question about height restrictions at water parks..

[mlacreta]

We are headed to disney for our first fam trip in less than 4 weeks...very excited! The only thing I am nervous about is that the kiddie areas at the water parks say you must be less than 48" and I have twin boys that just turned 7 and one is only 46" while the other is 49 1/2" tall. (Also have two younger kiddos.) Does anyone know if the height limit is strictly enforced? I'm so afraid they won't let him play there with his siblings and he won't understand why! Is either park better for the mix of 7,7,4,and 1.5? Thanks so much!!!!!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I don't know about the water parks but I know the other parks are. They checked my DS3 very closely at Test track and Soarin and on both rides he was 1/4 of an inch too short and they wouldn't let him go. They actually made him take off his hat and stuck a stack of fastpasses on top of his head and told us he was too short at Soarin and at Test Track they first said he was okay, but after we waited in line for a half hour they checked him again just before he got in the car and said he was too short. I had to take him out the backdoor while everyone else in the family rode. I had to show him everything in the gift shop to try to keep him from crying.

 

[Hannathy]

I can't answer your original question but I can tell you your 7 yr olds will not want to stay in the real little kiddos area it really is for preschoolers they will be bored.

 

[mareed]

My kids have been in the area for younger kids when they were taller than 48", and nobody said anything to them. My feeling was that as long as a larger child was not causing problems with the younger kids, then they'd be allowed. And even though it's designed for much younger children, my youngest was not real adventurous when it came to water rides, and did enjoy the kiddie area at least until he was close to 7. I can't recommend park for the younger kids, but if you look around here, I think I've seen a discussion of that topic before.

 

[love3monsters]

We got back a week ago.

We had a great time but my youngest son - 5 - was a smidge short for the 48" rides - Primeval Whirl was the biggy - and no dice. They were very nice - gave him a pass above fast passes to ride with no wait on our next trip - but it was sad for him, and me!

 

[tjmw2727]

We are headed to disney for our first fam trip in less than 4 weeks...very excited! The only thing I am nervous about is that the kiddie areas at the water parks say you must be less than 48" and I have twin boys that just turned 7 and one is only 46" while the other is 49 1/2" tall. (Also have two younger kiddos.) Does anyone know if the height limit is strictly enforced? I'm so afraid they won't let him play there with his siblings and he won't understand why! Is either park better for the mix of 7,7,4,and 1.5? Thanks so much!!!!!

I don't think he will have a problem if he isn't causing trouble and playing nicely with the younger kids. but.... I doubt either of the 7yos will want to stay in that area anyway as it is really for the preschool set.

I recommend Blizzard Beach for your troup - the area your concered with is
called Tikes Peak - here is the explanation compliments of allears:

Quoted from allears "Tike's Peak is a kid-sized version of Blizzard Beach. Here children 4 feet tall and under (parents are allowed) can play in their own pools, ride their own slides, play in the pop jets and fountains, and much more. Just remember that children under 10 are not allowed admission into the BB unless accompanied by an adult. "

If you can split up I recommend the Ski Patrol area for the 7yos and maybe the 5yo, again from allears:

Quoted from allears "Ski Patrol Training Camp is the place for pre-teenagers. Here they can balance on the floating icebergs, ride the T-bar drop and enjoy their own water slides."

HTH
TJ

 

[crjack]

I've never seen anyone check for being over the height restriction at either water park. As long as the child is playing safely and appropriately around the smaller children I can't imagine you would have a problem.

 

[jennifer293]

Not to mention the kids that work in these parks seem to be less than concerned with anyone unless they are causing trouble. I don't think they really care if your child is one or two inches over the height restriction especially if they are in there playing with their siblings. My DD6 is 45 inches tall and she was less than impressed with either of the kiddie areas at the water parks. SO she and her daddy went to the bigger things while I entertained DD2.

 

[bartleby1]

We just got back and had a similar problem with heights (not twins, but siblings) at Blizzard Beach. Our DD is 6 and 49-1/2 inches, DS is 4 (44 inches), and DD is 1-1/2. My oldest DD was too tall for the kiddie area (and quite frankly would have been bored to death there), so DH took her to the pre-teen area which was ok for her. She also did some of the big slides. However, that left me with my 4 yr old and 1 yr old in the kiddie area. My 4 yr old wanted to do the slides in that area and so did my 1 yr old, but I couldn't be at the top of the slide to get them down AND at the bottom to be there to catch them. I really needed another set of hands.

