This information to Typhoon Lagoon helps you propose a go to to Walt Disney World’s finest water park. It options time-saving technique for well-liked slides & raft rides, the place & what to eat, and take advantage of your day right here. Our evaluation additionally helps you determine if it’s value your restricted trip time & cash within the first place. (Updated February 28, 2023.)
Let’s begin with the excellent news: Typhoon Lagoon is reopening on March 12, 2023. The water park will reopen after its refurbishment, which happens every winter each out of necessity and lack of demand. With the colder temperatures, Walt Disney World doesn’t want two water parks, leading to staggered closures of every.
What’s unclear is whether or not Blizzard Beach will shut when Typhoon Lagoon reopens for the season. Currently, Blizzard Beach doesn’t have any hours on the calendar beginning March 12, suggesting it’ll shut on the day that Typhoon Lagoon reopens. It stays to be seen whether or not each water parks function concurrently this summer season season.
As background, Typhoon Lagoon has water slides, raft rides, a propelled water-coaster, amongst different sights like a lazy river (the place you possibly can have a look at all of the lazy individuals) and a wave pool. It’s themed as a tropical resort space within the aftermath of an epic hurricane.
Despite having thousands and thousands of holiday makers every year, Walt Disney World’s water parks largely stay a thriller to quite a lot of friends since there isn’t a ton of data (relative to the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks) on-line about them, nor are there many pictures. We have a separate Ultimate Guide to Blizzard Beach Water Park.
If you’ve been on the fence about visiting Typhoon Lagoon however haven’t been capable of finding sufficient data to push you somehow, we’re right here to assist!
Typhoon Lagoon Water Park FAQ
As far as this FAQ goes, it’s probably not a FAQ within the conventional sense of individuals ceaselessly asking us these questions (we hardly ever obtain questions in regards to the water parks). It’s extra like a rhetorical gadget used to convey some primary factors as a result of I’m too lazy to put in writing flowing prose.
What’s the price?
A single day ticket to Typhoon Lagoon prices roughly $69. Yikes, proper? Well, probably not. Anyone who does any quantity of advance planning in all probability isn’t going to be paying that a lot for a go to to Typhoon Lagoon.
One of the rationale we advocate shopping for Park Hopper Plus tickets in our Money-Saving Walt Disney World Ticket Tips article is as a result of it’s a low price add-on and makes visiting the water parks low cost. If you try this, your solely actual price is when it comes to your finite trip time.
What is Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon?
Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is a 3-hour, limited-capacity occasion that’s held after the water park closes for the day. The occasion is held at evening, with an early “mix-in” beginning at 6 pm. The crowd is considerably smaller than throughout a traditional day at Typhoon Lagoon, and it’s far more nice throughout a summer season night than through the daytime hours.
H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon Water Park provides distinctive, vibrant décor, high-energy DJ dance events, and unique glow-themed menu choices. Most notably, you possibly can get pleasure from unique entry to sights glowing underneath the celebrities, with shorter wait occasions. Doing Crush ‘n’ Gusher, Miss Adventure Falls, and the Storm Slides with ~10 minute wait occasions (as has been our expertise at H2O Glow After Hours) is big.
Additionally, you possibly can get pleasure from limitless ice cream novelties, popcorn, and choose bottled drinks—all included in the price of this ticketed occasion—accessible at carts stationed all through Typhoon Lagoon water park.
How is Typhoon Lagoon themed?
Typhoon Lagoon is ecotone of each pure and man-made worlds. Before nature retook the world throughout an intense hurricane, there was pressure between the thatch-roofed village areas and the luxe Placid Palms vacation spot resort. After the hurricane, the stark contrasts of the competing man-made areas are less-pronounced, with nature trumping all. Less abstractly, Typhoon Lagoon is the working aftermath of an intense tropical storm, with sea-stuff scattered all about. Disneyology has a superb synopsis of the backstory right here.
