burgers in the water park, and a sit down restaurant in the lobby, you’ll find several on-site dining options to suit your tastebuds. Campfire Kitchen is where the paid breakfast buffet happens in the morning, and turns into a Tex-Mex feast in the evenings.
sweet treats and snacks
You can enjoy doughnuts from Dunkin’ and ice cream from Wood’s End Creamery right on site. You can also pick up quick snacks and treats from Freshwoods Market in the main lobby area.
other options near Great Wolf Lodge Manteca
It can be really convenient to dine on-site, but it can also add up. There are lots of nearby dining options that could save you big bucks. If you’re a Costco member, Costco is right next door to the Great Wolf Lodge Manteca and you can eat fairly inexpensively from the food court there. We opted to do that for one of our meals. My husband called in a pizza order and then brought it over for us to eat at one of the tables outside the water park. There are also a handful of other dining options in the area.
Insider Tips for Dining: Consider adding on a dining package when you’re booking your room as it may save you money. Does someone in your group have a food allergy? Make sure you talk to the chef as Great Wolf Lodge takes food allergies seriously.
Special Events and Seasonal Fun at Great Wolf Lodge Manteca
Great Wolf Lodge Manteca hosts a variety of special events and seasonal activities throughout the year, adding an extra layer of excitement to your visit.
Seasonal Celebrations at Great Wolf Lodge Manteca
Summer Camp-In
Summer Camp-In is happening now! It offers fun activities and challenges that are exclusive to this time at Great Wolf Lodge, including the ability to earn your Trailblazer merit badge!
Howl-O-Ween
Celebrate Halloween with Howl-O-Ween, a month-long event featuring trick-or-treat trails, costume contests, and themed activities. The lodge is decorated in spooky splendor, making it a festive time to visit.
| Read: Fun Halloween Events in Northern California |
Snowland
Great Wolf Lodge Manteca becomes a winter wonderland during Snowland. You can participate in special seasonal activities like holiday-themed crafts, visits with Santa, and even experience snow indoors!
Spring Breakout
A time to celebrate the return of sunshine comes to Great Wolf Lodge with the Spring Breakout. Enjoy special spring-themed games, photo ops, and activities throughout the resort.
Daily Activities at Great Wolf Lodge Manteca
Great Wolf Lodge Manteca also offers daily activities for guests of all ages that are included in your stay! From yoga sessions to story time, there’s always something happening. There are several story times, character experiences, and other activities that happen throughout the day other than those specifically mentioned here.
arts and crafts
During our short stay we were able to meet in the Grand Lobby so our kids could color and make a fun bat paper “doll”. Arts and crafts time also happened in the play area that’s within the Build-A-Bear Workshop on-site.
Yoga Tails
You can start every morning off with a short yoga session in the Grand Lobby with members of the Great Wolf Pack.
Hustle and Howl Dance Party
In the evening, meet in the Grand Lobby for a Hustle and Howl Dance Party. This is the perfect chance for your little ones to get any last minute wiggles out before bedtime.
Insider tips for special events: Make sure you check the event calendar on the Great Wolf Lodge website before your visit to see what special events and activities are planned during your visit!
quick info for your stay at Great Wolf Lodge
check-in and check-out
- Check-In Time: Check-in begins at 4:00 PM, but you can start using the water park as early as 1:00 PM on the day of your arrival.
- Check-Out Time: Check-out is at 11:00 AM, but you can continue to use the water park until closing on the day of your departure.
parking and transportation
- Parking: Complimentary self-parking is available for guests. Valet parking is also an option for an additional fee.
- Transportation: If you’re flying in, the nearest major airports are Sacramento International Airport and San Francisco International Airport, both about an hour’s drive from the lodge.
what to pack
- Swimwear: Bring multiple swimsuits for each family member if you’re going to swim more than one day. Suit driers are available in the changing rooms.
- Cover-Ups: Pack cover-ups or rash guards for when you’re walking around the water park.
- Comfortable Clothing: Bring comfortable, casual clothing for other activities around the lodge.
- Waterproof Phone Case: A waterproof phone case can be useful to keep your phone and cash or cards dry and safe.
is staying at Great Wolf Lodge Manteca worth it?
That all depends. We have a large family and for us, staying there is quite expensive since we need the largest room type available. Even during their sales when most people can snag great deals, the biggest rooms are usually more pricey than we want to spend for a night at a water park. However, during their 84° Sale in August, we were able to get our room for a weeknight for $184. A large hotel room and technically two days at a waterpark for our family of nine would normally cost much more than that. All that being said, we would definitely go again if we could book a room for around that rate! We purposely booked it for the cooler fall time period as it’s a time we typically wouldn’t be able to enjoy water activities. You will have to decide if it’s worth it for you!
Has your family been to a Great Wolf Lodge location before?
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