MayDay! MayDay! An unnamed typhoon is swirling and tossing the boat, but land is ahoy. See Miss Tilley, the ship-wrecked shrimp boat, on top of Mount Mayday. Relive all your Gilligan Island fantasies at Typhoon Lagoon by floating through a rainforest. And keep an eye out for the rogue waves in the surf pool.
Should You Visit Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Waterpark?
It’s Florida, and chances are it’s hot out, so head to one of Walt Disney World’s two waterparks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Blizzard Beach features a Christmas theme, so that might sway some interest. During my summer Disney trip, I built in a down day. A trip to a water park was perfect.
The waterparks don’t open early, so you can sleep late or arrange a character breakfast. No planning is required for a day at the waterparks. Just grab the towels and sunscreen and go. Depending on how you booked your Disney trip, a waterpark visit might be included: Park Hopper Plus Tickets, Disney Resorts Collection guests and Water Park and Sports option. Of course, you can purchase admission to the waterpark.
It opened in 2001, after its predecessor, Disney’s River Country, closed. It is one of the most popular waterparks in the world.
.What I Loved at Typhoon Lagoon
I loved the lush landscaping and tropical rainforests.
The real white sand beaches offer an authentic island ambiance.
The surf theming is cute and realistic.
What I Wanted at Typhoon Lagoon
More shade for the loungers, like shade sails.
The concrete gets hot in places.
More restrooms, seemed like a hike to find one.
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Top Attractions at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Waterpark
The waterpark is 61 acres and features one of the largest wave pools in the world. Typhoon Lagoon offers the best theming of any waterpark I’ve visited, with tropical landscaping and Disney’s superb maintenance.
Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool
With a boom and a rush of screams, watch the wave crest and topple waders. Prepare yourself for the largest wave pool in North America with six-foot swells. It’s the signature ride at Typhoon Lagoon and my favorite.
Even the shallows pack a bunch with the water skittering across a sand bar with deceptive force. So hold on to the little kids and look out to make sure Grandma stays sure-footed.
Swim out to the center of the pool to body surf and ride a wave in. But watch out for the rogue waves that hit after a break, bigger and badder than the rest.
No restrictions, though. Keep an eye on all kids, especially the smaller ones with weaker swimming skills. Watch a couple of waves roll in to get a feel for the surf pool.
Surf Program at Typhoon Lagoon
If you want to ride the big waves, then reserve a Surf Session with six-foot swells. Each 3-hour session comes packed with 100 waves—broken into sets of 25. Available in group or private sessions, the Surf Lessons at Typhoon Lagoon happen outside of the regular park hours.
The Morning Open Surf is from 6:45 to 9:45 a.m. The Evening Open Surf begins 30 minutes after the park closes and lasts for 3 hours.
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Castaway Creek
A 2,100-foot lazy river encircles the entire park through rainforests and past Mount Mayday. With its shady sections, Castaway Creek is the place to be in the hot afternoon.
It features five entry points, and sometimes it takes a few minutes to catch a free inner tube. Floaters will pass under rope bridges, through caves and meander beneath lush rainforests.
Fun for everyone, with no height requirement.
Mountain Trail
Take a quick hike on the Mountain Trail to see all the sights, like behind the surf pool. Even has a rope bridge that kids want to clamor over.
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Rushing Rides at Typhoon Lagoon
With a range of water rides from mild to spicy, there’s something for everyone at Typhoon Lagoon. Across the entire park, guests will find signs that explain the ride.
Some of the Typhoon Lagoon Waterpark rides enforce a 48-inch height requirement. Other attractions are open to all.
Humunga Kowabunga
This ride features a near-vertical, five-story drop in the dark that will clear out all your pipes. It starts at the top of Mount Mayday for the fiercest ride in all of Typhoon Lagoon.
For those who enjoy numbers, it’s a 214-foot downhill water slide with a 60-degree angle. Choose one of three slides and race your fellow rides. It’s a dark slide ride where you can reach speeds of 39 mph.
This ride comes with a 48-inch height requirement.
Crush’n’Gusher
Destroyed by the nameless typhoon, the fruit process plant now washes people instead of pineapples. Grab a buddy and a multi-person tube and ride a 400-foot water coaster.
With three different routes down, the jets defy gravity and blast you uphill. Then, twist past hairpin turns all the way down to a final splash into Hideaway Bay.
This ride has a 48” height requirement.
Storm Slides
Mount Mayday features a trio of body slides. Riders start three stories up before they head down one of the slides: Jib Jammer, Stern Burner, and Rudder Buster.
Riders will swirl past rock outcroppings and through grottos in the cork-screwy slides. Then, guests splash down in a pool at the bottom.
No restrictions for this ride, though younger kids need to try out other falls rides first.
The Typhoon Lagoon Fall Rides
Located at Mount Mayday, Typhoon Lagoon features three fall rides together. They include small drops and rushing water in tubes or multi-person rafts.
The fall rides are open to all. However, if you have a younger kid or timid rides, Try Keelhaul Falls first.
Keelhaul Falls
Keelhaul Falls offers the calmest water, so grab a single-person tube for a fun ride. Find rushing water with spins and turns before splashing in the pool at the bottom.
No restrictions, and suitable for everyone. Try this one with younger kids to see if they want to try more falls rides.
Mayday Falls
In the highest and fastest of the water slides at Typhoon Lagoon, riders are in for a rush. Grab a single-person tube and hike to the top of Mount Mayday.
Zip past waterfalls, zoom under bridges and swerve through caves. End your journey in a splash pool at the bottom.
There are no restrictions, though. Test younger kids on the other two fall rides before trying Mayday.
