Free water park day worth it?

[HopperFan]

OP ~ what are your other plans if you don't go to the waterpark? Do they sound more relaxing and fun after your cruise? Have you ever been to a waterpark? If not would be a great free way to check them out to decide if you want to do on another trip.

I think its bad form that Disney won’t offer the free waterpark day for any day of your vacation. It doesn’t cost them any more!

I think the goal is get guests on property sooner and spending money (food/drinks) on property day one, especially the folks with cars. We usually eat and shop offsite before we get to the hotel. We are considering arriving early next couple trips to take advantage of it.

And offering it any day really does end up costing them money. A family that might have added Water Park & Sports option may decide not to because they'll get a free day. Disney doesn't want to lose that money, they are trying to gain spending money from folks check in day.

 

[emilymad]

OP ~ what are your other plans if you don't go to the waterpark? Do they sound more relaxing and fun after your cruise? Have you ever been to a waterpark? If not would be a great free way to check them out to decide if you want to do on another trip.


I think the goal is get guests on property sooner and spending money (food/drinks) on property day one, especially the folks with cars. We usually eat and shop offsite before we get to the hotel. We are considering arriving early next couple trips to take advantage of it.

And offering it any day really does end up costing them money. A family that might have added Water Park & Sports option may decide not to because they'll get a free day. Disney doesn't want to lose that money, they are trying to gain spending money from folks check in day.

We have been to TL a bunch of times before. We enjoy mostly the wave pool and lazy river. Maybe 1 or 2 slides. If we don't do TL we will probably buy a ticket to Epcot since we are staying at the Boardwalk. So no real bad choices but we would prefer the least stressful option.

 

[eticketplease]

Our family says no it is not worth it after just visiting.

We had a patio to eliminate the stress of DS being able to find home base and not worry about chairs.
The patio was nice and if go back to a WP it is a necessity for our family. If you do reserve one make sure to bring some cash as there is no way to tip the attendant with magicband or CC only the bartender.

After dropping off our items at Boardwalk we arrived at around 11 am and there was plenty of parking.

We went up the ski lift and rode summit plummet but did not realize this particular slide you could not wear water shoes so I had to take them off and hold them while I went down.

2 hours after arriving we got the text that our room was ready. So I drove back to BWV parked and called Bell Services to bring up our luggage, groceries and Owners Lockers. Once delivered I unpacked everything and then headed back to Blizzard Beach. This time I was able to grab much closer parking for leaving.

We ended up departing around 5.

Don’t get me wrong we did have a great time but for us we would have had just as much fun relaxing at the quiet pool and community hall. We also then would have been able to just walk to our room and get everything from BS sooner. This would have allowed us to get to Epcot much earlier than we did on arrival day. Time is your number one cost at Disney so taking the time to drive to Blizzard Beach just wasn’t worth it for our family as we value resort and park time much more.

This is just our experience but we also had AP’s. If you don’t have any plans or tickets your first day it could certainly be beneficial for your family

 

[Meriweather]

We will never get to use it.
Fly from the west and with the time change, we don't land until 4:30-5;30....then still have to get to the resort.....using 6-7.
Oh well, I'm tired after flying anyway

 

[eticketplease]

We will never get to use it.
Fly from the west and with the time change, we don't land until 4:30-5;30....then still have to get to the resort.....using 6-7.
Oh well, I'm tired after flying anyway

We are like @mrandmrsthomas0618 and fly in the night before and use a Free Night Certificate from a credit card to save some DVC points before checking in the next morning. If we checked into DVC on arrival it would not be until 10 pm at the earliest and then the perk would not be available for us either.

 

[zdad59]

We are torn on what to do for our September trip. So we have two plans for arrival day. Weather and our mood will determine what we do. We get into MCO at 830am. Should be at the Beach Club NLT 10am.

• If it's a good weather day and we're in the mood, we'll hit the water park, then come back for a fun dinner at Beaches & Cream. Then an early bedtime so we can hit rope drop at MK the next morning.
• If the weather is marginal or we're not in the mood, we'll head for EPCOT, catch a few rides, eat at F&W festival, and head back at a reasonable hour to settle in. Maybe even some time at Stormalong Bay, which should be open by Sept.

