Water Parks - early or late?

[myhat]

Guide books seem to suggest that the conventional wisdom of arriving at park opening may not be the best strategy for a water park. The logic seems to be that many folks leave early afternoon and an afternoon thunderstorm send many more home.

We want to visit Blizzard Beach mid-August for only a couple of hours. Which would you recommend:

(1) Get there in time for EMH at 8:30 and stay until mid-morning or
(2) arrive after 4pm and stay until closing at 6:30pm?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

The trouble is there are a lot of thunderstorms in August that roll in late afternoon. Sometimes, they roll on over and the park is able to reopen after nearly everyone is driven away. But sometimes they end up terminal (Ie they last long enough that nobody is able to get back in the water the rest of the day.)

 

[susieh]

We've been to TL and BB every trip we've made (usually manage 3 visits between them over the 2 week trip) and we've always had one occasion where thumderstorms have interfered with our day.

It seems to depend on how late the storm happens. At BB in 2004 we had a storm at about 3pm, everyone had to leave the water but at about 4pm we were allowed back in (we just sat under the table shelters until the rain stopped - we decided not to try and get back to the lockers to change and leave).

We've had other occasions where the rain has started about 4.30 and they have asked us all to change and leave.

It really is pot luck.

 

[TIGGER41681]

Everytime My husband and I go to a Water Park it's better to get there first thing in the morning. If you get there late you not have a place to sit and relax. For warning: when they open the gate it is a mad rush to get in!! We usually leave about 2pm right before the afternoon thunderstorms.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

By mid afternoon, many people have had enough of the Florida sun and are exiting the water parks. While we sometimes go to the water parks early in the morning, we far more often go in the late afternoon. If you can time your visit for after one of the brief afternoon thundershowers, you will have the park to yourself...even in the height of summer!! Whatever you do, DON'T go mid-day. We did that in October (before we realized how busy WDW was this year!!!) and could not find a single chair anywhere on which to place our towels and such. Ugh! Not fun.