Best Water Park for Younger Kids

[KaboomBoxer]

We're going to be at Orlando Disney in August for a fortnight and plan on spending a couple of days in the water parks during our stay .

My sons are 4 and 7, which Disney water parks are the best for kids that age?

 

[Klayfish]

I'd recommend doing a quick search here for "Blizzard Beach" or "Typhoon Lagoon" or "Water park", as that topic is discussed often. Cliff notes version (we LOVE both parks and go often):

It's pretty much split 50/50. Really, they're both great.

BB has a cool area for kids ages 3-10 roughly called Ski Patrol. Has zip lines, iceberg/rope crossing thing, small kiddie slides. But TL has a new family tube ride, a fun kids area too. They have VERY different wave pools. Both are fantastic, but they're drastically different. TL has huge waves...if the kids aren't good swimmers, they just stay in the very shallow end, we've had our kids in that pool since they were literally 1 year old. BB has small, constant waves, like being in a choppy ocean. It's a lot of fun too, you can sit in a tube and bob up and down (until you get sea sick... ).

You won't go wrong either way. If I HAD to choose just one for a 4 and 7 year old, maybe BB because of Ski Patrol. But if you're there for as long as you're going for, then I'd definitely go to both.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Our kids are 7 and 3 at the moment. I love both water parks equally, but I give the nod to BB with the kids. Overall it’s just a better fit for us in terms of number of suitable rides, layout, vibe, etc.

The Ski Patrol Training Camp is great for slightly older kids and Tike’s Peak is great for littles. TL doesn’t really have an equivalent to the Ski Patrol.

We love riding Teamboat Springs as a family.

We also prefer the more gentle wave pool at BB. TL’s wave pool is intense (and totally awesome) but I will be a happier parent there when my kiddos are older and better swimmers.

Have fun!

 

[KaboomBoxer]

T

I'd recommend doing a quick search here for "Blizzard Beach" or "Typhoon Lagoon" or "Water park", as that topic is discussed often. Cliff notes version (we LOVE both parks and go often):

It's pretty much split 50/50. Really, they're both great.

BB has a cool area for kids ages 3-10 roughly called Ski Patrol. Has zip lines, iceberg/rope crossing thing, small kiddie slides. But TL has a new family tube ride, a fun kids area too. They have VERY different wave pools. Both are fantastic, but they're drastically different. TL has huge waves...if the kids aren't good swimmers, they just stay in the very shallow end, we've had our kids in that pool since they were literally 1 year old. BB has small, constant waves, like being in a choppy ocean. It's a lot of fun too, you can sit in a tube and bob up and down (until you get sea sick... ).

You won't go wrong either way. If I HAD to choose just one for a 4 and 7 year old, maybe BB because of Ski Patrol. But if you're there for as long as you're going for, then I'd definitely go to both.

That's awesome advice, given what you've said I think we'll def do both .

 

[MisterPat]

Our problem with TL when the kids were that age was that the things that look like they are so fun were not really good for them. They really wanted to go in the wave pool and on crush n gusher. But neither one was a good experience for them (the younger one was not even tall enough for crush n gusher).

On the other hand, BB kids area was so much fun for them that we camped out in that area and they were never really asking about the wave pool or the big slides.

My vote for that age is BB.

 

[Linkura]

BB has a wave pool that is much gentler for kids, and a very nice kids' play area. Would go with BB.

 

[Elle :)]

I vote BB too. The wave pool at TL is intense! BB has a kid friendly area and the wave pool is more child friendly. It's more adult friendly too IMO, since I can use a floaty when I get tired of swimming.

 

[Klayfish]

The only part I'd disagree with here is that the wave pool for BB is "gentler" for kids. Sure, if you put the kids out in the deep end of TLs wave pool, that's true. But since it's a zero entry pool, the shallow end is great for kids. In fact, TL has a kiddie play area in the same body of water as the wave pool, right off to the left side (looking into the pool). The waves in BB pool are much smaller, but since they're frequent and consistent, the water can get pretty choppy in the shallow end. Trying to walk through it sometimes can be a challenge, even for a strong adult like me. So I know what you guys/gals are saying, but I don't think the TL wave pool is a bad thing for little kids, as long as a tiny dash of common sense is used.

 

[TwinkleKS]

I always feel like at TL you have to "watch" yourself more in the wave pool. It is zero entry so you can play along the edges. However, even if you and your kids are strong swimmers you can beat the h#ll out of yourselves in the pool with the waves. You kind of have to know how to take them once you get past the really shallow part, otherwise you will end up with scrapes all over.

 

[Klayfish]

I always feel like at TL you have to "watch" yourself more in the wave pool. It is zero entry so you can play along the edges. However, even if you and your kids are strong swimmers you can beat the h#ll out of yourselves in the pool with the waves. You kind of have to know how to take them once you get past the really shallow part, otherwise you will end up with scrapes all over.

No doubt about that, I totally agree. If you're not careful then yeah, you can get scraped up. My kids think it's hysterical when I lift them up and throw them in the air as the big wave is hitting....and we go into the relatively deeper end (about waist deep on an adult). Well, that leaves me with my arms full up facing the wave. I've still got a scar or two on my knee from scrapes I've gotten being washed away after being hit.