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Do you find your Disney vacations to be fast and furious? What about hot and tiring? A few years ago, my family discovered the Disney waterparks for the first time. To say we were blown away by how awesome they were is an understatement! Now, we won’t visit during the hottest months of the year without the option of a Disney waterpark visit. See if you agree with our reasons for adding a visit to the Disney waterparks.

The Best Reasons to Visit Disney’s Waterparks

Disney World in the summer can be overwhelming. It’s often crowded and almost always hot. Cool off at one of the amazing water parks on property! There are so many great reasons to visit Disney’s waterparks, but I’ve narrowed it down to the best reasons. Plan your rest day around the water parks. I promise you’ll thank me later.

Nobody Does a Theme Like Disney

I am a sucker for a good theme. That’s probably one of the reasons we consistently vacation with Disney, whether in the parks or on a cruise. Disney is known for their details, and the water parks are no exception.

Blizzard Beach entrance sign

The concept behind Blizzard Beach is that Florida had a “freak snowstorm,” so they built a ski resort, only to have it “melt” a few days later. Names like “Lottawatta Lodge,” “Polar Pub,” and “Melt-Away Bay” all call to mind snowy, slushy thoughts.

In Typhoon Lagoon, the story is that a typhoon caused a giant shipwreck on the island and thus Typhoon Lagoon was born.

It’s All in the Details

You’ll see lots of “damaged” signs and buildings throughout Typhoon Lagoon, but our favorite feature was the giant wave that crashes through the Surf Pool every so often (don’t worry, there is a warning sound before it comes in case you want to get out of its way!).

Summit Plummet is a thrilling reason to visit Disney's waterparks.

It was unlike anything we’d ever seen before! Blizzard Beach has ski-themed gear everywhere! There’s even a “ski” lift that takes you up to the “mountain” if you’re daring enough to conquer those huge slides!

Details make a vacation special, and we’ll definitely be talking about these details for many years to come!

Waterpark Attractions

Blizzard Beach has several kid-friendly areas such as Tike’s Peak and Ski Patrol Training Camp. These areas offer age-appropriate fun for babies to big kids.

Ski Patrol kids area at Blizzard Beach

While it does not have its own chair lift, Typhoon Lagoon’s hills and slides are not nearly as steep to climb. You’ll want to take your family on Teamboat Springs in Blizzard Beach and Gangplank Falls in Typhoon Lagoon (those are the 6 person raft rides that are super fun).

More adventurous family members may want to take on the Crush ‘n Gusher in Typhoon Lagoon or Summit Plummet in Blizzard Beach (very high, fast slides that are definitely thrilling).

Meet Characters without the Wait

Yes! Characters! We had no idea characters were in the waterparks, but they are!

Meet characters without the wait at Disney's waterparks

We just so happened upon Donald at Blizzard Beach when we were ending our day, so there’s no telling how long he’d actually been there! Check the park’s daily guides for more info on character meets.

Waterpark Food-Yes, It’s That Good

I can’t believe I would ever say this, but I was thoroughly impressed with the food at both water parks. The variety offered in the select dining locations is quite impressive to me. I thought for sure my only choices would be hot dogs and hamburgers, but I was totally off.

Korean BBQ pizza available at one of Disney's waterparks, Blizzard Beach

At Blizzard Beach, my husband and I split a light salad with fresh toppings of dried cherries, juicy chicken, and a zesty balsamic vinaigrette. A Korean BBQ chicken flatbread pizza with a sriracha aioli to top off our lunch. I wish we would have ordered more of that pizza!

Good Eats at Typhoon Lagoon

At Typhoon Lagoon, we shared a pineapple barbecue burger that was tender, flavorful, and just a little sweet. I would be remiss if I didn’t let you in on a little foodie secret: order some of the mini donuts for dessert at the end of the day, and you might just get a few extras tossed in your box! They’re a sweet ending to a great day, so don’t miss out!

Fun for Kids of All Ages

I really felt like my kids were the perfect age to experience the water parks. They have a decent grasp on swimming (certainly not pro enough to go it alone in the wave pool), and there are lots of areas where they could play, slide, and climb confidently without much parental assistance.

Even if you are taking a child less than 5 years old, the 2 kids’ areas, Tike’s Peak in Blizzard Beach and Ketchakiddie Creek in Typhoon Lagoon, have water slides and small splash pad areas where parents can feel safe letting their children play.

My kids both said they loved Blizzard Beach the best, but I felt like Typhoon Lagoon’s Ketchakiddie Creek offered them more options to play for their age level (think water guns, 3x as many slides, dumping buckets, and hoses to spray mom and dad with).

Disney’s water parks have several options for all ages, and I really think the young and old alike can enjoy their time together in the parks.

Relaxation is Easy at Disney’s Waterparks

When you vacation at Walt Disney World, do you ever find yourself running ragged? Take a break! Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have plenty of places to relax. Beach chairs and loungers are always available, and our family felt like there was plenty of shade when we needed it.

Another relaxing aspect of the water parks is their size. Even if you did zip back and forth across the parks, you could do it in 5 minutes or less. The atmosphere, and Cast Members, are very laid back and easygoing.

For a waterpark with a few thrills here and there, it was also relatively quiet. If you need to build a calmer day into your Disney vacation, the water parks are a great place to do it.