Question on best way to use free waterpark ticket on arrival day this summer

[ruthies12]

We are driving and stopping overnight in Southern Georgia on a Saturday, then finishing the drive and checking in at POFQ on a Sunday in July. So we will have approx 3 hour drive on our check-in day. My original plan was to check in at French Quarter, then take the boat to Disney Springs because we really want to do the balloon, every time we've tried in the past it's been too windy. Now that they've announced the free waterpark tickets I'm considering adding in Typhoon Lagoon. We've never been but my teens like waterparks.

I saw some reports last spring that waterparks reached capacity and guests got turned away. Was that a thing all summer even with both waterparks open? Do I need to consider going to TL first or is it safe to try to do the balloon first and shopping and then go to the waterpark at maybe noon or 1ish? We would likely just do the wave pool and lazy river for a few hours, I don't really care to be there all day but I'd rather do balloon and shopping while freshly showered and dressed rather than after swimming.

Also on a Sunday in July would we be better off parking at the resort and taking the boat to DS then the bus to TL and just carry our swim stuff with us? OR should we just drive straight to DS, leave our stuff in the car and then drive over to TL? OR alternatively park at DS, grab our stuff out of the car and then take the bus to TL? All suggestions welcome.......

 

[NYCgrrl]

I saw some reports last spring that waterparks reached capacity and guests got turned away. Was that a thing all summer even with both waterparks open? Do I need to consider going to TL first or is it safe to try to do the balloon first and shopping and then go to the waterpark at maybe noon or 1ish? We would likely just do the wave pool and lazy river for a few hours, I don't really care to be there all day but I'd rather do balloon and shopping while freshly showered and dressed rather than after swimming.

Also on a Sunday in July would we be better off parking at the resort and taking the boat to DS then the bus to TL and just carry our swim stuff with us? OR should we just drive straight to DS, leave our stuff in the car and then drive over to TL? OR alternatively park at DS, grab our stuff out of the car and then take the bus to TL? All suggestions welcome.......

Was at WDW early July and Thanksgiving. Stayed at BW both times and came in on the earliest nonstop flight that Delta offered. Packed bathing wear in carryons and went to the water parks immediately upon hotel arrival. Wasnt aware of any guests being turned away but we arrived early enough to get a patio seating area. We left late afternoon and stopped at DS for eats and window shopping. Returned to hotel around 5:00 PM and unpacked.

If I was traveling by car I’d just leave it at the hotel with the bulk of my gear, visit the water park and then DS. Better food at DS and no need to do more than enjoy yourselves.

Have fun whatever you decide.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You should probably not leave all your stuff in parked car in FL in July. You’d be amazed the things that can melt. I’d be fine just leaving the water park stuff in there.

Are your times accurate? What time does the ballon start and boat start? DS gets a late start. I cannot imagine it’s early enough for a noon water park arrival if you want to balloon and browse shops. The boat itself is like 15-20 mins one way if you don’t have to wait & it drops you on the other side of DS from the balloon

 

[ruthies12]

You should probably not leave all your stuff in parked car in FL in July. You’d be amazed the things that can melt. I’d be fine just leaving the water park stuff in there.

Are your times accurate? What time does the ballon start and boat start? DS gets a late start. I cannot imagine it’s early enough for a noon water park arrival if you want to balloon and browse shops.

LOL I am well aware of what can melt, I once left a bag of gummy bears in the car in Florida, but thank you for the reminder! Now that you mention that, I think I would want to leave my luggage in the car until our room is ready so the car is probably best parked at DS in a covered area of the garage where it won't be in direct sunlight like it would at POFQ parking lot.

As for times it looks like the balloon opens at 9:30 am. I would likely leave our hotel in Georgia around 7 and get to DS around 10-10:30 if we go straight there. Do the balloon first (hopefully) and then a quick service lunch and hit a few stores, then go across the street around 12:30-1:00. There isn't a whole lot that we want to shop, just like 3 favorite stores is it.

 

[Mle8308]

LOL I am well aware of what can melt, I once left a bag of gummy bears in the car in Florida, but thank you for the reminder! Now that you mention that, I think I would want to leave my luggage in the car until our room is ready so the car is probably best parked at DS in a covered area of the garage where it won't be in direct sunlight like it would at POFQ parking lot.

