Walt Disney World’s Typhoon Lagoon FAQ

What is Typhoon Lagoon?

Typhoon Lagoon (TL) is Disney’s oldest water park, open since 1989. Themed after a tropical paradise that survived a typhoon, guests at Typhoon Lagoon will find surf boards, fishing gear, and even a shipwreck in their travels around the park.

Typhoon Lagoon

The park contains all of the types of activities you would expect to find at a waterpark: slides, pools, a lazy river. But Typhoon Lagoon doesn’t stop there. It features one of the largest wave pools in the world — so big you can even learn to surf on it! 

How much is admission?

As of 1/2020, there are two options for one-day waterpark tickets. Both offer one day admission to the water parks — both of them, if both are open on the day you visit. That means you could start the day at Typhoon Lagoon and switch to Blizzard Beach later in the day (or vice versa).

The two one-day ticket types are with and without blockout dates.

  • A one-day waterpark ticket without blockout dates is $69 per person (ages 10+) and $63 (ages 3-9).

  • A one-day waterpark ticket with blockout dates is a little cheaper at $64 (ages 10+) and $58 (ages 3-9).

To help you decide if you need a ticket with or without blockout dates, Disney has publicized the following blockout dates for 2021: May 29 – October 3, 2021.

Typhoon Lagoon

There are also two types of Water Park Annual Passes.

  • The first is good for any dates for a full year. This costs $139 plus tax per person age 3 and up.

  • The second type of Water Park Annual Pass is for Florida Residents only and is good all year for admissions after 2PM. This Pass costs $69 for guests ages 10+ and $63 for guests ages 3-9. 

Guests can also add the Park Hopper Plus to a standard theme park ticket and gain access to a certain number of waterpark admissions per number of days of theme park tickets. Current pricing is:

  • $80 per ticket for 1-day tickets

  • $90 per ticket for 2 to 3-day tickets

  • $100 per ticket for 4 to 10-day tickets

With this option, you could extend your vacation by using your water park ticket(s) on days you’re not going into a theme park. (Note that the pricing is higher than if you just purchased a water park ticket; that’s because Park Hopper Plus also upgrades your standard theme park ticket to a Park Hopper so you can hop from park to park rather than only having access to one park per day.)

Why should I use valuable WDW vacation time and spend extra money to go to a water park?

Typhoon Lagoon is unique — truly a Disney classic — and arguably one of the most unique water parks in the world. (TL’s main competition in this regard is just a few miles away: Disney World’s Blizzard Beach water park.) TL is certainly the most beautiful — a true tropical paradise.

Tropical Paradise

This looks nothing like typical water parks that have slides with exposed superstructures and wave pools that look like giant concrete tubs. It may not have the most, fastest, or highest slides in the world, but Typhoon Lagoon does have one of the largest surf pools, a 2.5 acre lagoon with waves up to six feet high that sits at the base of a 100 foot high manmade watershed mountain and is surrounded by a sandy beach and a lush tropical forest.

Typhoon Lagoon Wave Pool

What is Typhoon Lagoon like?

As you enter TL, you walk along a short path up a slight hill past an old beach patrol “woody” station wagon. As you reach the top of the rise you catch your first glimpse of the former Placid Palms Resort, with its storm-damaged thatched-roof buildings coursing along the palm-lined pathways that meander off to your left and right.

Thatched roofs dot the landscape

Taking the path to the right, you pass by Singapore Sal’s Beachwear, Gifts & Sundries, the whole front wall of which appears to have been blown away by the typhoon that “recently” passed through these parts.

Singapore Sal’s

Turning left and passing by the High ‘N Dry Towel and Locker hut, you cross a small wooden footbridge that spans a lazily flowing stream flowing through the tropical foliage — Castaway Creek — that is already inviting you to jump in.

Castaway Creek

Over the bridge, a vast expanse of crystal-clear azure-blue water unfolds before you. The waters lap up onto white, sandy beaches that stretch around three sides of the lagoon and play host to towering palms, thatched umbrellas and countless gleaming white lounge chairs. Every minute or two you catch the sound of surf as the mighty waves come roaring in.

