This was our third time staying at Kalahari with toddlers in tow, and each visit has felt completely different. The first year, our oldest was just 18 months and I was still working remotely—squeezing in work during nap times. The second year, I was very pregnant and chasing a busy two-year-old. This time, with a toddler and a 10-month-old, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But surprisingly, it felt easier. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t pregnant, or maybe it’s because we stayed entirely on the resort property and just embraced a slower pace.
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Camden’s Souvenir
Baby’s 1st Ferris Wheel
Our Brave Guy
Our Third Time Around
This year we had originally planned for my sister-in-law to join us, but plans changed and it ended up being just the four of us (with my husband joining when he wasn’t in sessions). Even with the change of plans, it honestly worked out so well—especially since I didn’t have to worry about working during our trip.
The Room Setup That Made Life Easier
We stayed in a Sands Side Suite, which came with a king bed, a living area, and a full kitchen—such a game-changer with little ones. Even though we mostly just used the fridge, it was so nice to have the extra space. I did pack snacks and sandwich fixings but couldn’t bring myself to use the dishes… maybe just me being cautious (or paranoid). Still, having that much room felt like such a treat, especially compared to our cozy 520-square-foot home. We even brought our Ezy Roller, and Camden had a blast zooming around—it felt like a whole indoor playground to him.
We were lucky to borrow a roomy company van for the trip, and I’ve gotta say… as much as I want our current cars to last forever, I think a minivan is in our future. Between road trips and thrift store/garage sale hauls, it just makes sense.
What We Did (and Didn’t) Do
Unlike previous years where we ventured off-property to mini golf at Pirate’s Cove, this year we didn’t leave the resort once. And we didn’t need to! There was so much to do just by staying put. We did check out the glow-in-the-dark mini golf at the attached Tom Foolery’s Arcade—which felt like we were unlocking a new corner of the Kalahari we hadn’t experienced before.
The waterpark was a huge hit this year. Camden (our toddler) was much braver compared to last year—he was all about the wave pool, lazy river, and the kids’ basketball area. In the past, he’d stick to the baby zone and wasn’t a fan of water spraying everywhere. It was fun to watch him grow into more of the park this time.
One of my absolute must-haves every single year is our Mambobaby float. I used it in the lazy river so baby could float right next to us while Camden and I shared a tube. I kept a hand on the strap the entire time, and it was such a lifesaver—especially while solo-parenting at the pool with a little one. I’ll definitely link it because it’s been essential for trips like this, click here.
I also saw some families with Wonderfold wagons inside the waterpark, and while I love ours for everyday use, I don’t think I’d bring it inside a waterpark again. It just felt a bit too bulky for the space. However, maybe next year with two toddles it could come in handy?!
Food, Snacks & Favorites
We packed our usual snacks—fruit, applesauce, bananas, some homemade cookies—but mostly ate at the Kalahari restaurants.
My favorite by far (like… by a mile) was Cinco Ninos, the modern Mexican restaurant on site. We went there twice! The other spots—Cafe Mirage and Sortino’s Italian Kitchen—were okay, but I had high hopes for Sortino’s after having an amazing bolognese from Trattoria Dal Santo in Door County earlier this year. I think I may have spoiled myself with that one. 😅
Early Risers Need More Options
One thing I do wish was different: I’d love more to do between 8–10 AM. Most young moms will agree—our kids have been up for hours by 8 a.m. 😅 Aside from pacing the halls with a stroller or letting the kids run around in the room, there wasn’t much going on. If we would have brought a personal car, I would have considered driving to a nearby park.
Thankfully, they did have a fun seasonal activity—the Golden Egg Hunt. Each morning, a golden egg was hidden somewhere on the property, and if your kid spotted it, you could snap a photo and claim a prize at the Build-A-Bear store. We did it two mornings in a row, and Camden had a blast. One of the days, though, the egg was hidden in a section of the resort that didn’t open until 10 a.m., which felt a little ironic as I was hoping it was planned as a morning activity. 😅
All that to say—more early-morning options for families would be amazing!
Nighttime, Storytime & One Thing We Forgot
One thing we forgot to pack was bedtime books—which we usually bring on trips. Thankfully, we found out that Kalahari offers a storytime at 7:30 PM each night, and one evening Camden was the only kid there. He got to pick the book, “Don’t Touch That Flower!”—a cute one we’d just read when we learned about flowers in homeschool.
Speaking of which, if you’re into nature and homeschool content, I wrote a post on 25+ Flower & Gardening Books to Explore with Kids and shared Our First Homeschool Week Recap if you want to check those out.
Even without our usual stories, we had no trouble crashing at night—all snuggled up in a king-sized bed, which was a big upgrade from our current full-size at home.
Tom Foolery’s & Toddler Fun
As mentioned above we spent more time in Tom Foolery’s Arcade this year. I bought Camden a toddler wristband for around $17 that was good for two days. It gave him access to a handful of rides—and I was pleasantly surprised! Some rides required an adult to join, but if the child has a wristband, the adult ticket is free. We even did a few as a whole family, which was such a treat. My favorite ride was the Ferris wheel. 🎡
The staff was so sweet and helpful, and everything felt very relaxed since it was the off-season.
Final Thoughts
Naps didn’t really happen for Camden this trip, and I didn’t push it. Our baby napped later than usual (usually goes down around 8:30 AM but held out until about 1 PM), and he was a little clingier than usual—but still his sweet self.
I do wish the weather had been a little nicer so I could’ve walked around outside like I did in past years, but honestly, staying inside and staying put made things so much easier. I felt more present, less rushed, and actually had fun just being with the boys.
We’ve now made this Wisconsin Dells trip a yearly tradition—three years in a row and counting—and even though plans changed this time around, it ended up being exactly what we needed. Slow mornings, water park fun, good food, and lots of memories made without ever needing to leave the resort. It reminded me that “easy” and “low-key” doesn’t mean boring—it can actually be just what your family needs.
Have you ever done a vacation where you stayed on the resort the whole time? Or do you prefer to get out and explore the area? I’d love to hear what kind of travel works best for your crew—share in the comments below!
Quick Tips for Staying at Kalahari with Toddlers
- Stay at the Sands Side Suites if you can. Having the extra space and full kitchen (even just for snacks!) made life so much easier with two little ones.
- Bring your own snacks. Fruit, applesauce, sandwiches, and a few treats helped save money and avoid hangry meltdowns.
- Pack a swim floatie for babies. We love the Mambobaby float—it kept our baby safe and happy while floating right alongside us in the lazy river.
- Take advantage of off-season perks. Fewer crowds meant calmer pool areas, shorter lines, and a way more relaxed vibe overall.
- Buy the toddler wristband for Tom Foolery’s. For around $17, it covered two days of rides and included a free adult ticket when needed—so fun for toddlers!
- Embrace a slower pace. Staying on the property without rushing around made the trip feel more restful and memorable.
If you’re thinking about trying a resort trip like this, we really enjoyed staying at Kalahari. Booking through this link helps support my blog at no extra cost to you—thank you!