Water Park Logistics...help!!!

[nblake05]

On hot days, people tend to get to the water parks early. While showing up later won't prevent you from enjoying all the attractions, the best seats might be taken early.

I was going over all this really helpful info with DH and this kinda stymied us. So, you grab seats early, claim them by leaving your towel on them or something, and then leave them unattended while you slide and stuff? Is this how it works? Somehow it doesn't sound right? What's the protocol? Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'm making this far more complicated then it truly is, but forewarned is forearmed, right? Also, the shoe thing.... Where do you leave your shoes (water or otherwise) when you go on an attraction that doesn't allow them? I'm picturing a flip flop parking area like for strollers! Now I'm giggling to myself like a Disney crazed loony!

 

[TimonMeeko]

I was going over all this really helpful info with DH and this kinda stymied us. So, you grab seats early, claim them by leaving your towel on them or something, and then leave them unattended while you slide and stuff? Is this how it works? Somehow it doesn't sound right? What's the protocol? Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'm making this far more complicated then it truly is, but forewarned is forearmed, right? Also, the shoe thing.... Where do you leave your shoes (water or otherwise) when you go on an attraction that doesn't allow them? I'm picturing a flip flop parking area like for strollers! Now I'm giggling to myself like a Disney crazed loony!

Early, early, early is key. As a local, when I had an annual water park pass I knew to either arrive by opening or wait until after two pm when a lot of folks are heading back to their resorts. Claim your chairs then go have fun! Unlike a lot of places where they discourage saving chairs it's the norm at TL and BB. I'd leave my stuff in a beach bag under my towel, luckily I never had a problem.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I was going over all this really helpful info with DH and this kinda stymied us. So, you grab seats early, claim them by leaving your towel on them or something, and then leave them unattended while you slide and stuff? Is this how it works? Somehow it doesn't sound right? What's the protocol? Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'm making this far more complicated then it truly is, but forewarned is forearmed, right? Also, the shoe thing.... Where do you leave your shoes (water or otherwise) when you go on an attraction that doesn't allow them? I'm picturing a flip flop parking area like for strollers! Now I'm giggling to myself like a Disney crazed loony!

There will be chairs available all day, but the "best" ones will likely be "reserved" by folks putting their stuff in them. We put ALL our stuff in lockers and really don't use poolside chairs at all. So, everyone has different strategies.

On the body slides, you remove your shoes and hold them to your chest as you ride

 

[NavyDad]

Blizzard Beach has more stairs, definitely. I touch a little on that in my review (link below).

Great reviews Gumbo!

I do think you could be a little more detailed though

 

[NavyDad]

I was going over all this really helpful info with DH and this kinda stymied us. So, you grab seats early, claim them by leaving your towel on them or something, and then leave them unattended while you slide and stuff? Is this how it works? Somehow it doesn't sound right? What's the protocol? Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'm making this far more complicated then it truly is, but forewarned is forearmed, right? Also, the shoe thing.... Where do you leave your shoes (water or otherwise) when you go on an attraction that doesn't allow them? I'm picturing a flip flop parking area like for strollers! Now I'm giggling to myself like a Disney crazed loony!

Yes - you can grab some chairs early and leave towels on them to "reserve" them. We have never had anything stolen but its best practice to put anything in a locker that is valuable to you. We have gone many times to both water parks and never had anything stolen.

We did have groups of South Americans move into our area and actually sit on our towels a couple of times but I think this was more of a cultural mis-understanding than anything else. We returned and said excuse me and they got up and moved off of our chairs. The one time my wife was not too happy have a wet bottom print on her towel from someone else but not really the end of the world.

For the most part we have had no problems doing this.

The only thing you cannot physically carry your shoes on is Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon. They do have an area you can leave your shoes and get them afterwards but for this attraction it is best to just leave your shoes at you chair.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Great reviews Gumbo!

I do think you could be a little more detailed though

Brevity isn't my strongest suit sometimes