When going to Disney World we usually think of Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom as what to experience when we visit. But, did you know that there are two water parks to visit as an option  that not only allows you to cool off from Orlando’s well-known humidity but also break from the main crowd? For this article I will be focusing on Typhoon Lagoon as my wife and I got to experience this amazing water park during my last visit to Disney World.

The story of Typhoon Lagoon goes as follows; “A furious storm once roared across the sea, catching ships in its path, helpless to flee. Instead of a certain and watery doom, the winds swept them here to Typhoon Lagoon.” This environment definitely looks like a huge storm swept through the area with items such as a surfboard penetrated completely through a huge tree, a small boat that had blown through the roof of one building, and a buoy which had crashed through the roof of another. The main sight to behold is the shrimp boat, “Miss Tilly”, impaled precariously on the peak of a volcanic mountain. The mountain tries to dislodge its unwelcome burden with an enormous geyser of water every half hour.

The scenery  aside we were amazed with how different the crowd is from what you see when venturing into the four theme parks. It is not full of people and you truly feel like you are getting a break. There are so many slide and raft attractions to easily make a whole day’s worth of fun. One of the coolest things to see is what is considered the largest wave pool in the United States that includes waves that crash down on a sandy shore every 90 seconds simulating a day at the beach. Because of the short lines we were able to ride attractions two to three times. My favorite ride was the Crush ‘n’ Gusher which is an aqua coaster, water pressurized to jet you through the tube. It’s perfect for any thrill seeker. The lazy river is a wonderful spot for relaxing without a care in the world and you decide when you want to get off. There are also plenty of water rides for kids as well as a splash zone play area for the littlest ones so no one is left out of the fun.

Probably one of the most interesting things we found out was that the shops have free sunscreen in case you forget your own (which we did). And you know the park doesn’t disappoint with the food. Island themed dishes are the specialty at the Leaning Palms. The Caribbean-spiced salad with chicken or jerk shrimp rice bowl will make you feel like you are eating on a tropical island. Also, I highly recommend checking out the Snack Shack where you can indulge in Dole Whip soft-serve ice cream. Personally I really enjoyed the Hei Hei Cone, named after the crazy chicken from Moana. It’s decorated with Dole Whip pineapple and raspberry soft-served with gumball eyes and licorice to look like the funny bird.

There is so much to see at Typhoon Lagoon that you need to see it for yourself. Spending the extra money was well worth it to gain access to the waterpark. The best part: no park reservations are needed, so you can go whenever you want! Take some time from your trip to the main four parks on your next trip! Contact me at jhall@conciears.com to find out more about adding the waterparks during your next trip to Disney World!