In phrases of execution on its theme, Typhoon Lagoon actually delivers. It’s a enjoyable theme riff with visible gags and particulars, and it’s quite a lot of enjoyable to expertise this lived-in “something gone wrong” surroundings. Where else are you going to discover a ship-wrecked shrimp boat on the highest of a volcanic mountain that erupts each half hour?! Plus, there’s Lagoona Gator, considered one of my all-time favourite authentic Disney theme park characters.
What sights are there at Typhoon Lagoon?
In addition to its world well-known darkish rides, 3D movement simulators, and wood rollercoasters (a bit dry humor for you), Typhoon Lagoon has a number of water slides and raft rides. As for the water slides, they’re largely tame by comparability to different water parks, however they’re nonetheless enjoyable. Raft rides are largely of the household selection–minimal exhilaration right here, too.
In phrases of raft rides, Keelhaul Falls is the tamest of the three, adopted carefully by Gang Plank Falls (family-style, small teams can be mixed). Mayday Falls is the least tame, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not too dangerous.
In phrases of physique slides, the Storm Slides are less-intense (the three variations are all kind of the identical depth) and Humunga Kowabunga is extra intense. It’s nonetheless not practically as intense as Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach, which is the one attraction at Walt Disney World that truly frightens me. Still, it’s no slouch. For those that don’t wish to partake, there’s a viewing space on the base of Humunga Kowabunga.
Typhoon Lagoon’s hottest attraction is a water coaster (Crush ‘N’ Gusher) that’s propelled via uphill climbs, steep drops, and sharp turns. It’s not precisely a wild experience, however it’s paying homage to an precise rollercoaster, which is fairly cool. These slides and raft rides, apart from Crush ‘N’ Gusher, all appear very brief in size.
The latest attraction is a part of the 2-acre enlargement to Typhoon Lagoon that added the brand new household raft experience, Miss Adventure Falls. This opened solely a pair years in the past and remains to be very talked-about. In addition to those normal sights, Typhoon Lagoon additionally has play areas for youths referred to as Ketchakiddee Cree, a wave pool referred to as the Surf Pool, a wide range of water slides, a ‘mountain’ hike (extra like a stroll, nevertheless it’s cool), and a lazy river referred to as Castaway Creek.
I don’t intend to say these final two issues as afterthoughts on this part. We spend the overwhelming majority of time at Typhoon Lagoon within the wave pool and lazy river. The lazy river winds across the whole park, is extremely stress-free, and has quite a lot of visible curiosity alongside the way in which. The wave pool is a kind of issues that’s waaaay extra enjoyable than you’d suspect by it. We completely find it irresistible. We have a complete article on the wave pool, so in the event you’re all for it, take a look at our Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool Tips.
As for the play space for youths, no touch upon that since we don’t have children. I beloved it as a child, however my mother and father even have photos of me enjoying in grocery baggage, so it’s not like my requirements have been too excessive. It seems to be nice-enough and is well-themed, however appears to skew in the direction of toddlers. I suppose barely older children can do issues just like the lazy river and the (fringe of) the wave pool?
What ought to my technique be for Typhoon Lagoon?
Top precedence ought to be grabbing lounge chairs within the shade, as there isn’t an abundance of those and their extremely wanted. Following that (and getting a locker, if vital), it’s time for raft rides and slides. Fortunately, the most effective order of sights is mainly lockwise across the mountain. This is in no way scientifically confirmed, simply my opinion of what works effectively and is environment friendly based mostly upon firsthand expertise.
Start with the physique slides, adopted by Crush ‘N’ Gusher, adopted by Miss Adventure Falls. After all of that’s out of the way in which, go for optimum leisure and consuming. You ought to have the ability to do all of this (together with all variations of the Storm Slides, Miss Adventure Falls, and Crush ‘N’ Gusher) in in regards to the first hour of operation. Don’t be afraid to repeat a experience right here or there when you’re nonetheless within the space. It beats coming again later and ready in a protracted line.
If you need a extra thorough, step-by-step plan for the water park, see our 1-Day Typhoon Lagoon Itinerary.
When is finest to go to Typhoon Lagoon?
