Adding some time at either of Walt Disney World's two water parks during your family vacation is the perfect way to beat the heat and experience a different side of Disney! With two unique stories and theming, you can step into whimsical worlds of water fun for kids of all ages to enjoy. There are definitely a couple of things to consider and plan for before adding water park days to your vacation itinerary though, so be prepared ahead of time!
**Familiarize yourself with each park Walt Disney World is home to two different water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Both parks are homes to water fun for all ages, and each tell a unique story through themed areas, attractions, pools, an dining options. My favorite of the two, if I had to pick one, is Blizzard Beach. After a freak central Florida snowstorm left some of the white stuff at WDW, some of the locals decided to build a skit resort that would become Blizzard Beach. You can take rides down various icy slides, travel down a relaxing lazy river, and even ride a chairlift up to the top of Summit Plummet (if you're brave enough!). There's also eight different dining locations, areas just with kids stuff, and plenty of shopping. Typhoon Lagoon tells the story of a powerful storm that dropped in relics of the Caribbean to central Florida, including large fishing boats! There's plenty of water attractions to experience at this park, and it's home to North America's largest wave pool. You can even learn to surf on the pool's perfect waves! Surf lessons and private parties come at en extra cost, and space is limited. Characters also frequently make stops at both water parks, and the same level of cleanliness, friendliness, and quality service he Disney is known for is found around every corner. Whether you have time for one or both parks during your trip, make sure you know what to expect before walking through the gates. **Consider the time of year you're traveling Florida is known for heat and sunshine, but many days can be chilly, cloudy, and rainy. Before adding water park days to your plans and adding tickets (see below), really take a look at the weather patterns and decide if it's worth adding for your family or travel party. If you're visiting WDW any time between November and February, I'd probably save the water park fun for another trip. There's plenty of other seasonal offerings to take in during those times of year, and the average temperatures won't have you looking for a solution to beat the heat - It's really quite comfortable. And even if you're traveling during the warm, Summer months, know that you'll probably encounter some rain and thunder showers. Disney has various policies and rules when it comes to rain and lightning, so be prepared for some attractions to close down in the event of inclement weather. **Make sure your theme park tickets are correct Visiting either of Walt Disney World requires a special kind of theme park ticket, different than normal admission tickets to the four main parks. You can purchase day passes to each of the water parks if you're just stopping by and not planning to park hop, upgrade you regular theme park tickets (non-park hoppers) to include days at the water parks, or add the "Water Parks Fun & More" option to your park hopper tickets to allow for the most flexibility. I'd definitely suggest upgrading your park hopper tickets if you definitely think you're going to be spending time at the water parks, because you'll then be able to enjoy more than one park in one day (especially since the water parks typically close much earlier than the other theme parks). You can have fun in the sun all day, then head over to another park to catch fireworks or your favorite attractions at night. Plus with WDW's new MyMagic+, your tickets load right onto you Magic Bands, which are waterproof! No fuss, no muss! There are discounts for Florida residents available, as well as special promotions thought the year, so check all pricing and restrictions before you buy. **Be mindful of operating hours, and get there EARLY Disney's water parks have vastly different hours than their regular theme parks, so make sure you know what time everything is opening and closing before you head out for the day and make plans. Also try to get there as close to opening as possible so you have first dibs at lounge chairs and lockers. Do you really want to just be walking in at high noon when the sun is blazing hot and have to scour the land for a chair? I know I don't! **Prepare your family or travel party for the day Water park days tend to be different than other park days, so make sure everyone in your family is prepped and knows what to expect. You're not going to find any princesses walking around to sign autographs, there's no daily parade, and there are different rules to adhere to. Make sure children know that there can't be as much running (for safety reasons of course), you have to keep water shoes or Crocs on to protect your piggies, and their life vest keeps them safe in the water. I've seen many meltdowns where little ones don't want to wear a life vest, water shoes, or sunscreen, so make sure they know the rules and expectations from the get-go. **Have the appropriate gear This goes back to my previous point, but make sure everyone has a proper swimsuit and coverup, water shoes (not necessarily required, but definitely recommended!!!!), eye protection, towels, swim diapers, etc. before you leave your room in the morning. Disney is very good at having all of these items for sale at the parks, but you're going to be paying more for their goods than you would at home. I'd also suggest investing in a waterproof camera/phone case and money holder to keep everything safe and dry. Life vests for small guests can be rented at both water parks, so be sure to allocate a few dollars for that as compared to lugging your own from home. And if you don't want to carry everything around during the day or have someone in your party keep an eye on things, lockers are available for rent at the front of each park at a daily cost. **Wear plenty of sunscreen!!! Easily the most important item to remember, sunscreen is often one of the most overlooked things people forget to bring during water park days. Shocking I know, but you'll see sunburns around every turn. Don't ruin the rest of your vacation with sunburns and peeling because of one mistake. Be prepared, apply and reapply throughout the day, and wear the appropriate SPF level for your skin. Sun hats and coverups also help, and there are plenty of shady spots if you want to escape the sun at all during the day. Whether you choose to visit Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon during your next trip to Walt Disney World, you're sure to have plenty of fun in the sun. Make sure adding these plans is right for your family and vacation, be prepared for the day ahead of time, and enjoy everything the parks have to offer! For more information, visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/water-parks/. Do you like visiting Disney's water parks when you visit WDW? Tell me about it in the comments below! Until the next post, see ya real soon!
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About MeA twenty-something alumni of the Disney College Program looking to help others plan the Disney vacations of their dreams! Living that Disneyland AP dream in SoCal. Archives
February 2018
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