Great Wolf Lodge versus the old TT

Hey all,

Whelp, this Thrus/Fri was Fall Break in these parts. It turned very cold in Indiana about 2 weeks ago, so we knew camping wasnt' going to happen, or at least felt like it might not.

We did a night at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, OH. It was fun, but the place made me want drugs and lots of them. SO many kids and you could not escape them.

Rooms there are 250 bucks a night, during the week. Up from there on weekends and busy times. My VERY basic Nomad 173 is costing me 300 a month for finance and storage. So every night till the 12th night in it a year is 300 bucks in my mind.

I keep running over in my head where the value was. GWL made me stressed with all the noise, but the kids had a blast. I hated waiting wet in line for a silly slide, but we showed up, checked in and didn't have to all the MILLION things we do when using the TT

I guess what sucks is that the TT is just a "sometimes toy" for a family like mine. ( 2 boys, 9 and 7, plus wife)

With no TV at all in our TT, it's like at night there's fire. And while fire is great, after 2 summers of staring at one, meh I dunno.

A TT is an adventure facilitator, I know that. But, I don't know to hunt nor do I even know where you hunt. I know how to fish, but I mean I am not going to eat the fish so it's basiclly 15 minutes of staring at a pond per fish.

GWL was alot of the same stuff, lots of prep followed by short "fun". Still had to feed the kids, still had deal with them.

I often wonder, should I abandon it all just buy lots of video games and have a big Cable package? I mean is leaving the house really worth it with kids? We have them in sports and that eats up time. But, it's all just leading me back to work at my boring job on Monday.

I really like playing Grand Theaft Auto 5. Maybe more than camping and GWL combined. It's kinda like I should appease the kiddos so that I can back to GTA 5.

My wife really likes to watch HOURS and HOURS of TV on our DVR. She does it every night. That and play games on her phone and check facebook.

Maybe I should abandon the money sucker of the TT and just go back to blowing 300 bucks at a time at random.

I mean what more really is there to using the TT? I mean lets say you take off for the weekend to a state park. There's setup time, cook time, and fire/bed time. There's hiking and horseback riding and stuff like that, but mostly that comes at a fee and I could do that and still sleep in my bed every night.

So what's the value in doing the TT? Is it so I can spend money farther away from home?

:(

anaro
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
it's about the family time. Getting everyone away from the computer and TV or games and making them interact with each other. We do have a TV in the TT for late at night or rainy days. We go for rv resorts more than state parks so there is more to do like swimming, playgrounds (my dd is 6), activities directors creating kids activities or arts/crafts, we go for bike rides and sometimes we just sit back and relax. To me, it saved my marriage. We were on a no communicating path and it drove a wedge between us. Camping got us back to spending that time together and remembering why we married each other.

Now camping isn't for everybody. Just because we love sitting by the campfire doesn't mean everyone does. Also getting into a camping group or club can make it. more fun and if there are kids the same age as yours even better. If you are in camping just for the $ value then you are barking up the wrong tree as camping is not a cheap hobby. We did save a lot of money camping at disney over staying in a disney resort. We camp on average 20-30 nights per year so I feel like we get our use out of it. It is like taking lots of mini vacations to us but we sacrifice taking big expensive trips to places like the Caribbean to make it happen. In the end it is about what kind of vacation do you and your family really want. Staying home playing video games may be fun but doing that all the time is not good for you or the kids. Take them places let them experience things and see different places. if you continue camping that will give them an education and memory like no other.
Lantley
Nomad
Oct 28, 2013
Sounds like you need to change your camping destinations. If you are basing your camping on dollars than you are setting yourself up for disappointment camping is not inexpensive.
Try mixing up your destinations. We do it all,state parks,private,Deluxe private resorts places,amusement parks,lakes, beaches.
Pick a CG near an attraction you would like to go to. If all you do is state parks,things can get stale. However rent a canoe,try a zip line,keep the activities interesting. There are lots of interesting places and things to do.
Video games and TV is OK for rainy days, but for the most part we pick an adventure every trip. Biking and hiking are a given but they are not the highlight of our trip.
A guess the value of an RV is its allows for great family adventures and discoveries away from home. The idea is to escape the rat race and break the day to day routine.
If you camping has become routine, you are not selecting the right destinations and activities. You're over analyzing things,put that calculator away. Pick a new destination and go have fun.
pugslyyy
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
Sounds like you are trying to convince yourself to hotel it instead of camp - if that's what makes you happy then do it.