Also, I didn't see them giving anyone a problem that was over 48 inches that were just playing around in the kiddie area, but they were measuring at the top of one of the slides to make sure the kids going down were under 48 inches. But I really think your 7 year olds would be completely bored in the kiddie area. Even my 4 year old was borderline. It really is for little ones. The problem is, you need to be 48 inches to do many of the larger slides.

Overall, we had a good time, but I wouldn't do it again until my kids are older. I think it is a great place if you have enough adults to split the different age group kids but otherwise it can be a little stressful on mom and dad.

We did enjoy the lazy river and the family raft ride, however, my one year old couldn't go up on the chair lift that leads to the family raft ride so we had to hike up the millions of stairs to get to the top (or at least it seemed like a million in the heat of July, lol!). We only did that once. There was a long line for the chair lift anyway.

Hope my rambling helped in some way, lol!

 

[dzorn]

DD 4 and 7 at the time were bored with the kid area at TL. The did both enjoy the slide to the left of the wave pool not to mention the wave pool.

Denise in MI

 

[mlacreta]

thanks for all that info! we are lucky and are bringing our family babysitter with us so we will have plenty of hands to split up with. plus nana and papa will be with us the first week too!

 

[ParrotBill]

My daughter is 6 3/4 and was not bored with the kids areas at either water park. They will enforce the height maximum on the slides and tube rides. I saw numerous kids told they were too big to play by the lifeguards at the tops of slides... 2 weeks ago.

 

[CindyAnn]

Mlacreta - If you have lots of adults, then there should be no problem at all. Like tjmw2727, I would recommend Blizzard Beach over Typhoon Lagoon. While both water parks have an area for younger (pre-school) kids, only Blizzard Beach has a "tween" area, called the Ski Patrol Training Camp. When my two were 4 & 7 they loved the Ski Patrol Training Camp, but would have been utterly bored by the Tike's Peak area (although DS loved that area at 2 1/2). You can all enjoy the lazy river ride (your youngest can ride on an adult's lap) and the family raft ride, although as Bartleby1 said, you may have to use the stairs to get there.

 

[honey11dog]

They DO watch for heights on the slides in the kiddie areas. I was in the kiddie area at Blizzard Beach with my DD(5) and DD(4mos.) My son who is just 50 inches tall came to play with them. He was told that he was too big for the slides. The lifeguard told me that he could stay and play in the splash areas, but not on the slides. Maybe they are more strict with this when the waterparks are crowded.

 

[DisneyVetMom]

They DO watch for heights on the slides in the kiddie areas. I was in the kiddie area at Blizzard Beach with my DD(5) and DD(4mos.) My son who is just 50 inches tall came to play with them. He was told that he was too big for the slides. The lifeguard told me that he could stay and play in the splash areas, but not on the slides. Maybe they are more strict with this when the water parks are crowded.

I am taking my two step children (over 50 inches each) and my 10 month old DD. When you were at the park with you re 4 month old did you get to do the lazy river with the 4 month old? Did they have a special float for the baby?The reason I ask is because my DH and step kids are thrill seekers so he will have them off riding rides, I am pregnant (3 months) so I cant ride anything which is fine with me I would prefer the lazy river anyway, but with the baby I don't know what I am going to do , she cant walk but she loves water so being in the lazy river would be cool, she has her own baby float but i doubt they will let me use that. Anyway, I just don't want to waste a whole day at WDW on TL if me and the baby aren't going to enjoy it, we aren't getting hopper tickets or anything so that's not even an option... oh well I am panicking for nothing I am sure lol thanks for any help!!

 

[all4fun]

DisneyVetMom, I tried to find info for you. I don't know why they would not let you use your own float for the baby but you never know. This number was listed on Allearsnet: The direct telephone number to Typhoon Lagoon is (407) 560-4141. You could always call them directly and ask! Just thought I would mention it. hth.

 

[DisneyVetMom]

Cool thanks for the info!

 

[stitchgal]

On the lazy river you can share your tube with your infant. You ride the tube as normal, the baby rides on top of you.

 

[DisneyVetMom]

Awww then I cant do it...... I am pregnant and not only would it be impossible for me to get into the tube that way but to get o ut!!!

 

[honey11dog]

I spent most of my time sitting at the edge of the pools with my infant. They do not allow you to bring a baby float, we tried. I did not feel comfortable trying to get me and a baby into the tube to go on the lazy river. Plus there are parts of the lazy river that are not so lazy and can get a little bumpy (Blizzard Beach one I think). Anyway, we went to Blizzard Beach without any help and it was difficult with a baby. My husband and I had to take turns with the other children. We had my mom and sister with us at Typhoon Lagoon and it was much more manageable.