Wait times at water parks? Fastpasses?

[disprincess2213]

We are planning on a day or 2 for waterparks in 2 weeks because its going to be HOT and weve never been!!

How are the wait times at the slides and water rides at the parks? We will be there the first week of September! Is there a fastpass system?

Which park would be best for a 4 year old who is 42 inches?

 

[Robo]

Is there a fastpass system?

Advance FP+... Nope.

 

[Klayfish]

The wait times are never as bad as what you'd see in the 4 main theme parks. But during the peak of the day, they can hit 45-60 minutes for the most popular slides. Like the main parks, the trick is to get there right at park open. However, unlike the main parks, you don't need to show up 45 minutes early. If the water park opens at 10am, then showing up at 9:55am will be more than sufficient. Grab a chair quickly and head to the slides. For the first hour, there will be little to no wait for anything. Lines will build from there and be at peak from about 11am to 4pm. Then they'll slowly come back down to nothing.

BB is testing a FP+ style system. We used it several times in July. Unless it's changed since then, it's only for 3 slides...Teamboat Springs, Downhill Double Dipper and Summit Plummet. Frankly, the only one it helps with is Summit. It's a waste for the other two...DDD line is still too long even with FP+ and Teamboat doesn't need a FP+ because it's line doesn't get long enough. Your 4 year old is too young for Summit anyway, so FP+ won't be of much help to you.

As for which park, really and truly doesn't matter. Both have great kid areas. BBB has a bit more of an "organized" one in Ski Patrol and Tikes Peak, but TL has a nice area too. BBB has some slides closed, so keep that in mind. I like TL slightly better, but I still love BBB just about as much. They both have slides your 4 year old can do. The family slide at BBB (Teamboat Springs) is awesome. The new family slide at TL (Miss Adventure Falls) is also a ton of fun, but a bit of a short ride.

 

[disprincess2213]

Thank you so much for your help here- I dont even know where to begin upon arriving at the waterpark!! Are there just a ton of chairs to drop out stuff of and go? Or do we just carry our stuff from place to place? Where is the best place to try and find chairs? WHats the best strategy?

 

[Klayfish]

Thank you so much for your help here- I dont even know where to begin upon arriving at the waterpark!! Are there just a ton of chairs to drop out stuff of and go? Or do we just carry our stuff from place to place? Where is the best place to try and find chairs? WHats the best strategy?

Yes, both parks have a phenomenal amount of chairs and you'll have no trouble finding one...or a group of them. Many are under shade, that's not a problem either. You'll find them quite easily. If you're bringing valuables in, you may want to rent a locker to store them (they're toward the front of the park). Otherwise, if it's stuff you don't care all that much about...i.e. my t-shirt or DW's coverup for her bathing suit, our lunch (we pack our own food), towels, sunscreen, we just leave it on our chairs and go. I've heard of people having stuff stolen, and I'm sure it does happen. But over the past 13 years, we've made probably 50 separate visits to the water parks and nobody has ever touched our stuff. And as I said, we don't leave anything of value anyway, so if they really want it, they're welcome to it. To be specific, for us we like the following spots to grab chairs.... In TL, there's a beach area that's near Miss Adventure Falls and Crush n Gusher. That area has plenty of shade in spots, including several large covered huts. We grab chairs there. In BB, we go to the area right by Ski Patrol (across from the bath house that's there), and get chairs. But that's just one of several places you can go. Finding a spot won't be an issue.

As for strategy, it all depends on what you want to do. Generally speaking, we hit the slides first because they get lines. Then when we're done with those, which is when the crowds arrive, we hit the wave pool or lazy river, since they don't get lines. Your 4 year old is going to be too young for the biggest slides in the parks, but there are still fun ones he/she can do. At TL, maybe head for Crush n Gusher (if he/she is adventurous) or Miss Adventure Falls. At BBB, maybe spend time in Ski Patrol (it doesn't get long lines really, but it can get a bit crowded). The wave pools at the two parks are vastly different. TL has massive waves that come once every 90 seconds to two minutes. So only strong swimmers should go in above their knees. However, since it's a zero entry pool, kids can walk in up to ankle depth and still really enjoy it (by time the waves get that far back, they're not that strong). We've been bringing our kids into it since they were 1, and they LOVE it. At BBB, the waves are much smaller and are constant. Sort of like being out on a choppy ocean. Again, it's a zero entry pool, so you can go as shallow as you want. Both have really fun lazy rivers.

If you have the ability to do big slides on your own (trade off with spouse, whomever), then both parks have awesome ones. Get to them early, they get crowded. Humunga Kowabunga at TL and Summit Plummet or Slush Gusher at BB. Crush n Gusher at TL is sorta/kinda like a "roller coaster" water slide in that you sit in a tube and jets of water will push you up hill and over a small crest. It's not truly a roller coaster, but I guess as close to one as a tube water slide can get. Plenty safe for a 4 year old because they have two person tubes and you can sit behind him/her and hold on. Tons of little kids ride it.