Wave Pool

At the far end of the lagoon, rising up above a massive timber retaining wall, is Mt. Mayday. Stranded on the mountain’s summit is Miss Tilly, one of the shrimp boats out of Safen Sound, FL, that was caught in the great storm. The streams that flow down the mountain cause a 50-foot geyser of water to regularly erupt from Miss Tilly’s smokestack, sounding the old boat’s foghorn in the process. Amazingly, this seems to occur exactly every half-hour!

Miss Tilly

Along the slopes of Mt. Mayday, which gradually taper off to the left and right, you catch a few glimpses of the many twisting mountain streams which — due to their unusually smooth “lava-rock” beds and steady, gentle flowing water — are just ideal for sliding down.

Storm Slides

After walking along the beach you find the perfect spot, claim a few chairs, settle in and begin a glorious day.

What about these reserved spaces I’ve read about?

Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are now offering premium spaces for rental. Premium spaces can accommodate up to six. There are four premium spaces in each water park, and they include the personalized services of an attendant, private lockers, all-day drink mugs, cooler with bottled water, lounge furniture, tables, and rental towels.

Cabanas

The attendant will also offer advice and help with food and drink orders. At Typhoon Lagoon, the spots are called “Beachcomber Shacks” — ask about them at Singapore Sal’s or call call (407) WDW-PLAY before you leave home.

Cabanas

You can now also rent a premium beach chair space at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in the area known as Getaway Glen. This new offering for up to four guests includes two lounge chairs, an umbrella, a cocktail table, and towels. Advance reservations are available by calling 407-WDW-PLAY. You can stop in at Singapore Sal’s to check same-day availability.

If you must cancel either space, you must do so before 9AM the day before your reservation. If the park is closed all day on your reserved day for any reason, you will get a refund.

What is the surf pool like?

The centerpiece of Typhoon Lagoon, the Surf Pool can send waves up to six feet high crashing onto the shores of the lagoon. The waves originate at the base of Mt. Mayday with loud, deep whoosh and then speed along the deep outer lagoon which is enclosed on three sides by timber retaining walls that hold back the volcanic mountain slopes.

Wave Pool

The waves break just as they clear the walls, at which point the water is six feet deep. The surf fans out into the sea-shell shaped shallow part of the lagoon until it rolls up onto the beach. (The lagoon floor is constructed of sand-colored concrete, while the real sand on the beach extends down to the water line.)

Wave Pool

The waves alternate between surf waves that come at 90 second intervals and continuous, gently-bobbing waves. In years past the cycle alternated every hour, but recently the tide, so to speak, has tilted in favor of surf, with a 90 minute surf/30 minute bobbing cycle.

Signage at Typhoon Lagoon

There is a small chalkboard at the edge of the beach near the front of the park on which the day’s wave schedule is posted.

Note: Inner tubes, which used to be allowed with the bobbing waves, are no longer permitted at any time in the lagoon.

AllEars Reader Tip: One note I would offer to anyone, especially parents, is to be extremely cautious about monitoring your little ones at the surf pool at Typhoon Lagoon. It’s thrilling to listen to the shrieks of the surfers as the wave machine cranks out a big wave, but keep in mind that at 6 feet high, this water is MOVING, and packs a bit of energy. I was standing in ankle-deep water in the surf pool, and was taken by surprise at the strength of the breaking wave. It literally knocked me off my feet, and I was subsequently dragged on my hands-and-knees for a couple of feet. No major injuries (except to my pride), just minor scrapes on my palms and knees. I did wonder what effect that wave might have had on a toddler or preschooler who carries only a fraction of my body mass, though! Most parents are very conscious of their children’s safety near water’s edge, but in this case I think an extra measure of watchfulness is a good idea.

What are the water slides like?

Typhoon Lagoon does not have the tallest, longest, fastest or wildest water slides in the world — just the most beautiful.

Queues with views

All the slides take you through fully landscaped, winding mountain streams that have been cut into the steep volcanic rock slopes of Mt. Mayday.

The “volcanic” soil provides perfect growing conditions for the exotic flora that covers the mountain, lining the winding pathways that lead you up to the slides’ departure points.

