Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The room was awesome and it was clean! You would also think staff would acknowledge and offer you a ticket to return for the day considering the amount of money you pay! The area for toddlers seemed pretty small, especially compared to Kalahari. It's best if you get there upon opening to make the most of the day. The clerk advised us that she would reprogram our wristbands while we were walking to the new room. Tips for a successful waterpark vacation in Poconos. The buffet had nice views overlooking the mountain on one side, so ask for that section if it matters to you. What should you pack for an indoor water park vacation? I read all the negative reviews and cannot understand where the comments comes from. We look forward to having you as a return guest in the future. The center play structure had 3 slides, with the top one requiring 48 height, which seems high for a kiddie play structure. These activities are an additional fee to participate. Breakfast buffet was fine, pretty standard fare. It was our very first time to Kalahari (Camelback 5 times before) and we will be returning. Even with the resort being crowded, the lines to wait were not extreme. Hello Skeelove, Thank you for choosing to spend your day out with us at Camelbeach and for the review. Aquatopia opens at 10 most mornings, which I think is too late. The master has the bathroom within the bedroom but the other has the bathroom next to the entry with the sink opposite the bathroom by the entry (thought that was a weird set-up). No one was around to help with our luggage and that was annoying. Summer 2023 marks our 25th anniversary of Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark! Both resorts also offer an outdoor rope course. However, the room was extremely clean, it is new so that helps, and it's huge! Splash On! Im not sure what thats paying for. Our room was really nice, the facility was clean (even the public rest rooms), there were plenty of lifeguards, and the whole facility is non-smoking. The chlorine smell was less overpowering at Aquatopia and the noise level was lower and more bearable. We are happy to hear that you and your family were able to enjoy our waterpark during our twilight session! We are very proud to offer an adventure for everyone in your family from the youngest member of you family to the young at heart and everyone in between. The front desk clerk advised us that the room wasn't cleaned because we didn't request the staff to clean the room. Your email address will not be published. Totally worth it. Please see our partners for more details. The lazy river is shorter than Kalahari, but the theming made it really fun. She said 3ft. Camelback2016, Manager at Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, responded to this review, This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC, Waterparks Are Great When It's Freezing Out. As we exited the park on our way home, we noticed much construction underway. However, the stairs leading to the bigger slides/rides was grey, dark, and looked pretty run down for a place that has only been open a couple of years. Definitely dark and could use better lightening. Required fields are marked *. Indoors, theres a section with a small mini golf, lazer tag, lazer obstacle game, rock climbing wall, and mini bowling. We had a day pass when we stayed in camelback lodge, this park is huge with plenty to do for young to the very young. The lines at registration!!! Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. more. Camelback overall offers more activities as a whole, with fun options at an extra cost. Several informed us that they are discouraged from speaking with guests and that while they are offered discounted tickets they are not offered free admission family dates like other parks we have visited in the Caribbean. Treat you and your family to the VIP life with an Aquatopia cabana for 50% off for a limited time only! When we returned to the same bathroom at 11:30am there still were no supplies and the bartender told us that they had called 4 additional times and no one came to restock.Water park The kids had a wonderful time in the water park riding all of the rides multiple times. This is definitely the largest indoor water park in the country. Breakfast buffet was fine, pretty standard fare. Friday - Saturday | 10AM - 9PM. Followings are quick reviews: Waterpark: Kalahari is the largest but its set-up is chaotic and noise level is unbearable. > Great Wolf or Kalahari > Would the toddlers enjoy toddler-oriented activities? We had no idea that we would be dropped into 7ft of water. There is a dorm sized refrigerator and a small microwave. Registration: both places have long lines but Kalahari was terrible! The tree explorer course looked like better value. Seriously, one of the best suites for a family of 6! We decided to try Kalahari in the Poconos after years of going to the Sandusky, OH location. This is a beautiful hotel, if I pay for a nice room I don't want to see garbage all over the hallways. Natural light soaks through the translucent roof and signs posted around the waterpark advise guests sunscreen is highly recommended since the roof does not reduce the amount of UV. There areRegistration: both places have long lines but Kalahari was terrible! 