The lodge is what it is - the perfect place for kids! We were a party of 4 adults and 4 kids (ages ranging from 2-13) staying in the Grizzly Bear Suite and it was the perfect size for us.
It's true that the lodge is a money pit. It's a resort, so that's to be expected. Bring your own water and food to save a lot of money. Splurge on the items that you really want. You don't have to do everything to have a good time. The two older kids (8 and 13) did the Magic Quest wand activity, along with visiting the arcade and spending the majority of the time in the pool. The little ones (ages 2 and 6) spent the majority of the time in the pool and arcade. Everyone had a lot of fun.
Plan so you don't need a locker. You can bring bags into the pool area while you wait for your room to be ready. Have someone stay back and sit with them at a table. When you receive the page for your room, go drop off your bags and head back to the pool. Easy. For little ones, have them measured at the pool entrance so they receive their appropriate height wrist band so you know exactly which slides they are able to ride.
I think a lot of the negative reviews are from people who either had their expectations way too high or are upset because they didn't get exactly what they wanted. Each staff member we came in contact with was pleasant and friendly. We can't wait to come back again!