The Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio was another great waterpark, although the good rides require multiple people. I wasn't traveling alone this time, so I was able to do them. Like their property in Wisconsin, it has an African theme.
The water slides are indoors, although there is a small selection of pools outdoors. The Kalahari resort offers plenty of other things to do as well.
The water rides include:
Flowrider - didn't do this, but it's a body-boarding simulator.
Victoria Falls - A large, 2-3 person raft ride, moves pretty fast.
Zip Coaster - a water coaster, but it was surprisingly dry compared to other water coasters, especially if you're sitting in the back.
Tanzanian Twister - a body slide that spins you in a bowl and drops you into 9 feet of water. I skipped this one, it looked too scary.
Rippling Rhino - A tame 2-4 person raft slide.
Elephant's Trunk/Wild Wildebeest - A fast one person tube slide. Very fun.
Zig Zag Zebra/Zimbabwe Zipper - Body slides - despite the slide not exiting into a full exit pool, the water at the end was still very deep and got up my nose.
Swahili Swirl - A 2-4 person bowl slide, probably the best ride in the park.
Cheetah Race - a mat racing slide, a bit smaller than mat racing slides at other water parks, but still fun.
The water park was a bit crowded, but I was there on a weekend.
Food: Plenty of food around the water park, including full-service restaurants, sweet shops, and typical water park food.
Transportation: If you're staying at the hotel, you can fly into Cleveland, OH (CLE) and the hotel will provide a shuttle, but otherwise you'll have to drive.
Overall: A good water park but it may not be as enjoyable on your own.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
"It's a system of transportation!"
What I said about the lazy river when I first rode the lazy river here, at age 13.
I haven't blogged this water park as I didn't remember it well until now.
Typhoon Lagoon is Disney's other water park. Unlike Blizzard Beach, it has a tropical theme, almost like it's the opposite water park.
Typhoon Lagoon is part of the Walt Disney World Resort, so if you plan to go, you can simply buy Disney World tickets with the Water Park Fun and More option, which will allow for days in the Disney water park.
It includes the following attractions:
Castaway Creek - the lazy river, the "system of transportation" as it has many exits across the park.
Crush n Gusher - a water coaster. It was exciting, although wait times can be long (but not as long as Double Dipper in Blizzard Beach). Also, if you're riding solo, you have to carry a double tube all the way up the stairs which can be heavy, and you can only ride one of the three slides. Still, perhaps the best slide Disney's water parks has to offer.
Gangplank Falls - a family raft ride - didn't ride it as I was traveling solo.
Humunga Kowabunga - a steep body slide. Intense but very fun.
Mayday Falls - a tube slide, but with rough rapids, an interesting ride.
Shark Reef - didn't get a chance this time, but you can snorkel and look at fish here.
Storm Slides - typical body slides, but I didn't like being pushed into a pool at the end of the ride.
Surf Pool - a wild wave pool - this is no ordinary wave pool, as the waves are ocean-sized and will knock you off your feet. Don't worry, it's fresh water.
Food: Same as Blizzard Beach, mostly fast food, and great soft serve ice cream.
Transportation: Fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). If you're staying at a Disney World hotel, which I recommend you do if you're planning to visit Disney World, there is free transportation from the airport (Disney's Magical Express). You can also fly into Orlando-Sanford (SFB) but it is farther away and you'll probably need to rent a car. Transportation from the Disney resorts is a little more tricky - there are rides to the water park from the hotel, but you have to make a connection in Epcot if you stay the whole day on the way back.
Overall: I liked Blizzard Beach overall a bit more, but Crush n Gusher was probably the best ride out of both water parks. A very good water park. Somehow wish one of the water parks had a bowl or a topsy-turvy slide.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
I haven't blogged this water park as I didn't remember it well until now.
Typhoon Lagoon is Disney's other water park. Unlike Blizzard Beach, it has a tropical theme, almost like it's the opposite water park.
Typhoon Lagoon is part of the Walt Disney World Resort, so if you plan to go, you can simply buy Disney World tickets with the Water Park Fun and More option, which will allow for days in the Disney water park.
It includes the following attractions:
Castaway Creek - the lazy river, the "system of transportation" as it has many exits across the park.
Crush n Gusher - a water coaster. It was exciting, although wait times can be long (but not as long as Double Dipper in Blizzard Beach). Also, if you're riding solo, you have to carry a double tube all the way up the stairs which can be heavy, and you can only ride one of the three slides. Still, perhaps the best slide Disney's water parks has to offer.
Gangplank Falls - a family raft ride - didn't ride it as I was traveling solo.
Humunga Kowabunga - a steep body slide. Intense but very fun.
Mayday Falls - a tube slide, but with rough rapids, an interesting ride.
Shark Reef - didn't get a chance this time, but you can snorkel and look at fish here.
Storm Slides - typical body slides, but I didn't like being pushed into a pool at the end of the ride.
Surf Pool - a wild wave pool - this is no ordinary wave pool, as the waves are ocean-sized and will knock you off your feet. Don't worry, it's fresh water.
