Calling All Disney Waterpark Veterans!

[disneyquilter]

Hi there,

My family and I will be going to Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon waterparks for the first time next June (2015). Can any of the DIS waterpark veterans give us some pointers (good times to go on a mid-June day, what to bring that you normally wouldn't think of, etc.)? Is there a FAQ thread here on the DIS?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[ZoZo]

You can rent towels for $2/day (or bring your own).

You can rent a locker for your valuables ($7 or $9 per day depending on the size) It's safe to leave things like sunscreen or bottled water on your beach chair, but don't leave things like cell phones or other valuables laying around.

Most people recommend wearing water shoes at the water parks - they make the type that are called "aqua socks" that work well, since the pavement can be hot. I don't wear them; I just leave my flip flops at my beach chair (I like to wear my flip flops in the restroom). You do have to take off your water shoes on the body slides and hold them over your chest.

Waterproof sunscreen is a must. I like Coppertone Sport Spray in the blue bottle; that stuff wears like cement! I had to scrub and scrub with a soapy washcloth to get it off!

One-piece swimsuits work best at the water parks - some of the slides can cause "wardrobe malfunctions" if you're wearing a bikini!

The wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon can be pretty rough - the waves are really big. you can get scraped up on the bottom of the pool if you're not careful.

 

[disneyquilter]

Thanks for the pointers Yes, we definitley don't want any waldrobe malfunctions.

Is it difficult to get a couple of chairs or should we rent an umbrella? A cabana is just too much for 4 people. Also, how crowded do you think TL and BB are in mid-June? Thanks bunches for all the info!!

 

[rpcvpanama]

We always arrive at the water parks about 20minutes before the park opens. This gives you time to rent the locker (if needed) get towels, etc. They block off most portions of the park so you can't go and get chairs before the park "officially" opens. If you want chairs with an umbrella or in the shade you will need to be there before the park opens and get in the line behind the rope. Those chairs go quickly. Also, at TL, we found riding the slides first thing worked best and then we would spend time in the lazy river or the wave pool. As the PP mentioned, the wave pool at TL is very big and the waves can be quite rough. BB wave pool is much smaller.

 

[huskies90]

My experience after several summer trips to the Disney waterparks:

We never rent towels. You really can’t carry your towel around with you and being wet from attraction to attraction is not a big deal. Really the only time you need it is when you ready to leave to dry off before changing. In the summer you dry off pretty fast without a towel.

We rarely get a locker – only times when we are coming from a theme park and have things we don’t want to leave out. After that, my advice is to not bring anything valuable to the park and just leave your t-shirts / shorts and flip flops at a chair.

We never wear pool shoes/flip flops/crocs or anything similar around the park. Disney is one of the few water parks I have been to that sprays water on the paths so it is very easy to get around without burning your bare feet.

Wear sunscreen. Goes without saying

We don’t get chairs and umbrellas. I don’t look at the water parks as a place to lounge. There are so many people!! I would do that at your resort pool not the water park. If you feel like relaxing, try the lazy river!!

To ride the rides, early AM (like every other park) is the best time to go - especially if they have EMH. The difference is there are no fastpasses so if you go later, you will wait for most of the headline rides. But they do move pretty fast.

Be careful of weather if you are planning to go later in the day. We do this often when we are at the parks in the AM then plan to go to the waterparks in the afternoon. If there are typical afternoon thunderstorms in the area, they will close down the attractions until the thunder/lightning clears. That can be a real bummer!!

A few people commented on the wave pool at TL. To add to the strong waves, be aware of the cement bottom. You will forget it is not sandy and soft like the ocean and you will scratch/cut yourself if a wave knocks you over.

We usually do the water parks for 1-2 hours at a clip. We go, we do a bunch of slides, lazy river, wave pool, etc then leave. I can’t imagine doing a whole day there. I guess if you are paying for a full day, it makes more sense. We usually have the special DVC premium AP’s so the waterparks are included.

If you have tweens/pre teens - The ski patrol section is blizzard beach is unique and a ton of fun and pretty cool that there is a "play section" for older kids.

Have fun!!

 

[nkereina]

We did TL on a day in late September, which is considerably slower than mid-June. We got there at opening and by lunch time, it was pretty packed. If you're interested in getting loungers together, I recommend getting there at opening.

We brought pool towels from our resort so we didn't have to rent them. Worked out well. We also got a locker because we didn't want to leave our stuff on a chair. We were sitting in the loungers by the wave pool, but found the lockers to be relatively convenient.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I would disagree with not wearing crocs water shoes or whatever That concrete gets hot as hades even with water spraying onto the paths

Otherwise I agree with waterproof sunscreen and get there first thing in the morning It does get packed as we get into hotter months

 

[DizMagic]

Just went to TL 2 weeks ago for first time. Amazing. we got there about 11 and stayed for a couple of hours. wasnt crowded, but this was mid May. We did end of getting rained out - but we were ready to go anyway.

I highly suggest the shark tank swim!!!!

 

[staceyeileen]

We bring our own towels.

We get there at rope drop.

We wear crocs or water shoes.

We don't get a locker. The only valuables we bring in the park are cash, credit card, and IDs, which I keep in my water proof lanyard that I got at the water park gift shop ($7). Well worth it.

We bring our own food and drinks in a cooler.

We do buy the sand pail of ice cream.

 

[disneyquilter]

Thanks for the tips everyone!!

I really wish the DISUnplugged gang would do a review of the waterparks one day

 

[disneyquilter]

Also, just thought about the MagicBands...can those get wet? We have never used the MagicBands since they implemented them, so just curious.

 

[missnic07]

Is there showers there where you can wash your hair etc when your finished swimming?

 

[Princess Leia]

Is there showers there where you can wash your hair etc when your finished swimming?

Yes there are plenty of showers.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Also, just thought about the MagicBands...can those get wet? We have never used the MagicBands since they implemented them, so just curious.

yes no problem with getting them wet Supposedly there have been reports of people losing them in pools and water parks I don't personally know anyone this has happened to though Just use care

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for the tips everyone!!

I really wish the DISUnplugged gang would do a review of the waterparks one day

Well, I am not the Dis Unplugged gang, but I have a review of both waterparks (with lots of photos) in my trip report from August 2013.

If you want to check it out, click here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3167818&page=5

and begin reading at post 69. Blizzard Beach is first, then Typhoon Lagoon.

 

[missnic07]

Yes there are plenty of showers.

Thanks!

 

[DebbieW]

At Typhoon --

Small locker is $8, plus a $5 deposit that is refunded to you if you return the key at the end of your visit. I say "if" because a small number of people lose their locker key in the wave pool or on the attractions. No key -- no refund. LOL.

Large locker is $10 (plus the $5 refundable deposit)

Rental towels are $2 each

Premium Spaces (umbrellas and beachcomber shacks) can be reserved ahead of time by calling 407-WDW-PLAY. And I would highly recommend reserving ahead of time if you're coming during the summer months. Many people reserve them before arrival and the spaces that are not pre-reserved go fast at park opening.

 

[RalphinSC]

Which one has the yummy doughnuts? I remember getting them off of a recommendation for our 2012 trip.......

We've been to both, they each have good points. Personally, my favorite is Typhoon Lagoon for the Shark Reef and the water coasters. I also really love the big family slide at Blizzard Beach.

 

[DebbieW]

They sell donuts at Typhoon Lagoon.

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

Definitely pay to reserve an umbrella..you won't regret it. The reservation includes towels, two chairs, two loungers, a small table and large beach umbrella. Research and request an umbrella in the area you want to be in. Your reserved space is only for you and your family. I can't recommend this enough...makes for a more relaxing day.