Planning a multi-generational Disneyland trip? Here’s our honest review of Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim, the perfect family-friendly hotel with an indoor water park, arcade, and easy transportation to Disneyland.
If you’ve followed our journey at JetsetPetersons for any amount of time, you know one thing about us: we are big believers in gifting experiences over things. As full-time travelers in our 50s with four daughters and a growing crew of grandkids, we’ve found that the memories we create together last so much longer than anything that ends up in a toy bin.
So for Christmas this year, instead of presents under the tree, we gifted our entire family, all 19 of us, a multi-generational family trip to Disneyland.
To make the experience even more special, we paired it with a stay at Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim, and it turned out to be the perfect family-friendly hotel near Disneyland.
Why We Gift Experiences Instead of Presents
Over the last few years, Shayne and I have learned that the greatest luxury in this season of life isn’t stuff, it’s time together. With daughters, sons-in-law, and grandkids spread across busy lives, shared travel experiences have become our favorite way to stay deeply connected as a family.
Instead of buying more toys or things that get outgrown quickly, we invest in trips where everyone can laugh, play, and make memories side by side. This Disneyland family trip was exactly that: loud, joyful, a little chaotic, and absolutely unforgettable.
The Perfect Multi-Generational Hotel Near Disneyland
Traveling with 19 people, including babies, toddlers, kids, parents, and grandparents, means one thing: where you stay matters just as much as the destination.
From the moment we walked into Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim, it felt like part resort, part theme park, and completely designed for families. The energy was fun without feeling overwhelming, and there was always something happening for the kids.
The rooms were comfortable, clean, and surprisingly spacious, which mattered a lot since our daughters have so many kids! Everyone had enough room to spread out, rest, and recharge after long Disneyland days.
For large family travel, especially multi-gen trips, that kind of comfort and space makes a huge difference.
The Indoor Water Park: Our Family’s Favorite Part
One of the biggest highlights of staying at Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim was the indoor water park, and honestly, we didn’t expect to love it as much as we did.
We ended up spending entire days there, and every age group in our family found something to enjoy. The little grandkids were obsessed with the splash areas and shallow play zones, while the older kids couldn’t get enough of the bigger slides.
Shayne and I loved floating along the lazy river, just watching cousins laugh, race down slides, and soak up every minute together. Those are the kinds of moments you can’t buy, and exactly why we love multi-generational family travel so much.
Because the water park is indoors and temperature controlled, it was the perfect activity no matter how tired everyone felt. One day we even skipped the parks and declared it a full “water park day,” and not a single kid complained.
It quickly became one of the most talked-about parts of our entire Disneyland trip.
So Much for Kids to Do Beyond Disneyland
One thing we loved about staying at Great Wolf Lodge was that the fun didn’t stop when we left Disneyland for the day. In fact, the kids were just as excited to hang out at the hotel.
They especially loved:
- The Build-A-Bear workshop, where they made their own special souvenirs
- The arcade, which quickly became a nightly tradition
- The interactive treasure hunt activity (Magical Quest), which had them running all over the lodge solving clues
- The nightly shows and kid-friendly activities happening throughout the resort
- The candy store
- The Bowling alley
Watching our grandkids run through the lodge with their wands, completely immersed in the experience, was one of those “this is why we do this” parenting and grandparenting moments.
Celebrating Montie’s 2nd Birthday at Great Wolf Lodge
One of the sweetest memories from our stay was celebrating our granddaughter Montie’s 2nd birthday right at the lodge.
We had dinner at their pizza restaurant one evening, and it turned into such a fun, easy celebration for our entire group of 19. No complicated reservations, no splitting into different restaurants, just all of us together singing happy birthday and sharing pizza.
Those simple travel moments often end up meaning the most.
Easy Transportation to Disneyland (Huge Win for Large Families)
If you’ve ever planned a Disneyland trip with a large family, you know logistics can be the hardest part.
One of the biggest perks of staying at Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim was being able to pick up the bus to Disneyland right outside the hotel. It saved us a ton in parking costs and completely eliminated the hassle of coordinating multiple cars, strollers, and tired kids at the end of long park days.
We found the ART shuttle to be an affordable and convenient transportation option for getting to and from Disneyland, especially when traveling with our huge crew. Instead of navigating busy parking structures, we could simply hop on the bus together and head straight to the parks.
For a multi-generational Disneyland family trip, that convenience alone made a huge difference in how smooth and enjoyable the entire experience felt. Learn more about it HERE on our blog post.
Is Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim Worth It for a Multi-Generational Family Trip?
In our opinion, absolutely yes.
Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim isn’t just a place to sleep between Disneyland days. It becomes part of the vacation experience itself. The indoor water park, kid-friendly activities, spacious rooms, and easy transportation make it one of the best family-friendly hotels near Disneyland, especially for large families traveling together.
It gave our grandkids a second layer of magic beyond the parks. It gave our daughters and sons-in-law a place where the kids could play freely. And it gave Shayne and me the joy of watching our entire family together under one roof, laughing, celebrating, and making memories that matter so much more than any physical gift ever could.
FAQs About Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim for Families
Is Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim good for a multi-generational family trip?
Yes, it’s an excellent option for multi-generational travel. There are activities for toddlers, teens, parents, and grandparents, making it easy for every age group to have fun together.
Is Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim close to Disneyland?
Yes, it’s just a short drive from Disneyland, and we were able to catch the bus to Disneyland right outside the hotel, which made transportation incredibly easy for our large family group.
Does Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim have an indoor water park?
Yes, the indoor water park is one of the biggest highlights and is included with your stay. It’s perfect for full days of fun without ever leaving the hotel.
Is Great Wolf Lodge worth it for a Disneyland family trip?
If you’re traveling with kids or planning a large family vacation, it’s absolutely worth it. It adds an extra layer of fun and makes your Disneyland trip feel like a full family resort experience.
Why We’ll Always Choose Experiences Over Things
As grandparents who now measure life in moments instead of milestones, trips like this remind us why we choose experiences over presents every single time.
Gifting this multi-generational Disneyland trip gave us more than just a vacation. It gave us laughter, connection, and memories our grandkids will talk about for years. And pairing it with a stay at Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim made the experience even more magical.
If you’re planning a family trip to Disneyland with grandparents, parents, and young kids, this combination truly is hard to beat.
Hosted Stay Disclosure: Our stay at Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim was hosted. As always, all opinions are entirely our own, based on our genuine experience traveling as a family of 19.
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