Which Water Park for preschoolers??

[sandym718]

I'd really appreciate opinions. Our children will be almost 3 and almost 5 when we go in April/May. We watched the new planning DVD today. They showed a lot more of the Typhoon Lagoon children's area (which looked great), not too much of Blizzard Beach. I have been to TL - but it was years and years ago, not long after it first opened. BB seems like it would be my first choice, theming-wise, but I'd really like to hear about the kiddie sections. They are both very comfortable in the water, BTW, though neither can swim totally on their own. They love small slides, it looked like TL even had a small "rapid" ride for them. I'm also interested in any "family" rides/slides, or other things they could do with DH and I.

Looking forward to your input, thanks!!!

 

[stm61]

if they're both comfortable in the water I'd try the Ski Patrol area at BB. There's also Tyke's Peak but that might be to young for your older child. The water in Ski Patrol isn't very deep and you can get in the water with them for everything but the zipline ride. That does have deeper water but it's not far to the side and you can put life jackets on them. There's also the family raft ride, which is longer then TL's, plus you don't have to carry the raft up stairs like you do at TL, the lazy river, and a wave pool that's milder then TL's. Your older child can also do some of the smaller slides in the adult area. We only went to TL once because my dd's, almost 5 at the time and total non-swimmers, said the kiddie area there was for babies. I do remember having to lug that raft up the stairs! They were afraid of the sharks in the shark swim tank, and they hated the wave pool because they kept getting knocked down by other people who were getting knocked down by waves. The bottom is very rough and one of them got pretty scrapped up. We went to BB the next day and they liked it so much that we didn't go back to TL. Tyke's Peak in BB is next to Ski Patrol. When we arrived I asked a cm which would be better for my dd's. He said the taller (4" difference between them) would like Ski Patrol, the shorter might want Tykes (I think she was barely 40" at the time). We decided to try Ski Patrol and move if it was to much for her, but she was fine.

 

[sandym718]

Thanks for all the detailed info, I really appreciate it!! I probably should've mentioned that both our kiddos are pretty short. We've got fingers crossed that DS will hit 42" for the trip (he's the one who will be almost 5), I think he will cause he's at 41" right now - no shoes. Anyways, sounds like BB might give us the most options - he can try both areas, DD can do Tykes. And I really like the sound of not lugging that raft up!!!

Thanks again!

 

[Taratink]

I agree with STM61 100%. BB is by far the best palce to take young kids. The kiddie area is laid out in a way that it is easier to watch kids than TL. There are more doulbe tube rides at BB too. BB is our favorite park. It is right up there with the MK. My kids are now 5 and & and we have gone to BB the last 3 years and my kids cannot wait to go back.
Tara