Gang Plank Falls
Grab the kids and a four-person family tube and head for the gangplank. Load up, then spin and turn while sailing past boulders, caverns and bridges on a 300-foot water slide.
No restrictions, and suitable for everyone.
Miss Adventure Falls
Next to the Crush-n-Gusher and opposite from the Mount Mayday slides. Miss Adventure Falls is a four-person raft ride. Head through the pineapple fields for an adventure.
Then, the aquatic conveyor will haul your raft to the top. Ride down, twisting and turning with your group.
Water Rides for Younger Kids
Disney is great at offering rides and attractions for everyone in a family. This is especially true for little kids.
Ketchakiddee Creek
Explore a mini water park within Typhoon Lagoon just for the littlest castaways. With 10 different water play areas and mini-rides, little kids can spend hours wading and splashing.
Find mini slides, a mini rapids ride along with fountains and a waterfall. Don’t miss the S.S. Squirt and shoot the water cannon.
It is just for kids under 48 inches. Parents must supervise and will not be able to join on the rides. This area has a sandy beach with loungers.
Bay Slides
Mini versions of the thrilling Storm Slides, the bay slides are just for little kids. They climb up some stairs and ride one of two into an inlet of the surf pool.
For kids under 60 inches tall. Adults must supervise kids on the Bay Slides.
Where to Eat in Typhoon Lagoon
With all the splashing and sliding, you might get hungry. There’s a range of snacks and treats available at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Waterpark. You’ll find food outlets sprinkled throughout the park.
Leaning Palms Quick Service
Leaning Palms is a quick service option near the park’s entrance. It serves rice bowls, burgers, wraps and plant-based options. You can also order a beer at Leaning Palms.
Happy Landings Ice Cream
Happy Landings Ice Cream is located near Castaway Creek. It serves ice cream novelties, including the Sand Pail with two kinds of soft-serve topped with waffle cone and cookie pieces, hot fudge and sprinkles.
Surf Doggies
Convenient to the wave pool, this is the place for hot dogs. Visitors will also find plant-based bratwurst and Mickey pretzels.
Let’s Go Slurpin’
This is a fall bar with frozen cocktails, beer, on favorites on the rocks. It is located close to the Wave Pool and Surf Doggies.
Low Tide Lou’s Quick Service
This is a snack hut with a Tropical Chicken Salad and a Chicken Wrap close to the Falls Rides. Diners will also find popcorn, non-alcoholic drinks, beer and wine spritzers.
Typhoon Tilly’s Quick Service
Located along Castaway Creek, this is a shipwreck-inspired eatery that offers the widest selection of entrees in Typhoon Lagoon. Diners will find a fried fish platter, a pulled pork sandwich, a tropical salad with or without chicken and more.
There is a selection of hot and cold beverages. Adults will find beer, wine and canned cocktails.
Snack Shack
Located next to Typhoon Tilly’s, this is your destination for Dole Whips. There’s a bathtub Dole Whip sundae and a watermelon with Chamoy Dole Whip.
For adults, find a Strawberry Mai Tai Dole Whip Float or a traditional Dole Whip with rum. The Snack Shack also serves beer and wine.
There are towels and locker rentals at Singapore Sal’s. You can get towels at High ‘N Dry Rentals, along with wheelchair rentals.
Beachcomber Shacks
You can reserve a Beachcomber Shacks for your visit. Each is outfitted with cushioned seating for up to six guests; however, more are allowed. There are also towels, a locker, cold water and souvenir refillable mugs.
Your Beachcomber Shack includes attendant service. Prices start at $225 to $375 for 10 guests. Reservations are recommended and park admission is not included.
Typhoon Lagoon Umbrellas
There are reserved umbrella chairs overlooking the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool. With space for four people, guests get a beach umbrella, two reserved lounge chairs and two beach chairs with a drink table.
Towels are included. Prices start at $49 per day, and reservations are recommended.
Can You Bring Food into Typhoon Lagoon?
I will admit it. We brought in grocery store salads, cut-up fruit and bars for your trip. We don’t get really hungry when it’s hot.
I used a collapsible cooler. Your cooler will be inspected. Loose or dry ice, glass and alcoholic beverages may not be brought into the water park. You will have to use reusable ice packs.
Disney H20 Glow Afterhours at Typhoon Lagoon
This 3-hour nighttime event with illuminated rides for nighttime fun. This is a limited-capacity event so there will be shorter wait times for rides. Toy Story characters will attend the Disney H@) Glow Afterhours, too.
The Disney H@) Glow Afterhours offers complimentary ice cream novelties, popcorn and select beverages. There’s a DJ for a dance party. It runs from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Select dates from May 23 to September 13, 2025. Disney H@) Glow Afterhours is $85 (Ages 10+) per ticket and $42.50 for kids ages 3 to 9.
May 23 and 31,
June 6, 13, 20 and 27
July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
August 5, 13, 18, 25 and 31
September 6 and 13
How to Get to Typhoon Lagoon
To get from a Disney Resort, use its complimentary bus to the Disney Springs area and then transfer onto the bus to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park. Busses runs from 45 minutes before the park opens to 60 minutes after the park closes.
Parking is complimentary, and Disney features a car locator in its My Disney Experience.
Know Before You Go
There are free life jackets throughout the park.
Head to the waterpark before it opens so you can snag a chair in the shade.
Mark your chairs with beach towels (remember to pack those!)
Concrete gets hot in the afternoon, especially around the restrooms, so pack some flip-flops or water shoes.
Swimsuits need to be appropriate for a family venue. Swimsuits can’t have buckles, rivets, zippers or sharp metal on them for safety reasons.
Remember the swim shirts, it’s sunny in the parks, and most of the rides are in the sun.
Disclosure:
My family was hosted for your visit.
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