Typhoon Lagoon - A warning

[TheGoofster]

This trip we decided to give the 2 water parks a try - we absolutely loved them. Can't wait to go back and do them again.
However, I think a word of warning might be in line about the 6 foot waves at TL.
Now, I had heard all about the waves here on the DIS, and then I had the pleasure of experiencing them for myself during our trip there - they truly are a whole heaping bunch of fun. BUT, don't make the same mistake I did, and underestimate those suckers.
After spending about an hour or so swimming out to, and trying to body surf them back in, I had the wonderful brainstorm of sitting in the shallow end of the bay with my 2 kids and letting he wave come to us. I told the kids, "Hey, let's sit here (in about 2 inches of water), and see how strong the wave is when it gets to us". Now, keep in mind the bottom of the pool at this point is extremely rough (kind of like someone lined it with sand paper). So, here we are sitting in our 2 inches of water when we heard the big "boom" that indicates the wave is coming. Closer and closer the wave approached, and I noticed that it really wasn't getting all that much smaller as it neared our position. I mean, surely it had to lose it's force after traveling so far, right?
WRONG!!! By the time the wave reached it, it was still well over my head (from a sitting position). Suddenly all three of us went from a sitting position to that of a tumbleweed being blown around in a strong desert storm. The experience might not have been all that bad had not the bottom of the pool decided to sand the skin off of a good chunk of my arm. My daughter finally managed to pull herself away from the wave, and she too had a nice raspberry on her arm to show for the experience. It has been almost 10 days since our visit to TL, and still my arm is pretty tender in that spot.
There was a life guard who was watching us the whole time (and I can only imagine what he was thinking), and as soon as I finally managed to drag myself back to my feet, I looked at him, and said "boy that was a stupid idea, wasn't it?" to which he simply nodded (with somewhat of a smug look on his face I might add).
So, my word of advice to anybody else who might be going to TL for the first time is this - Don't underestimate those waves.

 

[Coach81]

Good point! My 8 year old was injured by a rather large man due to the waves. He was rolled into my son, and he (son) came up crying his eyes out.

The wave pool is fun.. but caution should be used.

 

[skier_pete]

All I can say is...your right!

That and I love your avatar!

 

[disneydiva1313]

I absolutely love this wave pool, but the same thing happened to my friends and I a couple years ago...and we all have the scars to prove it. The waves are definitely rougher the closer you get to the edge of the pool.

 

[mjp12831]

in this day and age of being uber conscious of lawsuits and injury risks, it's very hard to believe the TL wave pool exists

 

[scubamouse]

I've been in quite a few wave pools and that one is so much bigger than any I've been in. My kids and I all were knocked flat out by it and we were/are competitive swimmmers! My kids are 8 and 10 and were totally freaked out by it!

 

[kellieinwonderland]

I have a weird wave pool phobia.....I am a huge themepark person and I love all of the thrill rides, but I stay away from wave pools!

I'm not a super strong swimmer, but I'm not afraid of being in the water or anything (I'm an avid scuba diver). Anyways, when I was a kid (probably 12 or so) I was in a super crowded wave pool at a local waterpark and I ended up hitting my funny bone really bad on the handle of my tube, then I was knocked off my tube and kept being pushed under the water by other people around me in their tubes! To this day (I'm 26 now) I have no desire to hang out in a wave pool!

Now I know that's not the norm and wave pools can be really fun, but just be careful! Thanks for the warning about the huge waves in the shallow end of the pool too because that's probably where I would have been hanging out!

 

[diamondcharl]

Awwww! Sorry you got hurt. That stinks that the lifeguard just watched you and your kids get hurt. Thanks so much for the heads up cuz we plan on doing TL.

 

[Ela1972]

We did the same and my DD11 had scrapes down her leg from a crouched position.

It is quite vicious in the shallows!! But fun!!!

 

[dburg30]

OK.. I'll be the one to ask.. You had played in the tide pool before this yes?? So....... Didnt you watch the waves to see what they did as they approached the 'land' part before embarking on this adventure??? Well, that question I guess has already been answered, hasnt it??

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Actually the waves in TL during normal hours are only five foot, not six.

We do the six foot waves during the morning surf lessons and the after-hours surf parties. For a surfing competition the waves will be about 6.5 feet.

They once tried maximum, which was 7.5 feet. This wiped out one lifeguard stand and most of the beach, so it was never repeated.

 

[stevenpensacola]

I'm surprised no one has ever been killed in the wave pool by the expert body surfers who begin way out in the pool and come rocketing in like a torpedo.

