Family Weekend FAQ’s

Family Weekend registration is closed. You can still book directly through the Great Wolf Lodge website and their standard rates. Ticket sales are closed at this time for events.

Unfortunately, orders were submitted to Great Wolf Lodge and we are no longer accepting purchases .

T-shirts will be available to be picked up at the LuMind IDSC Registration Table.

No. This year there will not be raffle tickets sold. Some locations will have door prize drawings.

Family Suites come with 6 passes except for Colorado and they have 5 passes. Larger rooms will come with additional passes depending on the occupancy of that room. You can change the number of people in your room when you check in and you will receive additional water park passes.

Unfortunately, some locations did not meet the minimum registration needed to host the events.

Our group will have the same colored wrist bands

Be sure to bring bright colored swimwear, comfortable clothes for activities, any medical supplies your family may need, and don’t forget to dress your best for the dance party.

Any changes to your reservation need to be made directly with Great Wolf Lodge. Contact the lodge as soon as possible if adjustments are needed.

Meals are not included unless pre-purchased for specific activities (e.g., the Saturday night dinner). The hotel offers several dining options, and there are restaurants nearby.

Yes, aside from the water park the schedule you have been provided has tons of family friendly events throughout the weekend.

Make sure to join your locations What’s App group located in the Facebook group or in your email.

No, the reservations are under LuMind IDSC and are on a first come basis.

Family Weekend is a signature program of LuMind IDSC, a national nonprofit organization focused on Down syndrome research. The weekend brings 1,000+ families together at Great Wolf Lodge waterpark sites across North America each year. Family Weekend is the only international, recreation-focused Down syndrome party, and everyone is invited to attend!

September 13-15, 2024 at a Great Wolf Lodge location near you.

Exclusive rates for both U.S. and Canada locations:

U.S. Locations:

Friday: $189 per room, per night

Saturday: $229 per room, per night

Canada Location:

Friday $309.99 per room, per night

Saturday: $339.99

Click here for information on available locations for 2024.

Yes siblings can and are encouraged to participate. Extended family members and friends can register on June 1st. This will ensure families with children and/or adults with Down syndrome will be able to secure a reservation in the room block.

The Family Weekend is open to individuals with Down syndrome of all ages! We have had infants to adults attend the Family Weekend.

You do not have to stay both nights to take advantage of the discounted rates. You are welcome to stay, Friday night, Saturday night or both nights.

Larger Suites are also available at a discounted rate. Larger suites are based on lodge availability. If you are interested in a Themed or Premium Suite, we encourage you to make a reservation early.

You do not have to be a guest at Great Wolf Lodge to enjoy some of the activities. Some Great Wolf Lodge locations offer waterpark Day Passes. Please check your local Great Wolf Lodge’s website for more information. The price of Day Passes varies by location. Note that sometimes, the price of Day Passes is greater than that of one night’s stay. We have contracted for highly discounted rates for rooms for 2024 and the rates begin at $189 for a night.

Yes, every location except Mason/Cincinnati will have a dance party. The Mason/Cincinnati does not have meeting space and has offered an additional cabana to be used by families on Saturday.

You may bring your own food, drinks, and snacks into your private room or in the water park. Outside food can not be brought into any meeting or event areas.

A peer-to-peer fundraiser is a campaign where volunteers, or peers, raise funds on behalf of our organization. It empowers supporters like you to become advocates for our cause and leverage their networks to make a collective impact.

Signing up is easy! Just clink on this link and follow the simple step to create your fundraising page and join the campaign.

All funds raised go directly to LuMind IDSC and will be used to accelerate much-needed scientific research, disseminate crucial resources, connect families and communities, advocate for medical equity, and raise awareness of the Down syndrome community.   Your contributions make an immediate and meaningful impact on our mission.

Yes, your donation is tax-deductible. After making a donation, you’ll receive a confirmation email that can be used for tax purposes.

Absolutely! You can collect cash or check donations offline, and the Development team will add them to your online fundraising page. All money collected can be sent to:
LuMind IDSC Foundation
ATTN: Development
110 Winn St. STE 105
Woburn, MA 01801

Absolutely! We encourage participants to host their events. Whether it’s a virtual gathering, a themed party, or a community event, your creativity can make a significant impact. All we ask is that you use our prepared materials (logos, etc.) to advertise your event.

Absolutely! The platform is designed to be user-friendly. If you encounter any challenges, our support team is here to assist you every step of the way.

You aren’t expected to be an instant expert fundraiser! We want you to feel comfortable talking about the organization and feel confident in asking people to donate to a cause you champion. That’s why we offer easy-to-navigate information about LuMind IDSC’s impact, and easy-to-use templates for fundraising asks.

When it comes to fundraising, we offer a resource kit with promotional materials, tips, and guides.
Our team is also available to provide support and answer any questions you may have.
For an overview of LuMind IDSC’s programs and initiatives, feel free to use:

Our most recent impact report
Information about our free resource library, myDSC
Recent press about access inequities in Down syndrome

To be eligible for incentives funds must be raised by 5/1/24 Make sure to check our website for any specific event dates or deadlines.

Absolutely! You will find the incentives for creating a campaign and fundraising for our mission in this document. The more you raise by 5/1/24 the more you earn!

Expressing gratitude is essential! Your donor will receive a receipt and a thank you acknowledgement from LuMind IDSC. We encourage you to thank your donors directly through social media platforms, emails, and handwritten personalized thank-you notes.

Your fundraising dashboard on the platform will show your progress, including the total amount raised and the number of donors. We will also be sending weekly updates on your progress through email.

No, if you choose to participate in the Peer-to-Peer Educate, Illuminate, and Celebrate campaign with incentive options, the donations collected will not be matched.

When planning your stay at Great Wolf Lodge resort, keep in mind that a one-night deposit is required to secure your reservation. If you’re participating in a fundraiser and earning a free night(s) through our incentive and reward program, you have several options:

1. Wait to Reserve: You can choose to wait until you’ve earned the FREE room reward before making your reservation.
2. Pay Deposit and Use Gift Card at check-in: Alternatively, if you are too excited and can’t wait, you can make the reservation, pay the required one night’s deposit to GWL, and then use your gift card you earned from the rewards program when you check in. Great Wolf Lodge will then refund you for the deposit paid.

Remember, if you need to cancel your reservation, Great Wolf Lodge will refund 100% of the deposit if done within 72 hours of your reservation date.