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The Ultimate Mom’s Guide to Visiting The Kartrite Resort With Kids & Teens

Are you planning to visit The Kartrite Resort with kids?

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark is the newest indoor waterpark resort to hit the Northeast Region. With over 15 waterslides and attractions, it’s the largest indoor waterpark in New York. But don’t be fooled by the name. There’s more to The Kartrite than a waterpark. It is a resort destination with activities for kids to teenagers. Even mom and dad are going to want to get in on some of the fun The Kartrite offers.

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark front desk

 

We spent opening weekend at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark from Friday evening till Sunday afternoon. It was important to me to be one of the first on the scene so that we could give you the inside scoop. We knew you would be curious like us about this newest New York family destination.

 

When we originally placed our reservation I fully intended to cover the cost of our stay. In full disclosure, as our arrival got closer it worked out that the resort did cover the cost of room stay. We covered the costs of our meals and all the additional activities. In an effort to bring you the most complete information in this Ultimate Mom’s Guide to Visiting The Kartrite Resort With Kids & Teens we tried everything with just a few exceptions, which we’ll explain below.

 

Twitter The Ultimate Mom's Guide to Visiting The Kartrite Resort With Kids & Teens

 

The Ultimate Mom’s Guide to Visiting The Kartrite Resort With Kids & Teens

Staying at The Kartrite Resort Hotel

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark entered the field of Northeast family resorts ready to compete with the big guys. Their smallest room comes ready with a sofa bed so it can handle your family of 5. Your hotel key is a wristband that does more than unlock your room door. It’s your admission ticket to the waterpark too.

 

Need something to do in addition to the waterpark? They are ready with not just an arcade, but with laser tag, virtual reality, bowling, dark rides, billiard tables, rock climbing, and a ropes course. We tried it all.

Inside the The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark lobby

Inside the The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark lobby

When comparing pricing for other similiar resorts the pricing was in line with what you might expect to pay elsewhere. You can review rates on the Kartrite site for now until February 29, 2020. From what I could see the lowest rate for the standard room that we stayed in was $234 a night. It looks like from their website you can save money by being a member of AAA, AARP, or prepaying for your room.

 

Want to know what the Kartrite hotel rooms look like?

We stayed in a Junior Suite Double Queen hotel room at The Kartrite Resort. 

Watch our video tour of a Junior Suite Double Queen hotel room at the Kartrite hotel below or take a look at our pictures in this Facebook album.

How many people can sleep in the Junior Suite Double Queen hotel room?

You can sleep 6 people in a standard hotel room at The Kartrite. There are 2 queen beds and 1 sofa sleeper. While our room was the standard size, the resort manager did inform me that all Kartrite Resort hotel rooms have a sofa sleeper.

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

The sofa sleeper

 

The Kartrite Resort also offers hotel rooms and suites with 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms that can sleep up to 12 people. Consider these room options if you are staying with a larger family or combing your trip with other families.

 

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark hotel room

 

What time can I check into The Kartrite Resort & Hotel? How early can we play in the Kartrite Waterpark?

Check in time starts at 4:00 pm. Guests have access to use the waterpark and hotel activities during the full day on the first day of their stay. The Kartrite waterpark is open 9 am to 9 pm daily.

 

What time is check out at The Kartrite Resort & Hotel? How late can we play in the Kartrite Waterpark?

Check out time is at 11:00 am. Checking-out doesn’t mean you have to leave. After check-out stay and have a full day of waterpark fun. Guests have full access to the park and all the activities inside The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark for the remainder of the day!

 

For example, if you were like us and checked in on a Friday night and were checking out on a Sunday, you can enjoy the waterpark all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Kartrite waterpark is open 9 am to 9 pm daily.

 

Do The Kartrite hotel rooms have minifridges?

Yes, the Kartrite hotel rooms have minifridges. The fridge has three shelves. There is no freezer section. The door of the minifridge has an area that can hold six cans of soda. Additionally it has a small tall area that could hold a bottle of wine, or small 1/4 gallons of milk or other bottles of beverages.

