Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket: The Ultimate Fall Family Getaway
Give me pumpkins, Halloween fun and an indoor water park and I’m packing my bags.
If you’re looking for a Halloween getaway with kids that gives you all the costumes, candy and spooky-season fun WITHOUT anyone jumping out from behind a corner to terrify them, Great Wolf Lodge is such a fun option.
We recently visited Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket in Connecticut, and fall might just be one of my favorite times to visit.
During October, Great Wolf Lodge celebrates Howl-O-Ween, a month-long Halloween celebration that adds costumes, Halloween activities, games and plenty of spooky-but-not-scary fun to everything families already love about Great Wolf Lodge.
And the Mashantucket location is especially fun because it’s one of the newest Great Wolf Lodge resorts.
You can spend the day flying down waterslides inside the massive indoor water park, change into Halloween costumes for Howl-O-Ween activities, play MagiQuest, hit the arcade and end the night at a dance party.
Basically, the kids aren’t going to be bored.
If you’re planning a fall family getaway to Connecticut, here’s everything you need to know about celebrating Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket.
Where Is Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket?
Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket is located at 201 Rainmaker Drive in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
It’s right in southeastern Connecticut, making it a really easy road-trip destination for families traveling from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
One of my favorite things about Great Wolf Lodge is that once we arrive, we don’t really need to go anywhere.
The water park, restaurants, activities, arcade and entertainment are all right there.
Park the car, check in and let the kids loose.
That’s my kind of weekend getaway.
What Is Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge?
Howl-O-Ween is Great Wolf Lodge’s annual Halloween celebration held throughout October.
And don’t worry – this isn’t Halloween Horror Nights. The resort had stations set up in the main lobby for crafts, candy and other activities.
This location differed from the Pocono Mountains location who had actually trick-or-treating throughout the hotel.
Nobody is chasing your kids with a chainsaw.
Howl-O-Ween is designed for families and gives kids a chance to wear their costumes, play Halloween-themed games, make crafts and celebrate spooky season without actually being scared.
That’s one of the reasons I think this works so well as a Halloween getaway.
Younger kids get all the excitement of Halloween while older kids still have the water park, arcade, MagiQuest and other attractions to keep them entertained.
Most of the scheduled Howl-O-Ween activities are included with your stay, although the exact schedule can vary, so check the Great Wolf Lodge app when you arrive.
Pack the Halloween Costumes
Don’t make the mistake of leaving the costumes at home.
Costumes are welcome during Howl-O-Ween, and half the fun is seeing kids running around the lodge dressed up for Halloween.
Throughout October, the regular Great Wolf Lodge activity schedule gets a spooky-season makeover.
Depending on the schedule during your stay, Howl-O-Ween activities may include Halloween crafts, Boo Bingo, Halloween trivia and Ghoulish Games.
Then there’s the Monster Bash Dance Party. The younger crowd will LOVE this. My girls are getting older and were less interested in dressing up and dancing but they did wear cute halloween tutus for the occasion.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from traveling with kids, it’s that apparently they can spend eight hours swimming and STILL find the energy for a dance party.
I don’t understand it either.
Monster Bash Dance Party
One of the signature Howl-O-Ween activities is the Monster Bash Dance Party.
Kids can wear their Halloween costumes, hit the dance floor and burn off whatever tiny bit of energy they somehow have left after spending the day at the water park.
It’s silly.
It’s loud.
And the kids love it.
This is exactly the type of thing that makes staying overnight more fun than simply visiting the water park for a few hours.
Once you’re done swimming, the vacation doesn’t stop.
Howl-O-Ween Crafts, Games & Activities
Throughout the month, Great Wolf Lodge mixes Halloween activities into its regular lineup of family entertainment.
Kids can make seasonal crafts, test their Halloween knowledge during trivia, play Boo Bingo and participate in Halloween-themed games.
I like that these activities give families something to do between trips to the water park.
You don’t have to schedule every second of your stay.
Swim for a while.
Dry off.
Do a Halloween activity.
Grab something to eat.
Head to the arcade.
Put the costumes on.
Go to the dance party.
