Disney's Water Parks: Tropical or Winter?

By Anna Trosper11.20.18Summer time is here and that means it is time to hit the water parks! Walt Disney World has two great water parks on property. Both are great and I love them both for different reasons. If you are going to Disney, I recommend going to both water parks, but if you are short on time and can only choose one this might help you decide which one fits your family best. At Disney Water Parks there is something for everyone!The theming and the atmosphere of the two parks are very different. Let us start with Typhoon Lagoon. Overall the park has a very tropical, beachy feel. Typical for a water park, right? Well Disney has stepped it up a notch or two; every inch of the park has that tropical feeling! You often can hear songs by the Beach Boys playing in the background and the lush trees make for some great shade.The second water park is Blizzard Beach. The theming of this park is based on a ski resort. Yes, snow in Florida! The tale of this park is that they opened the ski resort after a freak snow storm in Florida. However, the snow did not last long and when it melted the resort was turned into a water park. This is a fun theme and Disney has done a great job once again with making you feel like you are in an actual ski resort. Be warned, with all the white snow and not as many trees, this park can be a little hotter.Most people going to the water parks have kids and the kid-friendly areas in both parks are very different also. At Typhoon Lagoon, Ketchakiddli Creek is the name of the kid’s area. It has fun theming and some tiny slides that the little ones will love. Children 48 inches and under are only allowed in this area; it’s geared more for the preschool crowd.Blizzard Beach has Tike’s Peak and it also has a 48-inch height limit. The theming in my opinion is not quite as good as Ketchakiddie in Typhoon Lagoon, but the kids still have lots of fun. There is a second kid play area in Blizzard Beach called Ski Patrol. This is for slightly older children and features an awesome water obstacle course. This is great for the kids who do not like water slides. They have a great place to play all day.What’s the number one reason folks visit water parks? The slides! Here is my take on the slides at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. While both parks have just as many slides, I would say Typhoon Lagoon’s slides are not quite as thrilling as Blizzard Beach. So, if you love a less intense ride, then Typhoon Lagoon may be the park for you. Humunga Kowabunga is probably the most intense slide in the park and it reaches top speeds of 30 mph. The best in my opinion is Crushin’ Gusher; it’s part slide and part roller coaster. You must try it!Blizzard Beach definitely has more thrilling slides. Our family says the “Wedgie Monster” lives in this park! Summitt Plummet stands a full 13 stories tall and you drop at 60 mph. So be sure to wear a suit that will stay on! I feel there is a lot more walking in this park to get to the slides, so keep that in mind. They do have a chair lift to take you up to the half way mark of Summit Plummet, but you still have a long way to walk up after that.What is a water park without a wave pool? Typhoon Lagoon hands down has the best wave pool ever! Surf Pool features some of the biggest waves I have ever seen in a wave pool. They even have surfing lessons here in the park. Up on the hill you see a stranded old Ship and right before the waves start you hear a ship horn and then water starts flowing down the mountain. It is quite funny to hear everyone scream! I have not yet figured out why!Blizzard Beach has Melt Away Bay. This is a very relaxing pool and the waves are not nearly as big and exciting as in Surf Pool. It also is not a large as in Typhoon Lagoon.Ok, now this next one is my husband’s and my favorite spot. If the kids need us they know where to find us; in the LAZY RIVER!Typhoon Lagoon’s, Castaway Creek lazy river goes at an easy pace for the most part. There are plenty of tubes to be used. If you do not find one when first getting in don’t worry. You will find one as you make your way around. There are many stopping points throughout the river where you can get out. It is a great way to get around the park without having to do all the walking. It does have some small waterfalls and rapids at one point. You also go through a cave and some lush rainforest.Blizzard Beach’s Cross Country Creek lazy river is honestly not much different, other than the theming. This one also has small rapids, waterfalls and caves. I would say Cross Country Creek has a lot more shade then Castaway Creek.If you’re going to the water park with the family, you want to do family things together, right? Family Raft slides are the solution. These are raft rides that the whole family can do together. In Typhoon Lagoon, Miss Adventure Falls is a great family raft ride. I love the fact that you do not have to carry your raft up any hills. Disney has taken care of that for you. You get in your raft and then you both are taken up the hill where you will start your trip back down.Teamboat Springs is Blizzard Beach’s raft slide. It’s the longest slide in the world and is tons of fun. The theming on this slide is not nearly as good as that of Miss Adventure Falls, but the slide length and fun factor more than make up for it.In my opinion, if you only have one day I would go to Typhoon Lagoon. That said, Blizzard Beach is ideal for those with young children or families with children in different age categories, thanks to their two kid areas. Thrill seekers may also prefer Blizzard Beach. Either way you go, you’re sure to have a blast! I would try to do both if you can. You won’t be sorry!For a no obligation, Free Quote please contact me at : annat@wishesfamilytravel.com and please make sure to visit my Facebook page. I would be happy to talk with you about any of your travel needs.