 

[disprincess2213]

Yes, both parks have a phenomenal amount of chairs and you'll have no trouble finding one...or a group of them. Many are under shade, that's not a problem either. You'll find them quite easily. If you're bringing valuables in, you may want to rent a locker to store them (they're toward the front of the park). Otherwise, if it's stuff you don't care all that much about...i.e. my t-shirt or DW's coverup for her bathing suit, our lunch (we pack our own food), towels, sunscreen, we just leave it on our chairs and go. I've heard of people having stuff stolen, and I'm sure it does happen. But over the past 13 years, we've made probably 50 separate visits to the water parks and nobody has ever touched our stuff. And as I said, we don't leave anything of value anyway, so if they really want it, they're welcome to it. To be specific, for us we like the following spots to grab chairs.... In TL, there's a beach area that's near Miss Adventure Falls and Crush n Gusher. That area has plenty of shade in spots, including several large covered huts. We grab chairs there. In BB, we go to the area right by Ski Patrol (across from the bath house that's there), and get chairs. But that's just one of several places you can go. Finding a spot won't be an issue.

As for strategy, it all depends on what you want to do. Generally speaking, we hit the slides first because they get lines. Then when we're done with those, which is when the crowds arrive, we hit the wave pool or lazy river, since they don't get lines. Your 4 year old is going to be too young for the biggest slides in the parks, but there are still fun ones he/she can do. At TL, maybe head for Crush n Gusher (if he/she is adventurous) or Miss Adventure Falls. At BBB, maybe spend time in Ski Patrol (it doesn't get long lines really, but it can get a bit crowded). The wave pools at the two parks are vastly different. TL has massive waves that come once every 90 seconds to two minutes. So only strong swimmers should go in above their knees. However, since it's a zero entry pool, kids can walk in up to ankle depth and still really enjoy it (by time the waves get that far back, they're not that strong). We've been bringing our kids into it since they were 1, and they LOVE it. At BBB, the waves are much smaller and are constant. Sort of like being out on a choppy ocean. Again, it's a zero entry pool, so you can go as shallow as you want. Both have really fun lazy rivers.

If you have the ability to do big slides on your own (trade off with spouse, whomever), then both parks have awesome ones. Get to them early, they get crowded. Humunga Kowabunga at TL and Summit Plummet or Slush Gusher at BB. Crush n Gusher at TL is sorta/kinda like a "roller coaster" water slide in that you sit in a tube and jets of water will push you up hill and over a small crest. It's not truly a roller coaster, but I guess as close to one as a tube water slide can get. Plenty safe for a 4 year old because they have two person tubes and you can sit behind him/her and hold on. Tons of little kids ride it.

This was SO helpful!! I cant thank you enough!!!!!

 

[No.1000]

Tons of little kids ride it.

Actually, there is a 48" height restriction.

 

[Klayfish]

Actually, there is a 48" height restriction.

Well, there you go. My kids are all well over that, so I never really pay attention to the exact limit...I only know I see a bunch of pretty small kids on it.

Definitely check for height restrictions on any of the slides.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I really can't speak to TL as I've only taken DS to BB. I've found the best strategy (for us anyway) is to go right at rope drop, rent a locker for any valuables and then find a chair or two (If I were you, I would get some chairs around Tike's Peak as that's probably where you will spend the majority of your time with your child).

I would get on the chairlift as soon as you enter and do Teamboat Springs, then hit the bigger slides that he will be able to do: Toboggan Racers, Runoff Rapids, Snowstormers (and Toboggan Racers and Snowstormers simply aren't worth a big wait, IMHO). The lines for all of these will build as the day goes on. As crowds build, you can then do Melt-Away Bay, Cross-Country Creek, Ski Patrol and Tike's Peak.

 

[brockash]

The wait times are never as bad as what you'd see in the 4 main theme parks. But during the peak of the day, they can hit 45-60 minutes for the most popular slides. Like the main parks, the trick is to get there right at park open. However, unlike the main parks, you don't need to show up 45 minutes early. If the water park opens at 10am, then showing up at 9:55am will be more than sufficient. Grab a chair quickly and head to the slides. For the first hour, there will be little to no wait for anything. Lines will build from there and be at peak from about 11am to 4pm. Then they'll slowly come back down to nothing.

BB is testing a FP+ style system. We used it several times in July. Unless it's changed since then, it's only for 3 slides...Teamboat Springs, Downhill Double Dipper and Summit Plummet. Frankly, the only one it helps with is Summit. It's a waste for the other two...DDD line is still too long even with FP+ and Teamboat doesn't need a FP+ because it's line doesn't get long enough. Your 4 year old is too young for Summit anyway, so FP+ won't be of much help to you.

