I haven't been to a water park at Disney since I was teenager!
Anyways, planning to hit up both of them during our next trip and we have two kids (ages 8 & 5).
What do you wear on your feet? I would assume the concrete is quite hot during the day. If you wear aqua shoes can you wear these in the water, on slides, etc.?
Where do you leave your stuff? Do you just pick a chair and throw your stuff on it? I don't plan on leaving valuables out around but I'm talking about towels, sunscreen, etc.
And speaking of towels... do you bring your own?
Can the kids get life jackets there if they want them?
here's my series of answers to these questions:
1. yes (i used to wear aqua shoes, but now i wear dive shoes). The one thing though is that you need to remove them before going on the body speed slides (i.e. Summit Plummet & Slush Gusher at BB and the Stormslides and Humunga Kowabunga at TL). If you are lucky enough to live near a dive shop, you can also wear the diving shoes which are more likely to stay in place due to them having zippers on the sides.
2a (the locker issue). I often use a locker. Thing is that in this day and age, even in a water park, anything that is not protected or stored properly, is fair game for someone who intends to ruin the magic of anyone by stealing it like it was candy from a baby. As a result, i always rent a locker. If you have a large backpack, it's best to rent a large locker.
2b (location). although i haven't set up "home base" at a beach chair, but i'll go ahead and answer this one regardless. it's best to rent the locker first thing in the morning, and then set up where to relax. Of course, if you got the extra money, you can rent a premium patio spot where you get chairs, towels, a cast member who will get you your food, and a cooler with drinks, and the all day mugs.
3. although they do have towel rentals, it's best to bring your own towel.
4. If you want to rent life jackets, you can. they'll give them to you free of charge, provided that you either leave an ID card with the rental staff or a refundable deposit.
P.S. while Melt Away Bay at Blizzard Beach allows lifejacket wearing swimmers in any area which is not beyond the barricade buoys, Typhoon Lagoon's wave pool has a red line near the deep end. if you have a lifejacket you must not cross that red line.
Here's an extra tip which can also help.
* If you go to TL's Shark Reef, you can actually bring in your own mask and snorkel. The one parameter is that the mask's lens must be made of tempered glass.