When we go out on the road it is for 30+ days at a stretch. We love the convenience of not having to drag our junk into a hotel room each night (and out to the car again the next day). We also we find we eat healthier when we cook our own meals (and it saves serious $$ over restaurants.

It's your life, your vacation - do what you enjoy and don't let anyone try and convince you that their fun is better than yours.
pk1023
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
Yeah, I'm feeling a little better about the whole thing. I just need to hear that someone else has been to a place indoor water park place like Great Wolf and can agree they suck! :)

I perfer my camper, I actually love all the work that goes with it. My parents put a pool in their wonderfull out in the woods back yard 20 years ago and I asked my dad if bothers him and he said he loves the upkeep.

GWL felt like we were lemmings, we saw so many people we knew there, but we weren't "with" them.

Plus my younger son has Definant Obessive Disorder. So it makes everything feel like the wrong decision. We love him just the way he is, but he hates everything and us. But, it's the way he loves us. Everyone is against him, he loves to make others suffer. It's hard, but we love him just that much more.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Oct 28, 2013
I agree on GWL! Even worse if you figure half the kids prolly piss in the pool!
Sounds like you may not just be that into camping. That's cool but GWL is not the answer haha.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2013
I really like playing Grand Theaft Auto 5. Maybe more than camping and GWL combined. It's kinda like I should appease the kiddos so that I can back to GTA 5.

My wife really likes to watch HOURS and HOURS of TV on our DVR. She does it every night. That and play games on her phone and check facebook.

Regardless of having a TT or not, theres much more to life than this. Children's main role models are their parents. Instead of trying to appease them, try inspiring them. Maybe you'll have more fun on vacation. Good luck.
wbwood
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
Yeah pick some places to go that will give the kids more to do. Try a KOA or jelly stone every now and then. Go to places like ocean lakes in myrtle beach. During the summer, you may pay $65-70/night, but you have the pool, ocean, and loads of activities for the kids. What you paid for one night at GWL, you can get half a week or more out of. I think I paid right around $1000 for 2 weeks there. Took our golf cart and had a blast.

I think it's what you make of it. If you keep doing the same thing and get bored of it, then that's the problem. Got to change it up. Your kids are at a great age to be doing this. Having an rv or camper is not a money saving venture. By the time you start adding the associated costs divided by the amount of time you use it, it's hardly ever cheaper, unless you have zero payments.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
The best thing you can do for your kids in this regard is to ban all electronics and spend time in the woods with them. People comfortable with the outdoors and handy with doing things for themselves are better more rounded people.

This goes for you and the spouse also. Spend time with the kids outdoors and teach them to find their own entertainment. It teaches them to be creative and to think for themselves.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
2012Coleman wrote:
...Instead of trying to appease them, try inspiring them.....

Wow, I love that line. I betcha I use it in the future.

Our job as parents is to prepare our children for adulthood. This involves education, social interaction, ability to think for oneself as well as many others. Our job is NOT to entertain them.

Children that learn to entertain themselves and also solve their own problems make quality citizens as adults rather than parasites on society.

I feel it is great for children to take them into the woods, establish a relatively safe environment, and then let them run. RVing is a great way of doing that.
wbwood
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
beemerphile1 wrote:
The best thing you can do for your kids in this regard is to ban all electronics and spend time in the woods with them. People comfortable with the outdoors and handy with doing things for themselves are better more rounded people.

This goes for you and the spouse also. Spend time with the kids outdoors and teach them to find their own entertainment. It teaches them to be creative and to think for themselves.

I believe he said that. He said they have no tv in the camper and that the fun time has turned to a fire which is getting old for them.