On the left slopes of Mt. Mayday you will find three raft slides. At the entrance to each of these slides you collect an inner tube or raft and carry it up with you.

Carry Your Tube Carefully

Keelhaul Falls, a tube ride, is the tamest of the three — and usually the one with the shortest line.

Keelhaul Falls

Gang Plank Falls is higher, longer and wider, which nicely accommodates the family-sized rafts that ply these waters. (If you don’t have the minimum in your group needed for a raft, the lifeguards at the top will combine individuals as needed. Maximum is 4 adults.)

Slide Queues

Mayday Falls is the highest and wildest, sending you careening down a wild river hanging on to your tube for dear life! (Well, almost.)

Mayday Falls

On the right slopes of Mt. Mayday you will find the body slides. As you approach the body slides, you first come to the base of the Humunga-Kowabunga, the triple speed slides. There is a small section of bleacher seating here for the less daring companions of those who like to drop 50 feet nearly straight down at 30 mph.

Humunga Cowabunga

Further on is the long path that eventually takes you almost to the top of Mt. Mayday, just a little below Miss Tilly.

Storm Slides Queue

From here you can body-slide down the three Storm Slides (only one at a time, of course) which wend their way down and sometimes through the mountain. If you time your ascent to arrive at the top right on the hour or half-hour, you will get to see Miss Tilly blow her stack so close up that you will likely catch some of the spray.

If you are not sure whether you want to brave a particular water slide, you can always climb to the top, check it out, and walk back down if you change your mind.

What is Crush ‘n’ Gusher?

Crush ‘N’ Gusher, a white-knuckle water coaster thrill ride, opened in March 2005. It sends you along a series of flumes and spillways through a rusted-out tropical fruit facility.

Crush ‘n’ Gusher

You can choose from three different routes, Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher and Pineapple Plunger, each ranging between 410 and 420 feet in length.

Crush ‘n’ Gusher

What is Miss Adventure Falls?

Typhoon Lagoon debuted a new family-friendly water attraction called Miss Adventure Falls in March 2017.

Miss Adventure Falls

Located near Crush ‘n’ Gusher, Miss Adventure Falls brings to life the fictional story of Captain Mary Oceaneer, a treasure-hunting heroine who got stranded on Typhoon Lagoon years ago. Miss Adventure Falls hosts the longest ride at any Disney water park at two minutes!

What is Castaway Creek?

Most water parks have a river that encircles the park, and Typhoon Lagoon is no exception. Castaway Creek, however, gently carries you through nearly a half-mile of tropical splendor. With entry/exit points all around, it is easy to hop in or out. There are pictorial identifying sign-posts at each entry.

South Shore Landing

The creek passes through distinctly different settings: tropical forest, dense rainforest, a cavernous tunnel through Mt. Mayday that is guarded by a waterfall you must pass through, open sunny areas and a shady, rocky gorge with a rope footbridge high overhead.

Castaway Creek

All along the way are gorgeous (and meticulously maintained) tropical flowers. You will also come across various items of storm-tossed wreckage, both along the shores and floating in the water. You can swim, walk or float in one of the many inner tubes — including some of the two-person variety — that endlessly circulate.

Castaway Creek tends to get crowded in the early afternoon hours — it can literally become a wall-to-wall sea of humanity and tubes. It is best enjoyed in the morning (if you are not a slide person) or late in the afternoon, when you will practically have it all to yourself.

What kind of tubes are available in Castaway Creek?

You’ll find a variety of tubes at Castaway Creek. Those pictured below were available as of fall 2019.

Castaway Creek two-person tube
Castaway Creek Tube
Castaway Creek Tube

Are there any areas specifically for small children?

Ketchakiddee Creek, on the far left side of the park, provides wading pools, bubbling fountains, mini-slides,  and raft rides for the little ones.

Ketchakiddee Creek

Children under age ten must be accompanied at all times by an adult throughout the park. Also, remember that children of diaper age are required to wear snug-fitting rubber pants over their diapers or special swimming diapers here and throughout the water park.

Note that life jackets are available throughout the park on a first come, first served basis.

Life Jackets

What else is there to do at Typhoon Lagoon?