That’s basically the perfect Great Wolf Lodge day.
The Indoor Water Park Is Still the Star
Obviously, we’re still coming to Great Wolf Lodge for the WATER PARK.
The Mashantucket location has a massive 91,000-square-foot indoor water park kept at 84 degrees year-round.
Which means even if it’s 45 degrees outside during your October getaway, you’re walking into swimsuit weather.
There are 13 waterslides along with a wave pool, lazy river and water play areas designed for different ages and thrill levels.
And there really is something for everyone.
Little kids have shallow play areas and splash zones while bigger kids and adults can head straight for the slides.
Don’t Miss Pequot Plunge
One attraction unique to the Mashantucket lodge is Pequot Plunge.
This family raft ride sends up to five riders speeding through a huge cone-shaped section, into a 360-degree loop and then through a giant bowl before the final splashdown.
Translation?
You’re probably going to hear your kids screaming the entire way down.
The Mashantucket water park also has attractions like River Canyon Run, Alberta Falls, Totem Towers, Otter Run, High Paw Holler and Rapid Racer.
For something a little calmer, float around Crooked Creek lazy river or head into the wave pool.
I love that you don’t need perfect fall weather for this trip.
Rain?
Who cares.
Cold?
Doesn’t matter.
You’re inside an 84-degree water park.
Oh yea, I highly recommend a cabana. It was a great home base inside the water park. We had all our stuff handy, a place to relax when we wanted out of the pools and off the slides and somewhere to eat lunch. I can’t recommend it enough.
Otter Cave Waterworks
Younger kids – or bigger kids who just really enjoy having enormous amounts of water dumped on their heads- will want to check out Otter Cave Waterworks.
This multi-level interactive water playground has water features, slides, spray jets and Great Wolf Lodge’s signature giant tipping bucket.
You know the one.
Everyone stands underneath it KNOWING exactly what’s about to happen and then screams anyway.
Every single time.
There’s Much More Than the Water Park
This is where the Mashantucket Great Wolf Lodge surprised me.
You could absolutely come here, spend your entire stay swimming and have a great trip.
But there’s SO much more to do.
The lodge also has a 60,000-square-foot Adventure Park filled with additional attractions.
You’ll find Howlers Peak Adventure Trail and Ropes Course, The Virtual Frontier VR experience, Northern Lights Arcade, mini golf, mini bowling, gem mining and more.
Many of these activities cost extra, so that’s something I’d factor into your budget before you arrive.
Because once the kids see them, they’re going to want to do them.
Consider yourself warned.
Play MagiQuest
If your kids have never played MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge before, prepare yourself.
They may become obsessed.
Kids use interactive magic wands to complete quests and adventures throughout the lodge.
And I actually love this because it gets them walking around and exploring instead of asking for another hour on an iPad.
MagiQuest is an additional-cost activity, but if your kids get into it, they’ll spend a surprising amount of time working through the quests.
Howlers Peak Adventure Trail & Ropes Course
Another big attraction at the Mashantucket location is Howlers Peak.
The Adventure Trail gives kids several stories of climbing and play, while the ropes course takes the adventure up even higher.
There’s even a zip line.
This is a great option if you have older kids who eventually need a break from the water park but aren’t ready to go sit quietly in the hotel room.
Which, let’s be honest, is probably most kids.
Northern Lights Arcade
Of course there’s an arcade.
Northern Lights Arcade is filled with games where kids can earn tickets and redeem them for prizes.
This is another activity that costs extra, so set expectations BEFORE you walk inside.
The Rooms at Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket
Another thing families love about Great Wolf Lodge is the room selection.
The Mashantucket lodge offers standard, themed and premium suites depending on your family size and how much space you need.
If you’re traveling with younger kids, the themed suites make the stay feel even more like part of the Great Wolf experience.
Some feature kid-friendly sleeping areas designed like little cabins with bunk beds.
Larger families have options too, including suites that can sleep significantly more guests.
Since water park admission is included with an overnight stay, I always consider the total value of the room rather than comparing the nightly price to a regular hotel.
You’re paying for accommodations AND your water park experience.
