Staycation at the Arizona Grand Resort with Kids
Another great Phoenix staycation spot is the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa. The Grand is loved by families because of the huge Oasis Waterpark.
Complete with a lazy river, wave pool, large slides, a baby pool/splash pad, oversized hot tub, and a large pool with volleyball nets and room to swim and play – this resort has it all! The Arizona Grand is conveniently located right off the I-10, just at the base of the South Mountain in south Phoenix. This is one of our favorite spots to visit every summer. It is close to home but feels like the perfect waterpark getaway. The waterpark is already open to visitors this summer, and have implemented sanitation procedures to ensure the safety of guests.
This resort is LARGE, but transport around the resort is easy- just call up the front desk and a golf cart will swing by and take you around the resort. When it comes to rooms, there are a few different options. All rooms have been recently upgraded and are quite luxurious! They feature a separate living area with a pull-out couch, which is perfect for the kids! The resort suites are located throughout the property, whereas the deluxe suites (same floorplan) are located near the Oasis Waterpark.
The Villas are incredible! You can get a full one king bedroom with a living room, full kitchen, and an oversized bathroom. These rooms are located right by the Oasis Waterpark also, so you will be able to go back and forth easily throughout the day. Normally, I will book a resort suite and then ask about upgrading at check-in, and the upgrade is typically quite a bit less than if you had initially booked the room!
For dining at the AZ Grand, there are some limitations due to social distancing. As of right now, the restaurant located in the lobby, as well as the Marketplace Cafe (where you can get your Starbucks) are both closed. The lobby bar has limited their menu to just beverages. There is the option to get food poolside at the Oasis Waterpark (10am-6pm on Fri/Sat and 10am-5pm on weekdays), or you can head up the mountain a few minutes and eat dinner at the Phoenix favorite Rustler’s Rooste (closed Monday and Tuesday). There is another restaurant, Aunt Chilada’s right off property, but it is currently closed.
The resort is also a few minutes away from the AZ Mills Mall, which has quite a few food choices! This mall is also the location of other great attractions like SeaLife, and Legoland Discovery Center.
So now let’s talk about the best part, the Oasis Waterpark!
The waterpark is currently open:
Monday – Thursday 10am – 5pm, Friday 10am – 8pm, Saturday 9am – 8pm, Sunday 9am – 5pm
The waterpark does not allow any food or drink to be brought inside (sealed water bottles are ok- bring empty water bottles for the kids and fill up from the drinking stations), but as mentioned above, they do have a bar/grill located at the pool (currently walk-up and to-go, rather than served by poolside attendants). The food is a bit pricey, so just be aware of that!
The Oasis Wave Pool and Zuni River have rafts available to float and relax in! The 3 slides, Free Fall, Roadrunner, and Sidewinder are 8 stories tall (you will not catch me on those!!) and have a 48-inch height requirement. Wildcat Springs is perfect for the little kids to splash around in. There are also cabanas available to reserve for the day for an added price.
The waterpark really is the highlight of the resort and is perfect for kids of all ages! Right now, the lounge chairs are spaced apart and are being sanitized after each use to ensure safety. During a typical summer, the Oasis Waterpark will have DJ dance parties pool-side and dive-in movies, but right now those features are on hiatus until later phases of reopening!
The resort also offers a large pond on the golf course grounds, which is a perfect place to take a morning stroll. Once the Cafe reopens, I suggest getting up early and walking the grounds with the kids to pick up a coffee and some pastries. The pond is full of ducks and last year we even saw 3-4 families of ducklings! We then head back to the room and suit up so that we can get the most out of our waterpark day! If the waterpark is too crowded, or you prefer a morning or evening swim, the resort does have multiple other pools open from 6am-10pm. I have never visited these pools, but plan to on my next visit!
The resort also has a spa, which is closed right now, but it would be great to visit if this is an adult-only staycation, or if you can leave the kids with someone else for a bit and get in some pampering. I have not even been to the spa, but I have heard positive reviews! The golf course is currently open and although not my cup of “tee,” it is still there for those who like to golf!
Booking direct on the Arizona Grand’s website is currently the best way to score a deal to the resort (be sure to click on AZ Resident Rate when choosing a room). Right now, there are specials including a $50 room credit, as well as an “extended stay” promo, offering up to 40% off two nights or more. Also, from time to time, the resort offers awesome staycation deals on their Facebook page . Just remember that the resort does have a $59 a night resort fee which includes wristbands to the waterpark. If you just want to visit the waterpark and not stay the night, day passes are located with Resort Pass.
Overall, the Arizona Grand really is the perfect family staycation spot! The waterpark is awesome and the rooms are gorgeous. So skip the long hours of travel and visit this local Phoenix spot, where you will feel like you are on an exotic vacation, without the hassle!
Looking for other great staycation ideas? Try the Princess in Scottsdale, or Great Wolf Lodge!