2. The center play structure had 3 slides, with the top one requiring 48 height, which seems high for a kiddie play structure. You would also think staff would acknowledge and offer you a ticket to return for the day considering the amount of money you pay! An additional restaurant and new fitness center are anticipated to open in August. The park had been open only an hour, yet the toilet paper, hand soap and paper towel supply was completely depleted. We highly recommend bringing drinks and snacks.After a long day in chlorine, we all needed a shower. It was our very first time to Kalahari (Camelback 5 times before) and we will be returning. Camelback2016, Manager at Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, responded to this review, This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. For toddlers: Indoor kiddie section with a large variety of slides, a 1-foot-deep lazy river, and interactive water tables. Call ahead to make your reservation. At least at Kalahari, you get a free sugar cookie to decorate at 3:00 and some family games and a coloring contest. However, the room was extremely clean, it is new so that helps, and it's huge! The area for toddlers seemed pretty small, especially compared to Kalahari. While the bathroom was clean, the tub is a safety hazard. Theres also an indoor ropes course, arcade, and a plethora of activities through Camelback Mountain Adventures. You can exchange an old one for one new one only (using their towel card the last time we were there). Just came back from our Labor Day weekend visit to Kalahari and it was very good. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. The staff at the pool was NOT paying attention as not once but THREE times while I was in the swim up bar/hot tub were there children in the hot tub. Mountain Adventures has zip lines, a mountain coaster, and a tree top ropes course. Our room at kalahari was clean. I hope the staff gets their act together. Hello Skeelove, Thank you for choosing to spend your day out with us at Camelbeach and for the review. We waited.. they opened and about an hour later more poop was found, so again the entire area was closed. Prices for each activity range from $4 to about $10. Water park: my kids are the ones who rate this area. So your kid could wait 30 minutes to have a 10 second turn without any instruction, and there were definitely some guests who hogged the time. But if youre only focused on the waterpark activities, Kalahari gets the edge there. We had an African Queen Suite and were told it may not be ready until 5pm. We had to drag them to lunch at 2:00 and dinner at 6:30. The mountain coaster and slide are each $10 per person. To overcome this, we placed towels on the tub floor to avoid any mishaps. Bunk bed room at Camelback was larger and more comfortable, with two full-sized bunk beds rather than one small bunk at Kalahari. Rooms were fine, a bit dusty. more. Not a big deal but we found ourselves having to swipe our card several times for some games to begin and losing coins.Outdoor: CB has ski and tubing, outdoor rollercoaster, outdoor WP. We look forward to seeing you splash around the park again next summer. The theming continues throughout the lobby and public areas, giving guests a true sense of the African safari. Camelbeach outlets are only open to Camelbeach guests. The room I had in Carmelback was a dark, dirty dump! There are more food choices at Kalahari, but IME, overall food quality is better at Camelback. Way better than any of the places at CB.Checking out: it was a breeze! They give an email and you are done. Rooms are similar, nothing super luxurious about either place. Elevator waits were not bad: also, valet parking was perfect and our bellhop, David, could not have been nicer. In the fall, its beautiful on the mountain and the winter would offer fun skiing opportunities. Both Kalahari and Camelback charge a $20ish/day resort fee. Splash On! Heres a checklist of things to pack for a great day at the waterpark: Families and friends want to maximize their overall experience at the famous water parks in Poconos. We did not like the cabanas at Kalahari. I thought Camelback was bad but not in comparison,.and their front desk people were better trained than Kalahari ( I understand this resort is new and experiencing some growing pains). They need to train their staffthis place is huge you need to tell guests which elevators to use. 3 queen beds, 2 bathrooms, pull out sofa and fireplace. We prefer the option of receiving game coupons be done electronically like Dave and Busters but they only come out