Any tips for our first trips to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach with our sons?

[swissamy]

This May, we plan to take our kids (ages 7 and 11) to both water parks during our weeklong stay. We are AP holders but just for parks, we didnt buy the water park option and now maybe we should have we wonder. The last time we went to either water park was 21 yrs ago on our honeymoon to Typhoon and at least 12 yrs ago to Bliz. Beach.

Needless to say, things have changed I am sure at both parks.

My boys both swim at the y and go down the slides there but neither is really comfortable/confident/competent in water over about 4-5 feet.

Can you who enjoy these parks give me some suggestions as to what is fun to do (we would like to do some rides on rafts/slides as a family, or at least with 2 at a time), when in the day is best to go, how long to plan to stay, and generally good tips or insights. I dont even know if we can buy lunch there of what is good to eat - we all have the newest wdw resort mugs, do they work there too?

Thank you in advance!!

 

[dreamscometrue]

Sorry I don't have much advice because we don't do the water parks often, but I can note 2 things:

1. Get there early...before the parks open for sure. We always find that they get crowded relatively quickly.

2. Historically, Thursdays are the most crowded water park days and Saturdays are the least crowded.

Have fun.

 

[memster]

Have fun and enjoy! We love those water parks :sohappy:


______________________

 

[jonnyc]

1. Get there before opening
2. Secure your Sun Loungers
3. Try and hit up all the slides you plan on doing at the start of the day as you have all day to lie in the sun/
4. It might be worth seeking out a park map online to look at the pool depths of the different slides, I know that BB has a kind of zip line plunge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN6_7ZU9zMM) where the pool depth must be around 7ft (I believe) so you may wish to avoid that one.
5. A number of the slides require you to swim pretty quickly out of the pool, so if your sons aren’t particularly strong swimmers it may be worth checking out the end of the slide before you ride.
6. Wear plenty of sunscreen! It used to really annoy me when I was kid that my Mom forced me to put it on, but now I am older I see how wise she was.
7. The raft ride at BB is a must, it is excellent!
8. The lazy rivers at both parks are also fun, with lots of things squirting water out.
9. Snorkelling at TL is also fun, you only really need to be able to do a decent doggy paddle, and life vests I believe are available.
10. We are usually worn out about 2/3pm if we get there for opening which is a good time to head off, as that is when it gets really hot.

Most importantly have fun!

 

[IndyDisney]

1. Get there before opening
2. Secure your Sun Loungers
3. Try and hit up all the slides you plan on doing at the start of the day as you have all day to lie in the sun/
4. It might be worth seeking out a park map online to look at the pool depths of the different slides, I know that BB has a kind of zip line plunge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN6_7ZU9zMM) where the pool depth must be around 7ft (I believe) so you may wish to avoid that one.
5. A number of the slides require you to swim pretty quickly out of the pool, so if your sons aren’t particularly strong swimmers it may be worth checking out the end of the slide before you ride.
6. Wear plenty of sunscreen! It used to really annoy me when I was kid that my Mom forced me to put it on, but now I am older I see how wise she was.
7. The raft ride at BB is a must, it is excellent!
8. The lazy rivers at both parks are also fun, with lots of things squirting water out.
9. Snorkelling at TL is also fun, you only really need to be able to do a decent doggy paddle, and life vests I believe are available.
10. We are usually worn out about 2/3pm if we get there for opening which is a good time to head off, as that is when it gets really hot.

Most importantly have fun!

This pretty much sums it up. All I have to add is do the raft rides first, then move on to the other slides. And a map is a pretty good idea. Blizzard Beach has very few well shaded areas to set up camp. From rope drop go left about 75-100 yds. and you'll see a cabana on the right side of the path. There's a decent amount of shade there, plus access to the lazy river, and a bathroom/snack stand relatively close.

Just my thoughts. Enjoy.

-Indy