Best Water Park Strategy?

[PadmeNaberie]

Hello all!

I am no newbie to WDW, but I have never been to the water parks. I am planning a trip for May 2016, and hoping to hit the water parks for the first time!

What are your favorite strategies? What will the crowds be like on a Saturday in early May?

We will be staying at POR; I am thinking we will probably go to Blizzard Beach in the morning because it is the more popular of the two so I wanna get there before it's too crowded and, then Typhoon Lagoon in the afternoon until close and then its a quick ride back to the hotel; or should it be the other way around?

I am lost!!

Thanks!!

 

[Baptist]

Like you, we have never been to the water parks. So for our trip in July, we are going to take one day and hit both water parks. Our plan is the same as yours (Blizzard Beach in the morning followed by Typhoon Lagoon in the afternoon). I sounds like a solid plan.

 

[Alesia]

Hello all!

I am no newbie to WDW, but I have never been to the water parks. I am planning a trip for May 2016, and hoping to hit the water parks for the first time!

What are your favorite strategies? What will the crowds be like on a Saturday in early May?

We will be staying at POR; I am thinking we will probably go to Blizzard Beach in the morning because it is the more popular of the two so I wanna get there before it's too crowded and, then Typhoon Lagoon in the afternoon until close and then its a quick ride back to the hotel; or should it be the other way around?

I am lost!!

Thanks!!

Crowds will be low, especially in the morning.

I wouldn't plan on a quick trip back to the hotel, though. Currently, after 2:00 all departing TL buses only drop off at Epcot and you'll have to transfer from there. I don't think there's any word on when that will change.

Personally, I wouldn't attempt them on the same day. Waterparks are exhausting.

 

[georgina]

I agree to go to BB early and do the slides, the lines for those build up as the day goes on. Save the pool and lazy river for later.

I haven't been to TL in years so I was going to try next trip; I think I may just take a cab back to my resort to catch ME to the airport. I hope there are cabs around! (2 in one day sounds tiring to me also.)

 

[NavyDad]

If you like water slides get to BB early and do them first thing (30 minutes before open). Then go to TL later in the day and enjoy the wave pool for a bit and then hit the reef and Crush 'N Gusher last hour of the park.

Like PP said though - I honestly would not try to do them the same day. If you have two days spread them out. If you have just one day pick one, get there ealy to hit the major stuff and then relax in the lazy river and/or a chair in the shade.

We like to do a water park in the morning, stay until later afternoon, go back to the room and change before going to a nice dinner. Pretty much a perfect day...

 

[cgattis]

You may already know this, but I'll just say it in case.....There is no hopper option on WP tickets, so you'd burn two entries. If you've got them to spare, but not enough time to do a day at each, I can understand. But you'd find plenty to fill an entire day at either one, too. Have fun!! We love both.

 

[PadmeNaberie]

You may already know this, but I'll just say it in case.....There is no hopper option on WP tickets, so you'd burn two entries. If you've got them to spare, but not enough time to do a day at each, I can understand. But you'd find plenty to fill an entire day at either one, too. Have fun!! We love both.

Hm- We are getting park hoppers with the "water parks and more" option.. does that only allow you one visit to a water park?

 

[DisCatGirl]

Hm- We are getting park hoppers with the "water parks and more" option.. does that only allow you one visit to a water park?

You get as many visits as you have days on your tix. Example: if you have an 8 day water parks and more ticket, you get 8 entrances into the extras (water parks, Quest, etc).

 

[PadmeNaberie]

You get as many visits as you have days on your tix. Example: if you have an 8 day water parks and more ticket, you get 8 entrances into the extras (water parks, Quest, etc).

That is per person- correct? So if there is 3 of us for 9 days, it would be 27 visits...?

 

[DisCatGirl]

That is per person- correct? So if there is 3 of us for 9 days, it would be 27 visits...?

Yes and No. The visits are not transferrable. So each person would have 9. If someone doesn't want to go to a water park, those visits could not be used by someone else. Really - I can't imagine you guys would use all your entitlements. Will you go to the water parks more than 9 times in 9 days? Probably not. You'll be fine. Have fun!

 

[maryandtyson]

Yes, the WPF and M tix are per person.

We love the water parks and we have done both in one day. However, you will feel rushed. We enjoy doing rope drop at a park like AK and then hit BB after lunch. Another day we might do TL at opening and hit EPCOT later in the day for dining and Illuminations.

 

[123SA]

Yes, per person. Your 9 day ticket entitles each of to 9 visits. You can re-enter the SAME place in the same day. Otherwise, if you start with 9, go to TL and BB in the same day, you now have 7 left.

 

[PadmeNaberie]

Yes, per person. Your 9 day ticket entitles each of to 9 visits. You can re-enter the SAME place in the same day. Otherwise, if you start with 9, go to TL and BB in the same day, you now have 7 left.

Awesome, thank you!

 

[CheshireSteve]

My wife and I just got back from our first WDW trip over Memorial Day weekend (so the parks were plenty busy). We did both BB and TL on consecutive weekend days (Saturday and Sunday). Water parks opened at 9am and we got there about 9:30 for each. For each, we were able to do the bigger slides first (Humunga Cowabunga, Crushin Gusher, and Summit Plummet) followed by some of the smaller slides and the lazy river last. On both days we were out by around noon and were able to head back to the hotel and freshen up before heading out to the parks.

 

[Iam.Goofy]

Baptist is going to the water parks in July. Here is something to keep in mind: every afternoon in July it rains, usually with a thunderstorm. The water parks have to shut down for thunderstorms. Therefore I recommend getting to the water park early and having alternative plans in the afternoon in case the water park closes.

 

[TheFabFive]

We have never been to any of the Waterparks as well. This is some good information.

 

[barbliny]

be forewarned - the waterparks are a lot of walking and a lot of stairs and a lot of carrying tubes and floats - you will get tired fast

and there is very, very little shade

but, you will have fun

if you have anything valuable - send one person to get a locker on the way in - they go fast

and the refillable mug is worth it, especially on a hot day

 

[GoofyJen]

Thank you for making this thread. We will be there in 7 days!! Good to know the waterpark can be done in a half a day. Which park takes longer BB or TL?

 

[tink9702]

Can you bring a soft sided cooler into the water parks as long as no glass in it?

 

[bas71873]

Are towels provided at the water parks or do we bring our own?