Downtown Disney and Typhoon Lagoon in One Day?

[kmdrago1783]

Hi everyone! Our family of four is heading to the World from 10/17-10/24. We enjoy Downtown Disney including Disney Quest and are wanting to try out Typhoon Lagoon. Hubby and I have only ever been to Blizzard Beach. We have two daughters-- they will be almost five and 11 months when we go.

Is it too much to cram both into one day?

We are staying at the Polynesian and have ADRs that evening at 6:55pm at Ohana. Planning on heading to DTD in the morning, grabbing a quick lunch, and then going to the Water Park in the afternoon. Thinking we will head back around 3 for showers and naps. DD2 will likely nap in the stroller in the morning while we're shopping. Do they allow strollers in Disney Quest? I will have a sling carrier too...

Feedback please! TIA.

 

[Alesia]

You can do that, but it's not really going to give you much time in either place. There's not much going on in DTD until 10:00 am or so. Disneyquest doesn't even open until 11:30.

I'd go to TL first and then go to DTD.

 

[TeamSy]

I would say no problem if you didn't have your Ohana reservation and swapped TL and DTD. Spending the day at TL and then going to DTD is something we have done often, since the water parks close so early. However, even without the traffic/construction (and maybe it won't be bad in Oct - who knows), I just think it's a lot to get done in a short period of time. Then again, I think it depends what you want to get done at each place. Have you thought about doing breakfast at Ohana, then heading to TL for the day (the water park hours are usually around 10-5), then going back to your resort, relaxing, and heading to DTD that evening?

 

[kmdrago1783]

I would say no problem if you didn't have your Ohana reservation and swapped TL and DTD. Spending the day at TL and then going to DTD is something we have done often, since the water parks close so early. However, even without the traffic/construction (and maybe it won't be bad in Oct - who knows), I just think it's a lot to get done in a short period of time. Then again, I think it depends what you want to get done at each place. Have you thought about doing breakfast at Ohana, then heading to TL for the day (the water park hours are usually around 10-5), then going back to your resort, relaxing, and heading to DTD that evening?

Dinner at Ohana is our favorite and a must for us!

 

[kmdrago1783]

You can do that, but it's not really going to give you much time in either place. There's not much going on in DTD until 10:00 am or so. Disneyquest doesn't even open until 11:30.

I'd go to TL first and then go to DTD.

Good point! I didn't realize that it didn't open until late morning.

 

[TeamSy]

Dinner at Ohana is our favorite and a must for us!

I hear ya, we're the same way except with the breakfast - we love the family style and the Mickey waffles!!

 

[kmdrago1783]

I hear ya, we're the same way except with the breakfast - we love the family style and the Mickey waffles!!

Since we are staying on site we are trying the breakfast another morning.

I will have to think on this one. DTD and Disney Quest is the one thing my hubby is requesting, so I think that it takes priority over TL. But I really want to try TL! Even if just for a couple of hours in the morning...

 

[kollerbear]

I would definitely do Typhoon Lagoon at opening for your family. It is an incredible park and so much fun, but if you try to cram it in after DTD (if you've also done DisneyQuest!) I think it will be a tight squeeze--and might be quite crowded at the time you plan to arrive. I think it will also likely be less crowded if you get there at 10 am, and a less crowded water park is a better water park. (by far!) Your five year old would also probably enjoy it most with fresh legs since the water slides require a lot of climbing to get to the top. Prioritize the inner tube slides when you get there if your 5 yo is interested in water slides and comfortable around water--these, I think, are most likely to be your 5 yo's favorite! Gangplank (to test the waters with a parent) and Keelhaul Falls (the tamer solo ride) are especially great. This way you can play it by ear depending on how much they are enjoying it and either have lunch or a snack at Typhoon Lagoon, then get changed and have either lunch at DTD or head straight to Disney Quest. There are lots of beautiful, well-landscaped, shaded places in Typhoon Lagoon for the little one to nap, and Ketchakiddee Creek is a fun play area that might tire the baby out after a little splashing.

 

[TeamSy]

Since we are staying on site we are trying the breakfast another morning.

I will have to think on this one. DTD and Disney Quest is the one thing my hubby is requesting, so I think that it takes priority over TL. But I really want to try TL! Even if just for a couple of hours in the morning...

Oh good! The breakfast is one of our favorites! I love that it isn't buffet, which most character breakfasts are. We like to sit and eat since we'll be walking around the parks all day!

Can you maybe do the breakfast the day of TL/DTD and then do the dinner the day you're at MK or something?

I LOVE the rides at TL, but even if you're not into waterslides, I'd go for the wave pool alone - it's AMAZING! We love the lazy river and family raft ride at Blizzard Beach, but TL has BB beat when it comes to the wave pool and crushin' gusher!

 

[kollerbear]

My husband likes Disney Quest, too... so sad it's closing next year-- I just wish they'd move the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction somewhere else so it doesn't get lost in the annals of Disney yesteryear.

Doing Disney Quest in the afternoon will be so much better. It's not going to crowd up/heat up as the day gets later the same way that Typhoon Lagoon will. And you can start squarely at 10, which would be hard to do at DTD if you're hoping to get lunch first.