The finest occasions of yr to go to are when it’s colder out, however not chilly sufficient to shut the park, or on wet days. In the previous, we’ve beneficial water parks as a wet day exercise. Assuming you aren’t going to plan your whole trip round a go to to Typhoon Lagoon (though avoiding summer season months, if attainable, is a good normal technique for visiting Walt Disney World), the most effective time to go is certainly very first thing within the morning.
More than anyplace else, we expect it’s vital to reach at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach earlier than they open. This is since you’ll wish to seize seashore chairs in shady areas (that may STAY shady because the solar strikes) and begin hitting the slides earlier than traces type. The shady spots are all snagged quick, and in the event you haven’t claimed your chairs throughout the first half-hour of the park being open (often much less), you haven’t any probability at considered one of these spots.
Likewise, traces for water slides aren’t precisely enjoyable (particularly ones that aren’t shaded) and ready in line 15-60 minutes for a 60 second or so slide shouldn’t be anybody’s thought of a superb time. Arriving early, grabbing a great spot and getting the slides out of the way in which is one of the best ways to make sure a pleasant, stress-free rest-of-the-day at Typhoon Lagoon–it doesn’t matter what day or time of yr you go to.
We’ve seen “end of the day” as one other well-liked suggestion for when to go to Typhoon Lagoon. We don’t agree with this. Back when Typhoon Lagoon used to have night Extra Magic Hours, it was good recommendation, however that’s now not the case. Now, the water parks grow to be less-busy a few hours earlier than closing, however the shaded spots are nonetheless largely accounted for, and features are nonetheless worse than early within the morning.
Also, “late” within the day at a water park remains to be early compared to the opposite parks, so in the event you go late to Typhoon Lagoon, you’ll nonetheless doubtless do one thing else earlier than AND after the water park (as a substitute of going within the morning to Typhoon Lagoon and going within the afternoon/night to a different park), and three parks/actions in someday will be inefficient. Plus, the buses to Typhoon Lagoon are most effective within the morning.
If shade is so vital, is it value it to hire a cabana?
Typhoon Lagoon has a few choices on this regard: Beachcomber Shacks (cabanas) or an umbrella with a lounge chair. The Beachcomber Shack contains towels, a cooler stocked with ice and bottled water, your individual locker, refillable mugs (for every visitor–as much as 6), and an attendant who will deliver you meals, drinks, and so forth. The price for the cabanas begins out within the high-$200 vary and enhance to the mid-$300 vary relying upon season. The chairs with umbrellas price round $50 every and embody towels however not one of the different stuff.
We haven’t tried different of those choices, so our evaluation of those companies is value about as a lot as you’re paying for it. With that mentioned, for my part, the $50 umbrella chair is “worth it” in completely no conditions. If you’re involved with worth, arrive early and snag a seashore chair in a shaded space. Viola, shade all day for FREE! If you’re not involved with worth, go all out and get the cabana.
As for the cabana, that is one thing we’d by no means do as a result of it doesn’t appear to supply good worth for cash, however I may see a celebration of round 6 (making it round $50/individual) with cash to blow having fun with the cabana. It would imply not having to scramble for chairs within the shade, having a non-public house, and having somebody are likely to their wants. If you don’t have cash to blow and are simply trying to splurge on one thing good, I wouldn’t advocate this being that splurge.
Do a pleasant meal as a substitute. The cabana expertise can virtually totally be replicated by yourself with out spending any cash out of pocket. If the “service” part is that vital, simply bribe your child (or a close-by one?) with a $20 invoice. Again, although, this “review” is from somebody who hasn’t examined the cabanas (and doubtless received’t ever).
What about eating places at Typhoon Lagoon?
Typhoon Lagoon has just a few eating places, all of that are counter service. Unfortunately, the water parks serve largely stereotypical theme park meals, with not a lot in the way in which of fascinating possibility. Fortunately, there are just a few gems among the many largely uninspired menus, and ordering the “right” gadgets could make eating at Typhoon Lagoon a very enjoyable expertise.
Near every restaurant there’s a visible “park wide menu,” so figuring out the place you wish to eat is fairly easy by consulting these menus. As a normal rule, we advocate avoiding the usual theme park meals.
