Water parks vs. Pool hopping

[Dale-n-Chip]

Trying to decide between AP and PAP for our planned trips home in 2006/2007. The question for us: are the water parks worth the PAP for our timid DS6? At 2005 prices, that's a $271 difference. That'll buy a lot of Mickey bars!

What ages are the water parks geared for? Is there enough to draw two thirty-somethings and a timid six year-old?

Is there somewhere I can find a list of "pool amenities" for our hoppable pools?

Our first trip home isn't for another 10 months (9 months, two weeks and four days, but who's counting ) so who knows what kind of swimmer or non-swimmer we'll have on our hands at that point. . .

(DH is laughing at me for worrying about this today, so long before the trip, but I knew I was among friends on the DIS boards! )

 

[spiceycat]

I would wait a few years. You know you won't enjoy it if she isn't having a good time.

she will probably be very happy with which ever DVC resort you are staying at. they all have slides these days.

 

[Blue&Gold]

Agree with Spicey... You can always go to one of the two water parks on a daily basis and test the waters, literally. Not really sure the demographic the PAP is for, probably "local" teens moreso than the traveling public.

My boys, ages 6 and 3, have been quite happy with the slide at the BWV---heck the little guy likes just being carried under the elephant's trunk spray-thingy. I think Blizzard Beach can wait until they're a bit older and a lot better swimmers.

 

[buckylarue]

If you are only going to use the water parks and DisneyQuest admissions sparingly, just get a regular AP. DVC members get a $4 per adult and $3 per child 3-9 on admission to the water parks and DQ.

 

[mrsR123]

I concur. I just cannot see spending that much extra until you can spend a lot of time at the water parks. For our family, (DD 11, DS 8 and DS 6) the pools will have to do for now. In all honesty, we did enjoy Blizzard Beach--for a few hours each visit-- when we used to get Ultimate Park Hoppers in packages pre-DVC, but now it'd cost me $150 for the day--no way! The pool at OKW is just fine, thank you.

 

[AFMom]

Unless you have a brave 6 yo you'd probably be disappointed with the water parks. My DS's are still somewhat chicken on the bigger slides and had a great time just pool hopping! I vote for Mickey Bars!

 

[get_us_to_WDW]

My 8yo DD loves TL and claims it is her favorite (or at least 2nd favorite) park at WDW. Yet, she is not a daredevil and really confines herself to one smallish slide at the far left side of the wave pool! There are kiddie areas at both water parks and lazy rivers - so you could definitely have an enjoyable day. But, for the price, you would probably be better off enjoying the resort pools or even the sprinker areas in MK and Epcot.

I did not buy the PAP's for my family because I just didn't think we would get there enough to make it cost effective. I was glad I made this decision (during our recent trip in early Dec 2005) because when our scheduled TL day arrived we awoke to a cold and rainy day and ended up not going to TL at all during that trip. If we do go once during our Fall 2006 trip, I will just pay for one day tickets and will enjoy a savings of about $65 per person (compared to the PAP price).

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

OK, OK, I'll say it louder:

DH was RIGHT!

He said he didn't think PAPs were the right choice, but I wanted to put it out to the boards.

I also think lenth of stay makes a difference. Although we are planning 3 visits in 12 months, our visits are shorter (5 "vacation" days with a travel day on each end) rather than a single 15 day visit. On each vacation, there are going to be things that we repeat because we just can't go to WDW without doing XYZ.

Maybe DVC will change my vacationing over time, but I am just not one that can take 10+ days of family togetherness. I appear to be in the minority here, but just the thought makes my head hurt. I love DH and DS, truly, but 10 days of just us all day all the time? Not even at Disney! Not to mention we are still in "paid vacation days poverty" in our careers. How do people do 10+ days on two weeks of paid vacation a year??

So now my journey to discover pool amenities begins! If anyone knows of a good reference, please post!

Thanks for all your insight and comments! Happy planning!

 

[spiceycat]

if your child is new to slides - than I would suggest POFQ - very tame slide - but the kids love it!!!

if she is a bet more daring then WL/SSR - more Polyn/OKW - more CSR/BC/yc

oh these aren't my rating.....

I am a coward when it comes to slides.....

 

[crisi]

Our kids are six and seven, not daredevils (the only coaster I've coaxed them on is BTMRR - they haven't done Splash or Space Mountain), and they LOVE LOVE LOVE the waterparks. But you need to be willing to spend a lot of days at the waterpark to make up the difference between APs and PAP - there is a ticket discount for water parks for AP holders too.

 

[canwegosoon]

When my boys were 5 (and they are a little gutsy..but not strong swimmers) they loved
POR
POFQ
SSR
If you are staying close to BWV, (you could work your way up to that pool...but I would save this for last.)
OKW has a new slide, but we have not tried it yet.

 

[dznymom1]

When my guys were younger we did quite a bit of pool hopping. We would enjoy the pool, find the playground, wander around the resort and have lunch at a food court or snack bar depending on what was offered. We found it was relaxing and inexpensive and we loved hanging out at the different pools. Their favorites were Port Orleans and Coronado, and Wilderness Lodge in the pre-VWL days. I will say that having a car makes this work best.

We got PAPs this year, and went to the water parks once. It turned out not to be cost effective for us, although we also got a couple of DQ and PI visits in there.

 

[La2kw]

Our kids are six and seven, not daredevils (the only coaster I've coaxed them on is BTMRR - they haven't done Splash or Space Mountain), and they LOVE LOVE LOVE the waterparks. But you need to be willing to spend a lot of days at the waterpark to make up the difference between APs and PAP - there is a ticket discount for water parks for AP holders too.

After the fourth visit, the additional cost will start paying for itself. The price difference between the two passes is $133. One waterpark ticket costs $36. The PAP's are worth it for us because we spend at least 6 days a year in the water parks and at DQ.

 

[tmt martins]

OK, OK, I'll say it louder:

So now my journey to discover pool amenities begins! If anyone knows of a good reference, please post!

Thanks for all your insight and comments! Happy planning!

I think your best bet is to just go to each resorts web sight and look at the pool and recreation for each they give a real good picture that you can scan over.