thinking of adding a waterpark

[luvmyfam444]

we've never been to one - which do you suggest? when do you suggest going? All day? partial day? specific day that's slowish?

 

[PoohsFan1]

We enjoy TL over BB because we love the tropical feel of TL compared to the concrete feel of BB, however BB has a great family water slide. When we go we like to be there at opening so that we could get a great spot near the wave pool/pool bar. We also like to go for most of the day, not the entire day but close to it, even though we like to ride the slides and play in the wave pool, we also like to laze around the lazy river for a while and my DH and I like to hang out at the pool bar and talk with the bartenders and everyone else hanging around there while our kids are having fun (they are teens). Have a great time, we always try to take a day out of our park schedule and go to TL, weather permitting that is.

 

[NYUBwayBaby]

Check the refurbishment schedule for when you are going. BB closes October through Christmas Eve and TL closes Christmas through March (I think).
When I was a kid I loved BB. I think that's probably the better park if you have kids that aren't super adventurous. There's a spot for kids under 48" and a section for kids 5-11. There's some great family slides and the wave pool is much more relaxed- more like your typical water park wave pool.
I love TL now that I'm older and like water slides. I also LOVE the wave pool. It was the first wave pool I went to and I've been disappointed in ever water park wave pool I've been to since. My BF didn't understand until I finally took him there and now he can't wait to go back.
The parks are only open until about 5pm, so you can do partial day. When we went last time we went to TL then to MNSSHP. This next trip we'll probably go to TL, leave a little before park closes, then I'll go to the race expo and pick up my stuff since the expo doesn't close until 7pm. You could also do the water park then hang out at Disney Springs in the evening.
As for when it's slow- if you are going in the summer they can fill up to capacity early. Especially on hot weekends. We went in October last year and it wasn't busy at all, although I don't remember what day of the week it was. I'd also check the weather forecast and be willing to be a bit flexible- every time my family has gone to BB the park has closed due to severe thunderstorms rolling through.

 

[Princess Minnie of Disney]

Hi! I suggest going to water parks during the summer months since that's the most enjoyable time to visit them. I prefer Blizzard Beach since I enjoy slides more but, Typhoon Lagoon has some awesome rides like the Crush and Gusher. Both are a great way to escape the midday madness that swamps the theme parks during the summer season. I recommend visiting a park in the morning then the water parks and ending the day in another park (we usually do the one with extra night magic hours). Have fun!

 

[mshanson3121]

If you go in the summer are the water parks packed by afternoon? How much wait would there be for the lazy rivers, or say that tobaggan ride at BB?

 

[Princess Minnie of Disney]

Hi, in my experience the water parks while crowded aren't crazy as the parks. Waits can range from half hour to an hour depending on popularity and efficiency of the ride. Stuff like the Lazy River I believe you can actually just enter without wait and the toboggan ride is probably 20 to 30 min. It's been a few years since my last visit but, I'm assuming it's still pretty accurate. Hope this helps!

 

[LuvMyEAR]

The water parks are really great and if you have never been to one, do it, assuming you have water-lovers in the family. The theming of both TL and BB is very cool. We like the BB slides best but the TL wave pool is awesome enough to draw us back there, as well.

Many years ago, when just DH and I travelled to WDW, we would never be staying close enough for a midday return to our resort. We would head to TL, cool off in the water and nap in the shade for a bit, then clean up and head back to a park for dinner and evening fun. Now when we travel with our intensely aquatic DGSs, time spent in the water parks is every bit as important as the theme parks. Our older DGS made his first visit to Ketchakiddie Creek at 8 months, and absolutely loved it. Now it is all about body surfing the big waves and racing around to the slides.

If you are adding Water Parks and More to your passes, and the season permits, try both TL and BB. They make a fantastic change of pace.