The two issues we extremely advocate at Typhoon Lagoon are literally snacks or desserts: the Mini Donuts and Sand Pail of Soft Serve. You can discover the previous at snack carts across the water park, with the Sand Pail accessible at Happy Landings Ice Cream. As for every little thing else, listed here are a few of our particular suggestions to take advantage of eating at Typhoon Lagoon!
What else is value figuring out earlier than visiting Typhoon Lagoon?
Our greatest suggestion is to deliver a waterproof cellphone case so you possibly can seize enjoyable moments together with your cellphone! Lots of people put their telephones in lockers when visiting Typhoon Lagoon, which we expect it is a large mistake. Family pictures at Typhoon Lagoon are quite a lot of enjoyable (who doesn’t wish to a enjoyable photograph of a wave hitting them within the Surf Pool?!) and the surroundings is beautiful.
Yes, there are PhotoPass photographers in just a few locations at Typhoon Lagoon, however taking your individual waterproof pouch on your cellphone is so a lot better of an possibility for getting pictures in additional than simply 2-3 areas.
As far as different issues to deliver, towels aren’t free at Typhoon Lagoon, so one other suggestion is to deliver your individual. Don’t go for something fancy, simply seize one out of your lodge room. After this most up-to-date journey, one thing we’d extremely advocate is high quality water footwear.
We forgot to take our water footwear, and as I sit right here penning this, my toes are nonetheless throbbing from strolling round barefoot on that sizzling pavement. You can put on water footwear on the sights, and your toes don’t get burnt. Win-win! Oh, and the flooring of the restrooms at Typhoon Lagoon are spectacularly gross, so that you’ll undoubtedly need water footwear for these.
Rather than bringing a refillable mug to the water parks (as we noticed many individuals do), purchase one at the water parks. Your lodge refillable mugs received’t work on the water parks anyway, and though you should purchase the reader-sticker to place in your resort mug and use at Typhoon Lagoon, that methodology is only some {dollars} cheaper than buying the (larger-sized) water park mug outright. Plus, the water park mug is a neat-looking memento!
Review: Is Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Worth the Time & Money?
Typhoon Lagoon is as near perfection as any of the Walt Disney World parks get. By this I don’t imply that I prefer it greater than the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom; I imply that it has no shortcomings as a water park, whereas the theme parks all have their faults. If that also doesn’t make sense, contemplate this analogy: Typhoon Lagoon is like the proper cheeseburger, however even an ideal cheeseburger isn’t nearly as good as an above-average steak–or on this case, above-average theme parks. Make sense?
Because it’s “only” a water park and never a theme park, Typhoon Lagoon usually receives much less consideration from friends and followers. This is unlucky, as Typhoon Lagoon has lots to supply each in the way in which of enjoyable sights to get pleasure from and–extra importantly–in beautiful theming that in locations rival a few of Disney’s finest work within the precise theme parks.
I’m much less geared up to touch upon the sights than on the theming, however the slides all appear ample to me. There is nothing tremendous thrilling such as you’ll discover at Blizzard Beach, however the slides are enjoyable, and I often hit every of them earlier than traces begin growing.
They aren’t cool sufficient to justify a ten minute or longer wait in line, so after in regards to the first hour Typhoon Lagoon is open, the slides have zero pull for me. Crush ‘N’ Gusher is extra enjoyable for me, however that’s partly as a result of that is as shut as any water park attraction involves precise “attraction” standing. The Tropical Amity (say it rapidly…) backstory is sharp and advised all through the queue and surrounding space, and the experience itself is enjoyable, too.
As for theming, Typhoon Lagoon has beautiful consideration to element. I do know many Disney followers love the defunct River Country, however I feel that’s partly as a result of it’s defunct–and everybody laments what they now not have. Having skilled each parks quite a few occasions rising up, I’ve all the time thought Typhoon Lagoon ran circles round River Country, which was smaller and didn’t even method Typhoon Lagoon when it comes to thematic execution.
