Waterpark & More - Worth It

[texaslady22]

We've really done great maximizing this trip on our budget. We're staying 10 days at a Value. We have the DDP. We initially just got 10 day base tickets, but now I'm wondering if we should add the waterpark option. Is it worth $240 for our family?

We can go to waterparks here often. In fact, we're staying a night at Great Wolf Lodge next month. However, we didn't do Park Hoppers and I thought if a park got crowded maybe we could go to a waterpark.

Pros:
Our kids would love waterparks
Gives us more flexibility if we want to leave the park

Cons:
$240
Our children are 7, 4, and nearly 2--a bit young
I would hate to waste too much time from the "real" parks at the waterparks

What do you guys think? I do know we can always add it there if we want it (right?)

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Wait until you get there to add it. The kids may love the pool at the resort so much that they are happy there!

Also you mentioned hopping. I was a die-hard hopper until I had a child. We haven't needed to hop while my DD was young. This trip I may add it (she is now 8), but if I don't I know we will do fine.

 

[monorailsilver]

For me I wouldn't do it.

If the parks are crowded, imagine the water parks. We left at about 2 last year because the lines were long. We were also. Ore tired that day/morning then a morning in the park.

Another reason I wouldn't do it (this is me so someone else may be different) is because of the kids ages. I waited til our last trip to go because all 3 of my kids could swim, so we could all go in one line and go on the slides. My youngest was 7. I know I wouldn't enjoy the water park if I had to watch a 2 & possibly a 4 yo (height restriction).

FYI, my kids, more so my 10 yo ds, loved the pool games at the poly. On our non park days he would wait and constantly ask the time because the games started at 1.

But at the same time I park hop. I am not a fan of AK and I can only takes a morning there. DHS we just do a morning as well so park hopping is vital for us.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If you had older kids I'd say "do it". With 10 days, you have plenty of time. I just don't know how much a 2-year-old is going to get out of the water parks.

 

[HM]

At those ages, no I don't think it's worth it. Wait and do it on a trip in the future. Once the kids are good swimmers and they're old enough to enjoy playing games at DisneyQuest, it will be worth it.

 

[Egdisney]

I wouldn't add it either. If it gets crowded the kids will love being able to go to the pool at the resort. Mine asked everyday when they woke up if we were going to go swimming

 

[stsomewhere]

My kids are 15 and 13.We went to Disney water parks in 2012. They thought that the slides were boring compared to Kalahari, Great Wolf, Soak City and Michigan Adventures

 

[Jack&Ryan'smom]

I would wait. We just did the waterpark this past trip and my boys were 12& 8. It would be a long day and a lot of work with kids that young. Enjoy the pool at your resort. Much more relaxing!!!!!

 

[starwart]

Maybe it will be worth your money If you cancel your trip to great wolf lodge and spend the money instead for typhoon lagoon waterpark tickets.

 

[MnMomtoboys]

I would just go buy some fun toys for the pool for the kids. Start at the dollar store and then hit Target and Walmart.

 

[Fjobe]

Your kids are the very same ages our kids were the first time we took them. We got the water park and more and didn't use it. It was a waste of money for our family when they were that age. We also got the hopper that year and didn't use it. This summer, the kids are 10, 7, and 5, and we are getting the water park and more and hopper for the first time since our first trip. Now that they are older, I think we will get quite a bit of use out of it. Another factor for us was that our first trip was only 5 days, since you will be there for 10 days, you may get more use out of them.

 

[goosedwn]

If you add the water or more option to your 10 days base, you can technically get 20 days of entertainment (10 parks and 10 water and more). Water and more can be used in different day than park. So you can buy a 5 days base with the water and more option to make it a 10 days. We always do 1 park day then 1 water day and so on so forth.
I probably is the minority here. My son 1st time to the water park is when he was almost 2 (1 year and 9 month to be exact). He was free (under 2) and he had the most enjoyable time. My daughter was 7 at the time. We didn't want to wait any longer because my daughter has gone to water park before and loves it and kept asking to go every year we went to Disney. I was very reluctant because of my son age but I gave in and I was so glad I did. Both my children love water park more than any of the park since we always go during summer and they just don't like the heat. While my children were having a lot of fun, there was a lot of work on my side because I have to be constantly supervising them even when my son was taking a nap. I find joy and fun in my kids' smile and laugh so I don't mind the work at all.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My kids are 15 and 13.We went to Disney water parks in 2012. They thought that the slides were boring compared to Kalahari, Great Wolf, Soak City and Michigan Adventures

The slides at TL aren't the best (aside from the coaster - Crushin Gusher), but I'd put the slides at BB up against most of the outdoor water parks we've been to. Only Noah's Ark is significantly better, and that's more about quantity than quality. I can't speak to the other places you've been, but I would DEFINITELY put the slides at BB well above those at GWL. Obviously just our opinion though

But again, not really what I'd recommend for OP's family.

 

[wiigirl]

At those ages, no I don't think it's worth it. Wait and do it on a trip in the future. Once the kids are good swimmers and they're old enough to enjoy playing games at DisneyQuest, it will be worth it.

 

[Alexle2007]

I think it depends on your family. We always add the WP and more even our 1st time when DS for only 2 1/2 yrs old. But he is a water bug and it was May and in the 90s so it was nice a nice break during the day before we went to park in the evening. Plus some of my best pictures and video are of DS on the Goofy slide at BB.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I wouldn't go with a two year old.

I like to ride the slides...WITH my family. With my other children and SO. I think it just becomes a PIA with a child that little when you have older kids that want to do other things.

I took my DS when he was 3. DD wasn't born yet. We did TL and mostly did the wave pool and some little things. It was fun but man I wanted to do some of the bigger rides but XH and I didn't want to split up and ride alone. I think we did one slide each alone.

My kids are 14 and 8 now so next trip we plan on doing WP's. We haven't been to a WP since our 2003 trip when DS was 3. We just thought it would be too much work going with DD when she was 2 and 3. We could have pulled it off when she was 5 but that was just a 6 day trip so we didn't have time for a WP.

 

[ICF]

For non - expiring tickets like we purchase, we always add it....

for a base expiring ticket, I probably wouldn't.

 

[ashleyasiegel]

We love the Disney waterparks. My 5 year old is a water bug so they are a must do for her this trip since we didn't do them on our last trip. My husband and I have no problem splitting up while one of us watches the 2 year old especially now that the 5 year old is tall enough for some more slides. There is a family raft ride at each park that everyone in your party can go down.

You get the same amount of waterpark entitlements as you do park days so you could reduce your 10 day ticket down 7 to lessen the cost a little bit. Also once you add the waterpark option if you decide you want to hop it isn't much more as Disney gives you a slight discount when you add both options to your ticket.

My kids like the pools at the hotels but since we stay value there is no slides or anything fun. They are just a basic pool so they definitely prefer the waterparks.

 

[tloveswdw]

My kids all love the water parks... We've had 12-newborn there, and it is always a favorite time. They are nicely set up, well themed, it seems to be fun for our. 5.