Which waterpark is best?

[useakiss]

I'm going to stay at PO:FQ for 8 nights over the first week of September, relying on Disney transport. I've added the waterpark pass to my package. As of right now, I only have one day scheduled for hitting the waterparks, with hopes of maybe hopping over for a few hours a second time at some point, but will play it by ear.

Any recommendations for one park over the other? Are they pretty much the same and I should just go to the one that's closer, or do you have a preference? Any other tips regarding these parks?

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

We prefer Typhoon Lagoon. Crush n Gusher water coaster is only at TL -- love this ride! My son loves the rough waves at the TL wave pool and would stay in there literally all day. Some people would prefer the gentle waves at BB though.

We do like the lazy river at BB. I think the theming is better and I get a kick out of the gator that "sneezes" on you when you float by his house. But if I could only go to one water park, we would do TL.

 

[Shanti]

I'm going to stay at PO:FQ for 8 nights over the first week of September, relying on Disney transport. I've added the waterpark pass to my package. As of right now, I only have one day scheduled for hitting the waterparks, with hopes of maybe hopping over for a few hours a second time at some point, but will play it by ear.

Any recommendations for one park over the other? Are they pretty much the same and I should just go to the one that's closer, or do you have a preference? Any other tips regarding these parks?

They are both great water parks. Typhoon Lagoon has a tropical theme (it's supposed to be an island devastated by a hurricane), and Blizzard Beach has a ski chalet theme (it's supposed to be a former ski resort that melted).

Both parks have good waterslides and lazy rivers. Blizzard Beach has the single most thrilling bodyslide (Summit Plummet, which is genuinely scary), and Typhoon Lagoon has a wave pool that periodically features massive storm surge type waves, so be careful swimming there (there is a warning bell first). But both parks have lots of other features that even wimps like me enjoy.

One bonus of Blizzard Beach is that one of Disney's mini-golf courses is right next to it, within easy walking distance. Both parks have mediocre yet satisfying counter service dining. If this description hasn't helped you decide, you might want to look at the individual rides of each park on the Disney website, and make your decision that way.

 

[disneyvoice]

They're both great. We never have been able to pick a favorite but we don't do a lot of the big slides. We mainly do lazy river, wave pool, the family raft rides, and we do like Crush n Gusher. The theming at both is fun. You really can't go wrong either way.

 

[Klayfish]

This is asked a lot, and the answer really is 50/50. We love them both, almost exactly equally. They have a lot of similarities. But some key differences....

The biggest difference is the wave pool. The one at TL is like nothing you've probably seen. The waves are HUGE, as in you need to be a strong swimmer to be in the deep part of it. If you're not a strong swimmer, no problem, just stay in the shallow area. But the waves are massive and come once every 90 seconds or 2 minutes. We love it. The wave pool in BB is far calmer...they are continuous but gentle waves. They're gentle enough that they have inner tubes you can float in. I like it, but frankly it makes me sea sick after a little while.

TL has Crush n Gusher, a "roller coaster" style tube slide. A jet of water pushes you up some small inclines, so it's not just downhill. BB doesn't have this.

The family tube at BB can hold 6 people, at TL it's only 4.

Both have great kid areas, but the one at BB has a zip line and an iceberg crossing game, meant for ages 4-9 roughly.

Both have big thrill slides. BB has Summit Plummet, and TL has Humunga Cowabunga. Very similar, though Summit is probably a bit bigger. BB also has Slush Gusher, which is a big slide with 2 "humps"...i.e. it goes down, levels off a bit, then drops, levels off, drops. The last drop you will catch air before landing back on the slide. Not much, but it feels like a lot.

Otherwise, a lot of similarities in the actual attractions...tube slides, body slides, lazy river, etc... Both have plenty of free shaded chairs for you to sit in. You don't need to show up 45 minutes before the park opens to get on good rides. Just show up 5 minutes early. For the first hour, you can ride anything you want with almost no wait. Just be prepared to climb stairs...lots and lots of stairs. BB has a ski lift style chair lift, but I'd caution against it, as it's got a long line and is slow. It stops very often because guests can't figure out how to get on/off.

 

[hedberg1661]

My vote would be for BB. I like the overall theme better...as far as things to do I think both BB and TL offer you a great experience.

 

[hakepb]

I prefer the deeper lazy river and larger waves at TL wave pool.

(BB's lazy river is only 2.5' deep, which doesn't work if you want to float in a tube)

 

[useakiss]

I'm turning 50, out of shape, and have a bum shoulder. I'll probably be spending most of my time there on the lazy rivers.

 

[Hootch]

We have always gone to Typhoon Lagoon. We like the mix of the wave pool, Crushin' Gusher and the lazy river ride.