manually (if you win a lot of tickets on a game it takes forever to come out). We Be prepared to spend a lot. Dinner buffer for 2 adults/2 kids was about $85, breakfast was about $50 (not including tip). There are a number of rides and attractions that incorporate the overall theme of the resort, including a Flowrider, lazy river, Anaconda water coaster, Lost Lagoon basketball pool, five waterslides, Splashdown Safari, and a swim-up bar. The toddler area has four swings, as well as some water spray features. You can get package deals with a discount. Kalahari opens the waterpark at 9. Both were fun, but definitely expensive for what they are. The tree explorer course looked like better value. We It took 75 minutes between the first room and entering the 2nd room. The girl at check in acted like she would rather be anywhere than at work, even though we arrived well after the check in rush. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Only to find no one answered the phone. Camelback has two twin-sized beds on each bunk, and the bottom bunk has enough head room for even teenagers. After about 10 seconds of shock, I swam up to see my 8 year old standing on the side with a look of sheer terror on her face and tears in her eyes. If you get the giant cup you can share it and it ends up costing less.Arcade: KR wins again. Long line at check in, but moves very fast. Grab yourself a season pass so you don't miss out on these amazing celebrations. Creating memorable getaways is . We only did it because it was for our sons birthday. Overall Kalahari's waterpark is the highlight. Another big plus! Different packages are available, with the most expensive being about $30 for unlimited use of most of the indoor activities for the day. I read all the reviews before coming here and was apprehensive. Aquatopia opens at 10 most mornings, which I think is too late. Indoors, theres a section with a small mini golf, lazer tag, lazer obstacle game, rock climbing wall, and mini bowling. Copyright 2020 by Hotel & Leisure Advisors. It was definitely a nice option to have in nice weather. I apologize for the experience your daughter had as this certainly is not the Kalahari experience we want anyone to have. Camelback overall offers more activities as a whole, with fun options at an extra cost. Recommended experiences in and around Tannersville. Recommended experiences in and around Tannersville. Travel within United States is: . Newer than the other waterparks in the area. The food is nicely priced, properly portioned and the staff was outstanding.It is located conveniently in the main lobby and had sufficient choices for all appetites. Great Wolf Lodge takes their kid-centered theming to the next level, with kid cabin suites that feature bunk beds in separate areas of the room that look like little cabins or dens. It's not a huge park so you can get on everything a couple times without the hassle of a line! We are getting ready for an awesome summer filled with events, giveaways, live entertainment, and so much more to celebrate our anniversary. Plenty to do for 1 full day. You will get wet on these slides. We question how the staff could manage any more areas when the original park lacks so much supervision. Both were fun, but definitely expensive for what they are. Water park: my kids are the ones who rate this area. KR will have snow tubing soon and I believe ice skating. Different packages are available, with the most expensive being about $30 for unlimited use of most of the indoor activities for the day. If you want more of a vacation/getaway feel, go to Camelback.Kalahari has the superior, larger waterpark. With the pandemic a rearview concern in 2022, most waterparks continued their recovery to see attendance improve. The resort opened on July 1, 2015. Sunday - Thursday | 10AM to 8PM. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Of course, these activities can change with the season and current health restrictions. There are only really two restaurants, one buffet and the other a pub/steak-type restaurant. We would like to discuss your recent experience with you if you would kindly email us at PAConnect@KalahariResorts.com We certainly don't want this to be your lasting impression of our beautiful resort, we look forward to hearing from you soon. There were pluses and minuses about the Poconos location as discussed below:On the positive side, the resort is beautiful and there is more than enough to do for a family. Are you traveling with only toddlers? Thank you for choosing Kalahari & for taking the time to review us. We are very proud to offer an adventure for everyone in your family from the youngest member of you family to the young at heart and everyone in between. The center play structure had 3 slides, with the top one requiring 48 height, which seems high for a kiddie play structure. Overall, Camelback offers a nice enough waterpark and the other activities make it worthwhile. I have never written