do I have to wear shoes to typhoon lagoon?

[chamonix]

I have a couple questions for those folks who have done Typhoon Lagoon:

We never use water shoes at the pool or beach at home, do you really think we will need them at TL? Really the only thing I am concerned about would be standing in long lines on the heat of the pavement, other than that we are really used to being barefoot around here.

Also, I don't want to get a locker and I don't really want to leave my personal stuff lying around either, so I don't plan to bring anything except ourselves. How stupid will we feel in line to get in standing around in just swimsuits, no coverups? Maybe we could bring towels from our resort pool to coverup with on the way in? (that is probably "wrong" though, lol) I just don't see any reason to take clothes or shoes or whatever in with us, so no need for a locker. Everything we need can be bought or rented there, right?

I guess you can tell we never go to waterparks, lol.

 

[myramsy]

When we go to the waterparks we don't rent a locker either. But we do bring a small bag with some personal stuff that we may need. You will need your park passes to get in. We also bring a change of clothes and you should wear water shoes....you can pick up nasty foot fungus infections at water parks.
we also bring disposable water cameras to capture all the fun!!!
Me ; DH ; DS(8)

 

[themudd4]

I went without shoes in the water park but you do have to have them to enter or exit the parks. Take a cheap pair of flip flops and that should do ya!

 

[TTT103]

I would wear a cover up, flip-flops, and a change of clothing. You certainly don't want to walk in or out looking like a yahoo, eventhough you are on vacation and don't know anybody. We usually bring a small beach bag and throw everything in it. Obviously, you don't want to bring Armani, but we've never had an issue with theft.

 

[Hannathy]

We don't wear water shoes, but do wear flip flops or in the case of my DH his tennis shoes! into the park. We also wear a T shirt over our suits and don't bring a change of clothes. I bring a canvas bag from Bean and use it for the sunblock our towels and a couple extra T's for sun or if someone gets chilled from the water. Don't get a locker and go back to the hotel with our suits on with our T's over them. I use one of the plastic water safe things around my neck for my key and money. I put the bag by the chair and lay the towels over a chair and saves our spot,makes it easier to see in the sea of white towels and we have never had a problem with theft.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have seen a lot of people, and not just children, coming into TL only with a swimsuit on. Even more so people going out, and have seen young women in just bikinis getting on the resort buses.

If you are only going to wear a swimsuit you should have something to carry your pass in.

 

[chefmb]

The last time we were there, my feet would have been very sore had I not been wearing my shoes. I don't remember if I wore flip-flops or water shoes, but the pavement was too hot for my bare feet. We do not take a change of clothes, but we do wear a cover up or tee-shirt. As others have said, you'll need to carry your passes somewhere. My DH had one of those little waterproof cases that you can wear around the neck which is where our passes and room key were. They sell the cases in the shops at the water parks, or you can get one before you go.

 

[chamonix]

I do have one of those waterproof neck thingy-s for holding money and passes. It's actually from the DIS, lol--and of course, it's lime green!

Sounds like we should wear shoes.

Thanks everyone.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We went to Typhoon Lagoon for the first time in June of this year. We got there about 9:15 a.m. (during extra morning hours) so we were able to get a really nice spot on one of the sandy beach areas. We had never been to one of the Disney water parks before so I wasn't sure what I needed to bring or not bring.

First of all, if you are going to be taking Disney transportation, be aware that the buses are all air conditioned and, if you are wet on your return trip, you're probably going to get cold and you're going to leave a wet spot on the bus seats. Nobody wants to sit down in a wet spot.

So.....we arrived early in our swim suits under shorts and t-shirts. We had on a cheap pair of flip flops. We had no idea where to go first or where to drop our stuff. First, we went to the store and rented a locker. We left our shorts and shirts in the locker. We also brought along underwear, a comb, deodorant and hats for the three of us. I stored those in the locker too. I also stored our park passes, my husband's wallet and cell phone in the locker.

Next we went in search for a spot to drop our towels, sunscreen and flip flops. We went about half way into the park and found a nice sandy beach. We did not take up three beach chairs because I thought it would be rude when we all three wouldn't be using them.

We took off in search of something to do. We got on a float in the lazy river first. I am glad we did this because we were able to get a feel for the park and a lay of the land. We went about half way around before we got off. Because we got there early, we were able to do everything except for Crush N Gusher (some things several times) before the park became super crowded. I'm really glad we didn't have our shoes on when we got to the slides. Some of the lifeguards made people take them off and hold them on your chest when you went down. That would have been a pain!

