I used to prefer Typhoon Lagoon but now I think I like Blizzard Beach better. If you like big waves, I'd go with Typhoon Lagoon. Blizzard Beach's waves seem gentler to me. We typically stick to the big pool and the lazy river. I do wear water shoes when I go to the water park - not so much for the temperature of the ground (though that can get hot) but because it is easy to scrape your feet on the bottom of the pools - particularly the wave pool.