a review on a hotel and always give places the benefit of the doubt after reading sub par reviews. The best part about the Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark is that it is located at the base of a mountain - everywhere you can look at trees and beautiful scenery. In the lobby area their is the buffet restaurant, two other restaurants, a gift shop plus food and snack shop, the candy and ice cream shop and the coffee shop with pastries and sand witches. When you're looking for things to do in PA, come to Camelbeach Waterpark where you'll find thrills from mild to wild. More games and more space. The rooms can be a hike from the main elevatordont be fooled that theres an elevator at the other end. : Camelbacks Aquatopia is definitely smaller than Kalahari, but it still has plenty to keep kids occupied. You can take as many towels as you need. Check-in took less than 5 minutes. Besides the waterpark, Camelback offers a bunch of outdoor activities, including the mountain rollercoaster, the mountain slide, zip lines, and a treetop explorer course. Servers were nice, asking if you wanted to a to go cup for your coffee. Poconos isnt by the bay, but these waterparks complete the beach season in the region. We look forward to seeing you splashing around throughout the waterpark next summer. There were dirty qtips and garbage on the floors when we stepped out of the elevator. Kalahari's waterpark is the largest at 220,000 square feet & Camelback's Aquatopia indoor waterpark is right in the middle at 125,000 square feet. Camelback has a true outdoor water park with a huge wave pool and tons of rides and water play areas. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. During my visit to these two new destination indoor waterpark resorts, I found nothing but short of excitement and memories in the making. Check each indoor waterparks website for the number of slides your child can ride based on their height. Both Kalahari and Camelback charge $3-$10 for things like donut decorating, tee shirt coloring, putty making, etc. The best part about the Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark is that it is located at the base of a mountain everywhere you can look at trees and beautiful scenery. Total ride time is about 5-7 minutes, and that includes the 4-5 minute ride up to the top (on the ski lift for the slide, on the coaster car for the mountain coaster). That's an AMAZING 425,000 square feet of indoor water parks in a very small geographical area!! Views at Camelback nicer depending on your room. We are happy to hear that you and your family were able to enjoy our waterpark during our twilight session! The second poop incident was around 2:30 and there was not a shot the kids were going back up to the big slides, So we decided to leave. Compared to Kalahari, the buffet food options were smaller, but definitely higher quality and better prepared. In fact no one answered the phone and we tried calling everyone. The larger slides and wave pool remained open during the first hour and a half, so we decided we would walk the kids up to a bigger slide! So we ended up in the end paying $125 for a $50 arcade card and ok pizza. The bunk bed rooms are Camelback are much better than the ones at Kalahari, at a similar additional cost. Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark: Camelback vs. Kalahari - See 1,112 traveler reviews, 332 candid photos, and great deals for Tannersville, PA, at Tripadvisor. Rooms were standard and spacious. Find the travel option that best suits you. We are happy to hear that you and your family had a blast throughout the waterpark especially your son! Bottom line: Kalahari better indoor water park, better restaurants, better shops, newer and cleaner rooms for now.Camelback better outdoor water park and the mountains for skiing and tubing.More. We loved Camelback in the winter so we had to come back to experience Camelbeach this summer! For some of the large resorts, like Kalahari, it take be a very long walk to the water park. some great twisting rides to a lazy river. We were then forced to go back downstairs to get someone to open the door. It's not a huge park so you can get on everything a couple times without the hassle of a line! Being an avid traveler, I have never experienced this lack of customer service and this much of a rip off ever. My kids kept losing their game cards. We look forward to seeing you splashing around throughout the waterpark next summer. We loved Camelback in the winter so we had to come back to experience Camelbeach this summer! Compared to Kalahari, the buffet food options were smaller, but definitely higher quality and better prepared. They eventually ripped the net and climbed out from a very high slide. We spent part of the next morning at the rope/zip lines course, which was great. Every water park in the Poconos has unique features offering its slides and pools a unique atmosphere, which will be mentioned in the