Waterpark with Almost-3 year old?

[tinkerbeth]

We're going for 9 days in August. We're getting APs (not PAP) and I'm wondering...do you think we should plan a day at a water park or just use the pools at our hotels, which will be PC and possibly AKL as well. We've never been to WDW so we're going to be having a big park focus!

I don't mind paying the admission to the water park but I wonder if it's worth it if we have hotel pools and if my son is too young to do waterslides...whadaya think?

Beth

 

[campingcorgi]

If your little one enjoys the pool a lot then you could try one of the water parks. They have kiddie areas that a brave 2 would enjoy. If, however, your toddler doesn't enjoy getting his face wet then I would skip it this year. We took our not brave 4 to TL over Easter and she was ready and loved the Bay slides and the Kiddie float ride a lot! She would not have been ready at 2, though.

 

[crazywig]

just back last week and we spent a day at blizzard beach with ds, 2.

they have a great kiddie area with slides he was able to manage on his own! i didn't know this beforehand and i was very impressed at how much they had for toddlers.

go, it's a lot of fun!

 

[DCSingle]

We took my niece to Blizzard Beach when she was 19 months old and she loved it. There is a large area for pre-schoolers. She really enjoyed the gigantic kiddie pool and fountains, but was too little/scared to go on the toddler slides. I have no doubt that your son would enjoy the toddler area of one of the water parks, but I'm also sure he would never miss it and would have a great time at the hotel pools. I would probably base my decision on whether the adults in your party would enjoy the water park. If yes, I'd go, but if you don't think you'd take any advantage of a water park, I'd probably stick with the hotel pool.

 

[uofl]

We have taken our son to the water parks when he was 22 months and last year when he was almost 3 and Typhoon Lagoon is his absolute favorite part of Disney World. When he was 22 months he really enjoyed the kiddie area but last year he feel in love with the wave pool and he was even able to do some of the bigger raft slides and he loved the family raft ride. He still talks about it and some days he will cry and say mommy can we please go back to Typhoon Lagoon. September cannot get here soon enough.

 

[SamanthaL]

Sophia was 2 1/2 and loved it on her first trip. She even braved the family raft ride in BB. She still talks about it! I say go especially if your little one is abrave soul like my sweet girl!

 

[judykay53]

We were at BB last week with our almost 3 year old. This was the one day that he did not get cranky. He played in the sand area, went down the kiddie slide and did the lazy river You can put them on a small kiddie raft and walk beside them in the river or set them on your lap. He loved it. And he hates to take a bath and get his hair wet. We got there before opening and left around 3.

 

[HopperFan]

But I vote BB for your age. I think they will love the cartooning theme of this park.

As water park #2 to be built I think they did a super job in planning the kiddie area. The kiddie area is very well thought out - apart from the rest with only a couple ways in and out, very well supervised in the play area, lots of lounges, sandy play area, fountains etc. But only across the bridge to the older kid area. They can be independent while you sit and still be able to keep an eye on them.

I found it a smaller park to navigate if you all want to go walking. The lazy river and family raft are so much fun. Family raft is also on the kiddie side of the park. Lazy river you can get in nearby.

Get the kids meal (all of us adults do too) - soft pretzel grill cheese sandwhich that comes in a bucket with shovel !

 

[ToyStory Fan]

The water parks are great even for the youngsters. DS (5) started when he was 2 -1/2, he's even been down the tube slides (with me from an early age). Just pick up a life vest and that way you are safe should you lose your grasp for a brief moment. As for the kiddie areas, my DD (2) will spend most of her time there unless she wants to venture on the the big slides with me and DS.

One thing though if you do go on the slalom slide or tobaggan races at BB, my DS got very upset when I passed him going down the hill so if at all possible let the little ones get a big headstart - they don't have as much weight/gravity-effect pulling them down the slides.

