Big Splash Adventure
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Big Splash Adventure offers a 5-star fun experience in what reviewers often describe as a 3-star (dated) hotel. Its unique value proposition lies in being an affordable indoor water park, often the only one of its kind within a 3-hour radius, providing immense fun for kids despite facility shortcomings. The convenience of rooms located just steps from the water park and the ability to bring your own food and adult beverages adds significant value for families.
Key Highlights
- ✓Ample lifeguards actively working to keep everyone safe, creating a sense of security for parents.
- ✓Specific room locations are available just a few steps from the water park, allowing one parent to quickly return to the room while the other stays with the kids.
- ✓Includes a free, hot, fresh, and delicious breakfast buffet with a variety of options (biscuits & gravy, fried potatoes, sausage, eggs, fruit, yogurt, cereal, drinks).
- ✓Allows guests to bring their own cooler with food, non-alcoholic drinks, and even adult beverages, saving on dining costs.
- ✓Features 4 main water slides (2 body, 2 tube) with often nonexistent wait times, allowing kids to ride continuously.
- ✓A long lazy river and a dedicated kids' water play area with small slides cater to various age groups.
- ✓Staff are described as welcoming, appreciative, and efficient (e.g., quickly clearing snow from parking lots).
- ✓Overall, kids (ages 8 and 9 particularly noted) had a great time and enjoyed themselves tremendously.
Standout Features
- ⭐Free, comprehensive breakfast buffet included with stay.
- ⭐Policy allowing guests to bring in outside food, drinks, and adult beverages in coolers.
- ⭐Water park features 4 main slides (2 body, 2 tube) with minimal wait times.
- ⭐Convenient room access, with some rooms located just steps from the water park entrance.
- ⭐Mini fridge, microwave, and small coffee pot provided in each room.
- ⭐Ample and attentive lifeguard presence contributes significantly to guest safety and peace of mind.
- ⭐Staff are described as welcoming, appreciative, and responsive (e.g., clearing snow quickly).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Manage your expectations: Go in expecting a fun water park experience for the kids and a budget-friendly hotel, not a luxury resort. The fun factor often outweighs the hotel's datedness.
- →Prepare for colder temperatures: Bring extra towels, cover-ups, or robes for children as the water and air in the water park can be cold, causing shivering.
- →Utilize the free breakfast: It's generally well-regarded and offers good variety.
- →Bring your own food and drinks: Take advantage of the policy allowing outside coolers to save money and ensure preferred options, especially if you have picky eaters or want adult beverages.
- →Inspect your room upon arrival: Check beds and towels for cleanliness or any issues, and request changes if necessary.
- →For families with young children, be prepared to monitor them in the adult-only hot tub, as lifeguard enforcement can be inconsistent.
- →Consider the room location: If proximity to the water park is a priority, inquire about rooms just steps away for added convenience.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Water and air temperatures in the water park are frequently described as too cold, leading to shivering children and discomfort.
- ⚠Rooms are consistently described as dated, with issues like unmade beds, itchy blankets, visible bed springs, damp/mildewy towels, cracks in ceilings, and even reports of hair/grass on sheets.
- ⚠The water park itself is showing its age, with mentions of rust and worn plastic in the children’s play area, suggesting a need for minor repairs.
- ⚠High chlorine levels in the water park can cause eyes to burn.
- ⚠The adult-only hot tub often has children in it, which can be a safety concern and detract from the adult experience.
- ⚠Food quality at on-site restaurants (like The Boatyard buffet, which cost $72 for a family of 4) received negative feedback for being bland, mild in temperature, and overpriced, with breakfast also receiving mixed reviews (some called it 'school cafeteria food').
- ⚠Limited seating (tables) in the water park area.
- ⚠One elevator was noted to have a broken button, and internal floors needed cleaning.
- ⚠Concerns about potential 'blind spots' for lifeguards, although overall lifeguard presence is praised.
Price & Value
The price is generally considered 'good for what you get' and 'not very expensive,' offering a '5-star fun experience' despite '3-star hotel' amenities. This suggests strong value for family entertainment. The free breakfast adds significant value. However, the on-site Boatyard buffet cost $72 for a family of 4 and was deemed a 'waste of money' due to poor quality, indicating potential hidden costs if not cautious about dining choices.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Elevators are available for access (though one had a broken button), implying multi-floor accessibility. No other specific accommodations for special needs were mentioned.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Outside food, non-alcoholic drinks, and adult beverages are permitted in coolers. This is a significant cost-saving benefit.
- •A free, hot breakfast buffet is included with the stay, offering a wide variety of options.
- •On-site dining includes 'The Boatyard' (buffet style, $72 for family of 4, described as bland and mild temp) and a concession stand (pizza looked unappealing to one reviewer).
- •Rooms are equipped with a mini fridge, microwave, and small coffee pot for convenience.
🚗Parking Info
- •On-site parking lot is available and was quickly cleared of snow, suggesting easy and free parking.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Wait times for slides can be 'nonexistent,' allowing for continuous play, suggesting it may not always be overly crowded.
- •High chlorine levels were mentioned as understandable 'with that many people,' implying that it can get busy at times.
- •Noise levels were generally not found to be as bad as some rumors suggest, with quiet time starting at 11 PM.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Ample lifeguards are present and actively working to keep everyone safe.
- •Life vests are available and recommended for all children.
- •Staff were noted for their attention to guest safety and comfort (e.g., clearing snow for safe access).
- •A concern was raised about potential 'blind spots' for lifeguards and the non-enforcement of the 'adults-only' rule for the hot tub.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you expect a modern, luxurious, or high-end resort experience; the accommodations are dated.
