**Saturday Spotlight on Disney Water Parks**

[KayleeUK]

A little early, I know

Saturday Spotlight is aimed at helping you get a little bit extra from your trips to Orlando. The tips mentioned here may already be known to you, but perhaps you can contribute a tip of your own which others might not know.

We’re not trying to rewrite the guide books and web pages dedicated to the nuts and bolts information, but hope we can add a little bit of our own icing on the cake.

Check out the Saturday Spotlight 'sticky' thread at the top of the board where we're collecting all the tips from each week's threads covering the different topics.

Here are this week's starter tips for Disney Water Parks, so please join in and add your own favourite(s)!

Disney have two water parks – Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon


• Blizzard Beach is the largest of the two parks.
• There are some crazy slides here, but just like the rides in the park there are height restrictions.
• One of the scariest rides is Summit Plummet in Blizzard Beach which is a 120 foot high ski jump that you shoot down at speeds of 60-mph!!!
• As you float around the lazy rivers be aware of water squirters – that water is very cold!
• You can take surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon
• There is a special refillable mug for the water parks – you can buy it in one and then take it to the other and just buy a barcode for it to use it there
• You can rent towels at both of the parks to save taking your own




Here is a link to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon Information.

Don’t forget to join us in Chat on Sunday at 7pm we can share more information on Disney Water Parks then.

 

[Disney_Jedi_Jon]

You can buy a waterproof pouch to put coins / credit card in which saves you having to go all the way back to your locker but keeps money safe

 

[MazdaUK]

Re: refillable mugs, can't you also use your hotel ones (buying the bar code)?

 

[Miffy2003]

There are some really nice areas for children at the water parks. Ketchakiddie Creek at TL is full of little slides for small children, but there is a boat and a water chute ride for the slightly older ones. There is also a nice slide that enters the water right at the side of the lagoon - if you stand facing Miss Tilly (the boat with the water spouting out of it) it is on your left. DH and I spent a very pleasant afternoon in August watching the children go on the two slides here over and over, while we sat in the water (it's shallow here).

Blizzard Beach has two areas for children. Tike's Peak is for younger children and has a selection of slides and squirting devices that children love. The only comment I would make here is that the design of this area makes it less easy to know where your little ones are - so for me it was not very relaxing as I had to basically follow them round.

The other area is for older children - Ski Patrol and there are some great small water tube rides, and "ice" stepping stones floating on water that you have to make your way across.

You can get a free life jacket for your children here. When we stayed offsite we left our credit card imprint; when I stayed onsite they just took my room key details. They don't charge you if you return the life jacket.

 

[magicmouse2]

I loved the snorkelling at Typhoon Lagoon. Though DD aged 7 was too scared. I have suffered numerous butt grazes at Typhoon Lagoon when she blows but they are worth it!! Blizzard Beach is Just too Cold on theming for me,
DH ripped his shorts on Summitt Plummitt which was hilarious, and the Ski Patrol was big but cold fun for the younger kids and his is where we encountered swimimng Goofy !! So cool but so cold!!!
I love Typhoon Lagoon the best!!! give me the lazy river, parrott fish and sharks anyday over drop ' break your back ' slides at Blizzard Beach.

 

[Lisa Francis]

i apologise if i should not be asking questions on this saturday night thread please feel free to move this to somewhere more appropriate.
my question is i understand about keeping money keys etc ( i have already purchased a little pouch) but can you leave your towels and minor things or should someone always stay with them. both my children are non swimmers still and because of this i can see me and DH constantly following them around etc. if we have found a spot can we leave our towels there and perhaps a small bag with minor things in it...my only experience of anything like this was center parcs and i felt comfortable to leave things whilst i went in the water with the kids....what do you think.

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Lisa,

I've always left stuff by our sun loungers - nothing valuable obviously and no money. Just stuff like a bottle of suntan lotion, spare towels for example. I take the view that if it's pinched and I can buy another one then that's OK.

I've been to WDW waterparks I would say twelve times over the years and I have never had anything taken.

I wouldn't leave stuff I cared about / cost a lot though. I would get a locker for those!

