Is 1/2 day at the water park practical?

[Dustmouse]

My DS (12) and DS (14) are very interested in going to one of the water parks on the next trip, but DH and I aren't. I wouldn't mind taking them for a half day, but I didn't know if that was very practical? If you do it in the morning are you too tired by the afternoon to do anything else? Can you do a different park in the morning and realistically make it there for a time in the afternoon?

 

[All Aboard]

If you are going to do half a day at a water park, I'd recommend making it the first half of the day. The kids will get a lot more accomplished than if they arrive during the most crowded part of the day. When is your trip? Are you staying onsite. Check the water park EMH schedule, you could go from 9 in the morning until around 1pm and get quite a bit done.

 

[thelionqueen]

Definitely do the water park, even for a 1/2 day. I would also suggest doing it early in the trip. It is so fun, you'll probably want to do it again. Not to be missed, it's a blast!

 

[hockey mom]

You need to do the first half of the day so you can snag a lawn chair. I think once you and your DH see the water parks you will change your opinion of them. Both are excellent!

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We could have done the water parks in half a day if we wanted to and still have gotten all the rides in. I agree with going in the morning because it is generally slower and you can get to the rides quicker. I don't think you are any more tired than going to another park so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[JennSaint]

Good luck trying to pull your children away from the water park!! LOL
If your children love water slides they may not want to leave! Mine love spending the whole day there. But I guess if they had a choice of 1/2 day or no day they'd pick 1/2. Your children are old enough that they could go on slides together without you and your DH. Just bring a good book and find a chair and relax. We usually spend the whole day at the water park, go back to the resort to change, then go to a park for dinner and the rest of the evening.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We set aside a whole day for shopping and water parks. We pick either TL or BB and go in the morning, stopping at DTD late mid day and usually return to water park in afternoon or just return to resort for more swimming. Its our down day, usually better than 1/2 way through our vacation. After 5 days of parks a down day recharges us for the last 4 days. If crowds are lite, we may have 2 down days for water parks, both parks are unique in themselves and not to be missed. Really hard to beat that warm Florida sun and a cool water park themed to the hilt, and we really like the lazy river, in the sun, un the shade, drifting in the best place in the world with not a care in the world.

 

[Dustmouse]

If you are going to do half a day at a water park, I'd recommend making it the first half of the day. The kids will get a lot more accomplished than if they arrive during the most crowded part of the day. When is your trip? Are you staying onsite. Check the water park EMH schedule, you could go from 9 in the morning until around 1pm and get quite a bit done.

We are going June 5-12th and likely staying at the Yacht Club. I don't mind going so much, but DH said something about being mistaken for a beached whale and probably won't go. I think the boys would LOVE it though!

 

[DJBounce]

For the ages of your boys, definitely go to Blizzard Beach! They will have a blast (I think you will too!!) We love it!

 

[skent10]

Definitely do the water park, even for a 1/2 day. I would also suggest doing it early in the trip. It is so fun, you'll probably want to do it again. Not to be missed, it's a blast!

I have to agree with that. DH and I went back in '94 (pre-kids) with another couple and went to TL our last full day since we had run out of tickets for the parks. We were all kicking ourselves for leaving it so late in the trip, as we would have loved another day to try BB!

It's a nice change of pace to the parks, as you can plant yourself on a lawn chair for the day, or in a tube on the lazy river for a couple of hours. We're planning two days at the water parks for our upcoming trip!

 

[corinascot]

Going later in the day can also be nice, depending on the water park hours. We went Easter week last year. We arrived at the BB around 2:30 and everyone else was headed home. It was initially hard to find a chair, so we just dropped our stuff in the sand and took a turn on the lazy river. By the time we were finished, the place was emptying out. The park closed at 6 that day and we practically had the place to ourselves from 5-6.