Pooh Sized at Typhoon Lagoon

[TrixieLouMagoo]

Hello all!

I am pooh sized (5'2", size 22) and just finished an 8 day trip at the World. (It was quite awesome.)

I went with the youth theater company I work with. Read: 16 very fit teenagers to keep up with!

This year we had park hoppers that included the water parks. I was wary about attending the water parks for various reasons that all led back to my size. I tried to find information on the Dis about being pooh sized at the water parks and didn't come up with much information.

I am now writing to tell you that if you are nervous about attending Typhoon Lagoon because of your size, just stop that anxiety now and go! You will have a wonderful time!

First of all, there will be hundred of people there in all shapes and sizes. Everybody is too busy enjoying themselves to even give you a second glance. And, if you even think to take a moment to look around, you will notice billions of people who look just like you.

I was petrified of going on the covered water slides. I was convinced I would get stuck in the tube. I was sure I would turn into Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when he gets sucked into the tube of chocolate. This was a silly fear. There was ample room for me on everything. I even asked the cast members at every covered slide if I would fit. They all smiled and said, "Yes, of course" like I was crazy for even asking. (But, in a nice way that made me feel good, of course!)

I was able to do EVERYTHING at Typhoon Lagoon. I wore a bathing suit that I call my "swim dress". It is a regular suit with an over piece that looks like a little dress. It gave my "ladies" great support and covered my butt and thighs which made me much less self conscious. After awhile I pretty much forgot I was in a bathing suit.

Getting out of the rafts at the end of a slide or the water coaster was a bit clumsy, but I think that was more about my lack of grace than my size. I saw lots of people capsize or almost capsize when they landed in a pool. The water coaster is great fun, but do keep your behind up if you want to avoid bruises!

My one bit of advice, other than just go and have fun and have no worries, is to skip, or ride at your own risk, Humunga Kowabunga. It is a water slide with a 5 story vertical drop. It is lots of fun until those last few seconds when you feel your bathing suit start riding up and you are left with THE WORST wedgie of your life. Now, when I say the worst wedgie of your life, I want you to take what you are imagining and multiply that by 1,000. The dress part of my suit was practically over my head and my regular suit was now a thong. Thank god no one was behind me or they would have gotten a show they did not pay for. It was terrible! Be warned!

I am only 27 and am pretty agile. There are a lot of stairs to get to up to water slides, and you have to carry your own raft. Feel free to take it easy and let people pass you if you need to. Also, the wave pool and the lazy river are also great fun!

I did not end up going to Blizzard Beach - I chose MK instead. However, my understanding is that I could have also done everything there.

So, go! Enjoy! WDW is so pooh friendly! Oh! Also, reapply sunscreen like its your job. I thought I put enough on, but ended up with a killer sunburn. The water reflects the sun and makes it so much more intense.

I can't believe how much fun I ended up having! That day was one of the best of the trip! Hooray! I can't wait to go back!

 

[Nadjalu]

What a wonderful report and so nice of you to share!!

I haven't been to the water parks, as we spend to much time in the main parks. But eventually I will want to experience them and this makes me feel more prepared to do so.

Thank you for sharing!!

 

[wintershawl]

Hello all!

I am pooh sized (5'2", size 22) and just finished an 8 day trip at the World. (It was quite awesome.)

I went with the youth theater company I work with. Read: 16 very fit teenagers to keep up with!

This year we had park hoppers that included the water parks. I was wary about attending the water parks for various reasons that all led back to my size. I tried to find information on the Dis about being pooh sized at the water parks and didn't come up with much information.

I am now writing to tell you that if you are nervous about attending Typhoon Lagoon because of your size, just stop that anxiety now and go! You will have a wonderful time!

First of all, there will be hundred of people there in all shapes and sizes. Everybody is too busy enjoying themselves to even give you a second glance. And, if you even think to take a moment to look around, you will notice billions of people who look just like you.

I was petrified of going on the covered water slides. I was convinced I would get stuck in the tube. I was sure I would turn into Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when he gets sucked into the tube of chocolate. This was a silly fear. There was ample room for me on everything. I even asked the cast members at every covered slide if I would fit. They all smiled and said, "Yes, of course" like I was crazy for even asking. (But, in a nice way that made me feel good, of course!)

