Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [89]
Bring rubber beach shoes with nonskid bottoms if you have them. They’ll protect the soles of your feet from the hot sidewalks.
You can borrow life vests for free at the locker-rental stand, although you have to leave your driver’s license or a credit card as a deposit. Snorkeling equipment can be picked up for no charge at Hammerhead Fred’s near the Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon. There’s no point in bringing your own fins and floats; only official Disney equipment is allowed in the pools.
Because you’re climbing uphill all day, half the time dragging a tube or mat behind you, the water parks are extremely exhausting. If you spend the day at one, plan to spend the evening in films or shows. Or take the night off.
There are fast-food restaurants at both water parks as well as places to picnic.
The Lost Kids Stations at both parks are so far away from the main water areas that it’s unlikely your children would find their way there. Instruct them, should they look up and find themselves separated from you, to approach the nearest person wearing a Disney name tag. A cast member will escort the kids to the Lost Kids Station, and you can meet them there. Because both of the parks are full of meandering paths with many sets of steps and slides, it’s easy to get separated from your party. Set standard meeting places and times for older kids.
Girls should wear one-piece swimsuits. More than one bathing suit top has been lost on the waterslides.
Helpful Hint
Trying to decide which Disney water park to visit? We agree with this statement from a father of two from Michigan: “Last year with our extended family we visited both water parks and concluded that Typhoon Lagoon was the favorite of the adults and the younger children because it’s very pretty with nice beaches and shallow places for little ones to swim. Family members age 10 to 25 preferred Blizzard Beach because of all the big slides.”
If you’re visiting in summer, consider dropping by both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. They’re very different experiences. Typhoon Lagoon has the better beaches and pools. Blizzard Beach is the pow! park, focusing on slides.
Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are often closed for refurbishing in January and February, although it’s rare for both to be closed at once unless the weather is truly cold or inclement. If you’re planning a winter trip, call 407/824–4321 or visit www.disneyworld.disney.go.com to see which will be open during the time you’re in town.
Ride the slides and flumes in the morning and save the pools for the afternoon. Lines for the slides reach incredible lengths by midday.
Typhoon Lagoon
Disney calls its 56-acre Typhoon Lagoon “the world’s ultimate water park,” and the hyperbole is justified. Where else can you float through caves, take surfing lessons, picnic with parrots, and swim (sort of) with sharks? Typhoon Lagoon is the perfect replica of the perfect tropical isle—older kids can hit the thrill slides, younger kids can splash in the bays and dig in the sand, and parents can relax (at least in shifts) under a palm tree with a piña colada in one hand and a best seller in the other.
For anyone with a Water Park Fun & More option, entrance to Typhoon Lagoon is included. Otherwise, admission is $49 for adults and $43 for children 3 to 9, before sales tax.
Typhoon Lagoon Attractions
Crush ’n’ Gusher
Map Location 3
This thrill ride combines flumes, spillways, and steep drops, but the real kick is that you’re hit so hard with pulsating streams of water that at one point in the ride your two-person raft is actually propelled back uphill. The concept behind the ride is that you’re lost in an abandoned fruit-processing facility. There are three paths out—the Banana Blaster,