More respect for Miss Tilly and Mount Gushmore

[MarkTwain]

Just got back from my trip to Orlando today. Unfortunately we were primarily there for a conference, so time in the four WDW parks was generally sparse. We did have a day in Hollywood Studios to check out Star Tours, a day in each of the Universal parks to see and do all things Harry Potter, and have dinner ADRs at various resorts. But the reason I started this thread was because we spent also a day in each of the water parks, and this being my first time being at either, I was blown away.

I can now say I've found my favorite thing to do in WDW that doesn't involve a theme park. We're now planning another summer trip (instead of our usual annual Christmas/New Years trip) just so we can visit them again. Typhoon Lagoon is a tropical oasis of lush landscaping, as opposed to the concrete slabs and steel-and-plastic slides I've been raised to associate with a water park (aka my hometown's park). And Blizzard Beach is as cleverly and immersively themed as anything you'd find on property. My question is... why hadn't we heard more about them?

Each of our days in the two water parks felt as fulfilling and fun as any day in the theme parks, although it was considerably more restful (aka my feet were less tired by the end of the day ). So I'm surprised that I don't see more about the water parks... you know... everywhere. :shrug: Miss Tilly and Mount Gushmore have all the prominence and height of any of the 4 theme park icons, but get featured significantly less on merchandise... or at the top of certain fanpage headers.* :lookaroun

Heck, Google Image search Miss Tilly... and it gets the first three results. 3 results!! Compare that to what happens if you google Spaceship Earth.

Does anybody even know what those alligator mascot guys are called, much less where I can find them on a pin?

And "4 parks, 1 world?" Why isn't it "6 parks, 1 world"!? :lol:

I guess I just wanted to take a minute to shine the spotlight on these two overlooked gems of WDW property, and to invite your opinion on their overlookedness. :wave: Any thoughts?



* By the way Steve, love the site... :wave:

 

[hammysammy59]

Yeah, out of the WDW water parks I've only been to Blizzard Beach, and it was freaking incredible. Not sure why they get no love on the boards, they really are a blast. Like you said, the theming is just through the roof, and absolutely on par with what I've come to know, love and expect from a Disney park. Plus that blue gator is a super fun mascot.

Maybe "fifth gate" threads can turn into "third water park" threads.

 

[Enderikari]

Does anybody even know what those alligator mascot guys are called, much less where I can find them on a pin?

Lagoona Gator for Typhoon Lagoon
Ice Gator for Blizzard Beach.
Glad to help

 

[ScoutN]

I did BB for the first and only time when I was ~8-10 years old and loved it. I did TL for the first time this past May when I bought a Premium AP. When I go back in August I will be doing both. The theming and atmosphere is beyond stupendous. You're in a full waterpark and have none of the eyesore supports that any other water park has. You're fully emerged in a whole different world.

 

[mergatroid]

Great post and I think the way to describe the water parks is idyllic. My wife will happily sit and read her book all day there whilst I venture out and enjoy the slides and the wave pool. Shark reef is a great introduction to snorkeling and the mist is just heaven to drift through on the inflatables. Whilst River Country had a wonderful charm to it and is rightly and fondly remembered, I don't think it had nearly as much to do as either of the two current water parks. We prefer Typhoon Lagoon out of the two (just) and always get there before opening to be amongst the first to enter. Weather permitting we stay till around 3pm before heading out of property to the nearby Sizzler or Hooters for a nice slap up meal :slurp:

 

[MarkTwain]

Lagoona Gator for Typhoon Lagoon
Ice Gator for Blizzard Beach.
Glad to help

Thank you! I thought I remembered hearing the name Ice Gator somewhere...

Great post and I think the way to describe the water parks is idyllic. My wife will happily sit and read her book all day there whilst I venture out and enjoy the slides and the wave pool. Shark reef is a great introduction to snorkeling and the mist is just heaven to drift through on the inflatables. Whilst River Country had a wonderful charm to it and is rightly and fondly remembered, I don't think it had nearly as much to do as either of the two current water parks. We prefer Typhoon Lagoon out of the two (just) and always get there before opening to be amongst the first to enter. Weather permitting we stay till around 3pm before heading out of property to the nearby Sizzler or Hooters for a nice slap up meal :slurp:

Opening to 3 pm, huh? We arrived closer to 11am and stayed til closing both days, but we always are the type to sleep in. And yes, that mist was a very pleasant and interesting experience... in general, I thought the lazy rivers were very impressive at both parks, and I thought the Typhoon Lagoon one in particular had a Jungle Cruise-like atmosphere.

And "idyllic" is a great word for it... although you can certainly make a fun-packed day at the parks if you were to so choose. :lol:

 

[dreamfinder]

Does anybody even know what those alligator mascot guys are called, much less where I can find them on a pin?

The Ice Gator has been on most of the Blizzard Beach Pins including this one -> http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=84055 which was supposedly released a few weeks ago. Typhoon Lagoon doesn't seem to have as many pins released, and even less with their gator. Maybe try eBay for some of the older ones.

 

[powlessfamily4]

My husband lives for TL. He would be perfectly happy to spend the entire vacation at the water park.

