Water Park Newbies

[ScrappinGran]

We are going to do one or both of the Water Parks during our upcoming trip in Sept. 4 adults, (2 are the Grandparents), and 3 kids- ages 11, 9 and 4. The 4 year old is small for his age, and wears glasses. We have never been to either Water Park. Which would be best for our first time visit? Or should we do both? Also, I need all the tips about where to grab a spot, how to do lunch, refillable mugs, etc! I am an excellent planner, but totally out of my element here. I read you can bring a cooler in, but not sure what we'd do with a cooler when dine with it. Although I did join Owner's Locker-maybe a soft sided collapsible one would fit in the bin? As you can see...out of my element! Any tips and advice is most appreciated! TIA

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I've only been to Typhoon Lagoon, and never with a four year old, so I'm not sure how useful my advice is:

We got there before rope drop (about 8:40AM). We didn't bother with trying to find a spot by the pool. Instead, we took our towels and bag with us around the back of the park, found some chairs the entrance to Keelhaul Falls, and proceeded to ride Keelhaul Falls, Mayday Falls, and Gang Plank Falls with no lines while everybody else was trying to figure out where to put their stuff. By the time we got over to Crush 'n' Gusher and then Storm Slides there barely any wait at all.

We ate lunch at Typhoon Tilly's, which had decent food, but was really pathetic in terms of speed of service.

We had done everything we wanted and left by about 1PM, which is when it started to get crowded.

 

[Noel22]

Hi ScrappinGran,
I'm a total waterpark-lover! So I love both parks, but in my opinion Typhoon Lagoon is even better than Blizzard Beach, especially if you do not want to do "thrill-slides". Typhoon Lagoon is more relaxed, and when you arrive early you and your family will get a nice,shady place in the sand.
We did not rent a locker, we left all our stuff on our chairs when we went to the slides - but, of course, you can rent a locker if you want to.
We ate at a counter service - more or less, same prices and same assortment as in the parks.
Refillable Mugs: you have to buy the "Typhoon Lagoon" mug for 10$ (it think it was 10$, but not sure anymore) and you can refill it the whole day.
And don't forget to bring sunblocker, the sun is pretty agressive in the waterparks. Maybe you better pack extra shirts for your kids, which they can wear in the water.

 

[jcriket]

If your eating at a park restaurant, and you buy mugs. I don't think you would need a cooler. We bring a small cooler because we bring our lunch. We still use our mugs for drinks. You can find a chair even if you come in later, it's just not as easy. We're happy with one lounge chair and a few small chairs (there's always plenty of those.) Both parks are nice and have good things about each. TL is a bit more laid back. Both parks have places for your 4 year old, but I kinda like BB better for that.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would strongly suggest that if your 4yo is going to do any slides (other than the kiddie area) or go into the wave pool that he not wear his glasses. They can either be left with hius stuff or have an adult put the glasses in a pocket in swim trunks that can be closed.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

We went to TL when my nephew was 4 and he had a blast. We staked a spot on the left side of the park, about half-way up, right between the kiddie area (D on the map) and the place where the wave pool has a wide left-side beach -- between K and D on the map.

LINK to TL map.

There is a kiddie size slide (K on the map) at that part of the wave pool and the water is only about knee deep. My nephew must have gone down that slide 100 times that day. He also liked the waves, which were just the right strength for him in that protected area.

If he really needs his glasses a lot, you can try getting goggles that fit over them -- not the regular swimming goggles, but something a little bigger. Or, you should at least put one of those elastic bands on the temples that hold the glasses on his head. Even then, not sure that's a good idea on the slides.

We brought in a soft sided cooler with sandwiches and some drinks. then we supplemented with drinks and ice cream from the CS at the park.

Remember to choose a waterproof sunblocker and follow the instructions! The one we use is great (CopperTone Sport in a blue tube), but you have to remember to allow 30 minutes for it to activate.

You guys will have a great time!

 

[stm61]

for the ages of your kids, I'd do BB. Check out the Ski Patrol area for all the kid sized slides and rides. All 3 would do fine there, plus the older ones can also do the bigger slides. Two other pluses are the lazy river ride is longer then TL, and you don't have to carry your own raft up the stairs for the family raft ride like you do at TL. My kids have always preferred BB to TL. They felt the kiddie area at TL was really designed for toddlers and was to babyish by the time they were 4.

 

[AJKMOM]

You can get a strap designed to keep your son's glasses tight on his head, I think it's called "Frog" or something like that. If he can't see well without his glasses, this is a must if you want him to have fun, or even find you if he gets lost.

Make sure you put your stuff near a landmark. Once, we just parked everything and it took a long time to find our chair since a lot of people must bring white towels.

 

[ScrappinGran]

Thank you all for your responses, I am learning a lot. I should clarify that my 4 yr. old grandson will be fine in the water without his glasses. I still have a few more questions...we will have the DDP, so are there spots at each Water Park where we can use our counterservice meals? Are they decent, if there are? We can always pack sandwiches and such in small soft sided cooler, if counter service is unavailable. Do you bring your own towels? Do you change there ( are there changing places? ) or do you wear your suits under your clothes. Which park is more suitable to easing them into Water Parks? They all LOVE the water. Which is better for adults not necessarily into thril slides?
TIA!

 

[stm61]

I can't remember the names, but there are counter service and snack places in both water parks. There's also a refillable mug, larger then the hotel ones, that's about $10-12, with free refills for that day. Bring it back another day and pay for a bar code sticker for maybe $6-8 and free refills that day. I think the food is mostly hamburger, hot dog, chicken, type stuff. There are changing rooms connected to the bathroom by Ski Patrol area. We usually just wear suits under clothes to make it easier. We bring our own towels because we drive and don't have to worry about luggage. They do supply towels, but they're not big beach towels. I'd do BB for your first time, you can always try TL later. The kids are all the right size for Ski Patrol, the water there isn't to deep, and you can sit on the side of the pool to watch or get in the water with them. The wave pool is a little tamer, so they won't get scraped up if they get knocked over. The family raft ride is longer, you don't have to carry the raft, and you can use the chair lift to get to the top. The lazy river is also a bit longer and it's not to deep either. We always set up camp at Ski Patrol by the ice bergs. I have vertigo issues so I usually stay put, while the others go do their things. TL does seem to have a bit more shade, but I think overall BB would fit your needs better.