Water Parks

[Nana2Callie]

Is there a specific location for water park threads that I'm just missing. This is our first time to do a water park at WDW and I have lots of questions, but not sure where to look for the answers.

 

[Robo]

Is there a specific location for water park threads that I'm just missing. This is our first time to do a water park at WDW and I have lots of questions, but not sure where to look for the answers.

This is the forum for WDW Water Park discussion.

Ask away!

 

[Alesia]

This is it. What are your questions?

 

[Nana2Callie]

Which water park do you recommend? 2 adults and 1 10 year old who loves water. Are they crazy crowded? Best strategy?

 

[Alesia]

1. Which water park do you recommend? 2 adults and 1 10 year old who loves water.
2. Are they crazy crowded?
3.Best strategy?

1. It's really just a personal decision. I prefer Blizzard Beach, my daughter prefers Typhoon Lagoon. You can't go wrong with either.
2. Sometimes. It depends on when you're going.
3. Generally speaking, ride the bigger, more popular rides first. Save things like the wave pool and the lazy river for later.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Both would work well for your age group. We try to spend time at each

Any idea what sort of water rides your family would prefer?

 

[Nana2Callie]

No I think I need to research them both a little more and how long do you typically stay at the waterparks?

 

[ZoZo]

No I think I need to research them both a little more and how long do you typically stay at the waterparks?

I usually can only make it until about 2:00 in the afternoon (if I arrive right when the water park opens in the morning). It's surprisingly tiring to be out in the hot sun all day, plus you have to climb so many stairs to go on the slides, that gets tiring, too!

Regarding which water park to visit, I've been to both and prefer Typhoon Lagoon. I think BB is great if you're really into longer/faster water slides - it has more options, especially for older kids who are really into the slides. I'm okay with "medium" intensity slides (or even mild ones!) and prefer the theming at Typhoon Lagoon over BB. TL is very pretty, and has some nice food options for lunch. TL has shark reef and a more intense wave pool. BB's wave pool is more gentle.

 

[Alesia]

No I think I need to research them both a little more and how long do you typically stay at the waterparks?

We stayed for about 3 hours, but it was the first few days in June and the waterparks were virtually empty. I think it will take quite a bit longer if you go when it's crowded.

 

[Hootch]

We're usually there in mid to late June. We are at the waterpark before it opens and most of the rides are walk ons. After 2 - 2.5 hours they start to ge busy with some waits. Since we usually go to TL, we hit the wave pool and the lazy river ride about that time.

 

[NavyDad]

Which water park do you recommend? 2 adults and 1 10 year old who loves water. Are they crazy crowded? Best strategy?

1. If your group loves doing water slides BB is probably best for you. TL has a much bigger and better wave pool and they have the Shark Reef attraction as well as a really awesome water roller-coaster type thing. BB has a great play area for pre-teens that include a zip line. Both parks have a great lazy river.

2. Both parks can get really crowded especially around Noon. We like to get there 30 minutes before rope drop. Find a few chairs and have fun for about 4-5 hours. Usually leave around 1 as the water parks are usually very crowded by that time. I have heard before that the last 2 hours is a great time to be there as well....

 

[V2000]

I had the same questions on water parks. I founds these two helpful links to help me choose. I am going to choose Typoon Lagoon for the more tropical atmosphere. Check out these links!

http://wdwprepschool.com/blizzard-beach-vs-typhoon-lagoon-battle-of-the-disney-world-water-parks/

and

http://www.disneytouristblog.com/typhoon-lagoon-faq-tips-review/

 

[ricosuave]

If you have little ones, I'd choose TL. We did the waterpark option 2 years ago when my kids were 6 and 4. We LOVED it. I think it's definitely worth the extra money. I felt like I was on another vacation when we got to TL. It really is like a tropical beach. DH and did the shark reef (free) and can't wait to go again. We did do BB one day and the kids really didn't like it. I do think it's geared toward teens and up bc of the rides they have.

 

[Chickp]

If you're going before May 23, they have a water park hopper ticket where you can do both in a day. I'm not nuts enough to think that we can do everything, but we're going to sample both, taking a nice break in the middle of the day (hours are 9-6).

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If you have little ones, I'd choose TL. We did the waterpark option 2 years ago when my kids were 6 and 4. We LOVED it. I think it's definitely worth the extra money. I felt like I was on another vacation when we got to TL. It really is like a tropical beach. DH and did the shark reef (free) and can't wait to go again. We did do BB one day and the kids really didn't like it. I do think it's geared toward teens and up bc of the rides they have.

See, I would never choose TL for little ones. They struggle with the snorkel at shark reef, get clobbered in the wave pool, and aren't even permitted on Crushin Gusher. Plus, the family raft ride at BB is 1,000x better than the one at TL.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Oh, and we are "all day" water park people. Get there early, stay until 8:00 pm

Last 2 hours of the night really clear out.

 

[Mindy Kurz]

My family prefers BB over TL! While there are certainly pros to TL, as a family we just feel there are more rides for us. Our favorite is teamboat springs, and not having to carry our raft up ourselves!

 

[tesslor]

Do you all wear water shoes at the water parks? What about the snorkeling?

 

[Sehsun]

I used to wear water shoes to the water parks. Now I just wear my flip flops around (dislike walking barefoot everywhere) - they do allow flip flops in the lazy rivers and on the raft rides. I'm pretty sure you would be able to wear water shoes while snorkeling in Shark Reef.

 

[FiveofusNL]

I had the same questions on water parks. I founds these two helpful links to help me choose. I am going to choose Typoon Lagoon for the more tropical atmosphere. Check out these links!

http://wdwprepschool.com/blizzard-beach-vs-typhoon-lagoon-battle-of-the-disney-world-water-parks/

and

http://www.disneytouristblog.com/typhoon-lagoon-faq-tips-review/

Thanks for posting these links . I have been trying to figure out what water park is best for our family to visit during our July vacation, and thanks to great advice from other DISers, decided on TL. I hope to visit BB in an evening as well, but think TL is better for our water park day. These sites helped confirm that decision for me.