blog. When we returned at 9:30pm, we were greeted by the housekeeping staff. The exterior of the resort appears as a modern lodge with minimalistic theming. Thanks for the terrific review Jedeye! However, the stairs leading to the bigger slides/rides was grey, dark, and looked pretty run down for a place that has only been open a couple of years. The top rides/main attractions are Komodo Dragon Flow Rider and the Viper, Piranha, and Amazon Blast Slides. I asked her before she went to bed if she wants to try some other slides tomorrow and she out right said she's scared now. The offered activities may change with the season. Kalahari boasts about 15 large slides, which is a combination of body slides, tube slides, and raft slides. Ask Mykynos about Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, Ask Jamie B about Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, Ask F9716KStiffanys about Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, Waterparks Are Great When It's Freezing Out, Ask Skeelove about Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, Ask dood8 about Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, Ask ozjamal about Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark. Review of Camelback Resort. At Camelback you are allowed one new towel per person. Their is also a balcony facing the trees and highway. The room was too dark for us (needs more lighting). We were shocked that this is a policy at such a high end resort! There are more food choices at Kalahari, but IME, overall food quality is better at Camelback. Check in on a Friday at 4:30 was about a 10 minute wait so I'm not sure where all the reviews about long check-in times are about. Towel usage is better at Kalahari. CB has a huge outdoor WP, Kalahari has a pool but I believe they are expanding the outside. Arcade was much larger at Kalahari. There are only 2 towel stations for this huge complex. One side of the hotel has beautiful views of the mountain. It's best if you get there upon opening to make the most of the day. You also have a lot of kids running around the halls at night (but we expected that). At Camelback, they just basically gave you a board and let you go, no instruction or anything. The first room assigned to us was 9428, adjacent to the elevator. Camelback vs. Kalahari. 193 Resort Drive Tannersville, PA 18372. We waited.. they opened and about an hour later more poop was found, so again the entire area was closed. That happened this morning. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We had a room on the 9th floor, this place is huge and no one told us that only certain elevators go there. Inside of the indoor waterpark, known as Aquatopia, guests are transported to a place with thrill and adventure. Camelback's water coaster is the longest indoor uphill water coaster in America. Hello ozjamal, Thank you for choosing to spend your day out with us at Camelbeach and for the review. Go early or late to the famous water rides to avoid beat lines. When we got up to the slide I asked the girl working the slide how deep is the water we will be coming out to. There is a second phase of the resort that is under construction that will add additional indoor waterpark space, guestrooms, and outdoor waterpark space. The drinks by the way were fantastic! Surprisingly, it is an all-season waterpark located in the heart of Pocono Mountain at the Great Wolf Lodge resort. Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. In the winter, Camelback boasts the largest snowtubing park in the USA. : Indoor kiddie section with a large variety of slides, a 1-foot-deep lazy river, and interactive water tables. We look forward to having you as a return guest in the near future!Best Regards. The park was clean and well kept. There are more food choices at Kalahari, but IME, overall food quality is better at Camelback. (I love rock music.) Bathrooms were clean and the food court inside the waterpark was fast and fairly tasty (basic fast food style). Youll still have to walk all the way back to get to the waterpark and lobby. It was our very first time to Kalahari (Camelback 5 times before) and we will be returning. We found it quite surprising and disappointing that many of the water park staff were unfamiliar with the different slides. