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Some people might only visit a waterpark for one thing, the water attractions. At Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort, I recommend planning to do a whole lot more! With rooms on-site, themed activities, special themed guests, and multiple food options, there is so much more to do than just swim. Trust me, you’ll want to be sure you and your family don’t miss out on these 14 Castaway Bay resort perks during your next stay.
Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort
Being stuck inside for long periods of time can be catastrophic for my kids (and my sanity) – unless that indoor area includes a tropical themed waterpark, palm trees, and properly placed lounge chairs. On a recent trip to Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, this was all I was hoping for. I wanted the kids to burn off their bottled up winter energy splashing around in the wave pool and zipping down the water slides. I wanted to relax in the always 82-degrees warmth of the park with a drink in my hand, either of the caffeinated or the lime decorated kind.
While the fact that there was indeed a water park in this resort was all that I knew coming into this stay, I left with an increased appreciation for everything extra this resort has to offer. As we muddled around Castaway Bay, finding ourselves in new and unexpected situations, I made a list of the experiences we were glad to have stumbled upon. You won’t want to make the mistake of possibly missing out on these resort perks!
14 Castaway Bay Perks You Won’t Want to Miss
Sometimes when we take a trip, I tend to over-schedule our time. I want to do it all! With Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort housing 237 rooms and suites, community rooms, an arcade, restaurants, and even a 38,000-square-foot indoor waterpark all under one roof, it may be easier than you think to fit it all in. Here are my families top picks for things to do during your vacation without ever needing to leave the resort.
1.Kids activities at Club Castaway. The first thing you should do upon arriving at Castaway Bay is to grab an Island Times schedule from the front desk. This resort guide lets you know when all of the kid’s activities are happening during your stay. During our stay, we were invited to participate in FREE cookie decorating, FREE movie time, FREE kids karaoke, and a FREE dance party. These activities and times can vary.
2. Meet PEANUTS Gang characters. During scheduled times, you can actually meet and take photos with members of the PEANUTS Gang inside the resort lobby or on the third floor at Club Castaway. The characters vary by day and it’s usually a surprise who you’re going to come face to face with. You can find out scheduled times by looking at the Island Times printout, available at the front desk.
3. Make a splash in the wave pool. With a long list of water park attractions to choose from, the wave pool ended up being my favorite. Like clockwork, the water in this massive pool starts to ripple and then turns into full out waves within moments. When the buzzer sounds, be sure to make it over to this part of the park so you don’t miss out on these ocean-like waves. Just remember, the trick is to try and move with the waves, not against them. I lost my footing and got knocked over on more than one occasion.
4. Get drenched by the bucket drop. On top of Lookout Lagoon sits a large bucket of water. Be in the right spot at the right time and you’ll have this entire bucket of water dumped down on top of you. This can be both fun and suspenseful, all at the same time.
5. Ride an upward vertical waterslide. Most water slides I’ve ever been on have been a downward drop, followed by twists and turns towards the bottom. At Castaway Bay, guests can take a wild ride on Rendezvous Run. This raft slide drops you down and then propels you back up another hill before making your final descent around towards the bottom. Besides this ride, which my kids rode numerous times, there are several other slides ranging in size, age appropriateness, and speed.
6. Grab a drink, snack or meal poolside. Don’t feel like leaving the pool area or changing out of your wet swimsuit to grab a bite to eat? No worries. With Big Daddy’s Snack Shack located inside the water park, you can refuel without leaving the park. This food location offers both meal items such as full pizzas and snack items such as ice cream, pretzels, or cookies. For the adults, they also serve beer and frozen adult beverages.
7. Gather with friends or meet other travelers. One thing I loved about Castaway Bay was the use of space throughout the resort for encouraged congregating. Downstairs in the main lobby, there are couches placed around a burning fireplace. Nearby, there is a shipwreck display complete with animatronic talking parrots. My kids loved resting here and meeting other kids also staying at the resort.
8. Dinner at the Quaker Steak and Lube. At first, the name threw me off. Was this a restaurant or a place to take my car for repairs? However, once I found out that the restaurant was adjacent to the resort through a covered walkway, I decided that it was worth a try. We went back twice. The restaurant had a fun car vibe to it and the meal choices were very family friendly. For the main perk of not needing to get in our car to find dinner, I would go back again next time too.
* Retro SheBuysTravel tip: You can take a cute photo here on a bench seat made from a vintage Bel Air, and the kids’ meals are served in a car box!
9. Visit the arcade. Castaway Bay has a delightful 6,000-square-foot arcade right next to the waterpark entrance. Not only is this arcade fun for the whole family, but it is also different than any arcade I’ve visited before. This arcade had gone “green” by no longer rewarding tickets to winners. Instead, virtual tickets are added back on the player’s card. These virtual tickets are redeemed for prizes just as the paper ones used to be.
10. Color a t-shirt or bag souvenir. There are tons of souvenirs you can buy during your stay at the resort store. We, however, like the DIY route. During specific times (listed in the Island Times paper) guests can visit Club Castaway and color a t-shirt, backpack, or tote. They range in price from $5 to $10 each and are ready to take home with you immediately after they’re colored. No waiting around for things to dry.
11. Indulge in a sweet treat from Ebb & Eddy’s. Feel the need for something sweet or caffeinated? Ebb & Eddy’s is a nice spot to grab a buckeye, scoop of ice cream or Starbucks coffee while looking out over the bay. You can also grab a complimentary game loan from the front desk to play in this lounge area.
12. Grab a room with a view. With 237 rooms and suites, there are a lot of choices when it comes to sleep arrangements. My recommendation would be to ask for a Bayview room. These rooms have a private screened in balcony overlooking the bay. Not only is this a beautiful view, but it is a great spot to decompress after the animation of a day at the waterpark.
13. Get your extra swim time. If you are staying at the resort, you are welcome to arrive early and start playing before check-in. The front desk staff will place all of your luggage in storage until your room is available. You can also stay all day after check-out to get in extra swim time.
14. Claim free birthday fun. Be sure to sign up for the Castaway Bay birthday club so you can get a free water park day pass for your child’s birthday (ages 12 and under). Overnight guests can redeem for special coupons to use during their stay. To sign up simply visit guest services or go to castawaybay.com.
Did you know Ohio has its own island? Read more about things to do in Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
Betty says
Is castaway bay in kalahari park??