Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels/resorts in the wisconsin dells area.
We have 2 children under age 4-so ideally we want the kids to have their own bedroom for naps, etc.

We've had several pleasant trips to The Wilderness. You may want to check the Kalahari since they had more close-off room options last I looked.

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thanks!

I have the best Wis. Dells story ever . . . but it does not pertain to your request.

Well....let's hear it Clam...I'm waiting!

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Originally posted by Clamato:
I have the best Wis. Dells story ever . . . but it does not pertain to your request.

let me guess... it was the day after prom...

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Originally posted by NEBF:
We've had several pleasant trips to The Wilderness. You may want to check the Kalahari since they had more close-off room options last I looked.

Kalahari is humongous!

In hindsight, maybe it isn't the funniest story ever. Long story short, I would rather have my fingernails removed with pliers than go to places like Wis. Dells. Don't hold it against me. It's not snobbery or anything . . . simply intolerance for all things awful.

We arrived around 2:00 P.M. to Wilderness whatever "resort", spent a good part of the remainder of the day watching the kids in the water area (who knew . . . in Wisconsin, I am considered fit and thin!) followed by some of the most miserable dining at a place I believe was called the Moose Jaw or something similar. We awoke to cold, rainy weather and drove around the town. In 48 years I had somehow missed going to that place . . . hated every inch of it. Went to an artificially kitschy diner with requisite garage sale finds hanging from the ceiling (and guess what . . . they were even capable of screwing up breakfast. An impossibility in the restaurant business). Anyway, looking outside I knew I would be stuck watching the general public lazily float down the slow moving indoor river and it struck me that I couldn't do it. A light bulb went off in my head and I realized that the kids were both saving for something and, businessman that I am, I came up with a proposal that allowed me to hit the road less than 24 hours after arrival.

For $200 I became the complete opposite of Dad of the Year to my friends. But the kids were happy . . . and so was Parker.

Hate me if you must, but I will always have the comfort in knowing that I will never have to go there again.

Kindred spirits, Clam. I swore off the Dells in the 70's. One afternoon of Tommy Bartlett, followed by Native American dance displays with gum chewing teenage Natives. ARRGHH.

I followed that 5 years later with a nice little time at Interlaken Resort. Why I did not go to the Pfister, I don't know. Worst food and cheesiest service of my life, followed by a day of unsuccessful water ski lessons. Never more in pain in my life, and that was 50 pounds ago. One night, I splurged and went to the Abbey for dinner. In that short drive back to Interlaken, I was pulled over by a cop for my defective headlight. When asked to recite the alphabet, I stalled at 'O'. I looked at the cop and said, "this is pretty stupid isn't it?" He said to fix the headlight and "go back to Chicago, FIB."

Of course, this is the Dad of the Year.

Anyway, with 4 year-olds . . . they will more than likely have loads of fun. It's when the kids get old enough and smart enough to realize where they are that it isn't fun. Isn't fun for anyone.

What a couple of Debbie Downers!!!

Who goes to the Dells expecting fine dining and high culture? It is for the Ducks and speed boat rides on the river, mini-golf, go-carts, roller coasters and, of course, water parks. We even let the kids go through the "Ripley's" (rip-off) there. One child had an excellent caricature done in the Wilderness lobby area. The kids knew what it was: a vacation destination designed to part Mom and Dad from their money. It is Wisconsin at its super-cheesiest.

We were even asked for permission at Wilderness to be photographed for future resort promotional materials - very all-American family on their all-American vacation weekend! The people-watching is also highly entertaining. It is very important to hit the sweet spot with respect to the kids' ages, though.

I'll tell ya, as the fittest man at Wilderness that night . . . they tried to get me in their ads too. I declined.

I understand P.J. McFunsterism, I really do. My kids are so-so with it. We just waited too long to take them there. One kid was 13, the other 10. Already way too jaded. They were more than happy to head back to G.E. with cash in their pockets.

These kids are four. They will enjoy it. That said, based strictly on accommodations, that Wilderness place was miserable. Go to the other one. And stay away from that Moose Jaw place and that diner we went to. While I have long been known to have little tolerance for commissary food, I am not as bad as that awful GEMom2 would have you believe. Is it wrong to just want some competently prepared meals while you are in Wisconsin? No . . . it isn't. So there.

We actually stayed at the Wilderness affiliated condos - brand new at the time - across the lake. The property was a lot quieter and shiny new. A restful water taxi ride brought you to the main resort property.

Did they tell you that you'd be paid for your photo shoot in drinks? That might have changed your entire experience.

We also stayed at Treasure Island once, since there is an amusement park connected to the property. Seriously, the multiple go-cart tracks provided quite a bit of family fun. This was, of course, before any of the youngsters had a real driver's license.

Speaking of driving, I have to get go and get some kids somewhere!!

My parents never took me to the Dells when I was a kid and I've held that grudge for 4x years (thanks Scotty). So you should take your kids once just so they don't harbor deep seated resentments well into adulthood.

We used Great Wolf Lodge as a meet up point when returning one child back "Up North". Yes the Dells are Kitschy and yes the food was sub-par at GWL, but the kids had fun. They have a ride called the Howlin' Tornado that scared the living daylights out of me (see pic at end of post). That ride alone could bring me back. On a side note, I suffered an unfortunate wave pool injury and the staff was extremely helpful in tending to my injury.

RMK at least you weren't a FIBWB, they usually don't give them a break. To be honest I don't like FIBWB's either and I are one.

I wouldn't be caught dead at the Dells. That it why my kids had to suffer with going to Vail every Christmas vacation.

That ride looks like a donut with human sprinkles. No wonder you liked it.

The one and only time I've been to the Dells was back when Proud Hubby and I were courting, and we stayed at a timeshare condo that we got free through our place of business. Since we were courting, ahem, we did not leave the condo except to play one semi-drunken round of golf with another couple.

I was able to coerce my brother into taking my sons to the Dells when they were at the requisite age. He has never forgiven me.

Gosh I do love donuts. Pity I can't remember the last time I had one. I wonder if they make donuts in low fat/high fiber...

If your kids are younger than Clam's you will have a good time. It has been several years since our trips but one thing that can make the big difference when attending the indoor water park areas is if that area is for resort guests only. When the Kalahari first opened they allowed day visits. Families poured in when it opened taking the tables, chairs and hogging the tubes. They staked out their territory and didn't budge. Great Wolf and the Wilderness were stickly for resort guests and a much better athmosphere.

I suffered through a few Dells "vacations". It was For The Children, you see.