Food: Same as Blizzard Beach, mostly fast food, and great soft serve ice cream.
Transportation: Fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). If you're staying at a Disney World hotel, which I recommend you do if you're planning to visit Disney World, there is free transportation from the airport (Disney's Magical Express). You can also fly into Orlando-Sanford (SFB) but it is farther away and you'll probably need to rent a car. Transportation from the Disney resorts is a little more tricky - there are rides to the water park from the hotel, but you have to make a connection in Epcot if you stay the whole day on the way back.
Overall: I liked Blizzard Beach overall a bit more, but Crush n Gusher was probably the best ride out of both water parks. A very good water park. Somehow wish one of the water parks had a bowl or a topsy-turvy slide.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Ski at a Water Park!
Disney's Blizzard Beach is basically a ski resort themed water park. An interesting idea! Don't worry, the water is not freezing. Still, it's a great way to cool down on a hot day.
The water park essentially is built in the shape of a mountain, with light and steep rides. In fact, there is a 'chairlift' like one at a ski resort to lift you to the top of the mountain. The lines are rather long for this, however, even in May.
Blizzard Beach is part of the Walt Disney World Resort, so if you plan to go, you can simply buy Disney World tickets with the Water Park Fun and More option, which will allow for days in the Disney water park.
The rides are thus:
Cross Country Creek - a lazy river with multiple exits across the park.
Downhill Double Dipper - a tube slide that goes straight down (with one bump) - a pretty unique ride. The lines are pretty long for this ride, so do this ride near the beginning or end of the day.
Melt-Away Bay - a wave pool
Run-off Rapids - A tube slide, but probably the longest tube slide I've been on.
Slush Gusher - a vertical body slide with a few bumps, moves very fast.
Snow Stormers - A mat slide with curves, simulating a ski obstacle course.
Summit Plummet - a straight, vertical body slide, going down a 120 foot slope, according to Disney's website. I skipped this ride as I was too nervous for this.
Teamboat Springs - a water family raft ride. Skipped this ride as I was traveling alone.
Toboggan Racers - a straight mat slide. A little different than other mat slide rides I've been on, as there were no curves or enclosed tubes to start with. Lines can look intimidating, but move quickly.
The water park was more crowded than other May-season water parks, but that's probably because it's at Disney World.
Food: Mostly your typical fast-food served at a water park. They had good chicken nuggets if you don't want a burger. Additionally, there was great soft-serve ice cream. If you leave the park, there's many fine restaurants around Disney World.
Transportation: Fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). If you're staying at a Disney World hotel, which I recommend you do if you're planning to visit Disney World, there is free transportation from the airport (Disney's Magical Express), and there are busses from the Disney hotels to Blizzard Beach. You can also fly into Orlando-Sanford (SFB) but it is farther away and you'll probably need to rent a car.
Overall: While somewhat crowded even during the "off-season", a very enjoyable and good-looking water park. Recommended!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The water park essentially is built in the shape of a mountain, with light and steep rides. In fact, there is a 'chairlift' like one at a ski resort to lift you to the top of the mountain. The lines are rather long for this, however, even in May.
Blizzard Beach is part of the Walt Disney World Resort, so if you plan to go, you can simply buy Disney World tickets with the Water Park Fun and More option, which will allow for days in the Disney water park.
The rides are thus:
Cross Country Creek - a lazy river with multiple exits across the park.
Downhill Double Dipper - a tube slide that goes straight down (with one bump) - a pretty unique ride. The lines are pretty long for this ride, so do this ride near the beginning or end of the day.
Melt-Away Bay - a wave pool
Run-off Rapids - A tube slide, but probably the longest tube slide I've been on.
Slush Gusher - a vertical body slide with a few bumps, moves very fast.
Snow Stormers - A mat slide with curves, simulating a ski obstacle course.
Summit Plummet - a straight, vertical body slide, going down a 120 foot slope, according to Disney's website. I skipped this ride as I was too nervous for this.
Teamboat Springs - a water family raft ride. Skipped this ride as I was traveling alone.
Toboggan Racers - a straight mat slide. A little different than other mat slide rides I've been on, as there were no curves or enclosed tubes to start with. Lines can look intimidating, but move quickly.
The water park was more crowded than other May-season water parks, but that's probably because it's at Disney World.
Food: Mostly your typical fast-food served at a water park. They had good chicken nuggets if you don't want a burger. Additionally, there was great soft-serve ice cream. If you leave the park, there's many fine restaurants around Disney World.
Transportation: Fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). If you're staying at a Disney World hotel, which I recommend you do if you're planning to visit Disney World, there is free transportation from the airport (Disney's Magical Express), and there are busses from the Disney hotels to Blizzard Beach. You can also fly into Orlando-Sanford (SFB) but it is farther away and you'll probably need to rent a car.
Overall: While somewhat crowded even during the "off-season", a very enjoyable and good-looking water park. Recommended!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)