DVC resort for water park

[BLTStitch]

Hi all, another summer trip planning question want to hear your opinion / past experiences - Is there a better DVC resort for both water parks?

Thinking to do a split stay next summer to use the check in water park benefits for the family of four. Want to see if we can squeeze in one water park on check in date and then another one on check out day (check in date for 2nd hotel).

Just got to know there is no direct bus transportation from any water park - need a transfer at animal kingdom park or Disney spring. I know uber / rent a car can be options, but want to see if bus system might work without extra costs. Or if it is just better not to plan over bus systems. Currently thinking either AKL or BLT but open to any ideas. TIA!

 

[RivGirl]

If both water parks are open next summer, there is actually a direct bus from All Stars to Blizzard Beach. We used it last Spring Break. We stayed one night at All Stars and checked into Poly on day 2, that way we got the water park benefit the morning we woke up at All Stars and took the bus straight to Blizzard Beach.

AFAIK this is the only resort-water park bus option. All other options involve the transfer at Disney Springs (Typhoon Lagoon) or Animal Kingdom (Blizzard Beach). We like to Lyft to the water park in the morning and then do the bus transfer on the way back (just because morning feels more rushed and I like to feel secure about when I’m going to get to the park without waiting for a bus plus taking the time to transfer).

 

[BLTStitch]

If both water parks are open next summer, there is actually a direct bus from All Stars to Blizzard Beach. We used it last Spring Break. We stayed one night at All Stars and checked into Poly on day 2, that way we got the water park benefit the morning we woke up at All Stars and took the bus straight to Blizzard Beach.

AFAIK this is the only resort-water park bus option. All other options involve the transfer at Disney Springs (Typhoon Lagoon) or Animal Kingdom (Blizzard Beach). We like to Lyft to the water park in the morning and then do the bus transfer on the way back (just because morning feels more rushed and I like to feel secure about when I’m going to get to the park without waiting for a bus plus taking the time to transfer).

That’s a good point. Do you feel like water park needs / better to go early too? Was thinking to chill on water park day, sleep in and then go.

 

[Mle8308]

That’s a good point. Do you feel like water park needs / better to go early too? Was thinking to chill on water park day, sleep in and then go.

Not sure when you are going, but the good seating at the waterparks fills up very quickly. If you want decent seats (lounge chairs instead of the weird short chairs), in a good spot, and all together, go early. Or pay for a patio. You can sleep in and go, but it may be challenging to find seating. My experience has been in September, on a weekday - the least busy time of the year and the waterparks were busy! Was actually too "people-y" for me, so we didn't stay long. I preferred the pools at the WL and Poly to Typhoon Lagoon. We did the bus and transferred at DS, it was easy.

 

[RivGirl]

That’s a good point. Do you feel like water park needs / better to go early too? Was thinking to chill on water park day, sleep in and then go.

With the free day benefit, they are quite crowded in warm weather.

That said, if your whole family is an active, go-go-go type, and you don’t need chairs to really lounge in, show up whenever. The lines will be longer, but you can still have fun. I have heard that the lines tend to thin out later in the day, closer to closing, though? We have never stayed past 1pm or so.

If you need at least one good chair (and not one of the teeny tiny “chairs” that are glorified squatting vessels), be there at opening. They do open later than the other parks, so at least it’s not as early of a morning as, say, rope dropping MK.

 

[BLTStitch]

We are going to go later June next year. I see - we need to rope drop for good chairs .

 

[Silvermist999]

We went to Typhoon Lagoon after checking into the Poly this past July. We got there around 12:30pm, after having quick brunch. Plenty of seating, we just used a lounge chair for our towels etc, but really didn’t see a lack of chairs at all on such a hot and busy day.

 

[WEDWDW]

And you can go to BOTH TL and BB on arrival day.

We did that in July and had a blast.

Started out at TL and then closed down BB and then direct bus back to All-Star Sports.

The transfer at the Springs is a hassle as you have to go through Security coming and going.

 

[Genie+]

On our recent split stay we hoped to finally try a waterpark. During planning we were told the credit/notification for the second check-in day would only show up if we hadn’t used the first.

We ended up not going at all, so I was unable to confirm. The credit showed up in our MDE plans on both check-in days. Has anyone tried going more than one day during split stay?

 

[BLTStitch]

We went to Typhoon Lagoon after checking into the Poly this past July. We got there around 12:30pm, after having quick brunch. Plenty of seating, we just used a lounge chair for our towels etc, but really didn’t see a lack of chairs at all on such a hot and busy day.

This is what I’m thinking to do - sleep, eat a good meal, check out and then go, glad to know this is possible!

 

[BLTStitch]

On our recent split stay we hoped to finally try a waterpark. During planning we were told the credit/notification for the second check-in day would only show up if we hadn’t used the first.

We ended up not going at all, so I was unable to confirm. The credit showed up in our MDE plans on both check-in days. Has anyone tried going more than one day during split stay?

I hope this will not be the case for next summer! I planned it expecting we could do multiple. I quickly googled and found this response in 2024 for 2025 -

https://plandisney.disney.go.com/question/split-stay-coming-free-water-park-ticket-checkins-590730/

I hope they will be okay (allow multiple free day on check in days over split stay…)