Who goes to the waterparks in the afternoon?

[tarheel]

I am a person who loves getting to the parks early and getting a lot done before the crowds pick up. So it is my mind frame saying I need to do the same for the waterparks. I notice that they now have the EE time of 9am. I'm not sure I'm up for swimming so early. For those of you who have gone for water park EE, how do you all feel about it? My trip is in May, and is only 5 days and 4 evenings. I don't have as much time to have everything be a get there at opening strategy. I am thinking it might work out to do MGM in the am, then waterpark for the afternoon. Thoughts on this?

 

[DebIreland]

Last June, when crowds were at a maximum, my DH and our two boys went to Typhoon Lagoon at 2pm on a Saturday and they got on EVERYTHING and had a blast. We were actually up early and they were set to go at 9am when a heavy thunder shower started and the bus driver told us TL was closing (as they do in such imclement weather) so they abandoned the idea of going at all and went to Downtown Disney but around 11 the weather changed and the sun came out but we debated if they'd get any value out of going then. Eventually they made the decision to go at 2 and, as I say, got to do everything. I'm not sure if that was a fluke, perhaps many people thought it was closed for the day (I doubt it though) but they certainly didn't miss out by going in the afternoon.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We try to go either right when the water parks open or later in the afternoon (after 3 pm). During the warmer months, the water parks can be absolutely packed during the middle of the day. If you arrive during that time frame, you can't always find a place to leave your things.

 

[tarheel]

Anyone else have any afternoon experience?

 

[Bronte]

we are going in late may/early june ... 11 days/10 nights ... 5 adults/2 kids.
The kids (10 & 13) sometimes get cranky at Epcot and even MGM around 1:00 so my dad plans to take them to the water parks from 1-3, shower back at CBR and then return for dinner and evening fireworks that night. Is this a good idea or am I sending my Dad into a war zone?
Thanks,
Bronte
(first trip in the "summer" season)

 

[jjk]

We,ve been to the water parks in the afternoons(after two) sometimes its been fine but other times there has been too many storms in the area and we spent most of the afternoon stood sheltering waiting for them to pass.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

One of the best times that we've ever had at the waterparks was when we went in the late afternoon, following a pretty good thunderstorm. The place was almost deserted and we got to do everything! No clamoring for a seat, either. We were able to pick our spot from many abandoned chairs and lounges. We ended up closing the park.

 

[lillygator]

we haven't yet but will be trying it this year!

 

[richard_andmel]

We have done this many times. We usually travel with the PAP (annual pass that includes waterparks) so from a point of view of cost it doesn't matter. We have a rule every day that we get out of the parks sometime around noon-1PM because it gets so hot. Our usual plan is to return to our resort and enjoy the pool and some quiet time. Sometimes we go to a waterpark instead and just use the wave pool and have a massively long float in the "lazy river". We aren't huge on waiting in line for slides, so this really suits us. We go in September usually so we have to be out of the park in the late afternoon when it closes.

Mel

 

[corinascot]

Last Easter week we went to BB after 2. Everyone was starting to leave. The park was open til 6 that night. From 5-6 we practically had the place to ourselves! We're fair skinned and the late afternnon works better for us all around.