How long do you last at Waterparks?

[Fargoman2]

In less than three weeks we will be making our 4th trip to Disney, and for the first time I think we are going to give the water parks a try.

I see the posted hours go until 7:30, but realistically how long can a family (ages 5, 12 and 15) last at a waterpark without completely wilting under the relentless heat? I'm sure my oldest two could go a long time, but I'm not sure the 5-year old--or his parents--can pull an all-dayer out of this. And I don't suppose you can leave for a break and come back.

I did see a tip to come after 3 p.m. in the busy summer months. Any counseling to prepare me?

Thanks.

 

[HunnyPots]

You can get a hand stamp and come back, just like the theme parks.

We spent four hours at Typhoon Lagoon and that was more than enough for me, of course I hate water parks to begin with! My dh and two teens loved it and could have stayed probably another hour or so. We got there at opening and they had done all the slides in two hours. The rest of the time was spent at the wave pool or in castaway creek, where my 16 year old dd fell asleep and got a nasty sunburn!

I'm sure some people make this an all day thing but I don't see how. The slides and wave pool really wear you out.

 

[Fargoman2]

Do you concur with the arrive after 3 strategy? Perhaps this assumes that people slowly but surely fade as you hit supper time?

 

[Horizons16]

Hmm we get there aroud 12 or 11 and go to 6 or so we never really die from the heat if it starts to get too hot and we are in TL its... jump into the lazy river and get off at the ice cream place and get a pale of ice cream... yes thats right a pale

 

[laurabelle]

I've always gone at opening. Getting there in the afternoon does assume alot of people leave by then. I don't think I would do it though, it seems like late afternoon/early evening is prime thunderstorm time - though people say if you wait it out the place empties and you have it all to yourselves.

 

[bballmom56]

We went to TL last Wednesday. We got there about 9:00, was able to walk up to the counter and get a locker right away, and the kids headed off to do what they wanted. By 10:30 it was getting crowded and by 11 the lines for the slides were really long. So we left at that point. On the bus ride back, we heard a transmission from the Disney bus dispatcher that Blizzard Beach had already reached capacity and was closed until 2 p.m. Our driver said they would probably be closing TL soon, too.

 

[momxx5]

We went to TL last summer. We got there at opening. DH & the boys(9,8, & 6) went straight to the shark swim and the girls(4 & 1) and I headed to the kiddie area. We set up a few chairs there and planned on hanging out until lunch.

We stayed and played and swam and had a great time and didn't leave until 5:00! It was a great day. We felt like we were at a tropical resort

There are a ton of areas to have fun at. The lazy river is so relaxing. We all had the best time. We are looking forward to doing it again this summer.

 

[Barbmouse63]

We will be going to the waterparks during our upcoming visit. We plan to arrrive at opening and stay until 4 or so. We are pretty used to the heat. I think we can hang at least that long.

 

[JESW]

Just got back from WDW yesterday. We try to get to a water park every trip. This time it was Typhoon Lagoon with DD5 & DS9. We got there for opening at 9:00 and it was great. We only did the wave pool and castaway creek. At that time we had no problem getting tubes and there was plenty of room in the wave pool. When we left at 1:00 the wave pool was packed and I would have been nervous to have my little ones in there. At castaway creek there were people trying in vain to get tubes and it was so clogged and not fun to float around. I have never gone later in the day, but many people come for the entire day (check out the parking lot) so i don't know if the crowds drop off - especially in the summer.

Hope you have fun!

Jill

 

[momxx5]

I think the weekends are a bit busier because alot of FL residents have AP passes.

 

[MPLsDad]

Both times I've been to TL and BB we've lasted no more than about an hour, due to electrical storms or crowds. The water parks are an okay distraction, but if I'm paying for the magic, it's not to be found at a water park!

 

[seashoreCM]

About three hours and then I feel like doing something else. (Is this called attention deficit disorder? )Premium annual passes come in really handy for multiple short visits to water parks and also Disney Quest.

Can't stay lazily in the creek that goes all the way around the park, get motion sickness after about 20 minutes.

At a water park there is no excuse for wilting from the heat.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[kilee]

My first trip to the a Disney waterpark (TL) I planned 3.5 hrs. I was so bummed about leaving-- it wasn't nearly enough, we got there at opening. I ended up coming back the very next day because I wanted to so badly!!! Then I spent 7 hrs that day!! I could truly make an entire day out of it!!! I love the theming at TL--- my intentions are to go every trip when it's warm enough and spend 1 full day!

 

[disneyholic family]

we always get to blizzard beach before opening...
they let people in before 9, so that you can get a locker and put your stuff away....
they usually hold everyone at the bridge until 9 am...
the moment they let us through, we race to the back of the park, to the slides back there...
we ride each one about 3 times (which means a LOT of stair climbing in a short period of time), then go on the tobaggon slide once or twice...
then the family raft slide twice...
then the lazy river for about a half hour...
by then it's about 11 am.....the lines are totally crazy so we have a snocone and then leave....

we never ever ever are there past noon.....

 

[DisKim]

The first time I went to TL, we were there all day! It was great. Crowds were low and it was such a relaxing break from the regular parks. I went to TL again in July last year at opening. We hit every slide early and it was jam packed by 11am. I wouldn't have minded the crowds too much except that it got dangerous. My DD was in the wave pool with her cousin who is 16 was watching her while I watched my son play in the sand. When a big wave came, a grown man grabbed onto my DD8 and pulled her under. Her cousin's reaction was to literally push him away from her and give him an earful. Essentially, she told him that if he has to hang onto little girls like that, he has no business being in the wave pool. Meanwhile, my DS3, who is fearful of water, was playing on the beach while bigger kids kept splashing him on purpose. He would cry so hard. I felt so bad for him. I don't like to scold other people's children, but I don't know where the parents were. Anyway, after those events, I left before I had a nervous breakdown. Sorry this is so long. I guess I used this thread to vent. My advice would be hit a water park at opening and get the heck out by 11 or 12!