Are you going during the Winter or Summer? If you are going during the Summer, there are many things to do and Noahs Ark, Americas largest water park crushes any hotel waterpark. You really don't need to have a waterpark in your hotel. In the Winter there is far less to do and it may make sense spening the extra money to stay at a hotel with a indoor waterpark. Kalahari currently has the biggest, other notable contenders include Great Wolf, Wilderness, Polynesian, and treasure Island. Also, you can usually pay to use the indoor waterparks for around 30 dollars a person so that may be another thing to consider.

Yes you can just pay for the waterparks. With a 2 yr old, I'd opt to stay at Great Wolf or Kalahari. Both are lovely and would provide you with better options for all of you when the "2" wants to sleep or is grouchy. Been there done that. Treat yourself!

Definitely stay at a waterpark hotel. With a 2 year old, you might want to consider the Wilderness Hotel and resort. Noah's Ark is great,but long lines and wet towels, hot black top...the Wilderness has a wet and dry playland. Friends just went with two young ones and said it was Fantastic. No lines! The indoor and outdoor parks at some of the hotels are unbelievable. The best are Wilderness, Kalahari, Great Wolf, and Treasure Island (which gives you free admission to Family Land) another hotel you might want to consider.

We stayed at the Polynesian because they have water parks that are not quite so big. When we were there in October of 2000, they were still building their big park outside but had 2 indoor pools, one was much smaller and easier to manage with smaller children. Ask if they still have a kiddie pool area, I think they did. At that time it was quite a bit less expensive than the bigger water park hotels. We enjoyed it there, nothing fancy but clean and fit our needs.

Check out Chula Vista.