As for times it looks like the balloon opens at 9:30 am. I would likely leave our hotel in Georgia around 7 and get to DS around 10-10:30 if we go straight there. Do the balloon first (hopefully) and then a quick service lunch and hit a few stores, then go across the street around 12:30-1:00. There isn't a whole lot that we want to shop, just like 3 favorite stores is it.

You should get in, and I would drive over, not take the bus (if you are going directly to DS first). The only problem you may have at TL is getting a place to sit. We went last summer, on a September weekday (quiet season) at about 11am and the only places to sit were in the tiny basically on the ground chairs (no lounge chairs were left), and we only found two, we were basically sitting on other people. It was very busy, we only stayed about 2 hours and it was as crowded when we left, no seating had opened up. Honestly, I'd just go enjoy the resort pool and skip TL!

 

[ruthies12]

Thank you for the heads up on the seats! Not worried about getting chairs though, we'll honestly just hop in the wave pool then do the lazy river and then leave. We might do one or two slides IF the lines aren't long but I'm expecting they will be. My teens aren't "sit in chairs by the pool" type of people lol. Once we're done in the water we'll head to the resort to check in so all I'll really need is a place to drop our bag that'll have our clothes in it after we change into our suits.

Does anyone know if there are showers in the changing rooms?

 

[CarolynFH]

I think I would want to leave my luggage in the car until our room is ready so the car is probably best parked at DS in a covered area of the garage where it won't be in direct sunlight like it would at POFQ parking lot.

Don't forget that if your room isn't ready by the time you arrive, you could check your luggage and then travel to the water park or to DS by whatever means you wanted. Depending on how fully packed your car is (i.e., how visible your luggage is), it might be safer checked at POFQ than in the DS garage.

 

[WEDWDW]

Just throwing this out there.

Since your teens like Water Parks and may end up not wanting to leave, make a day of it and experience BOTH Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach!

That's what we did last July and had a BLAST!

Disney does the Water Parks with just as much attention to detail,etc.as the Theme Parks!(changing room showers and towels provided)

And it isn't often Mickey provides his Guests with a FREE day of fun!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thank you for the heads up on the seats! Not worried about getting chairs though, we'll honestly just hop in the wave pool then do the lazy river and then leave. We might do one or two slides IF the lines aren't long but I'm expecting they will be. My teens aren't "sit in chairs by the pool" type of people lol. Once we're done in the water we'll head to the resort to check in so all I'll really need is a place to drop our bag that'll have our clothes in it after we change into our suits.

Does anyone know if there are showers in the changing rooms?

Yes, there are showers in the changing rooms.

 

[DeeBee3]

My opinion is to just pick the water park for the arrival day. I would feel too rushed. However, I don't know how the rest of your travel is scheduled. Maybe do the balloon on check-out day if the other days are park days.

We visited Blizzard Beach last summer and we loved it. We got there at opening and stayed until about 3/4pm. Felt like the food there was fine for lunch. I have younger kids so that does change things because it takes us more time to get changed and move around.

Have fun!

 

[BrianL]

I would say that with waterparks, the earlier you arrive the better. They do start to get crowded later. Me, I usually hit them at rope drop and am about ready to go after 2 to 3 hours tops.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You should get in, and I would drive over, not take the bus (if you are going directly to DS first). The only problem you may have at TL is getting a place to sit. We went last summer, on a September weekday (quiet season) at about 11am…

When in Sept? BB closed 9/8 so if it was then or later you were operating under only 1 water park being open and that really changed water park crowd dynamics in 2025.

 

[Mle8308]

When in Sept? BB closed 9/8 so if it was then or later you were operating under only 1 water park being open and that really changed water park crowd dynamics in 2025.

It was before that, I got there the day after Labor Day (had waterparks included in my ticket, so not arrival day), it was the first week of the two I was there, because it was so crowded, I had zero interest in returning. Might have been the Wednesday or Thursday after Labor Day. But totally agree, only one water park would have made it even worse! The weather was a bit warm, so that was a factor, too. Overall I'm not a fan of waterparks, people soup. I prefer the quiet pools at the resorts.