By 1:30 p.m. or so, we decided to head back to our resort and grab some lunch.

There are showers in the changing/bathrooms and we made a quick use of them because swimming with the sharks in the Shark Reef left us cold and salty. We changed back into our clothes and hopped back on the bus to the CBR all nice and dry (except for our hair...but we had on hats).

Hope this bit of information helps, Lisa

 

[JennyDrake]

Dear Lisa,
THANK YOU for the great information. I will be at TL for the first time ever on August 10th. Your post was very helpful.
Jenny

 

[salmoneous]

I always wear shoes, a shirt and bring a beach towel at a minimum. We usually also have a cooler of food/drink. If nothing else, that stuff holds your chairs/space for you. We just leave it there and nobody ever messes with it. I wouldn't leave anything valuable.

 

[chamonix]

Thank you, Lisa! That was a really helpful post for those of us who have never been to TL.

We have a rental car, so no worries about the bus.

Now I am wondering though: should we bring beach towels from home? I understand you can rent towels at TL, or could I just bring the pool towels from the Polynesian?

 

[sharonmickey]

I buy inexpensive beach towels at home. I can find them this time of year for under $5. That way if they are misplaced it is not a big problem. Your own beach towels make your chairs easier to find.

Definately wear flip flops. I burned my feet on the pavement last year - and I ALWAYS walk around barefoot at home.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thank you, Lisa! That was a really helpful post for those of us who have never been to TL.

We have a rental car, so no worries about the bus.

Now I am wondering though: should we bring beach towels from home? I understand you can rent towels at TL, or could I just bring the pool towels from the Polynesian?

I brought along our own beach towels. Our local Wal-Mart has some for just $5.00 and some of the better ones are on clearance for $9.00.

I asked a lot of questions here on the boards before I headed to Typhoon Lagoon but some of them were never answered. That's why I tried to add in some extra information.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that the lockers come in two different sizes but they cost the same (at least while we were there). So, we rented the larger one. You will be given a key on a stretchy wrist band which my husband just kept around his wrist.

At some point on the lazy river, you will go under a large waterfall. Just before going under, a Photo Pass photographer will take your photo. Be prepared because they just, literally, throw our Photo Pass card at you after you pass by. It'll be on a wrist band too.

Lisa

 

[Smile4Me]

Lisa,
Thank you so much for the great info! We were planning on doing both TL and Blizzard Beach in one day but weren't sure if we could get to everything at TL by early afternoon and then move on to BB, but from your advice it seems possible!
I am just excited to go to such a great themed waterpark!

 

[Autoeng]

I don't care for swim shoes but wear sandles (the kind with velcro straps across the top of the feet) when in the water where rocks or hot surfaces will be a problem. Will I have any problem in TL with wearing sandles in the water (i.e. against the rules).

 

[ZoZo]

I had the same question last fall before going to TL the first time. I wore flip flops to the park, but also brought some "aqua socks" to wear around the park. I was surprised that I found them to be a pain to use - when you go on body slides, it works better if you take them off (so you won't get "stuck" on the slide) and that means you have to take them off and hold them while on the slide. I gave up using them after the first hour or so - didn't need 'em at all. Even though it was a hot day (80+ degrees), the pavement didn't get hot, and it wasn't too rough on my tender feet.

As far as not bringing anything with you to the park, I would suggest bringing a small bag with a minimal amount of stuff (sunscreen, bottled water, a small amount of money for a snack, your park pass). I didn't worry about leaving under my beach chair at all, since there wasn't anything really valuable in it. I wore a t-shirt and pair of shorts over my swimsuit - no way was I going to wear my swimsuit on the bus with no cover-up (I'm 45 - no way! I need more coverage than that!).

 

[Autoeng]

I wore flip flops to the park, but also brought some "aqua socks" to wear around the park. I was surprised that I found them to be a pain to use - when you go on body slides, it works better if you take them off (so you won't get "stuck" on the slide) and that means you have to take them off and hold them while on the slide.

Can you clarify please? You found the flip flops or aqua socks a pain? I figure aqua socks as I can't see wearing flip flops on any water ride without loosing them.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We wear flip flops to the parks but don't wear them once we start walking around the water park.

 

[littlewitch34]

The last time we were there, my feet would have been very sore had I not been wearing my shoes. I don't remember if I wore flip-flops or water shoes, but the pavement was too hot for my bare feet. .

When I was at Blizzard Beach, I think they sprayed the pavement paths to keep them from being too too hot. Of course, the bottoms of my feet aren't as good about detecting temperature!