 

[sbeets]

Are there lockers at DTD to store wet swimsuits? We are thinking of this strategy too, and using the Disney bus. We can rent towels at TL so we won't have much to carry, just wet swimsuits and a few personal items.

 

[kmdrago1783]

Oh good! The breakfast is one of our favorites! I love that it isn't buffet, which most character breakfasts are. We like to sit and eat since we'll be walking around the parks all day!

Can you maybe do the breakfast the day of TL/DTD and then do the dinner the day you're at MK or something?

I LOVE the rides at TL, but even if you're not into waterslides, I'd go for the wave pool alone - it's AMAZING! We love the lazy river and family raft ride at Blizzard Beach, but TL has BB beat when it comes to the wave pool and crushin' gusher!

Switching around ADRs is nearly impossible at this point, IDK what's going on!!!

 

[Alesia]

Are there lockers at DTD to store wet swimsuits? We are thinking of this strategy too, and using the Disney bus. We can rent towels at TL so we won't have much to carry, just wet swimsuits and a few personal items.

I don't think thet have lockers, but why not just put them in ziplock bags and throw them in your bag?

Make sure you leave the waterpark before 2:00. After that, the bus only goes to Epcot.

 

[Kathryn777]

I was all for it until I saw you wanted to be back at 3. I think it's too rushed

 

[sbeets]

I don't think thet have lockers, but why not just put them in ziplock bags and throw them in your bag?

Make sure you leave the waterpark before 2:00. After that, the bus only goes to Epcot.

Ziplock is a great idea! And thanks for the 2 pm tip. A few hours is all we need.

 

[kollerbear]

Are there lockers at DTD to store wet swimsuits? We are thinking of this strategy too, and using the Disney bus. We can rent towels at TL so we won't have much to carry, just wet swimsuits and a few personal items.

I don't think there are lockers, but you could borrow a couple hand towels from your resort. This is how we used to store my swim suit after swim team practice:

1) Using the towel that you are renting from Typhoon Lagoon, lay the bathing suit out flat on the towel, roll the towel up like a fruit roll up, and wring the towel log really hard to get out all the excess moisture. 2) Using the borrowed hand towel, roll up the now substantially dryer swim suits (again, like a fruit roll up, but a little looser this time) and place in an unsealed shopping bag (like a plastic grocery bag). Let them breathe to avoid mildew. Keep the bag upright in your purse or carrying bag.

They will DEFINITELY last 3-4 hours that way until you get back to your room without mildewing or dampening anything else in your bag.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I haven't been to Disney's water park, but I think they close somewhat earlier than most parks. Couple that with DSprings is WAAY better at night, and the rest is up to you! I sure do NOT like cramming into those lil bitty stores at the hot part of the day for the AC with all those crowds. The night vibe with the great entertainment and lights are way better. Just keep in mind, water parks can COMPLETELY wear you out more than just about anything else. Will you be up for a late night? You decide. I know this, I only like to go hang at Dsprings when its night time (unless I have a really good reason, like needing to square away some tix.)

 

[kmdrago1783]

I would definitely do Typhoon Lagoon at opening for your family. It is an incredible park and so much fun, but if you try to cram it in after DTD (if you've also done DisneyQuest!) I think it will be a tight squeeze--and might be quite crowded at the time you plan to arrive. I think it will also likely be less crowded if you get there at 10 am, and a less crowded water park is a better water park. (by far!) Your five year old would also probably enjoy it most with fresh legs since the water slides require a lot of climbing to get to the top. Prioritize the inner tube slides when you get there if your 5 yo is interested in water slides and comfortable around water--these, I think, are most likely to be your 5 yo's favorite! Gangplank (to test the waters with a parent) and Keelhaul Falls (the tamer solo ride) are especially great. This way you can play it by ear depending on how much they are enjoying it and either have lunch or a snack at Typhoon Lagoon, then get changed and have either lunch at DTD or head straight to Disney Quest. There are lots of beautiful, well-landscaped, shaded places in Typhoon Lagoon for the little one to nap, and Ketchakiddee Creek is a fun play area that might tire the baby out after a little splashing.

Thanks for the tips! Which inner tube slides are you talking about?

 

[Bullseye]

Like everyone else said you wont have a ton of time to do either. I would do TL first from 9-12 and then DTD from 1-4 and then head back to Poly. Two things in your favor are TL is really close to DTD, so transportation time will be minimal. Also since you're staying and dining at Poly, you have don't have to worry about traveling to your ADR. Your ADR isn't until 7PM, you'd still have over an hour to rest/refresh before you head over to Ohana.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

DTD at the hot part of the day sounds like a miss to me. If you already have a busy dinner planned, I'd make a fun water park day out of it, sit in the lazy river until the afternoon, and then clean up and go to dinner. An early water park day, as exhausting as that is, and then walking around DTD (I'm not sure exactly what for if no dining or nighttime entertainment plans?) Sounds like you would be wiped out all night for your big Poly dinner. Id skip DTD and either spend part of the day at TL or a park and have a great Poly night! By the time you park your car and walk down the block, you will have to come back... Unless you have something really specific in mind, like a movie DTD or a specific store or BBB, I wouldn't bother with DTD at 2pm in the afternoon.... Just my thoughts...