Great thank you. There’s quite a few rides we don’t plan to do, so I’m pleased to hear we can be ready to leave mid afternoon. I will definitely add lunch to the plan 
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Try Kolha Reef inside VB. They have pretty good food. (Way better than you’d think a water park would have!)
I love the Mahi Mahi fish sandwich & the coconut curry there! The pizzas are pretty OK as well!
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I second that recommendation.
Super delicious 
I’ve also tried the Longboard pizza and a couple of different salads.
Nothing has been disappointing 
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Are there shadow areas near pools or do you need to pay for a shadow spot? I am the kind of white skin that reflects that much that people need sunglasses near me…
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There are a few free shaded areas around the park. I’ve circled them on this map. My personal favorite area is the one circled in red. It’s near the lockers, market and wave pool.
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Oh no, I need to correct Larry 
Any roof with blue color on is a paid cabana. I’ve circled @darkmite2 's favorite spot at the bottom, along with 2 other spots with no map markings. Those are the smaller stand-alone 8 person free shade structures.
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No worries!! tbh…I wasn’t 100% sure how to tell them apart on the map,. I knew the general area they were in though! I never mind learning new things! Thanks!!
It will be easy to recognize the free shade when you get there!
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i appreciate all the help y’all offered in this thread 
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This is really helpful. Thanks both!!
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I personally don’t understand getting a paid cabana because the free ones are superior in my opinion. True, you have to get there early to claim the free ones. But the shade is just as deep with the free ones, and you don’t have to climb stairs to get to your seat. Our favorites are in the back of the park which aren’t open at EE, so regular arrivals have an equal chance.