Hello Heather,
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question! I'm not sure when your next visit to Walt Disney World will be, but it's always exciting to figure out your itinerary and add some magical extras to your trip!
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and
Blizzard Beach are both amazingly themed water parks. Although only Typhoon Lagoon is open right now, it's possible that you are planning a trip for when Blizzard Beach re-opens. Either way, a visit to these parks will help you beat the heat and soak up some fun! For a real treat, consider getting your own private
Beachcomber Shack or a
Typhoon Lagoon Umbrella to give you a relaxing home base during your visit.
At this time, you don't need to make a reservation to the water park (although that policy could change). However, you will need to
make a reservation for the theme park you plan to visit later in the day.
As far as the upgrade you'll want to get for your tickets, the
Park Hopper Option is only needed if you plan to visit two or more different theme parks each day (
Magic Kingdom,
EPCOT,
Disney's Animal Kingdom, or
Disney's Hollywood Studios). If you just want to visit the water parks you can simply add the
Water Park and Sports Option to your tickets. That will allow you to experience one theme park each day as well as Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (when available),
Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course for both foot golf and traditional golf, and
both miniature golf courses (before 4:00 PM) at Walt Disney World.
Hope this helps. Enjoy planning your magical vacation!
Diane