Tell Me About The Water Parks

[TNKim]

We’ve never been to either of the water parks. We ware staying at Bay Lake Tower and plan to spend a day at Typhoon Lagoon. Is Uber our best option to get there? Do the water parks open early before posted opening time like the parks do? Since Typhoon Lagoon is close to Disney Springs, we plan to have dinner at Homecoming that night. Instead of returning to our resort to change and clean up, do the water parks have showers and dressing rooms? Are there good size lockers to store your things? Where is the best area to find a lounge chair for the day - we have 2 15 year old boys, so no small children. Is there any shade or do they have cabanas?

 

[lanejudy]

When is your trip? Neither waterpark has re-opened yet, with Blizzard Beach currently planning an March 7th re-opening; I don't think there has been an announced re-opening for Typhoon Lagoon yet.

Waterpark re-opening plans haven't been shared yet so it's hard to say what facilities will be available.

 

[hp_lovecraft]

A couple summers ago, we went to both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon (during the 3+3 promotion) with a large group of 4 adults, and 8 kids, ranging from 2-18.

The short summary, both are similar, but the kids preferred Blizzard Beach, and the adults Typhoon Lagoon.
BB has better thrill water rides, TL has a better pool, lazy river, and "raft" rides.

Both have covered areas if you don't want to pay for a cabana. But beware, we would rope drop to ensure some covered chairs, only to come back from the pool to find our stuff dumped on the ground. CMs were wonderful though. They gave our family all free icecream after an incident like that.

You don't have small children, but I found the childrens area at TL terrible. My younger kids hated the confusing layout. BB, however, I had to drag them away. The kids area at BB is fantastic.

Transportation to BB was a drag though. We were staying at the Fort Wilderness, so it took -THREE- buses to get there and -THREE- back. It was insane, taking sometimes 2 hours. DIsney would sometimes offer direct buses, but I don't know what will happen once things reopen. TL was more convenient, and quicker to get too. and if I was not bringing kids, Id choose TL.

So, either way, you can't go wrong

 

[Lumpy1106]

EXCEPT FOR Crush n' Gusher, we like Blizzard Beach better by a mile. Worth noting though; we live by the beach in So Cal so the wave pool doesn't appeal to us at all. BB has more and better places to make a home base, MUCH better slides, a better kids play area, better speed slides, and better theming. Lazy rivers are about the same. So happy to see it is reopening.

That said, Crush N' Gusher is so good that if I had 2 days for water parks, I would do TL on the second day rather than 2 BB days.

 

[nursejackie]

Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool wins out for us. We just love hearing that siren and then the boom of the wave starting. Crush n Gusher is amazing but it can be hard work carrying the double ring up all those stairs.

We visited for 8 Christmases when only one water park is open. The first 3 years it was Blizzard Beach, then Typhoon Lagoon for the next 5 years. If we get to visit in August 2021 then we'll get to go to both in one trip for the first time.

 

[TNKim]

Thanks for the responses. Out trip is at the end of May, so we are hopeful both water parks will be open by then. Does anyone know if there are showers and lockers available?

 

[ghtx]

Yes there are showers and lockers.

I think the two water parks are so similar, that I think the best strategy is to just take whichever bus arrives at your stop first! LOL but seriously BB maybe has a slight edge for the raft slides, except that both Crush N Gusher and the family raft ride at TL are pretty awesome

 

[dd316]

Blizzard Beach is way more fun. Been to Typhoon Lagoon back when they first opened, it was OK. But after going to Blizzard Beach since, whenever we decide to do Water Parks it's always Blizzard Beach.

 

[mickeymom22]

We have never been to Typhoon Lagoon, but my kids loved Blizzard Beach. They really enjoyed our day there. We got there at rope drop. We got a locker and found some chairs to put our towels on, but we never made it back to the chairs until we were ready to go!
It is a great way to spend your day!

Another bonus is there is also the mini-golf course there (Winter Summerland). My kids enjoyed doing that as well.

I don't know if either of these will be open when you are there because of Covid or not...

 

[Cheburashka]

Thanks for the responses. Out trip is at the end of May, so we are hopeful both water parks will be open by then.

That's a bit optimistic imo, but possible. To answer your other questions:

• Yes, there are showers, dressing rooms and sizable lockers available. You can get ready for dinner while you're there, although it's obviously not as comfortable as doing it in your resort room. Be aware that in late spring and summer it often rains heavily in the afternoon (even after a perfectly sunny morning), so incorporate that possibility into your plans.
• You can take the bus, but as they haven't reopened yet we don't know if there will still be a direct bus route there upon reopening, or if it will be a stop along the way to Animal Kingdom (for BB) or Disney Springs (for TL).
• They don't exactly have cabanas. Typhoon Lagoon has Beachcomber Shacks, which have a solid roof and open sides (useful in a thunderstorm). Blizzard Beach has Polar Patios which is a glorified large umbrella with chairs (not useful in a thunderstorm). Both parks also rent(ed) regular loungers with umbrellas in a few closed-off areas, in addition to all of the free loungers & umbrellas that you could use anywhere else. But since they haven't reopened yet, nothing is certain about these spaces still being rentable, although imo they probably will be.
• In our past experience, they opened about 30 minutes early for people to go inside, get lockers & chairs, etc., and then only allowed people to approach the attractions around official opening time.

 

[TNKim]

That's a bit optimistic imo, but possible. To answer your other questions:

• Yes, there are showers, dressing rooms and sizable lockers available. You can get ready for dinner while you're there, although it's obviously not as comfortable as doing it in your resort room. Be aware that in spring and summer it often rains in the afternoon (even after a perfectly sunny morning), so incorporate that possibility into your plans.
• You can take the bus, but as they haven't reopened yet we don't know if there will still be a direct bus route there upon reopening, or if it will be a stop along the way to Animal Kingdom (for BB) or Disney Springs (for TL).
• They don't exactly have cabanas. Typhoon Lagoon has Beachcomber Shacks, which have a solid roof and open sides (useful in a thunderstorm). Blizzard Beach has Polar Patios which is a glorified large umbrella with chairs (not useful in a thunderstorm). Both parks also rent(ed) regular loungers with umbrellas in a few closed-off areas, in addition to all of the free loungers & umbrellas that you could use anywhere else. But since they haven't reopened yet, nothing is certain about these spaces still being rentable, although imo they probably will be.
• In our past experience, they opened about 30 minutes early for people to go inside, get lockers & chairs, etc., and then only allowed people to approach the attractions around official opening time.

Thanks so much for this info. Just what I was looking for!

 

[lanejudy]

I suggest you keep an eye on announcements about the waterparks re-opening. Last I knew the showers at the resort pools were still closed -- maybe that has changed? -- which could be an indication that showers may not be available at the waterparks.