What’s Included With a Great Wolf Lodge Stay?
This is important because there are both included and additional-cost activities.
Your overnight stay includes access to the indoor water park throughout your visit along with many of Great Wolf Lodge’s scheduled family activities.
During Howl-O-Ween, many of the seasonal Halloween activities are included too.
Things like MagiQuest, the arcade, Build-A-Bear, mini bowling, VR and other Adventure Park attractions generally cost extra.
Great Wolf Lodge offers attraction passes that bundle some of those activities together, so if your kids want to do several of them, check the packages before paying individually.
Where to Eat at Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket
Another reason you really don’t need to leave the resort is the number of dining options.
For a sit-down meal, Timbers Table & Kitchen offers casual family dining.
Fireside focuses on fire-cooked food in an outdoors-inspired setting, while Hungry Wolf Food Hall is an easy option for pizza, pasta and salads.
You’ll also find Freshwoods Market for grab-and-go options.
Need caffeine after the kids stayed up way too late at Monster Bash?
There’s a Dunkin’.
Thank goodness.
And when everyone wants dessert, stop at Wood’s End Creamery for ice cream.
There are also food and drink options inside the water park, which means you don’t necessarily have to convince wet kids to get dressed every time someone gets hungry.
How Many Nights Do You Need?
For a first visit, I think two nights is the sweet spot.
One night can work, especially if you arrive early and stay late on departure day, but it can feel rushed when you’re trying to fit in the water park, Howl-O-Ween activities, MagiQuest, the arcade and everything else.
Two nights gives you time to actually enjoy the resort instead of turning the trip into a race.
If you’re traveling from farther away or want to explore more of southeastern Connecticut while you’re there, you could easily make it a longer fall weekend.
Is Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket Good for Tweens?
YES.
And this is something I think parents sometimes get wrong about Great Wolf Lodge.
It’s easy to look at the characters and themed activities and assume the resort is only for little kids.
It’s not.
Between the bigger waterslides, wave pool, ropes course, zip line, MagiQuest, VR and arcade, there is plenty for tweens and older kids to do.
The trick is letting them balance the cute scheduled activities with the more adventurous attractions.
Little kids might be thrilled with story time.
Your tween may be halfway across the lodge fighting something with a MagiQuest wand.
Or if they’re on the adventurous side like my girls, you won’t be able to get them off the zip line or ropes course.
Everybody can be happy.
Is Howl-O-Ween Scary?
No.
Howl-O-Ween is designed to be a fun, family-friendly Halloween celebration.
Think costumes, games, crafts and dancing rather than haunted houses, scare actors and gore.
That’s exactly why I’d recommend it for families with children who love Halloween but aren’t interested in being terrified.
You’re getting the Halloween atmosphere without turning bedtime into a three-hour negotiation afterward.
Can You Visit Great Wolf Lodge Without Staying Overnight?
Yes.
Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket offers water park day passes, so you don’t necessarily have to stay overnight to visit.
But for Howl-O-Ween, I’d personally make it a getaway.
Staying overnight gives you more time to enjoy the lodge activities and lets you experience the fun after everyone is done swimming for the day.
There’s something about putting on pajamas after a full water park day, wandering down for another activity and knowing your room is just an elevator ride away.
Especially as a parent.
Is Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket Worth Visiting for Howl-O-Ween?
For a fall family getaway?
Absolutely.
You’re combining two things kids already love – Great Wolf Lodge and Halloween – into one easy trip.
Spend the day racing down waterslides inside an 84-degree water park.
Put on Halloween costumes.
Play some games.
Make a craft.
Grab dinner.
Dance at Monster Bash.
Then wake up the next morning and do it all over again.
No worrying about October weather ruining your plans.
No complicated itinerary.
And no driving everyone from attraction to attraction all weekend.
Everything is right there.
That’s exactly the kind of family getaway I appreciate.
So if you’re looking for a Halloween trip that’s heavy on pumpkins, costumes and family fun and VERY light on actual scares, pack the swimsuits AND the Halloween costumes.
Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket might be exactly the fall getaway you’re looking for.
Dawn
