Typhoon Lagoon question

[MelissathePooh]

We haven't been big water park people. I broke out an old copy of the unofficial guide and was reading about Typhoon Lagoon. It gave a couple of tips. First, they suggested skipping renting a locker, so that you don't get caught up in line doing it. Second, it suggested staking out a chair first thing. Third, it suggested wearing your swim suit under your dry clothes so you could change easiley, and to store your money and valuables in your cooler. Finally, it suggested wearing sandels or shoes until you get on a slide.

I couldn't really visualize these things. Do people stake out chairs and keep their stuff on them all day? I can't imagine bringing a cooler. Do people just leave their stuff around? How do you get your shoes back if you take them off right before you slide? Can someone paint a picture of this for me?
Thanks,
DR

 

[LoveToDisney]

At lot depends on how you like to enjoy a water park. We don't like having anything with us because we are always doing something, not just sitting in a chair. I have never had to stay in line a long time to get a locker because there are usually a lot of CMs giving them out. We get one BIG locker and put all our stuff in it (we travel light). We leave our towels in our locker and our car keys, etc. The locker key you can put around your wrist. I put money, etc. in a water tight holder that I wear around my neck. I do wear water sandals because I like to ride around in the lazy river while our teens do the slides and waves. If you wear sandals going up for the slides, (if I recall correctly) they will just send your sandals, hat, etc. down the slide before you, so you look for your stuff when you arrive at the bottom. If you don't want to hassle with that, leave your sandals in the locker for the slides. If riding the tube rides, you can keep water sandals on the whole time.

Maybe another family that likes to use the lounge chairs will give another view. We have a beautiful pool at the resort, so we can lounge there. We do TL for the fun stuff we can enjoy.

 

[hockey mom]

You do need to get there early and head right over to get a chair when you get there. We also get a locker to keep t-shirts-sandals- car keys etc. in. All we leave on our chair when its slide time is suntan lotion, towels, books, stuff like that. We barefoot it to the slides.

 

[jaysue]

Hoofing it right away to a chair(s) is a good idea if you want a chair that is in the shade (partial or full)

thanks
jaysue

 

[Uncleromulus]

Agree. Shade is a precious item at TL. People virtually run (and I mean RUN) to get the few shade spots as soon as the park opens.

 

[ncbyrne]

We are in line at TL when the gates open. We always have a rental car and arrive with our bathing suits on with a t shirt over. We wear water shoes all day and just leave them on. The concrete can get quite hot. We never get a locker. DH has a small water proof zipper pocket that he wears under his suit. It's big enough to hold a few bucks and the car key. I also wear a waterproof pocket. We just leave our "stuff"....towels, sun screen, t-shirts on a shaded chair that we stake out as soon as we arrive.

 

[kilee]

I rent a locker for my money, car keys, and meds (asthma so take inhaler everywhere). Anyhow-- we always get 2 chairs next to each other. We leave our towels there as well as my sun lotion, sandals, buckets, shovels, bathing suit cover up, ect. DH doesn't do many of the rides, he spends most of his time "laying out". But when he does i still don't have any quams about leaving that stuff. I'd be aggrivated if someone took it-- but it can be replaced. I don't leave money or anything expensive laying around.

 

[hockey mom]

The one thing we do carry around during slide time is our refillable mug and we hide it in a bush at the bottom of each slide and pick it up when we get off.

 

[Shooby doo]

We normally head straight for a sun lounger first,once we've got our towels out ,then get a locker for valuables,as mentioned above we've never found the queues that big. If we're going to a slide we leave our sandals off but on if we're walking about.
We took a cooler last time around & it was great for keeping our drinks cool! Also don't forget that the water parks are different from the other parks in that you can take your own food in. We normally buy some "subs" for lunch as we find the choice in the water parks a bit limited,again the cooler keeps these cool.On the subject of the cooler ,I think we paid @ $5 for it & then gave it to another family at the end of our holiday!

 

[MelissathePooh]

Thanks you all. I get it now,

 

[HopperFan]

Lots of good hints and agree with most.

We arrive prior to opening (there is a line).
Two are voted to go ahead with towels to secure chairs - and we want a picnic table under a cover (about12 of us). Not many of those available.
Park will fill up quickly so what you get is it - people stay the day.
First year coolers full of food etc. Found the food reasonable, so now we bring smaller coolers with drinks only and snack stuff to keep us going all day.
Water shoes to protect our feet, and no way we go in bathroom barefoot. So at least bring flops for that.

Another suggestion: If you plan to do Shark Reef and snorkel. Do it first thing ! If you enjoyed it - do it a few more times and then forget about it. First thing it is beautiful. As the day goes on with more people, all the "stuff" is stirred up and it gets more murky. Also more crowded and they hurry you. Last trip they actually had more or less lost control, people getting in non-stop, and all life guards ended up jumping in at the same time. Some folks just don't do well in there and panic. Especially with too many people in there.

ps Check your snorkel before you push off. My DS was leaking and halfway across he was choking on water.

 

[LisaRay]

Ok, This is all great advice! We have only done a water park once and it was mid week in December back in 1994 or 1995!

So I have a question too..... We of all we do plan to get there early but are there really people running to the chairs in Nov. or would this just be in spring break or summer seasons? We will be there one day on a Sat. the beg. of Nov. and again on a Thurs. but it is Veterns day! So don't know what kind of crowds to expect that time of year?