Which water park to pick?

[Redbudlover]

Hi,
I am trying to decide which water park would be best for my water loving, slide loving 8 year old grand-daughter and myself to go to this May. We have not gone before as we have been busy with the theme parks and Harry Potter. But this year my dgd8 is begging to go to the water parks and I feel she is old enough for us to handle it alone. Which would you recommend and why? We only have one day for a water park. She is a great swimmer and loves he water as do I. Thanks!

 

[downtownbrown]

If going down water slides is her thing I would recommend Blizzard Beach. If she is 8 I'm sure she would have tons of fun at the ski patrol training camp.

 

[akaler2010]

I prefer Typhoon Lagoon. The water-coasters are AWESOME and something really unique!

 

[LadyLuck24]

I haven't been to TL since they added the water coaster, but I personally think BB is the best water park I've ever been to. Tons of unique slides ("slalom," toboggan, tube slides, family raft ride, thrill slides, kids area)--could spend all day there. I recall thinking TL was just a themed version of my local water park.

 

[DisneyDetective]

i think Blizzard Beach caters more for the quest who enjoys fast flumes etc whereas Typhoon Lagoon although has great flumes has a more relaxing feel.

 

[Redbudlover]

Thanks guys. I am still a little confused. Are you saying that BB has the bigger more thrilling slides and Typhoon Lagoon has more variety? DGD8 loves slides but is hesitant on big coasters in the parks so would she do better at Typhoon Lagoon. At eight she would have to go on big rides by herself as I couldn't do down with her....

 

[dawnhaze]

If she's over 48" I would definitely take her to Blizzard Beach. I don't know how tall 8 year olds are... BB does have a separate older-kids' area for kids who are too old for the smaller kids' areas that are in each park, but maybe not ready for the huge slides.

If she is ready for "grown-up" slides and also meets the 48" height requirement some of them have, BB has a set of racing slides, some toboggan-style mat slides, and Slush Gusher and Summit Plummet if she's braver than I am.

BB's wave pool is smaller and less intense than TL's, the lazy river is longer, and the family raft ride is also longer.

TL does have the water coaster Crush 'n' Gusher, the Humunga Kowabunga body slides that are pretty crazy but not quite as wild as BB's "big" slides, and a few sets of other assorted slides. There's also the shark reef snorkeling, but the water for that is pretty chilly! The park theming is also really nice, but I think BB has more to do.

 

[Redbudlover]

Thanks - that clarifies things for me. Sounds like BB would be a better choice for her.

 

[Redbudlover]

Yes she is over the 48 inch mark!

 

[andreajanowiak]

I was either 8 or 10 when we went to BB, and it was perfect. Admitting that I always have been, and still are, a scaredy cat, there was still plenty of things to do.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We went to both last summer. The snow theme of BB didn't do anything for us (but we are northerners....so lets just say that snow isn't novel or fun in our world!). We much preferred the theming and feel of Typhoon Lagoon, with its tropical lushness. We also loved the wave pool....it was incredible, and our favourite feature in the park.

You can check out my August 2013 trip report (see the link in my signature) for my full summary of each park with lots of photos.

 

[herb102211]

We prefer Typhoon Lagoon as it is a more laid back, tropical atmosphere. Very relaxing!

Blizzard Beach is great too, and if your DD is into the more adventurous slides, then that's your park! We really enjoyed the snowy theming of Blizzard Beach, too!

 

[Love Tink]

My three boys LOVE Blizzard Beach and never even want to bother with Typhoon Lagoon (which annoys me, as I'd like to do both).

The Ski Patrol area is probably their favorite place at WDW.