 

[erasure fan1]

Each of our days in the two water parks felt as fulfilling and fun as any day in the theme parks, although it was considerably more restful (aka my feet were less tired by the end of the day ). [/SIZE]

Oh man, chasing my daughter up all the slides was just about one of the most un-restful and hard on my feet things Ive ever done at Disney! :lol: Of course I wouldnt trade it for the world as I LOVE the water parks. Im so upset that we have to cancel our typhoon lagoon visit this trip. We were looking so forward to it since we had to cancel it on last years trip because my daughter was sick. Its in the plan for next years trip as well so heres to 3rd times a charm.

 

[cowanfamily]

Typhoon Lagoon wave pool is a must for any Disney addict!

 

[xdan0920]

Typhoon Lagoon is awesome. The theme, the slides, the overall feel. All phenomenal. We always go at least once during our trips, weather permitting.

One minor complaint is the food options. I wish they did a better job with that.

 

[Kamikaze]

Heck, Google Image search Miss Tilly... and it gets the first three results. 3 results!! Compare that to what happens if you google Spaceship Earth.

Reason for that is simple: Most people don't bring their cameras to a waterpark.

 

[Ransom]

We went to the water parks for the first time in 2009. First Blizzard Beach, then Typhoon Lagoon. We had a blast at both of them. As others have said, they're just as fun as the theme parks, but far more relaxing. The day at Typhoon Lagoon was my best day at WDW, ever.

(That said, I like Blizzard Beach's slides better.)

Our experiences at the water parks in 2009 is why we bought Premium APs this year. We hope to visit them several times on our upcoming trips...

 

[MattyDrums]

Love the water parks.

The Shark Reef at TL is definitely the most authentic attraction at WDW. I would say it has the best story line because it doesn't need a story line. It is what it is!

Nice thread.

 

[Thorpyness]

Very astute comments in the first post.

It is almost too good, so good that you don't notice it. It never even occurred to me that they've made sure you can't see the structure of the slides, taking it for granted that they sit on the mountain.

It's Disney, you get what you pay for and like what you get, even if you don't notice exactly what it is.
59 days till I'm at All star sports, and i see it all again.

 

[CaptainWinter]

I guess I just wanted to take a minute to shine the spotlight on these two overlooked gems of WDW property, and to invite your opinion on their overlookedness. :wave: Any thoughts?

Yes, more WDW waterpark love is in order.

I've never been to BB but was in TL last year. It was a great great day. We arrived before lunch and were pretty much the last people to leave.

A few thoughts on TL:

- the theming is great: detailed, colorful and funny

- the slides are fun and thrilling

- the lazy river as a transportation circuit is a stroke of genius

- when it's very very hot (as it was when we were there, late June) you can play and play and still feel fresh -- MK by comparison wore us out in the brutal heat.

Count me as a big fan.

 

[cookiee_munster]

Both of the parks are awesome. back in my teenage days, i never really liked them, now i reflect back i wish i would have done more while i was there. i walked a lot around typhoon lagoon to pass the time, lush place, awesome theme and great souvenirs too.

blizzard beach, one thing i do remember is the incredibly scalding hot concrete. has that all been solved/fixed now?

 

[MickeyPeace]

I can now say I've found my favorite thing to do in WDW that doesn't involve a theme park.

And "4 parks, 1 world?" Why isn't it "6 parks, 1 world"!? :lol:

I go to the water parks on every visit.

I don't feel like I'm doing something that isn't a Disney theme park when I go, I feel like I'm going to one of the parks.

I consider them theme parks because they are.

It should be 6 parks 1 world.

I just went snorkeling in the shark reef last month. It was great. I'll be putting together a video of it soon.

And the lazy river in Typhoon Lagoon is heaven.

Both BB and TL are awesome.

Here's a tip to save money. Instead of upgrading your annual pass to a premium to include the water parks, just buy an annual pass for the water parks. It's cheaper. You dont get to use Disney Quest or play golf but I dont do either of those activities anyway.

 

[MarkTwain]

The Ice Gator has been on most of the Blizzard Beach Pins including this one -> http://pinpics.com/cgi-bin/pin.cgi?pin=84055 which was supposedly released a few weeks ago. Typhoon Lagoon doesn't seem to have as many pins released, and even less with their gator. Maybe try eBay for some of the older ones.

Ahh, thank you! I will most definitely have to hit ebay to find those pins... I only ever get my pins off of ebay anyway. :lol:

Reason for that is simple: Most people don't bring their cameras to a waterpark.

That's a good point, didn't think about that. :lol:

Yes, more WDW waterpark love is in order.

I've never been to BB but was in TL last year. It was a great great day. We arrived before lunch and were pretty much the last people to leave.

A few thoughts on TL:

- the theming is great: detailed, colorful and funny

- the slides are fun and thrilling

- the lazy river as a transportation circuit is a stroke of genius

- when it's very very hot (as it was when we were there, late June) you can play and play and still feel fresh -- MK by comparison wore us out in the brutal heat.

Yeah I thought about that too... it's like they took the train concept from the MK and turned it into a lazy river. Definitely clever!

Both of the parks are awesome. back in my teenage days, i never really liked them, now i reflect back i wish i would have done more while i was there. i walked a lot around typhoon lagoon to pass the time, lush place, awesome theme and great souvenirs too.

blizzard beach, one thing i do remember is the incredibly scalding hot concrete. has that all been solved/fixed now?

I don't remember the concrete being an issue, but then it was also rather overcast when we went to Blizzard Beach. :shrug: