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 tips on how to take advantage of your day right here. Our evaluation additionally helps you resolve if it’s price 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 points of interest like a lazy river (the place you may take a look at all of the lazy folks) and a wave pool. It’s themed as a tropical resort space within the aftermath of an epic storm.
Despite having thousands and thousands of tourists every year, Walt Disney World’s water parks largely stay a thriller to a whole lot of company since there isn’t a ton of knowledge (relative to the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks) on-line about them, nor are there many images. 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 by hook or by crook, 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 regularly 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 fundamental factors as a result of I’m too lazy to write down flowing prose.
What’s the fee?
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 rather more nice throughout a summer season night than in the course of the daytime hours.
H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon Water Park presents distinctive, vibrant décor, high-energy DJ dance events, and unique glow-themed menu choices. Most notably, you may get pleasure from unique entry to points of interest glowing below 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 large.
Additionally, you may 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 storm, there was pressure between the thatch-roofed village areas and the luxe Placid Palms vacation spot resort. After the storm, 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 wonderful synopsis of the backstory right here.
In phrases of execution on its theme, Typhoon Lagoon really delivers. It’s a enjoyable theme riff with visible gags and particulars, and it’s a whole lot of enjoyable to expertise this lived-in “something gone wrong” atmosphere. 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, one in every of my all-time favourite authentic Disney theme park characters.
What points of interest are there at Typhoon Lagoon?
In addition to its world well-known darkish rides, 3D movement simulators, and wood rollercoasters (a bit of dry humor for you), Typhoon Lagoon has a number of water slides and raft rides. As for the water slides, they’re principally tame by comparability to different water parks, however they’re nonetheless enjoyable. Raft rides are principally of the household selection–minimal exhilaration right here, too.
In phrases of raft rides, Keelhaul Falls is the tamest of the three, adopted intently by Gang Plank Falls (family-style, small teams shall be mixed). Mayday Falls is the least tame, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not too unhealthy.
In phrases of physique slides, the Storm Slides are less-intense (the three variations are all roughly 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 journey, however it’s paying homage to an precise rollercoaster, which is fairly cool. These slides and raft rides, except for Crush ‘N’ Gusher, all appear very quick in size.
The latest attraction is a part of the 2-acre enlargement to Typhoon Lagoon that added the brand new household raft journey, Miss Adventure Falls. This opened solely a pair years in the past and remains to be highly regarded. In addition to those normal points of interest, Typhoon Lagoon additionally has play areas for teenagers referred to as Ketchakiddee Cree, a wave pool referred to as the Surf Pool, quite a lot 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 total park, is extremely stress-free, and has a whole lot of visible curiosity alongside the way in which. The wave pool is a type of issues that’s waaaay extra enjoyable than you’d suspect by it. We completely like it. We have an entire article on the wave pool, so should you’re thinking about it, take a look at our Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool Tips.
As for the play space for teenagers, no touch upon that since we don’t have children. I liked it as a child, however my mother and father even have footage of me enjoying in grocery baggage, so it’s not like my requirements have been too excessive. It seems nice-enough and is well-themed, however appears to skew in the direction of toddlers. I assume 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 crucial), it’s time for raft rides and slides. Fortunately, one of the best order of points of interest is mainly lockwise across the mountain. This is not at all scientifically confirmed, simply my opinion of what works nicely and is environment friendly primarily based 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 be capable of 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 journey right here or there when you’re nonetheless within the space. It beats coming again later and ready in an extended 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 really helpful water parks as a wet day exercise. Assuming you aren’t going to plan your total trip round a go to to Typhoon Lagoon (though avoiding summer season months, if potential, is a good normal technique for visiting Walt Disney World), one of the best time to go is certainly very first thing within the morning.
More than anyplace else, we expect it’s necessary to reach at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach earlier than they open. This is since you’ll wish to seize seaside chairs in shady areas (that may STAY shady because the solar strikes) and begin hitting the slides earlier than strains type. The shady spots are all snagged quick, and should you haven’t claimed your chairs inside the first half-hour of the park being open (often much less), you haven’t any probability at one in every of these spots.
Likewise, strains 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 concept 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 advice 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 turn out to be less-busy a few hours earlier than closing, however the shaded spots are nonetheless principally accounted for, and contours 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 should you go late to Typhoon Lagoon, you’ll nonetheless doubtless do one thing else earlier than AND after the water park (as an alternative of going within the morning to Typhoon Lagoon and going within the afternoon/night to a different park), and three parks/actions in sooner or later might be inefficient. Plus, the buses to Typhoon Lagoon are best within the morning.
