Wisconsin Dells

[BrunoMars420]

So my wife and I are planning a trip next year for our family and my sisters family. I was looking at Mt. Olympus and their rooms are like $40, which doesn’t seem right. Idk if I should book there with it being that cheap, I feel like there is a catch haha

Anyone have suggestions on where to book and go?

 

[OILCHECKER]

That seems awfully cheap. Some of those resorts own multiple properties so when you reserve a room, you might not be getting one at the main resort/hotel. You could actually be staying at a nearby motel that they have taken over.

 

[AlumniNole]

Mt Olympus went around and bought up all the small independent hotels near the park. Some of them were straight up roach motels. Sure they put a new caot of paint on them. But still run down and crappy.

Be very careful which one you pick. I would only stay at MO if I was staying on-site.

 

[fredjr82]

So my wife and I are planning a trip next year for our family and my sisters family. I was looking at Mt. Olympus and their rooms are like $40, which doesn’t seem right. Idk if I should book there with it being that cheap, I feel like there is a catch haha

Anyone have suggestions on where to book and go?

I believe most of them cover the ticket to their park in the nightly cost so $40 may just be the room. Keep an eye out for that wording. Also, most have a "resort fee" associated too so find out how much that is.

 

[WisestIowan]

Play some golf at Wild Rock.

 

[beanerhawk]

Don''t do Mt Olympus it's a complete shit hole. Go to the Wilderness or Kalahari, they are nice and you don't have to deal with idiots there.

 

[tumorboy]

Don''t do Mt Olympus it's a complete shit hole. Go to the Wilderness or Kalahari, they are nice and you don't have to deal with idiots there.

This is correct. Way too many people at Ark and Olympus.

 

[hawkmart]

Consider Mt Olympus as Wal-mart/Dollar General. I think there was video of a large fight there just last year. We've done the Wilderness when the kids where younger. It's been a few years since have been there but we saved some money by going on Ebay and getting someone's timeshare at the Glacier Canyon Lodge portion of the Wilderness.

 

[sdhawkeye]

Mt Olympus went around and bought up all the small independent hotels near the park. Some of them were straight up roach motels. Sure they put a new caot of paint on them. But still run down and crappy.

Be very careful which one you pick. I would only stay at MO if I was staying on-site.

This

 

[torbee]

**Editor's note: This post originally said to stay at Kahlahari, but I meant Chula Vista. Kahlahari is a bit less low-brow than Mt. Olympus or Noah's Ark, but still plenty trashy **

If you want to avoid the poors you should stay at the Chula Vista -preferably in one of the townhouse style rentals.

 

[NoleATL]

Wisconsin Dells? Seriously? But why?

 

[torbee]

Wisconsin Dells? Seriously? But why?

Honestly, it's a blast.

You have to go in knowing it's touristy, trashy, hot and obnoxious, but that's part of the allure.

I grew up going to the Dells my whole life and enjoyed having my kids experience it.

A weekend at the waterpark should be a rite of passage for all American kids.

 

[tumorboy]

Honestly, it's a blast.

You have to go in knowing it's touristy, trashy, hot and obnoxious, but that's part of the allure.

I grew up going to the Dells my whole life and enjoyed having my kids experience it.

A weekend at the waterpark should be a rite of passage for all American kids.

They need weed dispensaries. Get on it Wisconsin.

 

[NoleATL]

You have to go in knowing it's touristy, trashy, hot and obnoxious, but that's part of the allure.

Like Dollywood?

 

[BrunoMars420]

Wisconsin Dells? Seriously? But why?

Good starting vacation for a young family like ours. Only 3 hours away and kids will be around 1.5 years old the time we plan on going.

We plan on trying to go on at least a couple of family vacations throughout the years. It’s not like we just plan on going to the dells every year.

 

[BrunoMars420]

If you want to avoid the poors you should stay at the Kalahari -preferably in one of the townhouse style rentals.

Have you ever been to Chula Vista?

 

[torbee]

Like Dollywood?

Dollywood, Branson, the American side of Niagra Falls.

All basically the same.

 

[torbee]

Have you ever been to Chula Vista?

Shit- that is what I meant to say, Will edit.

 

[BrunoMars420]

Shit- that is what I meant to say, Will edit.

Haha I think we plan on going to that one because it seems the most toddler friendly, the cleanest, and not as crowded.

 

[NoleATL]

Good starting vacation for a young family like ours.

I pity your existence when you have to take them to Disney...

 

[JRHawk2003]

DO NOT DO Mt. Olympus. Spend a little extra and go to the Wolf Lodge. Mt Olympus is an overcrowded, overpriced tourist trap.

 

[BrunoMars420]

I pity your existence when you have to take them to Disney...

