Trying a Water Park...?

[Disney Dining Dad]

We are planning to arrive on Sunday, July 5 and stay until Friday, July 10, and my current proposed itinerary has us going to Magic Kingdom the first day to take in the magic of the castle, characters, atmosphere, etc. and hopefully get a few Lightning Lanes and grab something to eat (then returning to MK for a full day on Thursday).

But with that still being a holiday weekend and MK possibly being really busy, we have at least considered taking advantage of the "free water park on check-in day" promotion being offered this year and going to one of those parks instead of MK.

Was just wondering what people's thoughts are on that? We've only ever done the main four parks, never the water parks, and I feel like MK is almost a "must" for first impressions of WDW (my youngest daughter has never been). But, if it's really crowded, it could potentially make for a negative first impression instead. If it matters, my daughters do love water parks, but I'm just not sure how "essential Disney" of an experience that would be.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

So my kids (6 and 3) have been to all the theme parks and water parks, some once some a few times and I had splurged for our trip this summer and said I was going to buy 4 days of theme park tickets.... usually we only do 1-2...but then the kids realized that meant only 1 water park day due to the amount of time we have there and they said they'd rather have 2 water park days 1 pool day and only 2 theme park days.....so.....at least my kids really love those water parks

 

[hardcorestitch]

We are planning to arrive on Sunday, July 5 and stay until Friday, July 10, and my current proposed itinerary has us going to Magic Kingdom the first day to take in the magic of the castle, characters, atmosphere, etc. and hopefully get a few Lightning Lanes and grab something to eat (then returning to MK for a full day on Thursday).

But with that still being a holiday weekend and MK possibly being really busy, we have at least considered taking advantage of the "free water park on check-in day" promotion being offered this year and going to one of those parks instead of MK.

Was just wondering what people's thoughts are on that? We've only ever done the main four parks, never the water parks, and I feel like MK is almost a "must" for first impressions of WDW (my youngest daughter has never been). But, if it's really crowded, it could potentially make for a negative first impression instead. If it matters, my daughters do love water parks, but I'm just not sure how "essential Disney" of an experience that would be.

I’d go for the water park! It’s a great way to ease into Disney. Not to mention looooooong lazy rivers!

 

[scrappinginontario]

How old are your children?

Both the parks and water parks will likely be on the busier side in Jul 5th. To me a lot would hinge on what you feel your family would be able to do in 1 day in the MK?

Would it be better to have 1 full day in the MK or 2 days to spread out the fun a little more and take the pressure off trying to do everything in one day?

 

[Disney Dining Dad]

How old are your children?

Both the parks and water parks will likely be on the busier side in Jul 5th. To me a lot would hinge on what you feel your family would be able to do in 1 day in the MK?

Would it be better to have 1 full day in the MK or 2 days to spread out the fun a little more and take the pressure off trying to do everything in one day?

My daughters are 12 and 6. They do love water parks (we've been to a few Great Wolf Lodge locations in Ohio), but yeah, there's so much at MK, and if we could check a few items off our "to-do" list on arrival day, our last full day at WDW (Thursday) would be a bit more relaxed.

Do the water parks have restaurants where we could take advantage of our dining plan? Like using one of our quick service meals between lunch and dinner time?

 

[hardcorestitch]

My daughters are 12 and 6. They do love water parks (we've been to a few Great Wolf Lodge locations in Ohio), but yeah, there's so much at MK, and if we could check a few items off our "to-do" list on arrival day, our last full day at WDW (Thursday) would be a bit more relaxed.

Do the water parks have restaurants where we could take advantage of our dining plan? Like using one of our quick service meals between lunch and dinner time?

They do! You’ll find them on the My Disney Experience app. Lottawotta Lodge is one of those QS places in Blizzard Beach.

 

[lovethattink]

They do! You’ll find them on the My Disney Experience app. Lottawotta Lodge is one of those QS places in Blizzard Beach.

Back in February, my daughter-in-law’s friend and family water park tickets were expiring. It was too cool to swim (we’re Floridians), so we went to eat. And the chicken bowl at Lattawotta Lounge was so good! My oldest son got the shrimp and chicken bowl and he really loved it.

 

[Epump]

I'm thinking about this too! We also arrive on a Sunday (but in June) and *I think* I'm going to do the free water pack day on check-in v. hit up MK for a few hours. We've never done a WDW water park before so I think it's time, lol. I'm okay with even just an hour or two at the water park. My older son (14) wants to do some of the big slides, my daughter (5) will be happy in the little kids area, and DH and I just want a few laps in the lazy river. Then we will go check-in. We do have 1.5 MK days scheduled for later in the week so I think we'll be okay. I'm such a parks girl that it's hard for me to try something else, but I think my kids will love it! Leaning towards Blizzard Beach too...

 

[gottalovepluto]

We are planning to arrive on Sunday, July 5... with that still being a holiday weekend and MK possibly being really busy, we have at least considered taking advantage of the "free water park on check-in day" promotion being offered this year and going to one of those parks instead of MK.

You aren't dodging crowds by going to one park over another, it's going to busy so you just need to square with that.

... I feel like MK is almost a "must" for first impressions of WDW (my youngest daughter has never been). But, if it's really crowded, it could potentially make for a negative first impression instead. If it matters, my daughters do love water parks, but I'm just not sure how "essential Disney" of an experience that would be.

Is a water park "essential Disney"? Full Stop. Why are you going to Disney? So your family can have fun. Your daughters love water parks + the water park is free = go to the waterpark. You aren't robbing your child of some first impression, they aren't going to look at the Castle on your MK day and be like "well that's boring after seeing Mt Gushmore". If the castle is going to leave an impression, it will leave a lasting impression no matter which day you go. As for "first impression" pssh, please. A "first impression" is just looking back on an experience and cherry picking the moment you want to remember.

 

[Skippyboo]

They are doing fireworks for the 4th on July 3-5. So MK is going to be crowded especially in the evening. The water parks close at 7 pm in the summer. You could do a couple of hours in the water park and then hit MK if you’re arriving relatively early. Both water parks have nice lazy rivers, typhoon has a little more stuff like water coaster, the wave pool makes ocean like waves instead of Blizzard’s constant bob. Both have body slides and tube slides.

 

[PollyannaMom]

This is one of those things I'd let the kids have some input into. - Maybe they really want to go to the water park, maybe they want "4th of July" fireworks on their first night of vacation? (Or maybe everyone will be too exhausted from travel to enjoy either one. - I'm a fan of a low-key first day myself. )

I would talk to the kids about the options, reminding them that Disney World is like a buffet where there many things to try each time you go, and nobody can ever do it all in one trip, so it's about what we're all in the mood for "this time."

Maybe I'd even have a "secret ballot" where you all (adults and kids) put down what you'd like best. - That way, if it's a tie, you can judge whose choice is more important to them and whose was really close between the two anyway, and nobody needs to know.

I'd also frame it as a tentative decision and check the weather as you get closer to your trip, as that might make the decision for you!

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

My kids prefer typhoon lagoon but also like blizzard beach.

 

[holden]

If I was going to one of the water parks on 4th of July weekend, I'd reserve a cabana/chair/umbrella, etc. so I would have a guaranteed place to call home while there. I'd expect it to be crowded, and I wouldn't want to worry about finding a place to leave my stuff. There are a few options to reserve ahead of time.

That's just my suggestion. I realize not everyone would want to spend the extra money, but to me it would be worth it.