In addition to experiencing slides and hanging out in the wave pool, Typhoon Lagoon has a few add-on activities that might appeal to people in your party. Beach Hairwraps, airbushing, and glitter tattoos are available for purchase.

Hairwraps, Airbrush, and Glitter Tattoos

Info about Hairwraps and Hair Clips

And there are lots of fun spots to grab a new profile shot. Get inside the jaw of Sharkus Gigantus!

Photo Ops

Or head to the entrance for this beachy scene.

Photo Ops

You can even surf in the wave pool during a private surf event before or after the park opens or closes! Click here for more info! Call (407) WDW-PLAY to find out how you can take surf lessons in the lagoon, too!

Learn to Surf

When is the best time of year to visit Typhoon Lagoon?

Any time of year that the park is open is a good time, but it does get very hot and very crowded during the summer peak season. In the cooler months, all of the nearly three million gallons of water at the park are heated. The park will typically be closed for about a month during the winter — check for exact dates by calling (407) 824-4321.

When is the best day of the week to visit Typhoon Lagoon?

Weekdays, the nearer to the beginning of the week the better. Later in the week, TL attracts the people who typically spend the beginning of the week at the major parks. Local residents tend to keep things busy on the weekends.

When is the best time of day to visit Typhoon Lagoon?

There are two good times to arrive: shortly before the park opens and — in the warmer months when the park is open at night — mid- to late-afternoon. If you want to go for the morning/early afternoon, it is essential to arrive by park opening time, particularly in the warmer months. When you arrive early, you will benefit from:

Tips Board — Find a seat!
  • Claiming lounge chairs that are shaded by the relatively scarce thatched umbrellas or thatched lean-tos that are scattered around the surf pool, rather than the more numerous ones that are out in the blazing sun
  • Being able to do a lot of water sliding in a relatively short time, rather than spend most of your time standing in the hot lines that form within a few hours after the park opens;
  • Getting a locker and towel quickly, rather than waiting in the long line that forms by late morning
  • Getting a locker that is conveniently close to the entrance, rather than the ones nearer to the back of the park that are handed out when the “good” ones are gone
Locker Rentals
  • Parking close to the entrance (if you are driving), saving you a long hot walk back to your car when leaving
  • Avoiding the disappointment of not getting in at all should the park close (typically in the late morning) because it has reached capacity

Arriving mid-afternoon is almost as good. By this time, people are starting to leave, making lounge chair seating available. You will probably have to settle for full-sun seats, but by this time the sun is not quite as bad as at mid-day.

Surf Report

The crowds in Castaway Creek should be thinning out by now. A little later in the afternoon, the water slide lines will become reasonable as well. Admission discounts may also be given for mid-afternoon or later entry (check by calling (407) 824-4321). If the park is open past 7PM, there may be special activities scheduled as well.

Can you get food at Typhoon Lagoon? Can you bring your own food?

Typhoon Lagoon offers the usual fast-food fare. Just to the left as you enter the park you will find Leaning Palms which offers hamburgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, soft drinks and beer.

Leaning Palms

An adjacent building offers ice cream.

Happy Landings Ice Cream

Near the back of the park on the right side is Typhoon Tilly’s which serves sandwiches, salads, soft drinks and beer.

At the back on the left side, just before the raft slides, is Lowtide Lou’s Snacks, ice cream and sodas.

Lowtide Lou’s

On the beach near the front is Let’s Go Slurpin’ which offers frozen drink specialties.

Let’s Go Slurpin’

There are also some small snack stands and kiosks as well.

Surf Doggies
Snack Stand
Joffrey’s
Arctic Dots
Snack Spot

Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at locations throughout the park.

High ‘n Dry Beverages
Draft Beer

Glass containers are not permitted inside Typhoon Lagoon.

Is there a Refillable Mug program at Typhoon Lagoon? How does it work?

When you enter the park, and at several locations throughout the park, you’ll have the chance to buy a plastic “All-Day Sports Bottle.”

Beverage Refill Stations

Like the refillable mug program at the Disney resorts, this mug may be refilled at soft drink stations as often as you wish for the duration of your visit.