The minifridge inside the The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark hotel rooms

Take advantage of the minifridge to save on some food and snack expenses.

 

Do The Kartrite hotel rooms have microwaves?

Yes, the Kartrite hotel rooms have microwaves with rotating trays.

 

Do The Kartrite hotel rooms have sleepaway beds?

Yes. All Kartrite hotel rooms have a sofa bed.

 

Does The Kartrite Resort have free wi-fi?

Yes, guests have access to complimentary wi-fi on the property. There is no charge and no password required. I was very impressed by the quality of their wi-fi. I had no issues uploading videos to YouTube, recording live videos in our room or the waterpark, or working online. The second night of our stay I experienced some slowness of the internet. Over the course of our stay, from Friday night to Sunday afternoon I only had to sign back into the network once. As a blogger who stays and works from a lot of resorts, I will say Kartrite has one of the better wi-fi networks I have had to use.

 

Does The Kartrite have a resort fee?

Yes, there is a nightly taxable resort fee of $35 that includes: self-parking, coffee and bottled water in your room, the WiFi, local & 800 call access, fitness center and towels in the waterpark. 

 

What else can you tell me about The Kartrite hotel rooms?

While I can’t speak as an authority on all the types of The Kartrite Resort hotel rooms, yet I can tell you about the room we stayed in.

The Kartrite Junior Suite Double Queen room hotel room has

  • 2 Queen beds with Plush Pillow Top Mattresses – We found the beds to be very comfortable. At the time of my working on this article everyone but mom (me) was snoozing away peacefully.
  • 1 Sleeper sofa
  • Ergonomic Work Station/Desk
  • 1 bathroom with a toilet and shower/tub
  • 1 sink in the main room
  • 2 functional drawer in the dresser (There is what looks to be a third drawer, but it drops down to reveal a safe.)
  • 16 outlets
  • 4 usb ports (all located in the nightstand between the two beds)
  • The 40 inch HD Television in the room has kid-friendly channels like Disney and Nickelodeon.
  • Bluetooth Alarm Clock & Docking Station
Kartrite Resprt hotel room

This sink is across from the bathroom.

 

Other room amenities include

  • In-room Safe   
  • Coffee maker
  • Hairdryer
  • Iron & Ironing Board 
  • Bath Toiletries
  • Laundry Access
  • Tiny Traveler Items – Play yard, blanket, tear-free shampoo & more
  • Spa-Style Bathrobes

Learn more about the Junior Suite Double Queen room on the Kartrite website here.

 

Besides the waterpark, what is there to do?

We are so glad you asked. It’s almost overwhelming how many things you can do at The Kartrite Resort that are not inside the waterpark. Almost, but not…because we’ve made it easy for you to find activities that will interest every kid in your family.

 

As an overview, The Kartrite has an arcade, laser tag, virtual reality, bowling, dark rides, billiard tables, rock climbing, and a ropes course and those are just the amenities. That doesn’t include the special events and activities. Since we know the activities your little kids like might not be the same that your teen likes I created these Guides to The Kartrite Resort to help you. Each one was created with my kids’ assistance to help you find the best Kartrite activities for your child and we explore those activities in more detail. (Once the articles have been published, the titles will be clickable.)

Take a look at one of my 10 year old’s favorite activities, the Skyscraper.

 

Special kids activities at The Katrite Resort

These were some of the special activities going on during our visit

  • Duck Scavenger Hunt
  • Family Candy Bingo
  • Erik’s Reptile Adventures
  • Donut Decorating
  • Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt
  • Pictures with the Easter Bunny
  • Character Meet & Greets
  • Sand Art
  • Candy Bingo
  • Brains & Brawn Challenge
  • Family Game Night
mermaid at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

We found a mermaid in the Puddle Ducks play area.

 

Can I bring my dog to The Kartrite Resort?

The Kartrite Resort does not allow pets. Service animals are allowed for Kartrite Resort guests.

 

Playing at The Kartrite Waterpark

As New York’s largest indoor waterpark, we found plenty of areas to play and explore in the waterpark. Take a look at The Kartrite indoor waterpark attractions. We’ll be going into more detail abou them in separate articles.

