What age is best?

We went in December with our baby (6 months old) and toddler (a little over 2). We had fun, but our baby was definitely too young for the place, so I ended up just holding her most of the time. My husband and our toddler had a pretty good time, there's the wave pool and a toddler area, where they played a lot. The main benefit of going with younger kids is that they are too little to ask for all the extras, like the arcade and the stuffed animals and the wand game (those things could really add up quickly!). If your kids really love playing in the pool, then I'd think it would be a fun outing for you.

Personally, I'd wait a little while longer if that's going to be the main focus of your trip. We visited when our kids were 7, 4, and 7-months (in Niagara Falls). The 7 month old didn't do anything except wear a cute bathingsuit :) The 7 year old (and adults) had a great time. The 4 year old had fun, but was disappointed he wasn't big enough to ride some slides. Other than the waterpark, the place is very kid friendly, which is great for 18 month olds. We also went on a weekday in September which was great - low crowds and we pretty much had the place to ourselves (good if you have little ones). If it's a hotel choice at a destination you're already planning, then go for it. If it's the main focus of the trip, I'd wait until they're 5 or so to really be able to get to use everything there. Hope this helps!

I agree with waiting. We went to GW lodge in Va when the twins were 5 and my little one 2. I spent the entire time trying to keep the 2 year old entertained and worried about my older two with their Dad. At GW all she did was wade in the zero entry pool. It seems like a lot of money to just swim. We took her to another indoor water park at 4 and she was still timid. I think this might be her first year for water park fun and she is now 5.

We've been to over a dozen indoor waterparks and GWL are excellent for ages 3-11. WE've taken grandparents along and they slide some but interact on the less daring stuff with the kids (and help with holding babies or nap time diversions so parents can have some alone time, too. We eat once a day at the lodge and the rest of the time we prepare things in our room using the microwave and mini-frig in each room. GWLodges are definitely the safest and most courteous of all the waterparks as they're geared towards young families who may have some extra concerns.