Anonymous
Post 04/30/2016 10:59     Subject: Re:Disney water parks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was a lifeguard many moons ago at Typhoon Lagoon. (summers of 89 and 90) It has many fun rides and if your kids are goods swimmers they will have a blast. I haven't visited Blizzard Beach but I've heard that one is great too. I don't think you can go wrong with either one and it might be a good break from the rest of the parks for the day.


OP here- no, my 5 year old is a non-swimmer, and my 10 year old is an OK but not great swimmer. Should I just skip the water parks on safety reasons alone, or are there places in the water parks where the 5 year old can go with me without having to swim, like a wading area?


They have lots for non-swimmers and have life vests all over for the kids to use. When we knew we were taking our child at 5, we got swim lessons so he had basic swim skills. If you are going anywhere near a pool, they need some basic skills even if it is a doggie paddle.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2016 10:40     Subject: Disney water parks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Typhoon Lagoon has some good rides. I haven't been to Blizzard Beach.


The wave pool at Typhoon is increfible. You should be in there with the kids and the 5 year old will probably want to be off to the side at the slides unless he's insane like my son was.
Family raft ride, kid lagoon and hot donuts are recommended.
Oh, crush and gusher especially for 10 year old.
Shark swim?

Get park hopper passes because you could get stormed out in the afternoon and you'll want to go somewhere else instead.


The water park passes are independent of the theme park passes. No need for park hopper unless you are going to more than one theme park in one day.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2016 10:26     Subject: Re:Disney water parks?
Anonymous wrote:PP former Typhoon Lagoon lifeguard poster here. If your kids are not strong swimmers, I would skip the water parks. There are a few things they can do but if they have to be wearing the life vests all the time, that will limit what rides they can do. At least this is how it was when I guarded there. Disney only allowed their approved life vests and if you were wearing one there were many rides you couldn't go on. I think everyone would have fun but I don't think it would be worth the extra money. Your kids would probably be happy at one of the hotel pools.


My young kid spent hours in that wave pool from ages 5-12. After that it was a little less intense but kids love that thing.
If you aren't a strong swimmer and don't like a giant wave coming at you to wash you away then don't do it but a lot of kids love it.
We were always in the pool with our kids within arms reach.

Just the little slides and the kid area with the ropes course and kid tube rides are hours of fun.
Do you have kids former lifeguard?
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2016 10:22     Subject: Disney water parks?
Anonymous wrote:Typhoon Lagoon has some good rides. I haven't been to Blizzard Beach.


The wave pool at Typhoon is increfible. You should be in there with the kids and the 5 year old will probably want to be off to the side at the slides unless he's insane like my son was.
Family raft ride, kid lagoon and hot donuts are recommended.
Oh, crush and gusher especially for 10 year old.
Shark swim?

Get park hopper passes because you could get stormed out in the afternoon and you'll want to go somewhere else instead.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2016 10:07     Subject: Disney water parks?
The water parks are awesome! We did both of them with kids your age.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 15:30     Subject: Re:Disney water parks?
PP former Typhoon Lagoon lifeguard poster here. If your kids are not strong swimmers, I would skip the water parks. There are a few things they can do but if they have to be wearing the life vests all the time, that will limit what rides they can do. At least this is how it was when I guarded there. Disney only allowed their approved life vests and if you were wearing one there were many rides you couldn't go on. I think everyone would have fun but I don't think it would be worth the extra money. Your kids would probably be happy at one of the hotel pools.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 15:23     Subject: Disney water parks?
At BB there is a section for little kids. It's very shallow and kids don't need to swim there. There are a few slides & fountains. My kid can swim but isn't the strongest swimmer and I got worried about a few of the big slides. Also I made sure we all stayed close to the "shore" in the wave pool.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 14:30     Subject: Disney water parks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We loved it! Were staying at Fort Wilderness Lodge the time we went. We have stayed at Beach Club in the past and I would say it is worth a visit.

My 8YO at the time had a great time - 4YO enjoyed the lazy river and the wave pool.


Which one?


I think Blizzard Beach - need to check w/my kids

My youngest is not the kids to try new things - we went around and around in the lazy river and had fun. There are definitely elements that are fine for kids who are not strong swimmers. Can they doggy paddle from the place the ride ends to the ladder? If yes - it will work. There are fun tube rides you can do that dump you into 2 feet of water. Lilly pads to climb on etc. I thought it was a great break from the parks.

Have fun!
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 13:46     Subject: Re:Disney water parks?
Anonymous wrote:I was a lifeguard many moons ago at Typhoon Lagoon. (summers of 89 and 90) It has many fun rides and if your kids are goods swimmers they will have a blast. I haven't visited Blizzard Beach but I've heard that one is great too. I don't think you can go wrong with either one and it might be a good break from the rest of the parks for the day.


OP here- no, my 5 year old is a non-swimmer, and my 10 year old is an OK but not great swimmer. Should I just skip the water parks on safety reasons alone, or are there places in the water parks where the 5 year old can go with me without having to swim, like a wading area?
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 13:37     Subject: Disney water parks?
Anonymous wrote:We loved it! Were staying at Fort Wilderness Lodge the time we went. We have stayed at Beach Club in the past and I would say it is worth a visit.

My 8YO at the time had a great time - 4YO enjoyed the lazy river and the wave pool.


Which one?
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 13:33     Subject: Re:Disney water parks?
I was a lifeguard many moons ago at Typhoon Lagoon. (summers of 89 and 90) It has many fun rides and if your kids are goods swimmers they will have a blast. I haven't visited Blizzard Beach but I've heard that one is great too. I don't think you can go wrong with either one and it might be a good break from the rest of the parks for the day.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 13:16     Subject: Disney water parks?
There is one big waterslide and a mini one at Beach Club. The water parks have tons of slides. BC and Blizzard Bay (maybe TL too?) both have a lazy river. Both have a sandy beach - much bigger at BB. Wave pool was a big hit.

My kids loved BB and we the time but I don't think it's a "must do" in general.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 13:14     Subject: Disney water parks?
We loved it! Were staying at Fort Wilderness Lodge the time we went. We have stayed at Beach Club in the past and I would say it is worth a visit.

My 8YO at the time had a great time - 4YO enjoyed the lazy river and the wave pool.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 13:11     Subject: Disney water parks?
Typhoon Lagoon has some good rides. I haven't been to Blizzard Beach.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2016 12:51     Subject: Disney water parks?
I have never been to a water park, ever. If we are going to stay at the Beach Club Disneyworld, with its big pool, is there any reason to go to Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach? Kids are 5 and 10. Also, is there a less crowded day of the week or time of day to be at those water parks? TIA!