9 Total Waterslides

  • 4 in the water playground area called Kartrite Island
  • 1 family raft ride called the Nor’easter
  • 2 mat waterslides called Jiggerty-Jaggerty
  • 2 tube waterslides that take single or double tubes: the Krakken and Time Warp
waterslides at the The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

A view of the Nor’easter slide and Empire Bay lazy river at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

 

7 Water play areas and attractions

  • A lazy river called Empire Bay
  • A water playground called Kartrite Island
  • Water basketball called Cannon Ballers
  • A preschool play area called Puddle Ducks
  • A surfing activity called Endless Summer Flowrider
  • Another area called Later Gator Crossing where kids walk across lily pads and floating log slices to get to the other side of a pool.
  • The hot tub area covers an area that is inside and outside of the waterpark. It’s called Affinity Springs. 

 

Want to know what the indoor Kartrite Waterpark looks like?

Watch our video tour of The Kartrite Waterpark below or take a look at our pictures in this Facebook album.

What hours is The Kartrite Waterpark open?

The Kartrite Indoor Waterpark is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

 

Can I buy a day pass to The Kartrite Waterpark?

Yes, you can buy 1 day passes to waterpark at the Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark. The passes are called splash passes. Each pass is $59.00 and is valid the same hours the waterpark is open, from 9 am to 9 pm.

Father and son on a waterslide at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

Father and son ride the Krakken waterslide together.

 

What is there for my kids to do at The Kartrite Indoor Waterpark?

That’s a great question! There is so many things to do at the inside Kartrite Waterpark. Since we know so many of our readers have questions about whether or not their child can ride on a waterslide or play in an area based on their age or height, we broke down the activities and amenities by age group and height. Check out these Guides to The Kartrite Indoor Waterpark to help you.

(Once the articles have been published, the titles will be clickable.)

Puddle ducks at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

My big kids had fun under this waterdome in the Puddle Ducks area.

 

How much are lockers at The Kartrite Indoor Waterpark?

The Kartrite has a few sets of lockers available in the front left corner of the waterpark. The lockers are available in 3 sizes and are priced at $15, $20, and $25 for one day’s use. Lockers need to be paid for with a credit card or cash. You can not charge them to your room. They work with wristbands for easy access throughout the day.

 

Can I bring food to The Kartrite Waterpark?

Hotel guests can bring their own food and drinks to their hotel rooms, but NOT to the waterpark or any of The Kartrite Resort activities or public spaces. Free cups of water and soda are available INSIDE the waterpark.

 

Where are the lifeguards at The Kartrite Indoor Waterpark?

Lifeguards are located at the top of each waterslide, at the bottom, around the lazy river, and at least 1 for each play area. I found the waterpark to be well-staffed with lifeguards and supervisors walking the park overseeing them.

 

Eating at the Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

I’m going to be honest with you. This is one area I think The Kartrite has room to improve. I found the options for gluten-free dining extremely limited and many of the restaurants overpriced. 

Eat. Eat. Eat. – The Kartrite buffet option

At $32 per person for ages 13 and older it was really hard to swallow the price at this restaurant. You pay in advance for both your buffet and your tip. For my family of 5, only 1 of my sons qualified for the $15 dinner rate. So we spent $177 for dinner. Ouch! I wish I could say it was worth it, but unfortunately it wasn’t. 

The entree options included:

  • Meatball Parmesan
  • Chicken Tenders
  • Hamburger Sliders
  • Corn Dogs
  • Penne a la Vodka
  • Butter Poached Salmon
  • Chicken Cacciatore
  • Pork Loin

Nothing was labeled as gluten-free so I took my chances with the Chicken Cacciatore and Salmon. I loaded my plate with rice and vegatables. Other than candied chocolates there were no gluten-free dessert options. My husband did try the pork loin, but was disappointed by the small serving slices. We both really felt that considering the price, there should have been a larger selection of options, and certainly gluten-free ones.