HTH

Karen

 

[wils]

Unless you need great quality pictures opt for a disposable waterproof camera. They were quite pricey (if I remember correctly) in the parks but we got ours in duty free - I also guess walmart etc would have them cheap. We got some lovely shots of DD on Castaway creek!

We spent our day of departure at TL. It wore DD out and was a relaxing (and cheap) last day. We hired towels ($1?) so we only had swim costumes and suncream to stick in our hand luggage

 

[AndRu]

Arrive at any water park early. In fact, be there well before the gates open. The sunbeds and chairs, especially those in the shade, get taken very quickly. Even arriving as little as 45/60 mins after opening time can make it a fruitless task finding a free area to act as your base. Find where you want to sit and claiming beds/chairs with your towels before you get changed. Believe me, its no fun at the water parks if you haven't got chairs or beds to relax on. You end up having to trudge back to the locker areas for your stuff and somewhere to sit.

Like Miffy, we've never had anything taken but please don't leave anything valuable. We've left towels, hats, glasses, creams etc by our 'base' but always hidden them discretly underneath a bed. About the most valuable thing we've left is the refillable mug.

We've visited both TL and BB in the past 18 months and the family decision is that TL is the better of the two. The main reasons being the larger main pool, the kids areas and the snorkelling experience. TL seems to have a lot more for the older, more experienced swimmer whereas TL is that bit more laid back for the family. But that's just our opinion.

 

[Miffy2003]

Once when we were on the lazy river in Typhoon Lagoon, Goofy got into a tube and floated along! The look on my daughters' faces was priceless

 

[Disney owl]

Another vote for the refillable mugs, we've actually got 2, on our first visit we didn't realise you could buy just the bar code. But saying that with 5 of us or 6 when we took DS girlfriend 2 mugs was much better.

We've only used a small locker for money & camera. Everything else we left by our sunbed. When you return your locker key at the end of the day you are given a choice of your deposit back or a plastic mug . We usually get the mug . They make a nice reminder of the day or come in handy as extra pressies to take home.

We found taking our own towels helps the kids identify our beds.

Don't forgret high factor sun cream you don't realise how much you are exposed to the sun. I now take a couple of older t-shirts which I & the kids wear when swimming, to protect our shoulders.

 

[KayleeUK]

MazdaUK - You cannot use your hotel refillable mugs, you have to buy the special Water Park ones

Ask any questions about water parks here - that is fine

 

[UKPhil]

A question if I may ...

We're doing the water parks for the first time ever this trip now the kids are old enough. I don't much fancy being shirtless all day - far too much UV in that Florida sun! Will we look weird if we wear tee shirts on the water slides etc? Do people do that?

 

[jockey]

Swim shoes are a good idea for the water parks as the ground is hot...you can pick them up at Walmart for approx $7!!!

 

[carolfoy]

just hoping anyone has some insider info, last october bb was shut for rehab, am booked again for this Nov was wondering does anyone know if this means that Tl will be shut? really hoping not as LOVED the swimming with the sharks thing.

 

[KayleeUK]

Phil - yep people wear T-Shirts I think they may not be allowed on some of the rides but for the lazy river, pool and raft rides you will be fine

Carol - During the winter months one of the WP will go into rehab. Not sure which one will be open for you this year.

 

[mcefalo]

Been to TL and Bizzard beach a few times. For TL we always rush over to the kids area to this fairly nice area that has about 4 tables setup in the shade. We found this area in the kids section when my daughter was young. Now that she will be almost 13 I'm thinking we would like a better area and I always feel guilty when we don't have any little ones any more that we are taking up a shaded spot for a young family.
Anyway, does anyone know of an area that has tables that are shaded in a section closer to the middle of the park? Not one of the food areas - would like to be away from the crowds abit. Same with BB - found an area that got very crowded - plus didn't find something with a table. I know that if you arrive even a 1/2 hour after openning you could be out of luck except for open areas with rows and rows of lounge chairs sitting out in the sun.

 

[ChildsPlayDG]

Don't wear a bikini if you intend on doing summit plummit.
Wish somone had given me that tip before i did.
Vicky