Blizzard Beach vs Typhoon Lagoon

[maps]

Hi all
I have a 5 and 6 yr old who love the water. Could you tell me which park you liked and why. I'm trying to decide between the two.

I'm looking for lots of raft rides and places to get out of the sun.

Also, where can you get discount tickets? Do they give a AAA discount or anything?

thanks in advance

 

[novastar]

Blizzard Beach: lots of good and long slides (family ones too), not much shade

Typhoon Lagoon: long waits for shorter slides, shark reed scuba (free), more shady

both have lazy river, wavepool

 

[Deb & Bill]

Neither one really has a lot of shady spots, you have to get there early to find them. If you like slides, BB has the better slides. If you like waves, TL has a better wave pool. BB only has a bobbing pool. If you like to snorkle, TL has a shark reef where you can snorkle across and see the tropical fish, including small sharks.

Both have about the same number of family rafts, double and triple rafts. TL has the Crush n Gusher which is a water roller coaster. You get into single, double and triple rafts and ride up and down. Just opened this spring.

Both have a lazy river. TL goes clockwise, BB goes counterclockwise. BB drips very cold water as you go through the mountain. TL has you floating through a tropical area where they have misting sprinklers. TL has more tubes in the lazy river.

TL has Lilo and Stitch right now. BB has the IceGator.

 

[lovethattink]

If your children can swim on their own, I'd suggest Blizzard Beach. As you enter the park and get a locker, ask for one by the Ski Patrol Area. This is a preteen area and there are icebergs for climbing, small slides for sliding, this is a great place to play in the crowded afternoon. Once you get your locker and unload your stuff, grab a chair or a table that's under roof. Dump your stuff and head straight for the family slide, (either head up all the stairs at ski patrol or take the chair lift.) Once you ride the family slide, head to your left and hop in the lazy river. Get off at the 1st exit on your left hand side. There are tube slides there, 3 different ones. Then hop back in the lazy river. Get off at the next stop on your left. This is where the wave pool is. Skip the wave pool and head to the speed slides. There are 2 here. One is a tube speed slide, the other is a body on a mat speed race. Both are fun. Just a word of warning, both my son and I become airborn on the tube speed slide. It is fast! After this head to the wave pool. If you are there early enough, you can grab an innertube and relax. Ok by this time it is lunch time and you've done all the major slides, except Summit Plummit. Eat lunch. Enjoy the rest of your time at the ski patrol area, lazy river and wave pool. If either of the children would feel more comfortable wearing a life vest, you can "rent" one at the locker rental at the front of the park. You just have to give them your room key or driver's license to "rent" it.

 

[maps]

thanks fo much for the detailed answers. I'm leaning towards Blizzard Beach but who knows, I may change my mind at the last minute!

Anybody want to take a shot at how busy it will be sat the 2nd of July?

 

[crisi]

I'd go with BB. The wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon can be quite powerful for younger kids (though there is a sheltered area where you don't get the big waves). That said, this trip my 6 and 7 year old are trying TL for the shark reef.

As to crowds....my crystal ball says both parks will have reach capacity before noon.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

My almost 5 yo LOVED BB. There was so much more for him to do there.

 

[bwallace]

Dont know how true it is, but to me it seemed like there was alot more seating at Typhoon Lagoon. Also seemed less crowded (same times wed vs thur)

I also preferred the wave pool at TL. Seemed bigger, the bottom seemed smoother and the big waves are great (but there is a kids area that doesnt get pounded)