Yah that is like 10 years down the line

 

[torbee]

Yah that is like 10 years down the line

I would strongly suggest a side trip to Mirror Lake or Devils Lake - both are very close by and really showcase the natural beauty that led to that part of Wisconsin becoming a magnet for tourism:

 

[Hawkbiz]

Mount Olympus has extremely concerning safety history. The theme park is a liability in waiting. Their ride operators openly disobey rules, walk across the coaster track in the station, don't abide by common sense safety rules.

Oh and someone fell and died from their indoor coaster because their lap bar failed.

 

[QChawks]

Good starting vacation for a young family like ours. Only 3 hours away and kids will be around 1.5 years old the time we plan on going.

We plan on trying to go on at least a couple of family vacations throughout the years. It’s not like we just plan on going to the dells every year.

I agree.

If they kids are that young definitely do Wilderness. There is a lot of stuff to do inside too.

 

[MitchLL]

We have taken the whole family to both Kalahari and Wilderness. An insurance policy to potential questionable weather would be Kalahari because more of it is indoors. But we had a large cabin at Wilderness that was pretty nice, too.

I would choose either over MO.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Go to the wolf lodge. Plenty big for toddlers and you barely step foot into the Dells

 

[OILCHECKER]

Chula Vista is nice if you get one of the three bedrooms condo's.

 

[NoleATL]

Wisconsin becoming a magnet for tourism

There must be a block on that magnetic field from the south. never hear of
anyone going there.

 

[PerkyForHerky]

DO NOT DO Mt. Olympus. Spend a little extra and go to the Wolf Lodge. Mt Olympus is an overcrowded, overpriced tourist trap.

The in law side of the family went to great wolf last year. It was a good time - mostly stayed on the resort aside from going to the arcade and restaurant across the road, ventured in to the Dells once and was disappointed in that. Great wolf had plenty to do, highly recommend and little reason to leave the area unless you're there 4 or more nights

Kids with us were aged 6 5 3 3 1.5

 

[torbee]

There must be a block on that magnetic field from the south. never hear of
anyone going there.

Well I've never heard of anyone going to some of the most popular tourist spots in the southern U.S. but am not blindly provincial enough to presume that they don't exist.

 

[BeepBeepInMyJeep]

Dollywood, Branson, the American side of Niagra Falls.

All basically the same.

The Canadian side of Niagara Falls is far more tourist trappy in that way. The American side is mostly just a dump in the shadows of the more developed socialist country.

 

[JRHawk2003]

There must be a block on that magnetic field from the south. never hear of
anyone going there.

Wisconsin Dells are a tourist trap area for the most part. Young families take kids there. I know I did.

Northern Wisconsin is forest mostly and lakes and more of a get away from it all vacation area that is also very popular. I love this part of Wisconsin the most. Near Hayward or Cable. The Apostle Islands on the North Shore along Lake Superior are a national park and very cool. Some of those towns along the coast there are like New England fishing villages. Its hard to believe you are in the Midwest. I really love the North woods there.

 

[torbee]

The Canadian side of Niagara Falls is far more tourist trappy in that way. The American side is mostly just a dump in the shadows of the more developed socialist country.

I stand corrected.

The last time I was there was in 1991, so I suppose some things might have changed a bit.

 

[BrunoMars420]

Chula Vista is nice if you get one of the three bedrooms condo's.

Yah we planned on getting that one, it’s like 1500 square feet. Split between 3 families we are only spending $512 for 3 nights.

 

[torbee]

Wisconsin Dells are a tourist trap area for the most part. Young families take kids there. I know I did.

Northern Wisconsin is forest mostly and lakes and more of a get away from it all vacation area that is also very popular. I love this part of Wisconsin the most. Near Hayward or Cable. The Apostle Islands on the North Shore along Lake Superior are a national park and very cool. Some of those towns along the coast there are like New England fishing villages. Its hard to believe you are in the Midwest. I really love the North woods there.

I tell everyone I know in the Midwest that if they ever dream of going to New England and can't afford it or don't want to take as much time, going to Door County is a pretty reasonably facsimile:

 

[JRHawk2003]

I tell everyone I know in the Midwest that if they ever dream of going to New England and can't afford it or don't want to take as much time, going to Door County is a pretty reasonably facsimile:

Door County is very cool....and VERY EXPENSIVE....we stayed at a place the inlaws had for a while one Summer. Got to bike around Washington Island. Very cool. But man that is one expensive place.

Try Ashland instead. The Apostle Islands are nearby and you are close to the North Woods and smaller lakes as well.

 

[beanerhawk]

I would strongly suggest a side trip to Mirror Lake or Devils Lake - both are very close by and really showcase the natural beauty that led to that part of Wisconsin becoming a magnet for tourism:

Ishnala on Mirror lake is one of my favorite restaurants ever. I love that place.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Play some golf at Wild Rock.

Trappers Turn.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

There must be a block on that magnetic field from the south. never hear of
anyone going there.

Drove through the Wisconsin Dells soon after I was married (no pics), going somewhere else. Swore I would never go to the Dells.

When I had kids, went there 3 or 4 times.