Blizzard Beach Kids Play Areas- Quick Answers Please!

[LSB]

Help! We leave at 6am tomorrow!

DH just found our old '04 park hoppers that have unused "plusses" still on them! We've never been to the water parks so why not!

We're arriving Sun 6/4 and will head to MK Mon 6/5.
After reading other threads that compare the two water parks, I'm leaning towards Blizzard Beach on Tuesday 6/6. Hope to avoid large crowds(Tues)- will arrive early.

My question is about the kids areas.

DS (6) just finished Kindergarten but is tall for his age. I just measured him without shoes...50 inches! DD (5) is going into kindergarten and is barely 44 inches tall with her shoes on.

What should I do? Will the CM let DS play in Tikes Peak w/ us supervising even though he's a little too tall? Or will the CM let DD play in the Ski Patrol Training Camp (I didn't see a height requirement mentioned).

The WDW website describes Ski Patrol Camp as perfect for preteens ... how "rough" is it? The pictures for Tikes Peak look like it would be perfect for our kids... they're not experienced swimmers and have not been to a water park before.

How is the slide in Ski Patrol Camp? The website mentioned inner tubes, but I didn't see any pictures.

THANKS in advance

 

[tink1978]

I do not know the answer for sure....I do have a feeling that they will not allow him to play if he is taller than the maximum height, though..maybe someone else can answer for sure. Have fun on your trip!!

 

[WDWLinda]

Sorry, I forget which area is which - I'll just refer to them as the pre-teen and kiddy areas...

My 15 mo. old was playing in the kiddy area last month and I felt there were too many older kids there, acting a bit rough. But I just figured they had siblings there too. Didn't see the CMs telling them to leave the area.

My 4.5 yr old played in the pre-teen area and had a ball. They have the area where you walk across the "icebergs" while holding onto a rope overhead. My son at first was too short to reach the rope so my husband stayed in the water next to him to help guide him over the bergs. Then we discovered we could pull the rope down for him to grab onto. They also have a ripline thing and I think a short slide in the area. He also enjoyed the toboggan races area (outside of the pre-teen area).

Both areas are next to each other, so I'm sure you'll go back and forth.

My husband and I each took our 4 yr old on the family raft ride, Gangplank Falls, which was fun, but I grabbed onto his upper arm with a death grip, fearing he'd fall out or the raft would turn over. They'll put you in with 2 other people, so just make sure they don't look like daredevils. We also had a life vest on my son.

Overall I thought BB was better suited for the pre-teen kids, but we've had fun at both water parks.

Have a great time!!!!

~Linda

 

[LSB]

Thanks! Any other tips/ advice?

 

[flynnibus]

my oldest is almost 8 and just shy of 50 inches. they didn't give her any problems going down the slides in the kiddie area (also riding with my 6 yr old who was about 44").

The ski patrol area has water roughly 3' or shallower. The zip line (T-bar) is fun, but requires they paddle/swim to the edge to get out. The slides are good for their age group.. but my two older ones also loved the mat slides on the mountain.

The kiddie area has more of the water spouts to play in, etc.. where ski patrol has the larger slides, zip line, and floating pads (icebergs). Unfortunatly it doesn't have much of a idle/play area.. only specific activities, but my kids loved the wave pool for idle playing.

The wave pool in BB is more of a ripple pool... no unique waves, just up/down motion and is shallower then most.

 

[stm61]

Tyke's Peak is for preschoolers, Ski Patrol is for ages 4 - 12 or so. Both of them will love Ski Patrol. There's enough to keep your ds from being bored and there's no min. height requirement for your dd. My dd's7 were 6 our last visit, one was about 48", the other just barely 44". They both loved it there. The water isn't deep, except on the zip-line ride, it was not even close to being over the smaller one's head. Neither of mine are strong swimmers. I was able to sit on a chair at the side and watch them in the water. Ds12 split his time between the bigger rides and Ski Patrol, there were enough kids his age that he didn't look out of place with the smaller ones, but they never got to rough to be in there with the younger kids.They had all the rides listed above, I think there was a tube slide ride also. None of them are to high or fast for 5/6 yr olds. I didn't try the Tyke's Peak area, we asked a cm when we entered which area would be best for the girls and he directed us to Ski Patrol. From what I've heard from others, unless your kids are very cautious or quiet, they'd be bored with Tyke's. It sounds like it's mostly for toddlers.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We visited last year. DS was 7, DD just turned 2.

DS is tall for his age, 53 inches and nothing was ever said that he had to leave the kiddie area, though he was with DD and I.

DD loved the kiddie area as well as the family raft ride. I think we rode it 10 times. Though she is a very daring 2 year old.

DS loved the ski patrol. He loved the slides and the ice glaciers to walk across. There is a bar that they can hang onto that goes out on a cable, stops and they fall off. That water is deeper. Over DS's head. He said that was alot of fun also.

Get there early! We were there last September on a weekday and it was crowded!

 

[WDWNicole]

I took DS5 to BB in April. He is 44 inches and could not stand in the water that the ice bergs are in or at the bottom of the body slide. I just stayed near him on the ice bergs and caught him at the bottom of the slide. He also spent time in the younger kids area with no problems.

 

[LSB]

Thanks everyone for the great information!
The van's packed and ready to go

I appreciate getting some last minute help with our plans... You guys are awesome!