Visiting water parks ??

[disgirl]

Hi! I guess I just want to hear others opinions about visiting water parks at Disney.

I know many years ago, we have gone to a water park in the afternoon for a break, but can not remember if it was packed. When you visit water parks do you usually go first thing in the am and basically spend the day there, or go first thing in the morning for only a few hours and leave for the another park, or do you visit another park first and use the water park as a refreshing break? This question is really for those that travel to WDW in the summer months when it is very humid and hot. I appreciate any opinions and experiences that you can share. THANKS!! I am still trying to get my intinerary together for the end of August. I plan to do a water park on just one day, but not sure how I want to work it in.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

During the summer, the water parks are pretty crowded by lunch time. The crowds tend to thin out around 4 or disappear entirely after the afternoon deluge of rain. Personally, I like to go late in the afternoon and avoid the long lines. We have PAPs, so we go often.

 

[lovethattink]

We have PAPs and go often too. I agree with Squeaky Mouse, late afternoons are great! If we have guests with us who have to pay for admission, then we go 1st thing in the am to make a day of it...also to get a chair too. Chairs disappear quickly. If we can't find a chair, we just put everything in a locker and go have fun. Eventually a chair opens up. Also, they have some tables at each park that are designated for eating only. So we know we can at least sit to eat!

 

[disneylizzy]

Hi! We went to Typhoon Lagoon on our trip at the end of August. What a great day! Our boys were 14 and 11. We had never been to either waterpark, so I was unsure how much time we would spend there. We arrived right at opening and ended up staying until just about closing. It was a blast from start to finish. This was on Sept 2 and there were no crowds. The boys did whatever slides they wanted to all day. Of course, two days later we were planted at WL for 48 hrs due to Hurricane Frances.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks for the quick responses. My ds is 12 and does love the water park slides. I was just wondering if I could get away with not scheduling a whole day, but I guess we should go early and play it by ear. Thanks. Anyone else? I love to hear other people's experiences. You are the best!!

 

[ktink]

We always go right before opening. We normally stay till 2 or 3 then go back for a nap.

 

[LadyLuc361]

On our last trip, we went at opening and were able to hit all the slides before it got busy. Then we relaxed for a while, maybe did some more slides and then headed back to the hotel around 1 or 2. Then we went to a theme park in the evening. We had a great time at the water parks!

 

[BuzzLightYear3]

We (DH, DS-11, DD-7, DS-5) have made an early June trip to WDW a regular event now, and we always visit a water park....usually BB and sometimes TL as well. We get there at opening in order to get some good time in on the slides before the lines get too long....when the lines get long, we take a lunch break and then try to do some things with minimal lines (e.g. lazy river for a while.) Often around 3-4 p.m. we get tired of the lines and head back to the hotel, but the water parks are only open until 6-7 p.m. and start to thin out late afternoon so now that our youngest is getting older we'll probably try to stick it out for the afternoon and take advantage of the decreasing crowds at the end of the day.

After a day at the waterparks, I find it relaxing to get some kind of carryout dinner or make something in the room and hang around the hotel for the evening, but since the waterparks close early, it is definitely feasible to head out to another park. One year when we had 10-day passes I believe we did head over to MGM for Fantasmic after a day at BB.

In any case, I wouldn't skip the waterparks or wait until the very end of your trip to give them a try.....they are definitely a highlight for the kids......and I've heard people with older kids actually get a chance to sit back and relax for a while!

 

[disgirl]

Thanks again for all the replies. I love hearing from all of you!

 

[wildernessfamily]

I know TL is sometimes closed by noon because it becomes too crowded. Also if your boys are interested in Learning to surf, they do have a surf school at TL, you have to be there at 7am and they usher you out of the park in time for the 9 am opening. You MUST reserve space a head of time, and I don't know if it is every day of the week. You have to be good swimmer for the surf school. But our family of 2 teens and one pre teen loved it. It definitely was an experience for them. Alot of the time we spend in the water parks depend on the weather, we usually leave if storms are coming and we go back and shower/ rest and hit another park in evening.

 

[disgirl]

Thanks wildernessfamily for the comment about crowds and surfing. It sounds like fun, but I do not think I could get my son up for 7 am at TL

Thanks again everyone for your comments.