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark eat eat eat buffet restaurant

Surfside Grille

Surfside Grille is the grille in the waterpark. I found the prices here to be reasonable. French fries were $4, a slice of pizza $3. Hamburgers, salads, and other items were $9. Easy and affordable options to eat without going out of the park. Unfortunately, with the exception of the salads there were no gluten-free options. I did speak with a chef to confirm this because I was hoping they had something even if it wasn’t on the menu.

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark surfside grill menu

Part of the Surfside Grill Menu

 

The Highline

The Highline can be a great easy grab and go option for families staying at The Kartrite. Again, the options for gluten-free foods were limited. When I asked a cashier about gluten-free options, she pointed me to the chips and popcorn. The Highline is a coffee shop that sells salads, subs, breakfast sandwiches, and snacks. I did end up trying the yogurt parfait topped with granola. I can’t say for sure it was gluten-free but it was good and helped to fill me up more than a salad would have. A cool bonus working in the Highline’s favor is how convenient they make it to pay. You can either pay at a register with an employee or through a self-checkout of sorts paying by credit card or charging it to your room.

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark Highline

Some of the options at the Highline

 

Pop’s Sweet Shoppe

Pop’s Sweet Shoppe is the onsite candy store and bakery. They have candy, baked items (none gluten-free (I asked)) and fresh gelato. Prices start around $3-$4 for cupcakes, cookies, or small gelatos. A budget-friendly option is the chocolate-covered strawberries at $2.50 each.

The candy shop at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

Cupcakes and more at Pop’s Sweet Shoppe

 

Harvey’s Wallbanger

The Kartrite’s bar/restaurant located in the front of the lower level, between the arcade and bowling lanes. It was the only location that I could easily tell had gluten-free options for me, besides salads. Harvey’s Wallbanger offers burgers with gluten-free buns. Burgers start at $13. There are additional charges for cheese, toppings, sauces. Outside of the burgers, Harvey’s had wings and pizza on the menu. We had considered eating dinner here on Saturday night, but opted to go offproperty to save a few bucks.

 

Bixby’s Tavern & Tap Room

Our impression of Bixby’s Tavern & Tap Room from the outside and The Kartrite website is this is the property’s fine dining option. If your kids are adventurous enough to try something new like duck, lamb, or tuna this could be an option for you. I did see a few gluten-free options and if there would have been a kids menu available, we likely would have given Bixby’s a try in lieu of the buffet. It definitely could make a romantic dinner option for couples dining without kids.

 

What about the parents? What can adults do at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark?

We know moms and dads how hard it can be to travel as a couple when you have kids. My husband and I have the same challenge. When there’s no one to watch the kids how can you have alone time for yourself or each other? Here’s a few ideas for how to carve out some me time or couple time while visiting The Kartrite.

  • Ride the lazy river, Empire Bay together. Use two single tubes and hold hands or get close in a double tube.
  • Ride a waterslide in a double tube. There are three Kartrite waterslides that 2 people can ride together.
  • Rent a cabana and have some couple time as the kids play.
  • Consider a Family King Bunk Suite or larger as some beds are in a separate room.
  • Schedule some couple time in the spa, while your kids are supervised of course.

 

For those who would like to hire a babysitter during their stay The Kartrite is referring guests to “Pattycake.” Guests are responsible for booking and paying for babysitting services directly with Pattycake. Contact Ms. Donna Conklin at (845) 562-6322.

Rates are:

  • $30/hr with a 3 hour minimum.
  • $10.00 for each additional child
  • Maximum ratio 1 sitter per every 3 children
  • Holiday rate $45.00/hr

The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

Want to know more about The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark?

Visit these articles on Jersey Family Fun.

(Once the articles have been published, the titles will be clickable.)

 

Head over to the The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark website where you can book your room, explore more about the resort, or get other information.

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Stephanie Prevost

Thursday 5th of December 2019

Did they offer room service / menu options?

Jennifer A.

Thursday 5th of December 2019

I believe they did offer room service. We did not take advantage of it. - Jenn

Jessica Fletcher

Monday 23rd of September 2019

Thanks for your awesome review! Just wondering what off-site restaurant you went to for dinner. My family is gluten and dairy free and we will be visiting in the near future!!

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