- • If your children are highly sensitive to cold water/air, as they may shiver and become uncomfortable quickly.
- • If you have high expectations for on-site dining beyond the free breakfast, as other food options received poor reviews for quality and price.
- • If you are particular about pristine room conditions (e.g., spotless sheets, new towels, modern decor).
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Water Park room package
Duration: overnight stay
Spend the night with us and get water park passes included with your Water Park room package.
Includes:
- •hotel stay
- •water park passes
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Free Wilstem LIGHT SHOW ticket with stay
Sept 26-Oct 25
FREE Wilstem LIGHT SHOW ticket
Stay Sept 26-Oct 25 and get FREE Wilstem LIGHT SHOW ticket!
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Safe environment for children (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 10 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Pricing can be high (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 6 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Audrey Smith
2 months agoHonestly, I don’t know what all the hate is for. We brought our kids, ages 8 and 9 for the weekend and we all had a great time. We felt safe there, as there were ample lifeguards who were doing a great job of keeping everyone safe, and while the place is a bit dated, it was clean. No, it isn’t 5 star accommodations, but it’s for the kids. The food at the boatyard was reasonable and good. We didn’t eat at the concession because the pizza didn’t look great, but that’s probably more personal preference than anything. Our only complaints are pretty minimal - the water is colder than I’d like, so then the air temp feels pretty cold. Lots of kids were shivering when they were out of the water. Chlorine levels are high enough to make your eyes burn a bit, but with that many people, it’s understandable. I also wish they had more tables to sit at, but they do a pretty good job with the space. Pretty minor, and outweighed by the fact that we felt safe, everything was clean, the kids enjoyed themselves, the staff made us feel welcome and appreciated, and when we woke up to snow on the ground they were already working to quickly clear the sidewalks, parking lot and drive. We loved our room location being a few steps from the water park so one of us could quickly run back to the room while the other stayed with the kids, and the price was good for what you get. We’ll gladly come back again.
Heaven Williams
a month agoOverall, our stay was okay. We took our 4 year old for a night. Check-in was easy, and the employee was nice. The room was ok, but the beds weren't made all the way. Itchy blankets. The beds need to be updated. You can feel the springs. Also the towels in our room were damp and smelled like mildew guessing from.not drying them completely. Rooms could really use updates, especially for the price. As for the water park, it was ok, but it was cold with those big fans going, and the water is warm in some places and cold in others. Our daughters lips were blue after an hour and shivering. The heat could definitely be turned up during this time of the year. Also noticed one of elevators had a broken button and the floors inside needed cleaned. Overall it is a cool place for kids just maybe not to stay.
Angela Williams
a month agoA wonderful place to take the kids during any season. The indoor waterpark is amazing with several slides to choose from as well as a lazy river, and a large hot tub for the adults, ( life guards need to do a better job keeping the children out of this area for safety) They do have life best available, and they should be worn by all children. They have outdoor pools available, weather permitting. The breakfast buffet, consisted of, biscuits and gravy, fried potatoes, sausage links, scrambled eggs, fruit, yogurt, cereal, orange juice, milk, coffee, and assorted soft drinks. The breakfast was hot, fresh and delicious, and free, so I’m not sure why anyone is upset over the breakfast. You were also permitted to bring your own cooler with food and drinks, as well as your own adult beverages. There is a small coffee pot in each room as well as a small mini fridge and microwave. The rooms are a bit dated and could use renovation The waterpark is starting to show its age, and it would not hurt for them to close down for a few days to make the minor repairs, as it is beginning to rust and some of the plastic is worn off the children’s play area. Overall, our family did have a wonderful time, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet, and the noise was not as bad as others are making it out to be. You knew when you came here that it was a family oriented place and quiet time does not start until 11 o’clock at night.
M Sumner
a month ago5 star fun experience in a 3 star hotel. I read other reviews, I feel they were a bit unfair for what you are paying for. Is this a 5 star hotel? No. Is this a 5 star waterpark? No. Is this a 5 star experience when there is nothing like it within 3 hours and it’s not very expensive and the kids have a blast? Yes. Go there to have fun and you will have a great time. So for the water park- there are 4 main slides, two body and two tube. They are all pretty fun and the best part is the wait (at least for us) was nonexistent. As fast as we could climb the 4-story staircase we were back on slides. This park also has a pretty long lazy River and a number of little kid pools and a kids water play area with small slides. The hot tub is adults only (which was one of the few downers- I think it should be kids with adults allowed because it’s great for warming up between sliding). Otherwise the room was definitely dated, but cleaned well- nothing felt dirty, just a bit dated. Breakfast was decent too (especially for being included). I think as long as you go in with the right expectations (kids have fun!) you will have a good time.
Annemarie Taylor
a month agoHonestly… super disappointed. Food was the worst part. Breakfast was literally school cafeteria food, my six year old daughter said “we have this at school” and then we decided that evening to try “the boatyard” and then was told it was buffet style instead of the actual menu that is posted… we were like fine- we will just try it. For a family of 4 … 4! It was $72…. And the food was completely bland and mild in temp. Our mistake for not asking how much buffet was but there’s our fault. We didn’t even eat hardly anything sooo that was a complete waste of money. I feel like there are not enough life guards at the splash park - as a former lifeguard there were to many “blind spots” for the guards to truly be watching the full scene. The adult only hot tub had kids in it all the time. The resort rooms were not 4 star worth at all. You can see cracks all in ceiling- hard and stiff bath towels and our sheets had hair and grass in them. This is not a 4 star resort. Honestly I’m grateful we didn’t drive hours to get here.