Which Waterpark for young(ish) kids?

[aprilfoolwed]

My kids are 8,6 and 3 and are NOT swimmers. We're going to be getting our park tickets through Conventionears (my husband has a convention in Orlando that week) and they are offering a free waterpark pass with a multi-day ticket purchase.

We are not really into waterparks, especially because the kids can't swim yet. But if we get a free pass, I guess its worth checking out for a morning.

Which of the waterparks offers the best fun for non-swimmers (and can older kids go in the kiddie areas? My DD is VERY tall, but can't swim, so can she splash and play with her brothers?).

 

[brergnat]

I would say Blizzard Beach.

Blizzard Beach has a more extensive kid's play area, and smaller "wave pool" with more of a "shallow area" on the sides.

In order to play in the kiddie area, the kids have to be UNDER a certain height (I think 48"). Parents are allowed to go in, IF accompanied by a child under 48". I am fairly certain that an older sibling would be allowed, provided that the younger kids are in there. Basically, if the older sibling is behaving appropriately (i.e. NOT splashing around like a crazy person, and running, and being a danger to the babies/toddlers in the area, etc.), you will be fine. Just make sure to explain this to your daughter, that this is a play area for YOUNG children, and there will be babies and toddlers in there, and that she has to BEHAVE. The lifeguards will ask you to leave if your daughter is acting in a way that is disruptive to the younger kids in there. This is also true of the kiddie pools at the resorts. They are for kids 6 and under...just so you are aware.

BUT, life vests are available at all the WDW water parks and pools free of charge. You have to leave a credit card (or maybe photo i.d., I forget) for deposit, but you will get it back when you return the vests. These can be worn on the slides and in the pools. I would get them for all your kids, for peace of mind. This way, they can actually RIDE some of the slides. As long as they are capable of paddling to the edge of a pool to get out, they will be fine. There are lifeguards at the exit to every slide.

If you are more "beach" type people, Typhoon Lagoon has more TAME slides, as well as a beach to play in the sand. The wave pool is HUGE, though, and rather intimidating. But, there is also a kiddie area here. You can't really go wrong with either park. Typhoon Lagoon has more shade, since there are more trees there. It also has a better Lazy River, I think.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

Thanks for the good info! My kids are so tall and we've had issues about kiddie things and their height for some time.

We did a local amusement park (Dutch Wonderland) last year and there is a small water park there - the older kids went down one slide and spent the rest of the time in the kiddie shallow areas. They are so timid around water!

I will have to get then vests, but I think we'll mostly stick to shallow stuff. Either park sounds like it will provide a fun morning!

 

[tartemis]

FWIW, we were really disappointed in Blizzard Beach for my 18 month old daughter. She got bored very quickly and had much more fun at the resort pools. The water was too shallow for her and the slides were soooo slow that she had to scoot herself down them.

We probably won't ever go back to either water park until our kids are old enough to go down the main attractions.

 

[Zoebear]

This is too funny. We must have been posting at the same time (or else I'm really out of it and just didn't see this ) (see my post about waterparks first timers!)

 

[GottaLuvMickey]

In order to play in the kiddie area, the kids have to be UNDER a certain height (I think 48"). Parents are allowed to go in, IF accompanied by a child under 48". I am fairly certain that an older sibling would be allowed, provided that the younger kids are in there. Basically, if the older sibling is behaving appropriately (i.e. NOT splashing around like a crazy person, and running, and being a danger to the babies/toddlers in the area, etc.), you will be fine. Just make sure to explain this to your daughter, that this is a play area for YOUNG children, and there will be babies and toddlers in there, and that she has to BEHAVE. The lifeguards will ask you to leave if your daughter is acting in a way that is disruptive to the younger kids in there. This is also true of the kiddie pools at the resorts. They are for kids 6 and under...just so you are aware.

I totall agree with you on saying BB is better for younger kids...

But as a former BB lifeguard, I can tell you, most lifeguards aren't even aware that there is a maximum height in Tikes Peak! As long as bigger kids aren't causing problems (splashing little ones, being loud/obnoxious, or climbing UP slides) no one is going to care... There is also the Ski Patrol area that is for more of the "tween" area... Parents can go on the slide in there, and can catch their kids at the bottom of it, also kids can play on the iceburgs and such... But here is my warning! Unless your child is GOOD swimmer, do NOT for any reason, let them go down the zip line! To this day it still baffles me as to why they have this for little kids... The water is 8 feet deep here (the deepest water in the whole park!) and it is the #1 place for lifeguards to do rescues in the whole park! Kids go down the zip line, drop into the pool, and then end up not being able to swim! As a lifeguard, it was my least favorite stand to be on because I'd get so mad at parents for allowing their "non swimmer" children go down this and then yell and scream at me because I had to go rescue their kid Lifeguards are at each stand for 15 minutes before they rotate to the next stand... and if this stand is on your rotation, you KNOW you're getting wet that day.. everyone goes in there! So if your kids can't swim, please don't let them go down the zip line!

Okay, I'll shut up about my zip line thing now...

 

[brergnat]

That's good to know about that Zip Line! I'll keep that in mind for the future!

I was actually thinking about the Ski Patrol area for the older kid(s) as well...I just forgot what it was called, but I was envisioning the area with the "floating icebergs" when I recommended Blizzard Beach as being the better options.

I guess I just assumed this area was lumped together with the Tikes Peak area. Is it in the same general area? I can't remember...

 

[WIDisneyFan]

I too would say Blizzard Beach - we did it last summer with our 3 and 1 year old and it was great