I was able to do EVERYTHING at Typhoon Lagoon. I wore a bathing suit that I call my "swim dress". It is a regular suit with an over piece that looks like a little dress. It gave my "ladies" great support and covered my butt and thighs which made me much less self conscious. After awhile I pretty much forgot I was in a bathing suit.

Getting out of the rafts at the end of a slide or the water coaster was a bit clumsy, but I think that was more about my lack of grace than my size. I saw lots of people capsize or almost capsize when they landed in a pool. The water coaster is great fun, but do keep your behind up if you want to avoid bruises!

My one bit of advice, other than just go and have fun and have no worries, is to skip, or ride at your own risk, Humunga Kowabunga. It is a water slide with a 5 story vertical drop. It is lots of fun until those last few seconds when you feel your bathing suit start riding up and you are left with THE WORST wedgie of your life. Now, when I say the worst wedgie of your life, I want you to take what you are imagining and multiply that by 1,000. The dress part of my suit was practically over my head and my regular suit was now a thong. Thank god no one was behind me or they would have gotten a show they did not pay for. It was terrible! Be warned!

I am only 27 and am pretty agile. There are a lot of stairs to get to up to water slides, and you have to carry your own raft. Feel free to take it easy and let people pass you if you need to. Also, the wave pool and the lazy river are also great fun!

I did not end up going to Blizzard Beach - I chose MK instead. However, my understanding is that I could have also done everything there.

So, go! Enjoy! WDW is so pooh friendly! Oh! Also, reapply sunscreen like its your job. I thought I put enough on, but ended up with a killer sunburn. The water reflects the sun and makes it so much more intense.

I can't believe how much fun I ended up having! That day was one of the best of the trip! Hooray! I can't wait to go back!

Glad you had a great time! I agree with the PP, glad you posted this report. I am about your size, just a little taller and a little "plumper" but not by much. My feelings are that I have the right to swim just as much as any one else. My size should not stop me. I get a little self-conscious when I first go to a pool, but I quickly get over that. I do my best to get a suit that won't totally "blind" others. We don't usually do the water parks, but I was at TL once, and I LOVED the lazy river!! I want one in my back yard!

So happy you had an awesome experience!!!

 

[zendisney]

Thanks for sharing this. I appreciate your story and sound advice.
I know at some point my dd 5 is going to go to a water park and the anxiety I feel just thinking about it makes me nervous... Reading your post makes me feel better.

 

[Sandy61]

Thank you for posting this. I am almost exactly your height and size and have been nervous about going. I am more relaxed about it now. I have a cute swimsuit and a tie on swim skirt. I will hold on to the skirt with my life. It sounds like no one will pay much attention to me. Thanks for the warning about the stairs and carrying the rafts.

Question...on the lazy river I am not graceful at getting in a raft. Can I put it over my head to my waist and go down river on my stomach? It seems akward to sit in raft for 20 minutes holding my head up like that. Any tips on how to get in raft gracefully?

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

thank you for posting this! i too, also just got back a couple weeks ago and had a fabulous time at the water parks. i was also very nervous as just a year ago when i went, i was a size 12 (5'2" as well) and able to bounce around like a jack rabbit... but after some medical issues and a year's time, i'm still 5'2"... but a size 20. i remembered the wedgie at my lighter weight from humunga kowabunga and decided to skip it, lol. i did everything else and had a great time... same with blizzard beach, except i left out the 2 big slides. honestly, it was so HOT HOT HOT when we went, my self-consciousness went out the window and i just wanted to be under water. we ended up going almost everyday in the afternoon we had so much fun

 

[bluemoon1070]

I just wanted to add to the wonderful trip report. I am 5'5" and am size 28/30 and I go to the waterparks and have a blast. The first time I was terribly nervous but now I just go and have fun. I also cover up with swim shorts under my swim dress and I always see people my size there as well.

I want to give a word of warning for the water coaster at typhoon lagoon. My husband and I did a double raft and I was terrified the whole time. In addition the rollers kept catching my behind and I had HUGe bruises for a long time after that trip.

As for the lazy river, Disney no longer has attendants at the entrance points, which I think is wonderful. I don't have to be embarassed as my husband helps me on my tube. And the great thing is that you can go however you want to. Some people don't even use a tube.

So take the advice of the over panicker and go to the water parks and have a BLAST.

