New Poll Reveals Kids Think Parents Need Spring Break

MADISON, Wis., March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent survey by Travelocity, 35 percent of adults plan to increase their travel in 2011. Even though parents handle most of the vacation planning, kids have their own ideas about what constitutes a great trip. ORC International conducted a survey on behalf of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.® (Nasdaq: WOLF), North America's largest family of indoor waterparks, to find out kids' opinions about Spring Break. The results have one important thread in common: family.

This first-ever Great Wolf Kids Poll of children ages 6 to 14 found that:

• Kids think Spring Break is important for parents. More than 90 percent of kids agree that it's important for their parents to have a Spring Break so they can be away from their jobs and just have fun.
• Too much time on cell phones or laptops is a big no-no. A third of all kids find it "very annoying" when their parents are always on their cell phones or laptops while on vacation. (Bad weather and getting stuck in traffic were also rated "annoying" to "very annoying.")
• Kids want a place where they can spend time with family. A majority of kids (85 percent) responded that it's "very important" when choosing the ideal Spring Break vacation spot to pick a place where they can spend time with the whole family.
  • Other important considerations include a destination with a variety of activities and adventures (61 percent) and a destination where they can interact and play with other kids their age (56 percent).
  • 45 percent of kids also ranked an indoor destination that doesn't depend on nice weather as "very important."

"Parents are continually focused on finding vacation options at a good value, but this survey illustrates that kids really value the family aspect of the family vacation," says Leslie Hutton, member of the Ask-A-Mom panel for Great Wolf Resorts. "That's a great tip for parents as they make travel plans this year."

Other tips for families planning vacations this spring include:

• Uncover great values – Look for a hotel or resort where you are offered amenities on top of the room, such as free Wi-Fi. Great Wolf Lodge, for example, includes passes to its waterpark with your stay. Searching online is a great way to find these kinds of deals and discounts.
• Think outside the weekend – If you have flexibility in your travel dates, many destinations have flexibility in their rates. Consider traveling mid-week or during non-peak weekends. You'll find great room rates and even some economical value-added packages. 
• Pick a place with plenty to do – Experts say that for each hour you drive to get to your destination, it should be able to offer at least a half day of activities. Be sure there is a good variety of indoor activities too, so your vacation isn't ruined because of bad weather. 
• Remember the whole family – Not only should your destination have lots to do, it should offer something for everyone. Multi-faceted destinations, like Great Wolf Lodge, offer a variety of activities for every age – from the indoor waterpark to the spa to nightly story time. With activities for varying age ranges in mind, you can be assured that your decision is virtually fail-safe.

Survey Methodology

This release presents the findings of a telephone survey conducted by ORC International among a national sample of 251 pre-teens comprising 126 males and 125 females 6 to 14 years of age, living in private households in the continental United States. The sampling error for a sample of 250 is plus or minus six percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. Margins of error are larger for any smaller category, such as gender or age. Interviewing was completed during the period February 25 - 28, 2011, by ORC International. Completed interviews are weighted by four variables:  age, sex, geographic region, and race, to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total population, 6 - 14 years of age. 

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.® (NASDAQ: WOLF), Madison, Wis., is North America's largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, and, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns, licenses  and/or operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge® brand.  Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; and Concord, N.C.

The company's resorts are family-oriented destination facilities that generally feature 300 to 600 rooms and a large indoor entertainment area measuring 40,000 to 100,000 square feet.  The all-suite properties offer a variety of room styles, arcade/game rooms, fitness rooms, themed restaurants, spas, supervised children's activities and other amenities.  The company's consolidated subsidiary, Creative Kingdoms, LLC, is a developer and operator of technology-based, interactive quest adventure experiences such as MagiQuest®.

Additional information may be found on the company's Web site at www.greatwolf.com.

SOURCE Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.