Is there one waterpark that is better for a 5yr old DD

[shpdem]

We are planning on doing 1 of the waterparks in september, and neither of us has ever done the waterparks so we don't know much about either one of them. But which one would be best for a 5 yr old, it will mainly be about her doing what she wants to do we won't be venturing off to do single slides by ourselves so if she can't go on it we won't go on it. Any advice?

 

[E&As Mom]

I'm not sure if 1 is better than the other for any specific age group. Both have kid areas and lazy rivers, and I think there is plenty to do @ either park. Our family absolutely loves BB. We tend to do that waterpark twice on each trip. We tried TL a few years ago, and aside from the water roller coaster, we just didn't enjoy it as much. So we skip it now. Some people absolutely love the wave pool @ TL, but it was too rough for us (our girls are now 11 and 8, and still talk about how rough it was!)

We love the theme of BB, the lazy river is a great, relaxing "swim" around the park (lots of shaded areas, too), and we love Teamboat Springs.

Good luck deciding! You will probably end up with lots of opinions, as it seems most people love 1 over the other. I'm sure you'll have fun no matter where you go.

 

[Tazzik]

Is this just between the 2 Disney parks, or would you consider Aquatica too? I've only done TL and Aquatica, but the latter was perfect for our 4 and 7 year olds. Really, I think most waterparks will have a kid play area, where they have a large climbing structure with a bunch of smaller slides on it. This tends to be their favorite place to be, until they can really do the big slides. The difference for us was probably the high-speed lazy river at Aquatica. I was able to show my 4 year old the best routes for catching the jets, and he absolutely loved being able to zip by all the other people. We probably spent a solid 45 minutes straight just on that one attraction.

 

[ariel326]

River Country- I kid, I kid

I personally like Typhoon Lagoon for Little Kids- I like the wave pool.

What I would do is look at each one and see how any attractions/slides/pools are offered for your children's age and height and compare the two that way.

I think if I am remember right Blizzard Beach has more thriller slides then Typhoon Lagoon.

But honestly, they are both good and you can't go wrong with either.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Definitely Blizzard Beach

TL has 3 things going for it, and none of them are really suitable for small children (the wave pool, shark reef, and crushin gusher).

BB has a gentler wave pool that small kids can enjoy endlessly, the ski patrol area, and an infinitely better family raft ride. I like both parks, but for kids too small to ride Crushin Gusher, it'd be Blizzard Beach all the way!!

 

[summermac]

We prefer to spend that morning/afternoon relaxing out our resort pool. Adding the waterparks is just so expensive!

 

[ucfknight]

I'll add a vote for Blizzard Beach as well.

 

[shpdem]

thanks for the helpful information, sounds like bb is the way to go.

 

[wiigirl]

I'll add a vote for Blizzard Beach as well.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

I vote River Country.

Make sure you all have your Tetanus shot!

 

[ucfknight]

I vote River Country.

Make sure you all have your Tetanus shot!

Tetanus? I wouldn't be worried about that at all.
It is the brain eating amoeba you really had to be concerned with.

 

[snorkelyn]

We went to BB with our 9,7 &5 year old. REALLY liked it! It was the longest lazy river I have ever seen (And I live near the WI Dells- waterpark capital of the Midwest)

There were appropriate slides for a 5 year old. And bigger ones for the older ones. Actually...there are 1 of each right next to each other so we could supervise all kids on 2 slides at the same time...they landed in the same pool, and the entrance was the same (not sure of the name).

I'd check out the maps and height requirements. Although I have not been to TL, I think BB is a clear winner.

 

[mckelvey72]

I am with the previous poster in that enjoying the resort pool is the way I would go. My kids were 14 and 7 on our trip in December and they played for hours at the resort pool. A 5 year old is not going to get that much out of a water park in my opinion. I would save the money for something else and just do the pool at the resort.

Just remember, you can get the base tickets and if you decide when you are there on vacation that you want to do the water park, you can add that to your tickets right then and there and the cost is the same. So maybe go and see how much the pool entertains the 5 year old and go from there. If you decide to do waterpark, then add it at that time.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Tetanus? I wouldn't be worried about that at all.
It is the brain eating amoeba you really had to be concerned with.

Psshhh.

Don't try to scare them away from swimming to Discovery Island. It's a must do.

 

[gwmort]

We've done both.

I like the kiddie area at TL a little better for small ones, however BB had an intermediate kiddie area as well (ski patrol training camp), with a couple of small slides and a rope climb thing last time we went that my 6 and 7 yr olds really loved, felt like graduating from the kiddie zone without the intimidation of the big attractions.

Also prefer the lazy river at BB.

 

[ucfknight]

Psshhh.

Don't try to scare them away from swimming to Discovery Island. It's a must do.

Must do? Stacey didn't say it was.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Must do? Stacey didn't say it was.

You must have missed that part.

"Swim on over to Discovery Island! Watch out for crocodiles, brain eating bacteria, and Disney sharpshooters!"

 

[happy2012]

My favorite is Typhoon Lagoon for the theme. But they are both great! As far as River Country goes, I wish they would recreate it in another area of WDW using pools instead of the lake, but make it look just like natural lakes. Maybe add some of Disney's current & creative ideas. Come on imagineers! You can do that! I love anything that's original WDW.

 

[k80girl]

Hi Everyone. Im sorry for jumping into this thread, but Im very new to this board and couldn't figure out how to post my own new thread. This one was the one that was the closest to what I wanted to ask.

We are traveling in May 2014 and have the 5day PHWF&M ticket. We will be going to BB and TL during our trip. I have a 48" 5 yr old DS. He is an ok swimmer in the pool but when he gets shot out of slides with a tube Im not sure how he will do.

Are the lifeguards right there to grab the little ones and help them to the steps?

Are kids allowed to wear lifejackets on the slides to assist them with swimming.

He is a daredevil and is tall enough to get on some of the slides. I will ultimately be making the decision if its mild enough for him but either way the slides usually shoot you out into a 3ft pool of water where you have to swim to the steps with your tube in tow.

Thanks for any help you can provide in advance and sorry again for butting into this thread

 

[gillk]

I am wondering which water park is the best, I have two kids ages 12 and 10. Which one would they enjoy the most ! Thanks in advance!