Wild Bear Falls Water Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Wild Bear Falls Water Park is an indoor facility that can be a good option for families with toddlers and young children (under 12), offering a lazy river, a large indoor pool, and some slides. It also features an outdoor hot tub and pool. However, it frequently suffers from cold water/air temperatures in winter and operational issues with slides and hot tubs, limiting its value for older children and overall enjoyment.
Key Highlights
- ✓Provides a safe environment for toddlers where parents feel comfortable not having them 'right next to me' (Review 1).
- ✓Toddlers particularly enjoy the lazy river, even if they're too small for tubes (Review 1).
- ✓Discounted tickets are offered when major attractions like the lazy river are closed (Review 2).
- ✓Features a large indoor pool/basketball area and an outdoor hot tub and pool (Review 4).
Standout Features
- ⭐The lazy river (when operational) is a hit with younger children and toddlers (Review 1, 4).
- ⭐A large indoor pool with a basketball area provides space for play (Review 4).
- ⭐Availability of an outdoor hot tub and pool is a nice addition (Review 4).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Bring life jackets for toddlers to use in the lazy river if they are too small for the tubes (Review 1).
- →**Crucial:** Call ahead to confirm the operational status of all slides, the lazy river, and hot tubs, especially if these are key attractions for your family (Review 2, 5).
- →Consider visiting exclusively in warmer months (summer) if your family is sensitive to cold water or indoor air temperatures (Review 3).
- →Have your children wear water shoes to protect their feet from the rocky flooring in the indoor pool/basketball area (Review 4).
- →If key attractions are closed upon arrival, inquire about discounted ticket prices, as they have been offered previously (Review 2).
Things to Consider
- ⚠Not engaging or fun for kids aged 12 years and older (Review 2).
- ⚠Frequent reports of the lazy river being closed (Review 2).
- ⚠The water in the pools is often too cold, and the indoor building temperature isn't warm enough, especially in colder months, making facilities uncomfortable or unusable (Review 3).
- ⚠Only two moderately thrilling water slides, and frequently only one is operational (Review 4).
- ⚠Stairs leading up to the waterslides are reported as 'extremely uncomfortable' (Review 4).
- ⚠Flooring in the indoor pool/basketball area is 'very rocky' and can cause blisters or cuts on children's feet (Review 4).
- ⚠Both slides and both hot tubs have been reported as broken/non-operational on various visits (Review 5).
- ⚠The facility is perceived as needing updates and repairs (Review 4).
Price & Value
Value for money is a significant concern. Entry can cost over $100 (Review 3), which many reviewers found disappointing when facilities were too cold or broken (Review 3, 5). While discounted tickets are offered for closed attractions (Review 2), the overall sentiment suggests that the full price often does not align with the experience due to operational issues and comfort concerns.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •One reviewer noted their special needs son loves water, but the consistently cold water temperature severely limited his enjoyment to just the hot tub, despite the facility being an indoor water park (Review 3). No specific accessibility accommodations were detailed beyond this context.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information regarding outside food, concessions, or food policies was mentioned in the provided reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •The water park is located at The Westgate Gatlinburg Resort (Review 4). No specific details about parking availability, cost, or convenience were mentioned in the reviews, suggesting it's likely integrated with resort parking.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Was not crowded during a visit in August (Review 4).
- •Reviewer speculated it might be more crowded during the winter season (Review 4).
🛡️Safety Features
- •Parents reported feeling safe enough for toddlers to roam without constant direct supervision (Review 1).
- •Life jackets are a viable option for toddlers on the lazy river (Review 1).
- •Lifeguards are present on duty (Review 3).
⏰When to Avoid
- • If your children are 12 years or older, as they will likely be bored and disappointed (Review 2).
- • During cold months (winter) if you or your children are sensitive to very cold water and indoor temperatures (Review 3).
- • If your primary interest is thrilling water slides or a large variety of operational attractions (Review 4, 5).
- • If you or your children are prone to foot injuries and you don't have water shoes, due to rocky flooring (Review 4).
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
🍎Food Policy
- • Wild Bear Falls Private Cabanas are equipped with Snacks and Water Bottles.
📅Booking Policy
- • Admission to Wild Bear Falls Water Park is not included with the reservation or room rate for most guests. A separate ticket must be purchased for entry at the resort.
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Lara Childres
3 weeks agoIt was such a great place to take my toddlers where I didn't have to really worry about them not being right next to me. They loved the lazy river also. They were still too small for the tubes, so I just put their life jackets on, and they floated on. They didn't want to leave!
ray oliver
a month agoDisappointed in the water park. If my kids were younger it would have been perfect but if you have 12yr + kids it's not really fun. They do have a large pool a water slide and a lazy river however the lazy river was closed. The only reason I didn't fuss about the price is because of the lazy river being closed they were offering discounted tickets
Miranda Harrell
5 months agoMy special needs son loves the water so indoor water parks are great in the winter. We’ve been here several times in the cold months and it’s always too cold. The water is very cold and the temperature inside the building isn’t warm enough. The lifeguards on duty are wearing pants, jackets, hoodies, and beanies if that tells you anything. My son would barely go to to enjoy anything but the hot tub because the pools are just too cold. We spent over $100 to get in here so it’s very disappointing and frustrating. I don’t think we will come back here unless it’s in the summer.
Niki
7 months agoA small but decent indoor waterpark at The Westgate Gatlinburg Resort. There are only two moderately thrilled water slides but only one was opened on the day we went. The stairs to go up the watersides were extremely uncomfortable. They have a lazy river and an outdoor hot tub and pool which was nice. The indoor pool/basketball area is a good size but the flooring is very rocky and all my kids had blisters or cuts from walking on it. Overall, it wasn’t crowded when we went in August (might be more crowded during the winter season) but they need some updates and repairs.
Derrek Palmisano
4 months agoOne of the worst water parks i have ever been to. Both slides were broken and both hot tubs. Not worth the money my kids and family thought it was a joke to be honest I don't recommend at all...