Are the water parks worth it??

[disneyvoice]

We are buying APs for our trip in October, however we can't decide if we should get APs or PAPs.

We have never been to the water parks before but are planning a day at each park in October. I am not really a water slide lover so I am more looking forward to them simply for the sun and scenary. My DH likes the tamer water slides. Our son will be two so he will be very limited at the water parks.

With that said, would we be better off just getting an AP and enjoying the resort pools in the future. We will probably never do Disney Quest, and unless our parents happen to be with us to baby sit we will probably not dp Pleasure Island either. So it basically comes down to whether the water parks are worth the extra money for the PAP.

 

[dgaston]

I think the water parks are worth it, but in your case probably as a separate admission. This year, I think the AP includes a discount at the water parks, or you could try one of the internet brokers for discounted tickets (I've used www.floridaorlandotickets.net and www.ticketmania.com ) The PAP doesn't save you money unless you plan on visiting water parks at least four times a year.

I like TL even tho BB has the best family raft ride!

 

[mudhen]

disneyvoice,

I'm facing the same dilemma for our trip this
July. My 5 yr. old daughter loves B.B., but my
15 month old daughter will be too young. I was
flip flopping back and forth with the AP and PAP
money difference, then I read somewhere that there
is an AP for the water parks only. It is about
$100 or so for adults, a little cheaper for kids.
Combine the AP water park pass and the cost of an
AP, it's a little cheaper than the cost of a PAP (I think). So your enjoying the places you'll go,
and not paying for the ones you won't (Disneyquest,
P.I.)

Look into it, it might work out for ya.

 

[grinningghost]

This is a subject that I'm pretty passionate about. I have found, that on our most recent trips, our best times were spent in the waterparks. So much so, that I wondered later why we didn't spend more time at them. There's something very relaxing about being there - you don't have to do the crazy slides, although I do like them. My favorite part is floating around on the inner tubes that go around the parks.

Water parks are especially wonderful if you go in summer. The heat is so intense, that you just crave water. It's very refreshing. If you're not sure, maybe you should get a separate admission to TL or BB and try it. You'll know for the next time. I recommend at least trying them. They're that great.

 

[buzz2400]

I agree with grinningghost. We go on the lazy river tube ride and float for hours. It is so relaxing. I think TL is more tamer than BB but that is my opinion. They also have an area (I believe at both water parks) for the smaller children. We love the water parks.

 

[jaletu2000]

If your two year old loves water (like most do) then you should definitely do a water park! I doubt you'll regret it one bit. We did one in May and Boy! I wonder why we hesitated.

Typhoon Lagoon is a good one to start with as it's so laidback and shady. Be careful of the tidal pool though. Those waves can knock you down!

There is a cute smaller kids area with small slides and stuff to play on. I agee with above posters - pay for one separately so you won't put too much money into it. Then you'll know for future reference.

 

[MELSMICE]

It will depend on how many times you go to the water parks as to whether it is a good value to get the PAP's or the AP's. As one poster said, you need to go at least 4X to get your money's worth.

I think that your 2 year would get free admission. That being said, my kids loved the water parks when they were that age, but they had just as much fun at the resort pool & playing in the sand.

When they were that age we only did the water parks when we had a pass that the pluses would expire before we left to go home (I don't think they have those passes any more). Otherwise, we did the resort pools.

Now that they are older they take advantage of more water park attractions & enjoy them more. Anyway, if it was me, I would get the AP's & if you decide to go to a water park one day just get the one day tickets (I think you get a discount with your AP's).

 

[tjkraz]

The biggest mistake we made our last trip was not visiting the water park until the second to last day--and even then only allowing ourselves about 2 1/2 hours. Our 22mo son is a real water bug, and had an absolute blast (as did we parents, of course).

We visited Typhoon Lagoon, but both of the parks have great areas specifically for younger children. It didn't matter to him that the children's area was only a fraction of the entire park--he couldn't get enough. TL even has a raft ride in the kids' area. Its made just for the children, and probably isn't more than 100 feet long in a zig-zag layout. I don't remember seeing a bigger smile on my son's face the entire trip than when he was riding those rafts. Every time he was dumped into the basin at the end of the canal, he would reach up for me and just keep saying "More! More!"

TL also has pleanty of kid-sized slides, wading pools, fountains, water guns to shoot mom and dad, etc.

You (disneyvoice) mention a lack of interest in water slides in your post. But if you think that TL and BB are merely packed with water slides, you couldn't be more wrong. TL has the wave pool (obviously), a family raft ride, Shark Reef (snorkling with real sharks), Castaway Creek (a slow-moving raft ride that carries you around the perimeter of the park), and more. I've never been to BB, but most people seem to consider it superior to TL.

I can't help you decide between the PAP or single-day admission to a water park, but I can promise that the water parks are permanent fixtures in our future touring plans.

 

[Piglet203]

I have to agree...water parks are a must to my WDW vacation. It's funny because before I did a WDW water park, I thought it was going to be like any other water park at other amusement parks. Well, I was wrong. Disney really does it up for the water parks. THe parks have fast, thrill seeking water slides, but tamer ones as well. I don't really like the steep water slides, but I still find slides that are a lot of fun! I also think that the wave pools are great! Don't forget the lazy river....believe me, you won't want to get off Maybe give a water park a try and see what you think. At least you'll know for the future. In my opinion, I'd go to Blizzard Beach....I think it's the better of the two....more to do and better theming

 

[jdads2]

We all loved Typhoon Lagoon and would have gone back if we would have 1.known how much fun we would have had and 2. not been so exhausted form opening and closing the park.

We wouldn't get the PAP because we go during the cooler months of the year and there is no guarentee of warm weather so we make a "day of" decision before we head to the water parks.

 

[AnnaS]

We don't go to WDW as often as some of the regulars and we always do one or two water parks. They are a must, especially during the summer. I find it amazing that people who have gone way, way more times than us have never experienced the water parks once. I think it is also great if you ever go with friends/family on a WDW vacation. It so much easier to spend that day together. Find chairs, sit, relax, lazy river or whatever. You can do rides together or meet back at chairs/table. I found this easier than trying to do a park together. Your kids are young though - they are usually happy just staying at a themed pool at the resort all day.