Both Water Parks in the summer?

[GatorChris]

I'm planning a late summer trip to WDW next year. Our last hot FL trip was to Universal where we did Volcano Bay almost daily - so great and so easy to get to. Everywhere I read, it seems WDW refuses to keep both water parks open...even during the hot summer months. Is that still the case?

It just doesn't seem to make sense. It's freaking FL in the SUMMER! They really need both parks open. Especially since neither water park on its own can hold Volcano Bay's speedo.

 

[DisneyMom93]

I think it’s because they are frequently refurbished. Maybe even fully cleaned? Can’t close both at the same time to do that.

 

[Dave006]

Everywhere I read, it seems WDW refuses to keep both water parks open...even during the hot summer months. Is that still the case?

Disney is not refusing to keep both water parks open at any point in the year. There is simply not enough demand. They use the same Lifeguards and staff between the 2 parks.

This has been the situation since the Covid 19 shutdown.

Dave

 

[Mle8308]

I also think it's a staffing issue. They have to hire deep water certified guards (or people who are able to pass the deep water test) and it is more difficult. The lifeguards at the hotel pools are not deep water certified (though Y&B may be the exception due to SAB being considered a waterpark), it's a much easier test to pass (shallow water test). The employees you see at the water parks in the blue shorts are not guards, they are either ride operators or chemists (monitor the pool water for chemicals, etc).

 

[Mle8308]

Disney is not refusing to keep both water parks open at any point in the year. There is simply not enough demand. They use the same Lifeguards and staff between the 2 parks.

This has been the situation since the Covid 19 shutdown.

Dave

Just said basically the same thing!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Disney has been operating with only 1 WP open since 2019 and there is only 1 day I can remember that the one park closed to capacity. There is currently not the demand to open both parks at once.

That may change in 2025 when resort guests get a free WP day on arrival day but so far nothing has been announce to support both parks being open at the same time.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Disney does not NEED to do anything.

They also are not REFUSING to open both at the same time.
Between less demand, less staff, and keeping up with refurbishments this is how they have chosen to operate.

If you feel that Volcano Bay is better than Disney's water park options then you could always choose to go there instead.