Water Parks vs. More Main Parks time

[12_Ears_Dad]

Just wanted to get more perspective on this. I mentioned it in a former post that got moved to
WDW with kids. We do have a large family and im just asking that since we have a large group (8
), do you think it better in a 7 day period that Water Parks and more is worth it or a a 6 day pass would be more worth it? Im assuming with such a large group we will run out of time to do everything , especially in the larger parks. So what have you done with your large group/family? Or even with your smaller group?

I guess im looking for more of a general perspective on Water Parks n more? Is it worth it? Are the water parks worth the Disney Dollar?

 

[Disneydreamer23]

I don't like water parks so I never have an issue knowing I would never get that option but if your family would enjoy it I would do it!

 

[sxeensweet]

Personal opinion if you only have 6-7 days I would stick to the main parks and get a park hopper ticket. Even 6-7 days in the 4 main parks will not be enough time to do everything much less adding water parks in there. It is just me and DH and we go over 10 days and never get to do everything in the main 4 parks. Lol

 

[Club34]

only do it if you are considering a water park on more than one day. otherwise buy a single day ticket for the water park and decrease your park hopper by a day, unless you plan to do a park at night. just do the cost analysis. i LOVE typhoon lagoon [could be my 3rd favorite disney park] but i usually go once during a week's trip. i just pay the single day entry on it.

 

[disneydudette]

My last trip was with a first timer... so I wanted to see/do everything since it was all new to him.

We took advantage of rope drop and Evening EMH, saw every parade and nightly show... still managed to get to both TL and BB... hopping over to a themepark for that evening.

It was absolutely exhausting. Out last morning's plan was rope drop at the MK... it just wasn't happening... we couldn't muster the energy and instead spent the day at BB before hopping to Epcot for EMH.

I refuse to plan another trip like that... but I'm also a tad 'over' the parks (over a dozen trips.) Our itinaries include more water park days than actual park days. Water Parks in the morning... FP+/theme park in the late afternoons.

If you're already having doubts about losing potential park time... don't even chance it. Its tough to balance it all and feel like you're getting the 'most' for your money... especially if you're not a frequent visitor or first timer.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Unfortunately you don't state the ages of your party which would assist, but I'm guessing that there are young kids travelling with you. Nor do you state at which time of year you're visiting.

As has been said in several of the above threads - the Water Parks option isn't worth it unless you plan to visit more than once, a one day ticket would serve you perfectly.
My opinion is that to spend 6 or 7 days totally doing the Main Parks will burn you out. You need a day to recharge your batteries. I would therefore propose visiting a water park half way through your trip to recharge otherwise you'll have some pretty grumpy tired kids by the end of your trip

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

I think 6 to 7 days in the Main parks is too much. 2 days at MK, maybe 2 at Epcot, 1 at HS, and 1 day at AK is good... 2 days at Epcot not be interesting for the kids if you have toddlers but the water parks, imo, are the best Disney parks. They are excellent.I wouldn't buy the water park option but maybe one day would be good.

 

[Weather_Lady]

We typically have 6 full days on our trips. We spend 2 full days at MK, 1 day t HS, 1/2 day at AK, and 1 1/2 days at Epcot, which leaves us one day (or two half-days) for special dinner experiences (e.g., Hoop-de-Doo), Downtown Disney, and/or some downtime at our resort pool. That just doesn't leave any time for visiting a water park. If we were visiting for more than a week, though, the water parks would fit in nicely...

 

[basmal8]

We had the same dilemma... took the variables & cost into consideration and decided to do 6 park days and eliminate the water park.
1- we are staying at AK lodge and plan a full resort day and will swim most of the day
2- with young kids (8, 3, 1), we plan on a mid-day nap most days so my 8 yr old will get additional pool time
3- there was no way we would get in two water park days to justify the $60 pp cost
4- as much as we would enjoy the water park, we have other water parks we can go to at other times of the year close to home. Not Disney, of course, but a bunch of nice water slides nonetheless.
5- the 6th day of the main parks was so cheap, it became a no-brainer; single visit to water park was $53 pp. Adding the 6th day to each person's ticket was only $54 TOTAL. Decision made.

Good luck

 

[MaryJaneP]

We had family reunion of 20+. Couldn't get everyone to agree on a water park day, so just the 5 of us went one day to TL. We never buy the add on to the tickets. We just pay for a one day ticket to waterpark and one less day on our park tickets. We also very infrequently buy park hoppers as we are usually too tuckered out at one park per day to even consider visiting another, but to each his/her own.

 

[4disneylovers]

I agree a vital piece of info is ages. We did water parks for first time this year. Kids were 12 and 15. We found the water parks to be more exhausting than regular parks. However they were really fun!

 

[12_Ears_Dad]

Unfortunately you don't state the ages of your party which would assist, but I'm guessing that there are young kids travelling with you. Nor do you state at which time of year you're visiting.

As has been said in several of the above threads - the Water Parks option isn't worth it unless you plan to visit more than once, a one day ticket would serve you perfectly.
My opinion is that to spend 6 or 7 days totally doing the Main Parks will burn you out. You need a day to recharge your batteries. I would therefore propose visiting a water park half way through your trip to recharge otherwise you'll have some pretty grumpy tired kids by the end of your trip

2 adults, children aged DD 13, DS 9, DS 6, DS 5, DD 3, DS 1

Dates going July 11-18

As far as a recharge day we are taking a day off sometime midweek at our rental house property..which has a pool

 

[KLeigh]

2 adults, children aged DD 13, DS 9, DS 6, DS 5, DD 3, DS 1

Dates going July 11-18

As far as a recharge day we are taking a day off sometime midweek at our rental house property..which has a pool

With a rest day already built in to your schedule, and the fact that your rental house has a pool, I think you should skip the water parks and enjoy what's already going to be available to you. (You can take advantage of the pool at night post-parks, or go back to your rental house for a mid-day break to swim and relax.)

Take the money you were going to spend on the water park tickets and do something fun on your rest day. Mini golf, the Boardwalk, and bowling at Splitsville in DTD are all fun options.

 

[NormC]

We did Blizzard beach back in 11 and had a great time but it only used up half a day as water parks can be tiring. Lots of lines. We always get hoppers and that year we added water because of time of year. The last two times were February so we did not do water parks.

 

[ladydi]

Took my kids to typhoon lagoon for the first time this year (ages 13, 13 and 11). They had a blast but I'm glad I didn't take them when they were younger. The ages of your kids would make me hesitate. My husband or I tried to stay with them as much as possible which came in handy when one got hurt on a water slide and needed to go to first aid. It may be too hard to divide and conquer with the little ones.

 

[HollieS]

No way would I want to deal with that many little ones at a big theme water park. You are much braver than I.

 

[12_Ears_Dad]

No way would I want to deal with that many little ones at a big theme water park. You are much braver than I.

No, we're just not legally sane...