2 (almost 3) year old at Blizzard Beach

[kbkids]

On our May trip, our DS will turn 3 the last day of our trip, so he's still free for this trip. My question is about Blizzard Beach. He loves the water and is quite used to being in pools. We are taking our DD6 to Blizzard Beach, but we are unsure whether or not to take him. Grandparents are going to be with us, so we have the option of leaving him at the hotel with them to play in the pool at the hotel. Grandparents do not want to go to Blizzard Beach, and they are fine with keeping him if we decide to go that route. My question is, should we? I don't see too much at Blizzard Beach that he is going to be able to enjoy without us splitting up and one parent spending most of the day on the rides with the 6 year old and the other (probably me ) sitting at Tike's Peak with him. I'm assuming he could probably ride Teamboat Springs and Cross Country Creek with us, but other than that, I'm just not sure. What do you think? Let him spend the day with Grandma or take him with us?

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Good question! I want to know too. I have a 2 3/4 yr old and was wondering the same thing. Should we pay the extra $ to go or should we just spend the time at the resort pool?

 

[kbkids]

In our situation, I'm honestly thinking about leaving him with Grandma. We're doing his "birthday" dinner at Chef Mickey's that night, and I think he (and all of the rest of us too ) would be happier if he had a good nap that afternoon. I guess I just feel a little guilty since this is HIS birthday trip, and here we are leaving him on our first day there. But our hotel has a nice pool, as well as a kiddy pool, so I know he will be happy with Grandma too.

Brigitte, is Tristan the 2 year old? Or is it an old picture, and you're wondering about Caroline? If it's Tristan, I would definitely skip it. I don't think you would get your money's worth if you've got two children with you that young. If it's Caroline, looks like you're in the same situation as me.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Yep.... It's Tristan. We thought maybe we'd go and I'd sit w/ the baby while DH plays w/ Tristan on Tike's Peak and then switch parents every once in a while although I only have 2 wks to fit into my bathing suit since I haven't lost all of my baby weight yet. I remember taking the nephews and there being really fun and small slides for the youngsters. So I thought he would get a kick out of those. I remember Typhoon Lagoon had a really cute water area for kids, where water squirts up and there are alligators and other such animals. He'd definitely be too young for the icebergs at Tike's Peak.

So you are thinking it may be too much for him? We are buying AP's w/o the water parks and would have to pay extra to go there. Not a big deal, but if he can only do 2 slides, we may as well wait until the next trip and enjoy the pool. He can swim directionally, but doesn't stay afloat w/o a preserver yet. I thank you in advance for your opinions.

 

[kbkids]

Oh - please don't not go strictly off my opinion - we've never been at all before, to either one of the water parks, so I'm a horrible judge! I'm just looking at the web site, and based on that, there doesn't look like a whole lot for that age group. Cross Country Creek looks to be like a tube ride, just floating down the creek, and I would imagine he could sit with a parent on the tube. And Teamboat Springs is one of those round rafts that like 6 people can fit in that goes down a water slide. Everything else, other than Tike's Peak, looks like rides that you're going to have to be able to go on by yourself. I don't see any height requirements on them, but having been to other water parks and having a general idea of what those type of rides are like, a 2 year old just isn't going to be able to do it safely, in my opinion. They've got to really understand to hang on to their mat, or on the ones without mats, their weight (or lack of it) might cause them to go down too fast, hit their head, etc. If I were you, I would wait until next time. I'm sure he'd enjoy the things that he is able to do, but I don't know if it would be worth $70, plus those $3 ice cream cones he'll have to have .

Hope someone else comes along with a more educated opinion. Again, my opinion is based on other waterparks that we've been too.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

LOL about the ice cream cones!

I really appreciate your thoughts. I've been there several times, but never looked at it w/ a young child's parent's eyes. Now I am kicking myself for not remembering. I was too busy hitting the big slides.

But your thoughts do make a lot of sense. And my hunch tells me you are right. We're supposed to visit again in Dec 04 or Jan 05 and I will post again at that time and maybe then we will try it.

He'll probably enjoy just milling and floating around the BWV pool more anyway! And then we can always go back to our room for a nap!

Thanks again for your insight!

 

[TiffJ]

We were there last May with my 5yo and 2yo. It was one of the most fun things we did. We were there on Mothers Day. They have a great younger kids area with little slides they can go down, splash pool with spouts & even a sand play area. They make sure bigger kids are there to run over the little ones. There is also a family raft ride that he can go on that was our absolute favorite. We rode it 3 times & would have ridden it more if we didnt have to hike up to the top of the mountain. He also went in the lazy river with us. I would definately take him. It is a great family park & also has plenty of shaded areas to cool off.

 

[Mr D]

I have been to BB 4 times this week, the temps get up to 70-75 degrees. Its just me with my 10 year old son, his favorite place is the Ski Patrol Training Area that has all kinds of activities for kids his size and age, but nearby is an excellant Tiny Tots pool, slide, and water squirters that is heated really really warm currently, its perfact for the under 5 children, of course they are monitored constantly by Lifeguards, the water is very shallow and has areas with loungers and pool chairs, by all means bring the little ones. even now in the middle of winter (this is Florida...) its mildly warm, averages are under 75, little wind and the sun isn't too harsh, make sure you use a CHILD approved sunscreen.

 

[MinniMama]

personally I'd go to TL if its open because you can park your stuff by the wave pool - there is an area with a tide pool type place plus a buoy to say not to go out far and the bigger ones can do waves but the best part is you are close to little kids area and lazy river thing so we find this better than BB plus I love the sand versus pavement painted as snow. We have a 3, 9, 12 so I am always parked. At BB my kids want to be a ski patrol and its wild for little one and she liked Tikes peak but I was loney for the gang. TL worked better for us. Good luck but I vote for not leaving him with grandma but I am all about togetherness LOL

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Thanks TiffJ, Mr. D, and MinniMama. I've just changed my mind. Typhoon Lagoon is closed most of the time I am there, but if the weather is relatively warm I will take him to Blizzard Beach one of the days. He is such a fishy. The baby just tags along and I can watch from the lounges nearby Tike's Peak as my husband plays w/ my almost 3 yr old. I appreciate your posts!!! I remembered Typhoon Lagoon having a cute water area for tots, just couldn't remember BB's. I'm looking forward to our day at BB now!