I was more excited about this toy than my son was. i wanted it though because my 20 month old son could play in water, get all wet and it not be the drowning hazard as an infant pool would be. ( if i need to run in the house for a sippy cup, i don't worry as much) we only filled it with water verses water and sand - he has the sand box from step 2 (which he loves!!) and i read the reviews about young children making a mud mess out of it. he is only 20 months old, so he likes splashing all the water out of it or lifting one end of the toy, letting it drop to the ground and getting soaked in the process. it is a nice toy though, and i love the naturally playful line, i'm hoping as he gets bigger he will enjoy driving his boats around the water, because the neighbor kids(age 3 and 4) love this. would buy again.