Refillable Mugs at Typhoon Lagoon

The mug costs $11.99 including tax and may be refilled with soft drinks only at Typhoon Tilly’s, Leaning Palms, Surf Doggies, Let’s Go Slurpin’ and Lowtide Lou’s (seasonal). (If you bring a Typhoon Lagoon mug back with you from a previous visit, it can be activated for $8.50.)

Refillable Drink Station

How does the Locker Rental work?

Locker rentals are available at High ‘n Dry Rentals and Singapore Sal’s or at self-serve kiosks.

Lockers

They cost $10 for a small size and $15 for a larger size. You will rent your locker at the Locker Rental Kiosks using cash or credit only. (If using another form of payment like your MagicBand or a Disney gift card, you’ll need to go to Singapore Sal’s or High ‘n’ Dry Rentals.)

Locker Rental Kiosks

Disney World lockers are all electronic now. When you rent your locker at the kiosk or at one of the two rental locations at Typhoon Lagoon, you will choose a pin.

Locker Rental Kiosk

You’ll head to the locker that’s been assigned to you and enter the pin to access the locker. This means you don’t have to carry a key around the water park with you anymore, but be sure to choose a pin that you’ll remember, as a long day at the water park tends to fry the brain.

Lockers

To that end, be sure you commit your locker number to memory, too.

What about charging my devices?

Believe it or not, there’s a FuelRod dispenser inside Typhoon Lagoon. You can purchase or exchange a FuelRod here.

Fuel Rod Dispenser

How do I get to Typhoon Lagoon?

  • From I-4: Take Exit 67, Epcot Center Drive and proceed one mile to Buena Vista Drive. Take the first ramp, turning right onto Buena Vista Drive. The entrance to TL is a very short distance along Buena Vista Drive on the right.
  • From US 192: Enter WDW via the maingate entrance on 192 (World Drive) and proceed two miles to Buena Vista Drive, heading towards the EPCOT resorts. Proceed along Buena Vista Drive for two miles. The entrance to TL is on the right, a very short after you pass Epcot Center Drive.
  • From the Hotel Plaza/Disney Institute/SR 535 area: Proceed along Hotel Plaza Boulevard towards the Disney Village Marketplace. At the Disney Village Marketplace, turn left onto Buena Vista Drive. Drive completely past Pleasure Island and the AMC Theater (on the right). The entrance to TL will be a short distance further on the left.
  • From the SR535/SR536 area: Take SR536 for two miles towards WDW, at which point it crosses I-4 and becomes Epcot Center Drive. Proceed one mile to Buena Vista Drive. Take the first ramp, turning right onto Buena Vista Drive. The entrance to TL is a very short distance along Buena Vista Drive on the right.
  • From Disney hotels: Disney’s bus system services Typhoon Lagoon. Check with your hotel’s front desk for information on routes and times.

Are there any drawbacks or disadvantages to visiting Typhoon Lagoon?

Aside from the fact that Typhoon Lagoon tends to be crowded in the midday hours during the peak seasons, there is only one other potential drawback: you may lose the desire to ever go to a non-Disney water park again!

Is there anything else I should know?

  • Bring your own towels! Renting is $2/towel. No refund.

    Towel Rental
  • Consider bringing an underwater camera or a case for your phone that can be submerged. There are PhotoPass photographers typically near the Lagoon, but if you want candid shots from your day, you’ll need to take them yourself.
  • Don’t wear swimsuits that have rivets, buckles or exposed metal. These are not permitted on the slides.
  • Lifeguards are plentiful and present at all locations, but children under age ten should be accompanied at all times by an adult throughout the park.
  • TL sometimes closes when it reaches capacity at peak periods.
    Park Exit

    It will also close during rainstorms. In the case of the typical brief afternoon thundershower, if you can weather the storm, the park will be virtually empty when it reopens. Although there are no refunds due to weather-related closings, you can always leave and return later in the day. (Make sure to get your hand stamped on the way out.)

  • The First Aid stand is next to Leaning Palms.
First Aid
  • Lost children (or, rather, lost parents) are reunited with their families at High ‘n Dry Towels.
Lost Children
  • The direct telephone number to Typhoon Lagoon is (407) 560-4141.