Have fun there is definitely enough to do for the little ones - this is Disney remember

 

[tinkerbeth]

Wow - thanks! Maybe we will go after all. Although i've just split our vacation to include the AKL, so he might just want to stay at the pool there. I would need about a year at WDW to do all the things I want to do! Good thing there's next year.

Beth

 

[madelyn]

Took our 2 kids, almost 6 yrs and 28 months old to Typhoon Lagoon last week. I was planning for a 3 or so hour stay and we were there from about 10:30a to the 6:00p closing! My younger son hates getting water in his face, even at bathtime and my older son seems to have developed a fear for "deep" water - by that I mean any pool that doesn't have a zero entry. But they had a blast in the kiddie area! They had tons for them to do and small areas with sand to play in. They especially liked a ride where they ride in a small innertube. They rode that over and over and over again. We rode around the lazy river as a family and also went on the family raft ride. DH and my younger son ended up taking a nap toward the later part of the afternoon so my older son and I walked around the other areas of Typhoon Lagoon. He especially liked the area of Shark Reef where you can view the sharks and fish in the reef. We had hoped to make it to Blizzard Beach as well but it will have to wait until our next warm weather trip!

 

[mrsR123]

If DS-almost 2 is your only child, I'd say skip it. I've taken my youngest DS-now 4.5 three years in a row, but only because we had UHPs and older kids. I can't see going all the way over there, and paying hefty admission only to find he hates it, or you're disappointed at staying mostly in Tike's Peak.

I know your original post said you didn't mind the tix, but there are enough other things to spend enough cash on while you're there.

I truly love Blizzard Beach, but I would say, save time, and money by staying at the hotel. AKL's zero depth pool has an excellent reputation.

 

[madelyn]

Hmmm....might tend to agree with mrsR123. We had several PLUS days on our tickets so it wasn't like we were paying extra money to go to the waterpark. Your child would get in free but I believe it is almost $70 for 2 adult admissions. Unless the adults want to take turns watching your child and go on some other attractions at the water park, I bet your child would have just as much fun at the resort pool. And if this is your first trip to WDW, you may want to spend all your days at the theme parks, especially since you have annual passes and you can stay for only a few hours if you are tired.

 

[Suzanne74]

I was thinking the same thing as you...

I have an almost 3yr old and wasn't sure if it was worth it. We are going for 8 days and I am taking one full day of rest on Tues - no parks and then BB on Thurs to break up all the 4 busy walking parks. I really don't want to go crazy on her 1st trip there. I think the water park day will be fun for all - no lines, no walking, no keeping to a schedule. It seems that most people are slpit on where to take a toddler but it seems like BB was more thought out - being the 2nd one they built. I am sure they had more input. I think either one would work though

Also, one of the reasons we opted to go was so I was positive Katie would meet other kids her age by the kiddie area to play with. and OKW does not have a walk in pool like some of the resorts do. Although I still have to keep my eye on her, I can relax a little more

FYI: weekends are supposed to be packed by local residents on top of vacationers. I heard early in the week is the best time to go for crowds (Mon-Wed)

I say go for it.

 

[madelyn]

We went on a Monday and the crowds were much, much more than the last time I went to Typhoon Lagoon many, many years ago in October. We got inside around 10:30a and had to walk around a bit before finding a cluster of empty chairs to put our stuff on. If you want a table and/or a more shaded area, I would recommend going earlier than we did. I thought it would be a restful day for us but we were still very tired afterwards. More so the sun, than the walking or activity though. We were there 9 nights and only went to the parks 3 days and one day in the water parks. The pace was just right for us....a day of rest before and after each park day! But somehow we still managed to come home tired!

 

[danicaw]

All this info is wonderful.
We have been toying with the idea of a half day at one of the water parks as we have lots of plus passes and enjoy them. But DS who will be 23 mo. hasn't been before.
Thanks for all the info. The more I know the better I feel about making decisions.

I love the lunch in a bucket! How cool!
Do they only do that at BB or at both BB & TL?