Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

By James | Last updated July 18, 2024

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Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is one of two water parks at the Walt Disney World Resort, the other being Blizzard Beach.

Whereas Typhoon Lagoon is more about the natural world with surfing, wave pools and the chance to swim with sharks, Blizzard Beach is all about man-made thrills.

If you have small children then they will probably prefer Typhoon Lagoon whereas teenagers are more likely to enjoy the slides at Blizzard Beach. If you have time/money why not visit both!!

Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Overview

Typhoon Lagoon is themed on a storm swept tropical island, right down to a shrimp boat marooned atop a volcano and it first opened in 1989.

Typhoon Lagoon View of the ship
Typhoon Lagoon View of the ship. Photo by Ashley

If you have ever wanted to learn how to surf then you can take surf lessons from professional surf instructors

Like all the water parks in Florida, it gets particularly busy in the summer months so generally it is best to visit in the afternoon though bear in mind the park will close once it is full.

Also bear in mind it may shut during bad thunderstorms.

There are a number of quick service restaurants or you can bring your own food into the park and eat in one of the picnic areas but note that you may not bring alcohol into the park or glass containers for obvious reasons.

The centrepiece of Typhoon Lagoon is the “Miss Tilly” shrimp boat perched on top of Mount Mayday where you will find a number of big thrill slides.

Typhoon Lagoon caters for children of all ages so even little ones can enjoy themselves in the water whilst the bigger ones can have fun on the bigger and faster slides or take on the waves in the Surf Pool.

Typhoon Lagoon's Surf Pool
Typhoon Lagoon’s Surf Pool. Photo by Ashley

Typhoon Lagoon Rides

Typhoon Lagoon attractions include:

  • Ketchakiddee Creek – fun for the pre-teens including slides, fountains, watery whales, slippery seals, an interactive leaking tugboat and a mini rapids ride
  • Crush ‘n’ Gusher – ride an inflatable raft up and down on a novel type of water coaster
  • Gang Plank Falls – ride with your family on four-person giant inner tubes through caverns
  • Humunga Kowabunga – enclosed flume ride with three separate slides and five story drops
  • Keelhaul Falls – ride an inner tube down a twisting slide through palm lined paths
  • Mayday Falls – ride an inner tube down the longest waterslide in the park, through caves and waterfalls
  • Miss Adventure Falls – a new family raft slide ride
  • Shark Reef – a chance to swim in a reef with real leopard and bonnethead sharks (harmless) and schools of tropical fish — CLOSED
  • Storm Slides – ride one of three body slides, the Jib Jammer, Stern Burner or Rudder Buster at speeds of up to 30 mph
  • Surf Pool – body surf in one of the world’s largest wave pools (three million gallons of water) with a new wave every 90 seconds or laze on the white sandy beach. You can even take a two hour surf lesson before the park opens
Typhoon Lagoon's Lazy River
Typhoon Lagoon’s Lazy River. Photo by Ashley

A new family white-water raft ride open in March 2017. Ride time is around 2 minutes, one of the longest water rides at Disney. The raft ride is located near Crush ’n’ Gusher and was initially to be called “Miss Fortune Falls”. The name was subsequently changed to “Miss Adventure Falls”.

The back story is about a fictitious treasure hunter called Captain Mary Oceaneer who was stranded at Typhoon Lagoon by a rogue storm.

Read more about Miss Adventure Falls.

Parking

Parking is free at Typhoon Lagoon.

Swimwear

It is advisable to wear a one-piece costume particularly if you are going on some of the faster rides, you would not want to be parted with your top half!

Inner tubes and mats

Use of inner tubes and mats is free; just collect one before getting on the slide.

Safety gear

You can hire a life jacket if you need one; with a personal ID card and a $25 refundable deposit.

Lockers

You can hire a locker and/or towels; near to main dressing room and the Shark Reef Dive Shop.

Annual Refurbishment

Both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are closed for refurbishment each year for a couple of months during the winter but never at the same time so one park or the other is always open.