So my suggestion it have a couple of alternatives available for Day 1 and do what you feel when you get there. There is no wrong choice. You'll be at Disney....just enjoy yourself.

 

[Tripscarcare]

We are headed down in a few weeks, staying offsite after a later flight in. Will get to CBR and drop our luggage off the next morning and take advantage of the water park for the full day.

 

[DebbieB]

I read it was at capacity today, some were turned away.

 

[Dave006]

I read it was at capacity today, some were turned away.

Parking lot full or Guest capacity was reached?

Dave

 

[DebbieB]

Parking lot full or Guest capacity was reached?

Dave

Guest capacity

 

[gottalovepluto]

Nope. Don’t book a Disney hotel gambling on this benefit. It’s icing on the cake given its unpredictable nature (see the poster on DIS who started the thread on being turned away on 4/6 at like noon). Sure, you may not be arriving that late- but do you really want to chill at a water park that is at full capacity? A hotel with a good pool would be far more preferable to me.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

It’s worth it if you can get in. I’ve read reports of people not being able to get in.

We arrive mid May around 9 am. We decided against the perk and will go to a park instead.

I think with the weather warming up and spring break in fill swing, it’s going to get harder to get into the one water park that’s open if you don’t arrive early enough. I see the park reaching guest capacity often.

I think all will be good once both are open at the same time.

 

[Mle8308]

I'd rather spend the day at the resort pool. That way, when your room is ready, you can go right to it. And not worry about the hassle of getting to and from a waterpark if you don't have a car, since there are no direct busses.

 

[mrandmrsthomas0618]

On trips with just me and my partner, I'm 100% just chilling at the resort. But our kids love the water parks so I'm excited to take advantage of the perk

 

[Lumpy1106]

We don’t land until 9p. Do we get the free water park for the next day? Or we simply don’t get it at all. All good either way.

You won't get checked in to your hotel until around 11p - why stay on property that night? Stay off property after you get off the plane, check in on-property the next day, use the water park (free) your full first day. You'll save money on accommodations and get to use the water park - win-win.

 

[scrappinginontario]

You won't get checked in to your hotel until around 11p - why stay on property that night? Stay off property after you get off the plane, check in on-property the next day, use the water park (free) your full first day. You'll save money on accommodations and get to use the water park - win-win.

For those who fly in it’s not as simple due to transportation, booking a different accommodation, etc.

Personally, if we landed at 11PM the first thing I’d want to do is get into Disney property to start my vacation.

 

[DebbieB]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/b...oday-4-6-25-hotel-guests-turned-away.3965522/

 

[traveler9]

For those who fly in it’s not as simple due to transportation, booking a different accommodation, etc.

Personally, if we landed at 11PM the first thing I’d want to do is get into Disney property to start my vacation.

If I was landing that late at night I might consider staying at the Hyatt hotel inside the airport and heading to Disney the next morning. I know with that hotel it probably wouldn't be a money-saving strategy though. The few times I've considered staying there their rates were outrageous.

 

[mrandmrsthomas0618]

Hyatt hotels are a favorite of those in the credit card point and miles game. That's where the airport hotel comes in handy to save money

 

[Headless]

We will never get to use it.
Fly from the west and with the time change, we don't land until 4:30-5;30....then still have to get to the resort.....using 6-7.
Oh well, I'm tired after flying anyway

My wife and I are in the same boat and while I'm not sure if it's an option for you we found red eyeing the night before has been the best way for doing it.

I was lucky to make it 3 times last year (meeting family twice and then my wife and I's yearly trip) and all three times I red eye'd. Let me arrive sooner then my east coast family so I could check myself in and then go off and get food/do what I(we) wanted.

We are doing the same thing in August and I'm planning our first day at the water parks because we will be here so early. drop our bags off then head over to the waterpark first thing to get in. We haven't been able to make it to the water parks yet so I'm aiming to do it this trip if not once maybe twice just to do both.