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Wrapped around the corner and we arrived at 2, check in is at 4 but you can use the park by 12 pm if you arrive early. However, the stairs leading to the bigger slides/rides was grey, dark, and looked pretty run down for a place that has only been open a couple of years. We ate at one of the nicer restaurants- a steak restaurant- and it was expensive but the food was good. The only reason why I gave 4 stars is because of the price- 600 for one night is crazy. Parking: we used valet it cost 25$. Finally in our room, there was yellow stains on our towels and black stains on our pillow case. The wi-fi was good. The indoor WP was spacious, they have Cabanas if you desire but there are plenty of places to sit. Kalahari opens the waterpark at 9. ft waterpark maintains a temperature of 84 degrees all year long. We stayed at Great Wolf in 2014, Kalahari in 2015 and Camelback last weekend. Enjoy summer days at these waterparks in the Poconos year-long, where you can swim, splash and play at some of the most exclusive water slides and rides in the Poconos. With my daughter too afraid to go on any rides now, we're paying $400 a night, for 2 nights, just to sit and watch our daughter splash in a 4ft pool and tell us she's bored. The second poop incident was around 2:30 and there was not a shot the kids were going back up to the big slides, So we decided to leave. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 3 queen beds, 2 bathrooms, pull out sofa and fireplace. Get your adrenaline-filled adventure thrill fulfilled with fun waterslides or just lounging by the pool at the Camelbeach waterpark in Poconos. So Kalahari won hands down!Parking: we used valet it cost 25$. Indoors, theres a section with a small mini golf, lazer tag, lazer obstacle game, rock climbing wall, and mini bowling. You also have a lot of kids running around the halls at night (but we expected that). Why are there no signs? The answer to this question is different for each family. Camelback has a total of 8 large slides which include two drop slides, one that is straight down and another that twists and turns. Dinner buffer for 2 adults/2 kids was about $85, breakfast was about $50 (not including tip). The tree explorer course looked like better value. Let me preface this by saying that we travel multiple times a year, to Mexico and the DR, plus extensively in the United States. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in India. East Rutherford is Big Snow is an indoor ski and snowboarding park located in American Dream. You would also think staff would acknowledge and offer you a ticket to return for the day considering the amount of money you pay! After waiting over an hour, we received our water park/room wristbands and headed to the park. The Camelback is situated on a mountain out of sight from the main road, but once you begin to ascend up the mountain, the massive shell for the 125,000 square foot indoor waterpark quickly becomes visible. The grandchildren, ages 8 and 10 are usually starved by 12:30, but they didn't want to eat because they were having so much fun. My oldest encountered alot of hair floating and was grossed out. The bath tubs much larger then Camelback. The bunk bed rooms are Camelback are much better than the ones at Kalahari, at a similar additional cost. aquatopia INDOOR WATERPARK tickets . We reserved an African queen suite which has two bedrooms. It was a major turn off. Rooms were fine, a bit dusty. That title is now owned by Dreamworks water park in American Dream. The chlorine smell was not as bad as CB , idk if that is a good thing or if their ventilation is better at KR. The Camelback is situated on a mountain out of sight from the main road, but once you begin to ascend up the mountain, the massive shell for the 125,000 square foot indoor waterpark quickly becomes visible. The mountain coaster and slide are each $10 per person. I thought Camelback was bad but not in comparison,.and their front desk people were better trained than Kalahari ( I understand this resort is new and experiencing some growing pains). Youll still have to walk all the way back to get to the waterpark and lobby. That being said we always found clean towels available and plenty of them.LifeguardsOver our three day visit, we spent approximately 15 hours at the water park.The park was very busy and we noticed a shortage of lifeguard staff. Definitely dark and could use better lightening. Kalahari has the superior, larger waterpark. The room was too dark for us (needs more lighting). One with two queen beds and one with one king. The Great Ka-Na-Gawa wave pool, Lost River lazy river, Penguin Play Bay, Mystic Springs spa, Bombora Flowrider, and 13 waterslides are uniquely themed around the fictitious explorer, Kartrite Van Der Berris. The larger slides and wave pool remained open during the first hour and a half, so we decided we would walk the kids up to a bigger slide! : Camelbacks Aquatopia is definitely smaller than Kalahari, but it still has plenty to keep kids occupied. Three very slow elevators on our wing of the resort. It has the largest indoor family entertainment center and indoor water park in the Northeast. Hello Strahberrie, Thank you for choosing to spend your summer day with us at Camelbeach and for the review. The long wait to check in was definitely due to the lack of staff as there were only 5 people working at this peak time.First room & 4 attempts at getting the 2nd door unlocked.Since we are traveling with a small child who is fascinated by elevators we requested A room far from the elevator from the hotel reservationist.