We went to TL earlier this year...and were rather disappointed. The slides in the park are very dated by water park standards. We found the slides to be boring...offering little or no excitement or fun.

The only exception being the Crush'n'Gusher water coaster...which I think Disney had to install to try and keep the park somewhat competitive.

It is a very beautiful park. I did enjoy the "swim with the sharks' pool...that was very cool (cold actually ).

Most of the slides appear to be some type of coated concrete...the body slides which you use w/o a mat were actually uncomfortable...were rough, and the friction got me bum a little warm.

I know most will disagree with my review...but this is an "untainted by the magic" review...my wife and kids would all second what I wrote...and we range from ages 14 to 48. We've been to quite a few "modern" water parks...WhiteWater Atlanta, Big Kahuna's, Holiday World. BGW, Schlitterbahn, Indiana Beach.... the rides at TL just do not compare.

There is a very nice section for toddlers...just keep them out of the big wave pool.

 

[TiaMaria]

Ooooo OP - that sounds painful!

My sister had something similar happen to her in August. Her DH and 2 kids were in the wave pool, playing further out. She was on a lounge chair. She decided to try it out, only didn't want to go too far out.

She said she went in to thigh-deep water and waited. She said she knew she was in trouble when she suddenly saw her feet above her head. She was knocked completely off her feet and was dragged towards "shore" - and unable to stand up or stop herself.

Well, she was washed into a big, strong man who righted her and smiled down at her. She looked down and much to her embarrassment, had one breast exposed!

Apparently when you are gasping for air after drowning, your last thought is checking yourself for a wardrobe malfunction!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Your story is the exact reason I stay out of wave pools. Every time I have ever gone in one, I end up with some kind of scrap on my body. I'll stick with the lazy river.

 

[ahill004]

Absolutely agree. Lots of fun but you need to be careful. My 4 year old was actually standing back against the far wall of the pool - past even the shallow part where you were sitting. When the waves hit they crashed her into the wall behind her and left one thigh cut and bleeding pretty badly. However, she and her sister loved the waves when we held onto them and told them when to hold their breath, letting the big waves bring us to the shallow end.

 

[Coach81]

Ooooo OP - that sounds painful!

My sister had something similar happen to her in August. Her DH and 2 kids were in the wave pool, playing further out. She was on a lounge chair. She decided to try it out, only didn't want to go too far out.

She said she went in to thigh-deep water and waited. She said she knew she was in trouble when she suddenly saw her feet above her head. She was knocked completely off her feet and was dragged towards "shore" - and unable to stand up or stop herself.

Well, she was washed into a big, strong may who righted her and smiled down at her. She looked down and much to her embarrassment, had one breast exposed!

Apparently when you are gasping for air after drowning, your last thought is checking yourself for a wardrobe malfunction!!

 

[lucyem]

We have a family legend about the day my mother rode a strange man to shore at the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool.....

 

[Dizneydaz]

OP sorry about your experience. But we love TL, mostly due to the wave pool. Only recently have I let DD go in the wave pool without a life vest. She just turned 11 yesterday. I think I let her go unvested 2 years ago when she was 9. But I still stood by her and we held hands. Last year she was more adventurous.

The bottom is really rough! That's why my favorite way to play in the wave pool is to dive into the waves. Less being thrown about.

Oh, and watch your googles, water shoes, etc. They can be knocked off you. Last year DD lost her clear googles. We looked around for a few minutes near the shore and one of the lifeguards asked what we were looking for. I told her and she handed them to me. So much easier than the time I lost them in the bobbing pool at BB. Took me forever to find those clear ones. This year we are taking colored goggles only!

 

[disneypolybride2008]

sorry to hear about your experience, hope your bump goes away soon

I lost my goggles thanks to a little kid who flew into my face when the wave came and knocked them off me.

I strongly suggest wearing watershoes. I got a HUGE cut right under my big toe.. didnt hurt at all b/c it was in the callus, but it sure bled all over. I was just walking in the shallow part of the wave pool.

 

[chabs]

You also have to look to see who's within 4 feet of you when the wave crashes. The people further out in the water will run over the top of you and you'll end up crushing whoever is in front of you closer to shore. We really like the wave pool but I ended up getting out when we were there this August because twice I was smacked in the head by someone who was further out then me bodysurfing their way back in. I was really afraid that I was going to get seriously hurt. I'm surprised that they don't shut the waves off if the wave pools are really crowded.