Never been in a water park...

[VailaTigger]

... as I don't really swim, and don't like being underwater at all!

However, I'm going with 3 water mad boys this time (41, 12 and 8) so we will of course be doing Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.

Stupid question time -
How does it work? Are there changing areas? Places to leave bags etc? What happens if you want a drink or some food? (I assume we could spend the best part of a day there...) Do you get changed to get food, then changed again if you're going back?

Idiot's guide to water parks required I think!

 

[Red-Snapper]

There are changing areas and lockers - you can hire usually big or small lockers as well as towels.

The lockers are in the changing areas and you put the key around your wrist as it is on a rubber wristband type thing.

We usually put everything in the lockers and just take towels and books to the sun chairs.

There are plenty of eating places (both counter huts and sit down) and drinks huts- it is all very casual so you dont need to get changed to eat etc.

There are also shops where you can buy swimsuits/t shirts etc etc

Everything is themed really well. Both are really nice water parks but the consensus is usually that Typhoon Lagoon is the nicest themed park and BB has more tube rides etc.

TL has the big wave pool but both have a lazy river. We took the in laws to TL a few years ago and MIL is a non swimmer but she paddled in the wave pool (it has a big shallow area) and went round the lazy river.

 

[stephensmum]

Hi I'm not keen on the water & dh doesn't swim but ds11 is a water baby. We all still enjoy a trip or 2 to the water parks & for us we make a full day of it. I know others who just go for a couple of hours. We go for opening & get sun beds, ds usually goes in the water for a bit, we then (at BB) take the chair lift up to the team boat ride a few times, have a rest on sunbeds whilst ds plays at the junior bit (stepping stones, short flumes). We all go to get food just putting on shorts or a wrap. We spend ages on the lazy river & usually go back up on the chair lift a few times as it gets quieter towards the end of the day. We have never hired lockers, although I suppose you should but we don't take anything of value & carry our tickets & cash in a plastic wallet & just leave towels ,sun cream on beds. We use it as a rest day. There is changing rooms.

 

[babystar]

There are places to change and you can hire quite large lockers to store your bits in.

As for eating it is all very casual and fast food so I wouldnt worry about getting dressed again, I just throw a sarong and a pair of flip flops on and im good to go.

A couple of tips, depending on the weather the floor gets REALLY REALLY hot. I recommend a pair of water shoes (they sold them last year in tesco for around £4 (well worth it!)

Get there early as the shady spots fill up fast.

They offer a refillable mug at the entrance. Basically you pay a one off charge then you can refill with whatever soft drink you want throughout the day.

Also not sure if it is your cup of tea but the water park is the one place we like to take a picnic. Lots of people do it, always nip over to Subway and grab lots of treats, pop them in the cool bag and ive got nice muchies to gorge on while everyone else is off playing.

HTH!!!

 

[gemmybear83]

There are also beachy areas where you can subathe too - especially at Typhoon Lagoon. I'm not a fan of the really scary water rides and my fiance isnt a strong swimmer but we both love the lazy rivers you can glide round on a tube and relax its great!

 

[VailaTigger]

OK, thanks guys, any info appreciated!

The lazy rivers will be fine for me, and I'll check out the raft rides and things, see what they look like and decide whether I'll go on or not!

Thanks for the advice re changing / lockers / food etc too, I understand a bit better now! If we bag a shady spot, leave towels and sun cream / Tshirts or shorts to cover up on there, that would be fine? Could we pay for food on our Pop Century room card? (Keep it on us somewhere safe though!)

 

[gemmybear83]

OK, thanks guys, any info appreciated!

The lazy rivers will be fine for me, and I'll check out the raft rides and things, see what they look like and decide whether I'll go on or not!

Thanks for the advice re changing / lockers / food etc too, I understand a bit better now! If we bag a shady spot, leave towels and sun cream / Tshirts or shorts to cover up on there, that would be fine? Could we pay for food on our Pop Century room card? (Keep it on us somewhere safe though!)

Thats what we do - we buy one of those water wallet things and keep our key to the world card in there - and pay on card. You can also keep a bit of cash in those water wallets too I dont mind leaving tshirts and towels by a sun lounger but I wouldnt feel safe leaving a key to the world card with charging privleges

 

[Cyrano]

Where do folk buy their water wallets from