If shade is so necessary, is it price 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 consists of towels, a cooler stocked with ice and bottled water, your personal locker, refillable mugs (for every visitor–as much as 6), and an attendant who will carry you meals, drinks, and many others. The price for the cabanas begins out within the high-$200 vary and improve to the mid-$300 vary relying upon season. The chairs with umbrellas price round $50 every and embrace towels however not one of the different stuff.
We haven’t tried different of those choices, so our evaluation of those providers is price about as a lot as you’re paying for it. With that stated, 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 seaside 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 personal area, 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 an alternative. The cabana expertise can nearly completely be replicated by yourself with out spending any cash out of pocket. If the “service” element is that necessary, 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 a couple of eating places, all of that are counter service. Unfortunately, the water parks serve principally stereotypical theme park meals, with not a lot in the way in which of attention-grabbing possibility. Fortunately, there are a couple of gems among the many largely uninspired menus, and ordering the “right” objects 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 below are a few of our particular suggestions to take advantage of eating at Typhoon Lagoon!
What else is price realizing earlier than visiting Typhoon Lagoon?
Our greatest advice is to carry a waterproof telephone case so you may seize enjoyable moments along with your telephone! Lots of people put their telephones in lockers when visiting Typhoon Lagoon, which we expect it is a enormous mistake. Family images at Typhoon Lagoon are a whole lot of enjoyable (who doesn’t wish to a enjoyable picture of a wave hitting them within the Surf Pool?!) and the atmosphere is attractive.
Yes, there are PhotoPass photographers in a couple of locations at Typhoon Lagoon, however taking your personal waterproof pouch to your telephone is so significantly better of an possibility for getting images in additional than simply 2-3 areas.
As far as different issues to carry, towels aren’t free at Typhoon Lagoon, so one other advice is to carry your personal. Don’t go for something fancy, simply seize one out of your resort room. After this most up-to-date journey, one thing we’d extremely advocate is high quality water sneakers.
We forgot to take our water sneakers, and as I sit right here scripting this, my toes are nonetheless throbbing from strolling round barefoot on that sizzling pavement. You can put on water sneakers on the points of interest, 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 positively need water sneakers 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 resort 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 technique is just a few {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 sometimes receives much less consideration from company and followers. This is unlucky, as Typhoon Lagoon has lots to supply each in the way in which of enjoyable points of interest 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 outfitted to touch upon the points of interest 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 strains 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 instructed all through the queue and surrounding space, and the journey 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 believe 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 strategy Typhoon Lagoon when it comes to thematic execution.
From its signage to its lush panorama to its buildings designed to appear like 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 nearly each visible gag or pun works rather well. Overall, it’s an extremely intelligent park that’s actually rewarding for anybody keen to wander round it exploring. Couple this exploration with a while within the lazy river and wave pool, and also you’ve nailed my concept of the proper stress-free day at Walt Disney World.
As for the way Typhoon Lagoon stacks up towards Blizzard Beach, I choose Typhoon Lagoon to Blizzard Beach for a couple of causes. The greatest purpose is the theme. While I believe Blizzard Beach’s theme may 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 believe extra intently matches expectations for the way a calming, laid again water-based expertise ought to really feel. When I’m floating across the lazy river or simply sitting on the seaside, 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 purpose it’s referred to as the “island life” and never the “beach ski-bum life.”
The second purpose is the wave pool. Typhoon Lagoon’s Surf Pool trounces Blizzard Beach’s important 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 important 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 eager to get out. By distinction, Blizzard Beach’s Melt Away Bay has some gentle bobbing waves, however they’re nothing particular. It’s form of like a less-lazy river, besides there aren’t sufficient internal tubes to go round. There are a lot extra comparisons to be made between the 2 parks, however that’s in all probability deserving of a separate publish.
Sarah’s opinion on Typhoon Lagoon is dramatically totally different than mine, however that’s largely as a result of she works in healthcare and has the “burden of knowledge” on the subject of such a factor. She fixates a bit on the entire 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 stated, Sarah does choose 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 price visiting. Yes, it’s (with about ten-thousand exclamation factors). Even should you’re paying the only day fee (and also you completely shouldn’t be paying that a lot), it’s price it. Coupled with a night at a pleasant restaurant or on the BoardWalk, it’s a good way to spend a non-park day in your journey.
Even if water parks aren’t your factor, should 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 sort of factor isn’t any excuse for skipping it. Dismissing it as a easy water park is lacking the purpose, as water “rides” should not its biggest 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 atmosphere is simply icing. Simply put, Typhoon Lagoon is a enjoyable place to hold unfastened!
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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 may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!