Talk to me about Blizzard Beach with a four year old...

[TandLMommy28]

My TA gave us one day water park passes for free in addition to our package. We've never taken the kids to a Disney water park before and we really can't decide if we should do it this time. The big kids will be 12 and 10 and they have been on competitive swim teams. they are good, strong swimmers. But the little guy will be four. We just put him in swim lessons with the hope of at least some pool safety rules clicking for him.

I have many questions but the first one is: how much of a pain will it be to chase a four year old around BB for a couple hours? Is there a good kiddie area? I haven't been to BB since 1995 so I have no idea what is even there at this point.

Is TL more kid-friendly than BB? We were just at TL last fall without the kids so I'd prefer to go to BB.

Are the water park buses still a big mess of transfers at Disney Springs? Can someone tell me what the bus situation is from Poly to BB? When we were at Pop and went to TL, the bus dropped us off at TL but on the way back we had to transfer to the correct resort bus at DS. It was a pain. I normally don't complain about the transportation and have had very few bad experiences overall, but the DS transfer was annoying.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

There is a nice kiddie area, and I think the one at Blizzard Beach is easier to keep an eye on kids than the one at Typhoon Lagoon. They also have free life vests available.

 

[Klayfish]

I can't tell you about the buses, as we stay off site and have a car, but love the water parks.

Yes, the kid area at BB is rather nice. There are several kiddie slides DS4 would probably like, as well as a small pool for swimming. It's in one little area of the park. However, if you have strong swimmers ages 10 and 12 also, you may want to consider TL instead. It has an amazing wave pool they would really like. TL has plenty of smaller slides that the 4 year old can do, as well as a fun lazy river he may like (BB has one too).

Just my own opinion...if you had just the 4 year old, I'd say BB, but with the older kids I'd suggest TL. Truthfully, you'll have fun at either one, as they both offer slides for all ages/swimming abilities, but the wave pool is a big differentiator. And don't be scared of the giant wave pool at TL for the 4 year old. You have two options...stand all the way in the back where the waves are only ankle high, or off to the side there is a specific kids area with small slides. The waves only sort of reach that area and the water is only about 2' deep.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As others have said, BB has a nice kid's area. It's also a lot of fun to take the chairlift up to the top and do the family raft ride (Teamboat Springs). He could also do the lazy river, the Ski Patrol training camp and the Toboggan Racers. If you do decide to do the Toboggan racers with him, I would do that pretty early in the day as the line can really build on that slide. Personally, I would avoid the wave pool. The waves come fast and get really big, IMHO.

 

[Klayfish]

As others have said, BB has a nice kid's area. It's also a lot of fun to take the chairlift up to the top and do the family raft ride (Teamboat Springs). He could also do the lazy river, the Ski Patrol training camp and the Toboggan Racers. If you do decide to do the Toboggan racers with him, I would do that pretty early in the day as the line can really build on that slide. Personally, I would avoid the wave pool. The waves come fast and get really big, IMHO.

Do you mean the TL wave pool? Guess it's perspective, but I wouldn't call the waves at BB big. They definitely come fast, but they're like little pulses/ripples. That's the one thing I don't like about BB wave pool...when I sit on an inner tube, after about 10 minutes I swear I start getting sea sick from the non-stop up/down/up/down/up/down...

Teamboat Springs is awesome!! One of our favorite things at BB.

OP, one nice thing about either wave pool is that they're both zero entry pools. So even for a weak swimmer, they can stand in it only ankle deep if they want. At BB, you would barely notice the waves if you're ankle deep. At TL, even ankle deep, you will still feel the wave for sure. My kids think it's fun to sit down where the water is roughly ankle deep and let the wave shove them...they've gotten concrete rashes from doing that though.

 

[stm61]

We haven't been to either in a few years, but my kids always preferred BB to TL when they were 4. They felt the kid's area at TL was for babies, while at BB they had a lot of things to do in Ski Patrol. They really liked the ice floes that they tried to walk across the pool on and the slides. The zip line they didn't do until they were a bit older and stronger swimmers since the water is deep under that. They also liked that they could ride some of the "big kid" stuff with the older kids, the family raft ride, and the lazy river. As others have said, the wave pool at TL has a concrete bottom and my kids always hated it until they were tall enough/strong enough swimmers to stay out in deeper water. Otherwise, they kept getting knocked down by either waves or adults, and getting scraped up on the bottom, if they stayed in the shallow part.

 

[disneyvoice]

The Kiddie area at BB is the BEST! When my son was little - like 3, he tuckered himself out the Kiddie area. We grabbed chairs facing all the "rides" and just let him go because we could see him the whole time (we got there at opening and there was no one in that area for the first hour or so (it might have been an EMH years ago?). He literally did nothing but go down the little slides and drag an inner tube around to ride down the little "river." It was great! The CMs that were there at the top and bottom of the rides were talking to us the whole time and knew who he was by name. He was scared to go down the "bigger" slide (which is still very small) so one of the CMs helped him get up his courage and high-fived him when he finally did it.

It's a very small area so you can literally see your child everywhere from many different seats.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I first went to BB a few years ago when DS was 4, when the Poly pool was closed and they gave us BB passes. Had zero expectations and knew nothing about the park. But we had the BEST time ever. It was just me and him and it really was just the best day. Prepare for everyone to be WORN OUT, but in the best sense.

I FAR prefer BB to TL, especially with a younger child. The rides, theming, music, everything about this park is pretty close to perfect. Very immersive feel frankly.

As others have mentioned, BB has a great kids area. If I were you, I'd plan to stake out a chair or two in that area as your "base" for the day. There are some with lots of shade which can be nice. Might need to get there early depending on the time of year. We rented a cabana last time, had the cabana right by the kids area. DS2 took a nap there!

I hate what they have done with the water park busses. To my knowledge, from Poly to BB you have to go to AK and transfer. That was the deal last summer and I'm pretty sure still is. Really is the worst arrangement. I've started to use a cab/uber.

Hope that helps! Have a great time!

 

[MystikaFaith]

We went with our 4 and 8 year old and both loved it, especially the 4 year old. The little kids area is great.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Do you mean the TL wave pool? Guess it's perspective, but I wouldn't call the waves at BB big. They definitely come fast, but they're like little pulses/ripples. That's the one thing I don't like about BB wave pool...when I sit on an inner tube, after about 10 minutes I swear I start getting sea sick from the non-stop up/down/up/down/up/down...

I was referring to the BB wave pool. There is no way I would bring a 4-year old, non-swimmer into either the TL or BB wave pool. Perhaps at the very edge while under constant supervision. I first took DS in when he was 6 and I felt it was too much. The waves come too fast, IMHO.

 

[skuttle]

We went with our three kids to both TL and BB when they were 10, 2 and 10 months. The kid area at BB was much better IMO than TL. TL kid area was very crowded and not as much to do for my kids, but they were younger than yours is right now. My oldest son says he preferred BB as well.