How We Used 68,000 Chase Points for a 2-Night Stay at Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim (and 3 Full Water Park Days!)
One of our favorite family travel hacks is using points for experiences that would otherwise feel really expensive—especially with four kids. This trip to Great Wolf Lodge Anaheim was a perfect example of how Chase points can turn a pricey family getaway into a no-brainer.
💳 The Points Breakdown
Points used: 68,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards
Cash value of stay: $925
Out-of-pocket cost: $0
Value per point: 1.36 cents per point
We booked this stay through the Chase Travel portal, where Chase points can be redeemed at a fixed value (depending on which Chase card you hold). While 1.36 cpp isn’t a “headline-grabbing” redemption, this booking absolutely won in real-life family value.
🏊 3 Full Days at the Water Park (This Is the Real Win)
Here’s where Great Wolf Lodge shines for families:
2 nights = 3 full days of water park access
Day of check-in
Full day in between
Day of check-out
If you’ve ever priced out water parks for a family of six, you know how fast those tickets add up. Having unlimited access included with our hotel stay meant:
No extra ticket costs
No rushing to “get our money’s worth”
Easy breaks for food, naps, or dry clothes
For our kids (ages 5–12), this was basically a mini resort vacation without needing to leave the property.
🤔 Why This Redemption Still Makes Sense (Even at 1.36 cpp)
A lot of points talk focuses on squeezing out the maximum cents-per-point value—but when you’re traveling as a family, cash savings matter just as much.
Here’s why we loved this use of points:
$925 saved on a single weekend stay
Zero cash outlay (huge win for the travel budget)
An experience our kids still talk about
No award availability stress like with flights
Sometimes the best redemption is the one that lets you say yes to a trip you might otherwise skip.
🧠 Takeaway for Families Using Chase Points
If you’re sitting on Chase points and:
Want an easy, stress-free redemption
Need space and entertainment for kids
Prefer driving trips or theme-park-adjacent stays
Using Chase points for hotels like Great Wolf Lodge can be an excellent family travel hack, even if the cents-per-point isn’t sky-high.
We’d make this redemption again in a heartbeat—and honestly, the kids are already asking when we’re going back. 😄