This March Break instead of heading somewhere warm and sunny, I am staying up here in the cold! Insert whining and crying! I have no fabulous palm tree pictures to share, no blinding beach pictures, and no need for sunscreen, what I do have is some sold advice. How to survive a water park!
It was the night before my great expedition to the dreaded water park. We were headed to Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World. A place I was sure would be filled with all kinds of perfect little hard bodies and designer suits. A destination where everyone was sure to judge what you looked like in your barley there swim wear. I dutifully packed all of our essentials. Sunscreen, hats, sweatshirts and cash. Now what the hell does a Mama of 2 wear to a water park? Something that I can look good in, where I’m still the “cool Aunt” and the almost Hot Mom. at least in my head Something that would not encourage pointing and laughing. Something that would not draw attention. Most of all something that would stay put!! In summary I needed a magic suit!!
A tankini seemed like a good choice, but I just spent a fortune on my two new tankini’s and know from personal experience water parks will reek havoc on your little expensive suits. So my decision? The old trusty bikini and cutesy tank top to keep the girls under wraps should I hit any slides at warp speed. So I committed to my decision. Not looking back. Gulp. No cameras, please.
Morning arrived and we head out to our Disney destination. The kids were thrilled and I was nervous as hell. Please God let there be heat on in at least a couple of those giant public pools! Please don’t let me make a fool of myself. Please just help me get through the day and make some memories that do not include me embarrassing myself!
As the day wore on, my shock and awe increased! People are incredible creatures! I should not have wasted one moment worrying about what I was going to wear that day. There were 300 pound women strutting their stuff with pride. Men with wicked cases of plumbers butt, laughing oblivious to their near nakedness. Teens giggling in their dental floss style suits, and in my humble opinion, not wearing nearly enough clothing. Every body type big and small, were tackling those slides with abandon and they were lovin it! The best part, so was I!
Are water parks the great equalizer? The one place on this earth where attitudes and judgements are left at the gate? No make-up, no great hair, body parts swinging and flopping every which way. People so busy having fun and running from one great slide to the next that there is just no time for petty worries. The only thing the water crazed patrons were concerned about were sunburns and the how long the line was for the BUCKETS of ice cream.
Lesson learned and a note to future self. All shapes and sizes welcomed with open arms at the water park. Don’t worry, be happy and go enjoy the ride! Maybe Disney really is the greatest place on earth.
I used to enjoy water parks when my kids were younger but not the water slides, never been on one and never will. As a child I went up a helterskelter with my mat, got to the top and had to come back down the stairs I couldn’t do it! So none of that kind of thing for me. I must say though that my kids always had the time of their of their life at water parks.
Water parks look so fun , don’t have one here in our little town (boring) think i need to move to a different place , i am missing out on all the great stuff lol
Sounds like fun. Still don’t think I will be wearing a bathing suit though.
what a blast! Looks like so much fun!
Disney is so much fun! Not a huge fan of water parks anymore though…too crowded! But I’ll gladly take that bucket of ice cream while everyone else enjoys the water park.
I used to love water parks but I haven’t put a bathing suit on for at least 5 years since I was put on disability, I don’t want no one seeing this big girl, I am very intimated by the way I look, so I avoid anything to do with water
just point me to the lazy river and that bucket of ice cream!
I am petrified of the big slides but my kids love them so Mommy pulls it together. Having a bucket of ice cream waiting for me would help push the courage level up a few notches!
I can totally relate! Great lesson. Glad you had fun.
I know exactly how you feel cuz I felt that way when I was planning my trip to Jamaica for my girls bachelorette. All the other girls were very slim and fit and spoke about the bikinis they bought and what they would wear. I stuck with shorts and a tank top since I was embarrassed to show more skin. But when I hit the beach I saw women and men, just like you said, strutting their stuff and then decided to not care anymore.
I too am guilty of worrying about how I will look, will people be judging me??? Now I’m thinking I need to just check it, throw caution to the wind and check out one of those Disney water parks on our next visit to Florida!
I recommend both throwing caution to the wind and Typhoon Lagoon! Such a great way to make some memories!
It has been years since I have been to a water park. Might just have to check this one out next time we go to Disney…time to be brave!
We LOVE Typhoon Lagoon. It is now the water park in the Disney area that I recommend to all of my friends!
I like going to water parks with my grand kids. We have so much fun too. I also worry about what to wear as I am trying to age gracefully, and I just don’t feel comfortable wearing a hot pink bikini anymore.
I adore that you are taking your grandkids to the waterparks! It doesn’t matter what you wear, because all those kids are going to remember is that their super cool Grandparent took them to play!
I need to get better at not worrying about what I look like in a bathing suit and just let myself have fun with my kids. So glad you wrote this!
Thanks Maija! Confidence in a bathing suit is certainly not something I “own”, but I was able to just relax, have fun and let it go for a day. Disney really is kind of magical 🙂