From its signage to its lush panorama to its buildings designed to appear to be they’re precariously standing within the wake of a brutal tropical storm, Typhoon Lagoon fires on all cylinders. There are various layers of element at Typhoon Lagoon, however the park by no means will get slowed down in convoluted “story for the sake of story.”
Most of those particulars are chuckle-inducing, and virtually each visible gag or pun works very well. Overall, it’s an extremely intelligent park that’s actually rewarding for anybody prepared to wander round it exploring. Couple this exploration with a while within the lazy river and wave pool, and also you’ve nailed my thought of the proper stress-free day at Walt Disney World.
As for a way Typhoon Lagoon stacks up towards Blizzard Beach, I desire Typhoon Lagoon to Blizzard Beach for just a few causes. The greatest cause is the theme. While I feel Blizzard Beach’s theme could be very well-executed, the concept of ski resort melting away as the idea for a water park simply doesn’t have as a lot of a draw for me as a water park.
I benefit from the lush, tropical ambiance of Typhoon Lagoon, which I feel extra carefully matches expectations for a way a soothing, laid again water-based expertise ought to really feel. When I’m floating across the lazy river or simply sitting on the seashore, Typhoon Lagoon transports me to the kind of place I’d wish to be having fun with when sitting within the solar, and I simply don’t have that very same feeling at Blizzard Beach. There’s a cause it’s referred to as the “island life” and never the “beach ski-bum life.”
The second cause is the wave pool. Typhoon Lagoon’s Surf Pool trounces Blizzard Beach’s predominant pool, Melt Away Bay. In the immortal phrases of Stacey from the Walt Disney World Top 7 Must-Dos video (the previous model, when it was so excessive that it was good, campy enjoyable), “this baby cranks up a 6-footer every 90 seconds!” Because of this fixed motion, I can spend much more time in Typhoon Lagoon’s predominant pool than I can Blizzard Beach’s.
Trying to resist the wave is partaking, and listening to the “surround sound” of the communal scream when that wave first wave begins to type is enjoyable. I can spend over an hour within the Surf Pool earlier than desirous to get out. By distinction, Blizzard Beach’s Melt Away Bay has some gentle bobbing waves, however they’re nothing particular. It’s kind of like a less-lazy river, besides there aren’t sufficient interior tubes to go round. There are lots extra comparisons to be made between the 2 parks, however that’s in all probability deserving of a separate submit.
Sarah’s opinion on Typhoon Lagoon is dramatically completely different than mine, however that’s largely as a result of she works in healthcare and has the “burden of knowledge” in the case of any such factor. She fixates a bit on all the unsanitary features of water parks, and doesn’t take care of water parks in any respect. By distinction, I’m blissfully unaware of all of those points–I simply get pleasure from having enjoyable on the water parks. With that mentioned, Sarah does desire Blizzard Beach to Typhoon Lagoon by only a bit, as she prefers the slides and Teamboat Springs at Blizzard Beach.
The query I left unresolved within the FAQ was whether or not Typhoon Lagoon is value visiting. Yes, it’s (with about ten-thousand exclamation factors). Even in the event you’re paying the one day fee (and also you completely shouldn’t be paying that a lot), it’s value it. Coupled with a night at a pleasant restaurant or on the BoardWalk, it’s an effective way to spend a non-park day in your journey.
Even if water parks aren’t your factor, in the event you love exploring the Disney theme parks for his or her nice consideration to element, you owe it to your self to spend a half-day at Typhoon Lagoon. Having no real interest in water slides or that kind of factor is not any excuse for skipping it. Dismissing it as a easy water park is lacking the purpose, as water “rides” usually are not its best energy. Above all else, it’s a well-designed and detailed Disney theme park. The slides, raft rides, and every little thing past its brilliantly themed surroundings is simply icing. Simply put, Typhoon Lagoon is a enjoyable place to hold free!
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Your Thoughts…
Do you get pleasure from Typhoon Lagoon? Do you like it or Blizzard Beach? Do you agree or disagree with our water parks planning recommendation? Any questions we might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!