Chula Vista, Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells

Chula Vista Resort

In January of 2006 we stayed at the Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. We went there for a weekend getaway with our 3 kids, ages 5, 3, and 7 months. We also met extended family there. The Chula Vista is one of the newly built properties in the Wisconsin Dells area. It is along the river near the downtown side of the Dells. It is a large property and is still in the process of expanding. The accommodations at the Chula Vista were very nice. Since it is fairly new, the decorating is very modern. The rooms were big. We had a standard room with 2 queen beds, a pull out sofa, a bathroom with the vanity area on the outside, and amenities such as a fridge and microwave. Our extended family had a 3 bedroom condo that was beautiful. There was a large living room with a jacuzzi tub and fireplace in it, a full kitchen, a dining table, and 3 bedrooms. The master bedroom had a king bed and a private bath. The 2nd bedroom had 2 double beds and the bathroom was outside the room off the living room. The 3rd bedroom was a connected standard room, just like we had, with 2 queen beds, a pull out sofa, and a bathroom. The decorating in the condo was awesome. The chula vista has an indoor and outdoor water park. We were there in the winter, so we only experienced the indoor water park. Compared to The Wilderness and Great Wolf Lodge, also at the Wisconsin Dells, we didn't think the Chula Vista indoor water park compared as well. Now the Chula Vista is still expanding and not totally complete, so there is a possibility that it could be better as time goes on. The indoor water park was new, but we thought it looked and felt a little old. There was a kiddie area with shallower water, smaller slides, and squirt guns. There was a pool with water basketball and a rope climb that went across the pool. There was a lazy river and a large tree house type water play area with bridges, slides, a dumping bucket, and various squirters. There was a roller coaster type water ride where two people sit in an inflatable boat and you are pushed with water up and down the hills. There is also some speed racing slides and what we call the toilet bowl ride, where you go down a water slide into a large round bowl that you spin around in until you are pushed out the little hole at the end. That was it for the water park. It was ok and the kids had fun, although we have been to nicer water parks throughout the years. At the Chula Visita there is also an arcade. There is an underground tunnel that you walk through to get to the water park area. We lucked out and got a room right by the elevator to go down to the tunnel level. Some people were complaining the they had a long walk to get to the water park. You have to remember, though, that these mega resorts at the Dells are big and that you will have to do some walking. Since our group had the full kitchen in the condo, we prepared and ate our meals together in our room. It was nice. When you travel with a large group to the resorts in the Wisconsin Dells, this is what most people do. If you are going with just your single family, then you can dine out easier. My husband said that on Sunday when we were checking out, that it was crazy. There were lots of people checking out and not enough luggage carts. There is no bellman service and the elevator wait time was long. I would suggest thinking ahead and doing some planning around this to make your check out easier. On our last morning, we ate at the resort's breakfast buffet. We didn't like it. We got there later and it looked like a million people had been there before us. The buffet was sloppy and there was smashed food all over the floor. The staff could not keep up. One thing nice about the Wisconsin Dells is that the resorts let you stay and play at the water parks for the day after you check out. I would recommend the Chula Vista, although The Wilderness and The Great Wolf Lodge are a notch above the Chula Vista.

www.chulavistaresort.com