Travel times will be easier since you are staying at POFQ. You will need to go Disney Springs to get to TL You have to go the DAK to get to to BB which a much longer drive time. It is easy to catch a bus or the boat to POFQ from Disney Springs. We were at POFQ in June and saw Disney Spring buses a lot. I prefer taking the boat if the weather is nice.

 

[Klayfish]

I'm turning 50, out of shape, and have a bum shoulder. I'll probably be spending most of my time there on the lazy rivers.

Then it really doesn't matter. They both have great lazy rivers. Theme is different, of course, but concept is almost identical.

I have a bum hip, two bum knees, etc...but I still love all the slides. You really aren't likely to get hurt...one exception being the wave pool at TL. If you go into deep water and aren't careful, I could see it happening.

 

[Shanti]

You don't need to show up 45 minutes before the park opens to get on good rides. Just show up 5 minutes early. For the first hour, you can ride anything you want with almost no wait.

This actually depends on when you go. During peak summer season, I have experienced long lines within the first hour for popular attractions. They don't back up as instantly as the top rides at the theme parks, but they can still build quickly during peak season, particulary if a large group (such as a Brazilian tour group) is there that day.

If you're going in midsummer, I recommend arriving before the parks open (no more than 30 minutes early is needed), already having a bathing suit on, and quickly getting onto the most popular slides when they open.

 

[useakiss]

The scheduled day that I'm going, I'm having a late breakfast at Kona Cafe first, so probably wouldn't be getting to the waterpark until around Noon. If the lines are that bad, I'll just skip them or wait for times when they die down.

 

[Klayfish]

This actually depends on when you go. During peak summer season, I have experienced long lines within the first hour for popular attractions. They don't back up as instantly as the top rides at the theme parks, but they can still build quickly during peak season, particulary if a large group (such as a Brazilian tour group) is there that day.

If you're going in midsummer, I recommend arriving before the parks open (no more than 30 minutes early is needed), already having a bathing suit on, and quickly getting onto the most popular slides when they open.

If a giant tour group comes in and runs to a big slide, then yes. Otherwise, even peak summer it's not really that bad. We always go during summer, and were just there during 4th of July week. Parks opened at 10:00am. Certainly by 11am rides like Summit, Slush, Kowabunga had lines getting long, but until then it wasn't bad at all. Kowabunga has 3 slides, so it's a much better capacity than Summit or Slush. But even at BB, in the first 30-40 minutes, we did Summit twice, Slush once, DDD and the mat slides right next to DDD. Lots of stair climbing though, makes a great leg workout.

 

[useakiss]

Okay, I've decided on going to Typhoon Lagoon for the park. Now I'm debating what to do for dinner afterward. I don't have any dining reservations for that night, was hoping to grab something at a lounge instead. I'm eyeing one of them at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (which knocks it off my checklist at the same time). What would be the best way to get from TL to there? Do I have to go through Disney Springs or should I just use Uber? Ditto for afterward when I want to go back to PO:FQ--would I have to go through Disney Springs?

 

[JessicaW1234]

We have always gone to Typhoon Lagoon. We like the mix of the wave pool, Crushin' Gusher and the lazy river ride.

Travel times will be easier since you are staying at POFQ. You will need to go Disney Springs to get to TL You have to go the DAK to get to to BB which a much longer drive time. It is easy to catch a bus or the boat to POFQ from Disney Springs. We were at POFQ in June and saw Disney Spring buses a lot. I prefer taking the boat if the weather is nice.

If we boat from POR to Disney Springs where do you have to go from there to catch the Typhoon lagoon bus?

 

[NavyDad]

IMO there are three great things about Blizzard Beach:
1. If you like big slides they have two good ones
2. Family Friendly: Family water slide is awesome & Ski Patrol area for kids/tweens is great
3. Lazy River is slightly better IMO

Typhoon Lagoon:
1. Atmosphere - Tropical and feels a little bit more laid back IMO
2. One of the best waive pools you could hope to experience
3. Crush N' Gusher is so very fun. My wife and I love it as much as the kids. Just awesome.
4. Lazy River is still pretty awesome and feels a bit more relaxing IMO


When our kids were younger we much preferred BB because of the kids area. Now our whole family much prefers TL. My wife and I probably fit the same demographic as you and if we had to choose one it would be Typhoon Lagoon every time.

Either way: both waterparks have a little donut shop close the entrance. Do yourself a favor and get an order of fresh delicious donuts with a dipping sauce. You're welcome!

 

[flortlebap]

We prefer TL.

It's got a really relaxing feel and the water coaster is fab. If you prefer thrills though then hit BB. Personally I hate summit plummet (aka the colonic irrigation ride) so TL wins every time for us!