The Florida Sun can be brutal, especially in the hot summer months. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing, because that hot summer sun also means that it’s the perfect weather to visit one of Disney’s water parks. Typhoon Lagoon is so much fun and such a great way to add some variety to your vacation days. We love it for their play area for kids under 48” (Ketchakiddee Creek), the relaxing lazy river for mom and dad, plus the exciting slides and wave pool for our older kids. Here are some helpful insider tricks and tips for a great day at Typhoon Lagoon:
- If you plan on visiting a water park, be sure to talk to your agent about upgrading your theme park pass to include the park hopper plus option. This pass will allow a certain number of admissions to the water parks based on the number of days in your ticket. It is often a less expensive option than purchasing separate individual admission tickets at the main entrance, and it provides the extra value of the park hopper option which allows entrance to multiple theme parks each day of your visit.
- Consider paying for seating. This is an especially important tip on those hot summer weekends when the water park is jam packed with resort guests as well as Florida residents who want to stay cool. Seating areas must be rented in advance, but once you rent them, they are yours for the day. This means that you don’t have to rush to get to the park by “rope drop” to beat the crowds and secure your shaded seating. We went to a character breakfast and then leisurely made our way to the park when we were finished. There are two types of seating reservations. You can rent premium beach chair space in Getaway Glen, which includes two chaise lounges, two chairs, a cocktail table, an umbrella and towels in a roped off sandy area of the park for around $65 (plus tax) for the day. This package is limited to 4 people, so if you have more than that, you would need a second reservation. The second option is the Beachcomber Shack. These options accommodate up to 6 guests and are private thatched roof structures which include an attendant, private lockers, all day drink mugs per person, a cooler with bottled water, lounge furniture and towels. Cost for the day is around $320 plus tax during the peak season. Space in both areas is limited, so advanced reservations are recommended, but if you’d like to try your luck for same-day rentals, you may check for availability at Singapore Sals.
- If you are on the dining plan, your snack and quick service credits will be put to good use here! Kids meals are served in an adorable bucket with a shovel attached, so there’s no need to purchase sand toys separately (however, if you do want some extra goodies, Singapore Sals has some fun items- Disney themed, of course). Save room for dessert!! Be sure to visit Happy Landings for the famous Sand Pail Sundae. This delicious dessert is perfect for the hot weather. It includes chocolate and vanilla soft-serve ice cream, waffle cone pieces, Oreo cookie pieces, sprinkles, hot fudge, caramel sauce, whipped cream and a cherry and is the perfect size for sharing with the whole family! Sharing snacks is one of my favorite tips for a great day at Typhoon Lagoon.
- Towels are complimentary with your MagicBand for guests staying at a Disney World Resort (or cost $2 for the day) and can be picked up at High ‘n Dry Towels at the front of the park. Locker rentals are available here as well and will cost you $13 for a small locker or $15 for a large one. If you are renting chairs in Getaway Glen, locker rental is not necessarily needed as the area is roped off and there are attendants there all day. However, if you are bringing valuables, the locker is handy. Near the lockers are changing rooms and showers as well. These are helpful for getting the sand off, so you don’t bring it back to your resort room. The other perk that we found helpful was the availability of complementary life jackets. This was great for our toddler!
- Our family consists of 4 children ranging in ages from 6 to 18. We found Typhoon Lagoon to have an awesome mix of thrilling slides that kept the attention of our teens, family slides that we could do together, and even raft slides in Ketchakiddee Creek that our 6-year-old could do by herself! I was even able to grab one of our chairs from Getaway Glen and sit in the shade watching her play. If you need even more entertainment for the kids (or yourself), consider splurging and signing up for surf lessons! Typhoon Lagoon offers a unique Learn to Surf program for guests ages 8 and up on select days prior to park opening. Led in small classes of no more than 25 by professional instructors, the program is geared toward beginners and novices in a fun, safe, controlled environment. Each class lasts approximately 2.5 hours and must be reserved in advance. Call 407-WDW-PLAY for pricing and more information.
Do you have any of your own tips for a great day at Typhoon Lagoon? Let us know in the comments.