 

[Sandy61]

I just wanted to add to the wonderful trip report. I am 5'5" and am size 28/30 and I go to the waterparks and have a blast. The first time I was terribly nervous but now I just go and have fun. I also cover up with swim shorts under my swim dress and I always see people my size there as well.

I want to give a word of warning for the water coaster at typhoon lagoon. My husband and I did a double raft and I was terrified the whole time. In addition the rollers kept catching my behind and I had HUGe bruises for a long time after that trip.

As for the lazy river, Disney no longer has attendants at the entrance points, which I think is wonderful. I don't have to be embarassed as my husband helps me on my tube. And the great thing is that you can go however you want to. Some people don't even use a tube.

So take the advice of the over panicker and go to the water parks and have a BLAST.

Which coaster gave you bruises? Crush and Gusher?

 

[bluemoon1070]

Which coaster gave you bruises? Crush and Gusher?

Yep. It crushed and gushed me all right lol

 

[myasma]

I too am pooh sized and went with my two pooh sized friends to both water parks,TL and BB, and we had no problems. We all had a great time. Crush N' Gusher was hard on the posterior but that was solved by raising my butt up a bit. Blizzard Beach was fun but the steps were killer there, Worse than Typhoon Lagoon. Seriously though, I almost stopped breathing going up the steps and then going down the slide with water in my mouth was not fun. Now I know how drowning feels. Besides that though, both water parks are awesome. Blizzard Beach has the most amazing lazy river. Unlike anything I have ever experienced. In one park I wore my one piece with no cover up and had no problems. No one is looking at others and everyone is there to have fun.

 

[moviekid21]

Yesterday I went with my room mate and we both had a great time at TL.

I am 6'0, 290 lbs, and my friend is bigger too. We were able to do the group slide with her, her sis, and I in one raft (though our behinds dragged a few times which was cured by us lifting our bums up a little), She did Crush'n Gusher solo, while me and her sis (who is also slightly pooh sized) did as a couples tube and we all made it out alive, then we did Mayday Falls, Storm Sliders and the Shark Reef- all with no one stuck!

My friend was afraid she'd get stuck, or flip over in a tube on one of the slides, but she made it out fine each time ( ) and really enjoyed herself.

I hope anyone else who is pooh sized gets a chance to enjoy this fun water park too.

Slightly off subject- I am not a fan of water parks. Growing up I had visited some pretty questionable parks, so as an adult I wasn't too excited about going here. I just have to say- I LOVED IT! Disney did a great job. It felt clean and safe. I can't wait to check out BB soon!

 

[ZoZo]

Question...on the lazy river I am not graceful at getting in a raft. Can I put it over my head to my waist and go down river on my stomach? It seems akward to sit in raft for 20 minutes holding my head up like that. Any tips on how to get in raft gracefully?

I have a great way to get into the tubes in the lazy river! Stand on the steps (there are several places to get in and out where there are steps). You can easily get onto your tube by standing on a step, then sitting on/in your tube, backward. Your behind is down in the middle of the tube, with your feet going out one side, and your head and shoulders out the other.. You can float along for ages that way, and it's really comfortable. That way, you can use your arms and hands to paddle and change direction.

I don't think you'll want to go downriver on your stomach, as you suggest - it would be pretty awkward and you'd probably have trouble staying on top of your tube. You could try the "over the head" maneuver, but I don't think it would fit (the holes aren't big enough for many folks).

I found that standing on the steps works the best. You see folks trying to get in from a standing position while in the water, and they just can't get enough momentum to get into the tube without having it slip out from under them. By standing on the steps, you're already above the tube and don't have to haul your whole body out of the water to get into the tube.

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

Great report! I am sure it will help ease someone's fears about heading to the waterparks. Very thoughtful of you!

 

[dreams4disney]

Thanks for your post! It is making me feel much better about doing water parks with my husband and kids. I am always afraid of people thinking of how big I am or laughing at me. Pathetic I am sure. You have made me feel much better.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I just had this same conversation about Augustus Gloop with my cousin last week! No lie. I seriously was telling her how I was nervous to go and get stuck in the tubes, and she started talking about Augustus! Too funny.

Glad to hear it won't be an issue. Also glad to know my wobbly bits won't be paid much attention! I also use the stand on a step and flop back into the tube method, so I am glad it is possible there. I love me some lazy rivers!!!