As for which park, really and truly doesn't matter. Both have great kid areas. BBB has a bit more of an "organized" one in Ski Patrol and Tikes Peak, but TL has a nice area too. BBB has some slides closed, so keep that in mind. I like TL slightly better, but I still love BBB just about as much. They both have slides your 4 year old can do. The family slide at BBB (Teamboat Springs) is awesome. The new family slide at TL (Miss Adventure Falls) is also a ton of fun, but a bit of a short ride.

HOW did the fastpasses work? Where did you get them? We're heading down this weekend and would love to use them if available. Tia!

 

[Klayfish]

Take this with a grain of salt, because we were last there around July 14th, so it may or may not have changed in the 5 weeks since. It may also be ending, because they said it was scheduled for 6 weeks, but could be extended.

It was at BB only, and only for the 3 rides I listed. They had 2 tables set up, literally. One was near the ski lift, and it was for the FP+ for Teamboat and Summit. The other was right by the exit of DDD. You walked up to the table (no MB or ticket needed) and told them how many FP+ you needed. They then handed you a wristband to put on...well, they put it on your wrist if everyone in your party was there. That wristband had a 30 minute return window printed on it, along with a QR code. You then walked up to the CM stationed at that ride during your FP+ window. They looked at the time window on your band, and then scanned the QR code. You then went to the "front of the line". For DDD, that just meant the front of the line to get a tube, you still had to wait in line to climb the stairs...which took forever. For TS, you went right to the front of the entire line...but it rarely has one anyway. For Summit, you went to the front of the line to let people onto the last flight of stairs (they now stop you right before the entrance to Slush Gusher). So you still had a 10 minute wait from that point, but it wasn't bad.

The FP+ are first come, first serve, very much like the old paper system in the parks. So you can't walk up to the table at 11am and ask for a 3pm FP+. You get whatever is next. In our experience, it was a very short lead time. If you walked up at 1:00pm, your window was 1:20pm to 1:50pm. As soon as you were done, you could go get another one. We often walked around with 3 wristbands.

 

[brockash]

Take this with a grain of salt, because we were last there around July 14th, so it may or may not have changed in the 5 weeks since. It may also be ending, because they said it was scheduled for 6 weeks, but could be extended.

It was at BB only, and only for the 3 rides I listed. They had 2 tables set up, literally. One was near the ski lift, and it was for the FP+ for Teamboat and Summit. The other was right by the exit of DDD. You walked up to the table (no MB or ticket needed) and told them how many FP+ you needed. They then handed you a wristband to put on...well, they put it on your wrist if everyone in your party was there. That wristband had a 30 minute return window printed on it, along with a QR code. You then walked up to the CM stationed at that ride during your FP+ window. They looked at the time window on your band, and then scanned the QR code. You then went to the "front of the line". For DDD, that just meant the front of the line to get a tube, you still had to wait in line to climb the stairs...which took forever. For TS, you went right to the front of the entire line...but it rarely has one anyway. For Summit, you went to the front of the line to let people onto the last flight of stairs (they now stop you right before the entrance to Slush Gusher). So you still had a 10 minute wait from that point, but it wasn't bad.

The FP+ are first come, first serve, very much like the old paper system in the parks. So you can't walk up to the table at 11am and ask for a 3pm FP+. You get whatever is next. In our experience, it was a very short lead time. If you walked up at 1:00pm, your window was 1:20pm to 1:50pm. As soon as you were done, you could go get another one. We often walked around with 3 wristbands.

Thanks for the info.

 

[kirstenb1]

At our waterpark back home, you can buy hard sided plastic containers that loop around your neck. I throw a little cash in plus driver's license and credit card. I leave my cel phone in the car, then I don't need to rent a locker. Plus when you're ready to eat, you don't have to go to the locker to grab your money.

 

[kagmypts]

You have gotten good advice above, but I would recommend BB for a 4 year old. The wave pool at TL is really rough for the little ones.

I cannot speak to the lines at BB during the first week in September, but we have gone during the second week (the week starting September 11 this year). We made a point to go during the week, and everything was walk on.. all day! Our only limitation was how fast we could climb the steps (be forewarned there are a lot of steps at BB). While BB offers a ski lift to take to the rides, it moves too slowly for us. LOL The kids section is amazing, and the family ride (Teamboat Springs) is one of our favorite Disney rides!

As an aside, if anyone in your party wants to ride the Downhill Double Dipper, I would head there first. The line builds fairly early (correction to my above statement.. DDD had a 15 or 20 minute wait while everything else was walk on).

ETA - We don't get a locker because we leave all of our valuables in the car. We bring a pool bag with our lunch and towels from the hotel. If someone really wants to steal our bag, he or she can have it. If you are bringing any valuables with you, I suggest a locker.

Our favorite chairs are under the covered area by the wave pool as an FYI.