Water Park tips/advice

[DLo]

We only go for 5 days/4nights when we go to WDW so haven't gotten the Water Park and more option - until this year. My ds13 has really been wanting to go . Since after this year , we may not go for awhile we decided to go for it.

These board have been so helpful for me in picking resorts, getting discounts, finding restaurants, and many park tips so I was hoping ya'll could help me with some water park advice.

The background - we are going oct 8 - 12 (so Columbus Day weekend ) . It will be my mom, myself, and ds13. We will check in early on the 8th and try to get to HS for am emh. We are going to MNSSHP on Mon, night. Other than that I am open. I like to have a tenative plan before we go but we are flexible once we get there depending on crownds. (have park hoppers)

If you could only choose one water park, with a ds13 who is somewhat adventerous, which would you choose? I am leaning toward TL

What day would you go? Weekends have a lot of locals? Get there before park opens or arrive later when some may be leaving?

Any advice/tips/suggestions appreciated.

 

[Hootch]

only answer for Typhoon Lagoon. We went this year with a 12 year old. He really enjoyed it He's not terribly adventurous so the big drop slides at BB would be of no interest to him.

We chose a weekday and a day without an AM EMH (they may not have those in Oct). We arrived a little early and they let you in beyond the ticket area. At 9:00 AM they opened the gates. We had no problem gettin chairs. The first two hours were pretty quiet and we were able to almost walk on to everything. The Crushin' Gusher and shark swim area are set apart from the rest of the park and lines are a little shorter later in the day. When we were there the six foot wave period was from 11:00 - 12:30. Both my kids really enjoyed that. They can be in different areas of the pool and get more or less wave action.

 

[DLo]

thanks hootch

 

[acebatonfan]

My family normally goes to BB, and, from the really bad wedgie my dad got with my uncle on Summit Plummet, there seems to be enough thrills for your daughter while still offering something relaxing for you. If she does decide to go on the slides, I suggest wearing a one piece swimsuit to prevent some "fashion mishaps" that happen all the time and can be quite embarrassing.

The best time to go is during the afternoon. A lot of people leave after then, and the parks feel really deserted. If it starts to rain, you simply need to go under some shelter for a few minutes, although you won't be allowed to go in the water for at least 30 minutes if lightning is seen.

 

[DLo]

thanks appreciate your input

 

[FrankWDW]

Get there early and put your stuff down on some chairs (even if you don't plan on using them for a while) because they get taken up quickly and you want to make sure you have some when you are ready to sit down.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

We will be on winter hours (10:00 to 5:00) and not crowded at all. You might want to consider a few hours on Monday, then going back to your room for a while before going to the Party.

I think everyone in your group would probably enjoy TL more than BB.

 

[mousireid]

We have a no tunnel rider and most slides at TL have tunnels. Also the Shark Reef was a neat experience and the wave pool is undoubtedly our favorite.
We love BBs Ski Patrol area - something for everyone, I wish they had one like that at TL! Also, there are ONLY three crazy slides at BB that my dd (6) cannot slide on because she is only 46". There are MANY 'carpet' and tube slides and the BEST family raft ride (the longest and no need to carry your raft up either) is at BB. I was SO disappointed with the family raft ride at TL!
For us there were more slides at BB we could all do than at TL BUT your daughter will be over 48" so not a problem for you!
TL had three GREAT rollercoaster style slides (not scary at all) inside tunnels that my son and I did and a wee quiet pool off to teh side of that.
Both have the awesome lazy rivers!
So a relaxing day for us would be TL - we DO less slides there but more carrying of tubes! A day of all of us sliding on mats, tubes and without (and the zip line/ski patrol area WITH a ski lift instead of just walking up the mountain) would be BB.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are making just one water park or Disney Quest visit all vacation long, you are better off buying a separate ticket instead of the water park fun.

You will have to decide that same day (as your water park visit) whether you want to go again later, and convert the spent water park ticket into water park fun on your regular ticket (requires about nine more dollars).

Hopping is not required to use a park ticket with water park fun at one theme park and also at water parks, etc. on the same day.

 

[RayRing]

We have only been to BB, but from what I have read, BB has more (or at least bigger) thrill slides.

While down there, look for a nice warm day, with lots of sun, and not much wind. October should be a great time to go.

Since the hours will be 10:00 to 5:00, you might want to go to a water park the day after a late night, stay for till after lunch, head back to the room, and still have time for some park time.

 

[nkereina]

Since the hours are shorter, you could easily spend a whole day there. We are going to TL when the hours are 9-5 and plan on getting there at opening, and leaving about 1pm or so when it's the hottest point of the day and most crowded. I have heard that the weekends are less crowded at the water parks, actually. I think the logic behind that is that most people start and end their trips on weekends and don't usually make the water parks their first and last stops. As for locals that have APs, unless they have the premium AP which is more expensive, they don't have access to the water park. If I lived there and had a regular AP, I'd only spend the money to go to the water parks once in a great while. I'd rather hit up Epcot or MK to get my money's worth with my AP. If I didn't have an AP and wanted to spend that much on a park ticket, I'd probably spend it on a regular park.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

If you are only going to go to ONE water park then it is cheaper to just buy a one day ticket at the gate. If you want to be able to go to both parks then adding the Water Park fun and more option to your ticket makes more financial sense.

I have researched both parks and I think my kids are going to like Typhoon Lagoon more. Just for the swimming with the sharks and Crushin Gusher water roller coaster.

But we're going to BB also. Just not sure if anybody is going to want to slide those big slides.

 

[DLo]

thanks everyone for the advice. I didn't think about just buying a one day ticket so appreciate that tip. We are there for only 5 days so probably will just go to one of the 3 (dq,bb,tl). The only thing I worried about at TL was the wave pool - for my mom - not ds and I. Are the waves always rougher/bigger than an average wave pool or just periodically?

 

[jwilds13]

We just got back from TL this afternoon....chilling before dinner. The waves got bigger toward center of day but if mom is far enough back should not be too bad. Early part of day was out further but was mid pool by the big ones and I'm like almost 6 foot tall. She could lazy river and such if it is too bad for her.

Hope this helps

 

[Hootch]

vary throughout the day. The timetables are posted at different points in the park. The one day we were there the six foot waves ran from 11:00 - 12:30 and possibly later after we left. The other times were pretty mellow.

The large waves come every five minutes and there is a warning just before they are released. As jwilds noted, in the back part of the pool the waves have dissipated a lot.

 

[Magic3forme]

my girls (13 & 11) both said TL. (they like the typhoon pool over the wave pool.)

you cant go wrong with either one!

 

[DLo]

Thanks - that makes me feel better about the waves. She loves a lazy river, too. I really appreciate everyones info/tips/advice! Now, I still have to wait til oct! - way too long