Waterparks for 4 & 6 yrs non swimmers

[alexandra uk]

I'd really like to visit a couple (at least 1) of the water parks, but DH is saying there is no point because the kids can't swim and don't like the big slides.
Has anyone took their non swimming little ones and had enough to do ?
If so which park out of the 4 big ones is best please ?

Thanks :)

[Dimplenose]

I took DD to Bizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon when she was 4. She couldn't swim unaided but wasn't afraid of the water. We hired boyancy vests for her and she had a great time in the kiddie areas. She also went on the family raft rides and the lazy rivesr with me. We thought she'd enjoy the waves at TL but fortunately another guest warned me how strong they were before we went in so we just stayed at the very edge and watched DH and DS get thrown about.

As a family we're not into the big slides any way.

Libby

[scojos]

last year kids were 3 and 5 and loved TL, and non swimmers.
We were not so impressed by BB mainly because of the snow theme everything is white, resulting in sun glare and sun burn...
will go to BB as dh wants to go this year, but will do later in the day
Tracy

[disneydopey]

My kids aren't strong swimmers and not great slide fans either. Best park for us is Typhoon Lagoon. When the big wave comes you can eaily get out of the way and its a lovely place to sit at the waters edge.

The lazy river is great and you get big rubber rings to sit in. Small kids can use ones that are solid in the middle so you don't have to worry about them slipping through. Its a great place and worth a visit.

If you go in the summer I would get there early as it gets really busy and if you are like us you are leaving by 1pm as its just toooo hot!:cool2:

[kellie37]

my middle two were 6 & 7 when we went and they couldnt swimm and used to cry when you washed their hair.

but we took their armband and they loved it they went down slides ans shoots and didnt moan once:eek:

we are going this year and our youngest will be 3 so we are taking a kids lifejacket thing. zogg do them in pink or blue, we went and looked at one in early learning center and they look great.

i hope you get to go to the water aprks as they are great fun
have a great holiday

kellie

[PoppyAnna]

We love the waterparks :lovestruc we feel our girls enjoy the days at the water parks the most, and we do too :goodvibes Our girls were 4 1/2 and 2 when we lasted visited in Oct 07.

When we went in May 07 and only visited TL - our girls loved the lazy river, they have "tyres" with no hole for children so they can easily sit on them (I would recommend holding them tight from your ring though). The childrens area at TL is a little annoying with water canons that older (5+) children just try to fire at adults and the younger ones. Our eldest DD was a non swimmer at the time (isn't now :rolleyes: ) and went down all the slides and rafts that she could for her height/age and we went down before her and "caught" her at the bottom - but she really doesn't mind going under the water.

When we went to WDW in Oct 07 we visited TL and BB and in our opinion BB suited our girls age range better, so much that we went back there another day instead of driving to Busch. The childrens area is better with tube slides they can do on their own and small regular slides. I didnt have a problem with the sun and reflection off the "snow" and I have a red haired 2yo.
I have loads of photos if you would like to see some of the things the girls "experienced" as non-swimmers. PM me your email address and I'll gladly send them to you.
Disney Waterparks get :thumbsup2 in our household.
DH wanted to try wet 'n' wild but we heard it was very "teenage".

[PoppyAnna]

we are going this year and our youngest will be 3 so we are taking a kids lifejacket thing. zogg do them in pink or blue, we went and looked at one in early learning center and they look great.

kellie

Vests in various are available at Disney waterparks, here are my girls in theirs in October 07. They worked a treat. I wouldn't bother buying anything and filling up your cases with it, borrow Disney's instead!
As you can see youngest is wearing a XS at age 2 and I think eldest was wearing a S at 4 1/2.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/poppyanna/OrlandoOctober2007167.jpg

[kellie37]

Vests in various are available at Disney waterparks, here are my girls in theirs in October 07. They worked a treat. I wouldn't bother buying anything and filling up your cases with it, borrow Disney's instead!
As you can see youngest is wearing a XS at age 2 and I think eldest was wearing a S at 4 1/2.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/poppyanna/OrlandoOctober2007167.jpg

thanks for that. will have more room in my suitcase for shopping now:banana: