Water Parks question

[WDWRook]

We plan to hit a water park while at WDW next week (assuming weather participates). I'm struggling to figure out our plan for the water park.

First, can you leave one park and go to the other in the same day? We don't have any special tickets, just the one day regular water park ticket we will buy once there. We have a 2 day park ticket along with MNSSHP for other days. If you can bounce between the two water parks, is there a bus direct between them, or how would you get from one to the other absent a cab?

Second, we are staying at the Poly. I know they changed the transportation to the water parks but I can figure it out. Whats the easiest way to each park on WDW transportation?

Third, Does anyone have general tips for the water parks, like a touring plan? Or do you just go with the flow there. I know there are no FP+ or anything like that. We plan to go first thing in the morning and leave by 4:00 ish for a dinner res at Ohana.

We are still on the fence on between the two parks. I read that the shark tank is closed after today at TL and TL is getting a new attraction before out next visit, so based mostly on that I'm thinking BB. Our kids are 10 and nearly 6, but not terribly adventurous. The 10yo would love the wave pool at TL but it seems there might be more for kids at BB.

Thank you.

 

[Robo]

1. First, can you leave one park and go to the other in the same day? We don't have any special tickets, just the one day regular water park ticket we will buy once there...
2. If you can bounce between the two water parks, is there a bus direct between them,
3. or how would you get from one to the other absent a cab?

1. Yes. If you buy a stand-alone WP ticket, you can do this at no extra charge on the same day.
2. Nope.
3. Get on a bus that's going to the closest WDW resort to the park that you want to visit next.
Then, get on the bus leaving THAT resort that's heading to the WP you want.

 

[stm61]

Definitely BB with your kids ages. They'll love Ski Patrol and your older one can do most of the bigger slides as well. Be careful of the wave pool at TL. The bottom of the pool is very rough and you will get scraped up when you hit it. My kids hated it until they were old/tall enough to stay out in deeper water. When they had to stay in shallower water they were constantly getting knocked down and scraped up on the bottom. They kept getting knocked down by adults who were either knocked down by waves or were trying to body surf into the shallow water.

 

[pooch]

Are there finger scanners at the water parks?

 

[Robo]

Are there finger scanners at the water parks?

Yes.

 

[pooch]

Thanks Robo

 

[WDWRook]

1. Yes. If you buy a stand-alone WP ticket, you can do this at no extra charge on the same day.
2. Nope.
3. Get on a bus that's going to the closest WDW resort to the park that you want to visit next.
Then, get on the bus leaving THAT resort that's heading to the WP you want.

Thanks, very helpful. If we decide to jump between parks, we may just end up getting a taxi. Not sure we will do that due to the time wasted. We will be at the water park Sept 12th, Monday, so i'm hoping it's not very busy.

What is the finger print scanner? Is that just the same as at MK where you scan your magic band and verify with the finder print scanner?

I assume the drink cups at the resort does NOT work at the water park, right?

 

[WDWRook]

Getting to BB from Poly, would it be easier/faster to go from Poly to AK, then transfer to a buss to BB? Or, take mono to Ecpot, then bus to BB? Is there a bus between BB and DSprings?

 

[Robo]

1. What is the finger print scanner?
2. Is that just the same as at MK where you scan your magic band and verify with the finder print scanner?
3. I assume the drink cups at the resort does NOT work at the water park, right?

1. Not really a finger PRINT scanner. Just a finger scanner.
2. Yes.
3. Right.

 

[Klayfish]

We're big fans of the water parks. I don't think one is necessarily better than the other. Your 10 year old is at the upper limit of the kids area at BB. I agree it's a better overall area for kids than what TL has, but TL still has good stuff for kids. But if they aren't overly adventurous, I'd agree BB may be a better option. The wave pool is calmer and they've got plenty of more mild slides.

As for a touring plan, not really. Obviously, hit the big ticket slides first, if your kids want to ride them. Summit Plummet is a big slide, it gets crowded within an hour, but your kids may not like it. Downhill Double Dipper is less intense, but it gets really crowded, so maybe hit that early.

 

[WDWRook]

Do you recommend water shoes for the kids (and us old folk)? I read that you cannot have any type of shoe on when going on slides, but it seems the pavement throughout, esp at BB, would get smoking hot on feet.

 

[kappyfamily]

Do you recommend water shoes for the kids (and us old folk)? I read that you cannot have any type of shoe on when going on slides, but it seems the pavement throughout, esp at BB, would get smoking hot on feet.

I just wear cheap flip flops and hold them when I go down the slides.

 

[WDWRook]

Is it a good idea to get the locker? I assume if you rent one you get it all day and can enter it as many times as you wish.

 

[kagmypts]

Do you recommend water shoes for the kids (and us old folk)? I read that you cannot have any type of shoe on when going on slides, but it seems the pavement throughout, esp at BB, would get smoking hot on feet.

Disney thinks of everything. They have sprinklers that spray the walkways to keep your feet from getting too hot. We wear water shoes into the parks and then leave them with our chairs.

We normally go to Disney the same week that you will be there, and the lines at the water parks during the week are non-existent! I don't think that we ever wait more than 5 minutes for anything. Honestly, our kids prefer the water parks to the "land parks."

Having said that, we much prefer BB to TG. There are plenty of rides that your 6 year old can enjoy outside of the kiddie area. Our 6 year old enjoyed everything except for Downhill Double Dipper (based on our experience with the Sept. 12 week this is the only ride where a line will exist at some point so we made sure to hit it early), Summit Plummet, and the smaller version of Summit Plummet (the name is escaping me right now). My 6 year old loved both toboggan rides once he got over his initial fear. However, he has proclaimed his favorite place on earth to be the "family ride," which is must do!

As a side note, a huge difference between BB and TL is the number of stairs. Be warned that BB has lots and lots of stairs to climb, but it does not deter us. I think that the change in elevation makes for more fun rides!

 

[linzbear]

Both water parks are actually on the same road, there are just no direct buses, so a taxi or Uber would be very cheap and extremely fast, maybe 15 minutes if you get all red lights.

 

[WDWRook]

Great, thanks for the nice review.

 

[kagmypts]

Is it a good idea to get the locker? I assume if you rent one you get it all day and can enter it as many times as you wish.

We do not get a locker, but if you rent one, you can enter it all day. When we go to the water parks, we bring a credit card and our park tickets, which my husband wears in his bathing suit pocket. Since we stay off-site, we don't have Magic Bands. We also bring a cooler with our lunch, towels, and sunscreen/goggles. We leave that on our chairs since there is nothing of value. We have never had a problem, and FWIW, I see many pool bags all over the place.

ETA - Life jackets are also free and available throughout both parks.