Awesome! I just have to convince my BF to get there early so we can snag some lounge chairs in the shade since he wants to sleep in every day, but hopefully I can lure him there with the promise of an afternoon nap back at the hotel.
What's the towel situation? We are staying at GF - can we grab some towels from our room or the resort pool to take? Are there towels at TL? Are there plenty of places to get an adult beverage? Can we leave our stuff on our chairs and roam around or go on the lazy river? We won't take a lot with us, just the essentials, but would hate to have things go missing if we leave our towels or sunscreen sitting on loungers. How do you carry your wallet/room key? Do magic bands work at the water park too for all your purchases? So many questions, but I am getting more excited!
1) Just like any Disney park you can get so much more done first thing in the morning, before the crowds and lines build. So do your best to convince your BF to go fairly early. The water parks generally open at 9:00 am in July, I think. No need to get there a whole bunch earlier than opening, though. Usually aren't long lines at park opening at the water parks.
2) I've aways rented towels ($2 each) so I don't have to bring wet towels back to the resort.
3) For valuables (cell phone, wallet, etc.), I always rent a locker. I don't worry about leaving non-valuables (towels, water bottle, sunscreen) on my beach chair. I also put my bag with dry clothes into the locker. They're $10/day (plus a $5 refundable deposit) for a large locker, and $8 per day for a small locker. If you go to another park the same day, keep your locker receipt, and you won't have to pay again (except for the $5 refundable key deposit).
4) Several places to eat, and a few with "adult beverages." We had good food at Leaning Palms. Good pulled pork sandwich!
5) Your Magic Band will work at the water parks. You can wear them (MBs) in the water; they're waterproof.
6) Bring a good waterproof sunscreen like Coppertone Sport Spray.
7) Lots of folks wear some kind of water shoe on the slides, but I haven't found them necessary.
8) There are often afternoon showers in July. They won't close the waterparks unless there's lightning in the area, but that happens more than you's think. That's another reason to go n the morning rather than the afternoon!
9) I'd recommend going during the week rather than the weekends. Lots of Orlando locals have annual water park passes, and the water parks tend to be more crowded on the weekends when loals are off work.
10) I don't think it would be necessary to rent chairs and an umbrella if you get there first thing in the morning. Just try to pick a spot were you can have some shade later in the day (remember the sun shifts s the day goes on).
11) There's a place with really yummy min-donuts. Be sure to go there!
12) I love TL! They have a great lazy river. As someone else mentioned, watch yourself in the wave pool, because you can easily get knocked off your feet and scraped up.
Have a wonderful time!
but decided to stay put as we had four chairs and a large shade umbrella near trees. The smoking turned out not to be an issue, very few smokers were there and didn't smoke near us. We were close to the wave pool and Crusher Gusher. We did many runs on Crusher right away with NO WAIT! Then DD and I did the lazy river, not crowded at all. Boys headed to bigger slides and did them with little to no wait. Then we all went and did family slide and tube slide, lazy river again (starting to get crowded). Headed to chairs to sun for half hour and dry up before lunch. After lunch sun and wave pool. Cold adult beverages in the shade before heading out around 3:30. Hope you have a fun day at TL. We like it a lot better than BB.
