Water park on arrival day?

[Queen Be]

Anyone ever start a trip with a water park? How well did this work? Would you recommend it? We arrive on Sunday, June 26 at 1:30 and we will use ME to get to CBR. I figure we could probably get to a water park between 4 and 5. I originally planned for us to do Epcot, but now I am thinking my family may find a few hours at a water park more relaxing that first day. We are mom, dad, and 4 kids (ds 9, ds 8, dd 4, and dd 6 months), and we are big swimming fans. We have enough days and pluses to do either arrangement, so ticket issues do not factor in. I know we would also have to be flexible with weather. I am wondering if 2 to 3 hours is enough time in the late afternoon to have a good time at a water park? Parks are scheduled to close at 7:30. Is BB or TL better for a better for a late arrival?
Thanks for any and all help!

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

I think 2-3 hours you would be rushing yourself to do allot of things. We have arrived around 1:30 at TL and rather enjoyed it. Cause the park thins out around 2 and pretty much all the slides are walk on.

 

[jillybeanjo]

We have started our trip with a water park the last couple of times, but we arrive by 1:00 or so. I think 3-4 hours is the minimum for a water park. When we go in October that gives us time to do all that we want to do. We spend more time at TL than BB because of the wave pool. My daughter could stay in it all day.

In your situation I probably wouldn't recommend it because of your limited time. And if tickets aren't a factor, I would go to a park, probably Magic Kingdom, just to get everyone into the spirit of the trip right away.

 

[gigi1313]

you may want to consider just hitting your resort's pool that first afternoon... get everyone settled (if it were me i'd stay in the room w/the baby and unpack while dh took the bigger kids to the pool!) and then head to MK or Epcot for dinner (i.e. liberty tree tavern or garden grille as they both have mickey and friends and what a better way to kick off a wdw vacation than dinner w/the mouse who started it all!) and maybe catch some fireworks or parade or something... call it a day and start early the next morning...

also, since ME is new, there's no gurantee what time you'll get to your resort... travelling can be a bit time consuming, esp at CBR because after you stand in line to check in, you will then go wait at the bus stop for the bus to your section... then you'll have to wait for a bus to the water park (which are fewer and further between in the late afternoon) so it could be closer to 6pm by the time you get there (1:30 landing, 2pm leave MCO, 3pm arrive at CBR, 4pm arrive at room, 5pm+ arrive at water park, see what i mean?)... whatever you decide... ENJOY!

 

[Queen Be]

you may want to consider just hitting your resort's pool that first afternoon... get everyone settled (if it were me i'd stay in the room w/the baby and unpack while dh took the bigger kids to the pool!) and then head to MK or Epcot for dinner (i.e. liberty tree tavern or garden grille as they both have mickey and friends and what a better way to kick off a wdw vacation than dinner w/the mouse who started it all!) and maybe catch some fireworks or parade or something... call it a day and start early the next morning...

Thanks so much for the input! My family is tired of hearing my Disney schemes, so it is so nice to be able to come here and think out loud and get feedback

So it seems a few hours at a water park is not worth the trip. Same question about Epcot...is it worth the travel hassle by Disney bus for just a few hours that first day? I toyed with scheduling dinner at the Garden Grill for arrival day, but was leery of adding another character meal (already have Chef Mickey, Liberty Tree, and every princess meal on property). Perhaps I will see if I can get a PS (or whatever the current name is) and we will plan to head to Epcot for a bit and head back early to CBR. Do you think a few hours in Epcot is worth the trouble of getting there and back? I really like the idea of watching Illuminations from the beach at CBR (we have a preferred room booked, so we should be near that beach) that first night to avoid fighting the crowds after the show. Decisions, decisions, decisions...