Typhoon Lagoon - A warning

[diddldonna]

Thanks for your warning, we have never been to a disney water park before but plan on trying both this vacation so this warning is very helpful, thankyou.

So sorry you got hurt hope you all heal soon.

 

[scubamouse]

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).

Can I ask how you passed the swim test for certification?

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.

I agree with this. I thought it was just our family that was disappointed. We've been to WAter Country USA a number of times and love that there are so many whole family rides.

 

[mrbghd]

On my honeymoon in 1998 I was "impaled" by an 8 year lold who was bodysurfing. The kid was like a missle! And he contacted right were the fellas don't like to be impaled. AS I collect myself and get ready to yell this squealy little voice in a super heavy Australian accent pops out with "sorry mate, no worries." I have never laughed so hard after being hit in the nethers before. We still laugh about it now.

Back on topic, I think there are warning signs all around the wave pool and some common sense should be used. 5-6 ft waves are very, very powerful.

 

[Rose DiVerona]

I know! That wavepool is vicious. I always get knocked head over heels. You just have to hang on and pray you don't bump into anyone, and if you do, that they're part of your party. We're always careful to go out pretty far (still not over our heads, but not shallow enough not to really scrape the bottom). And let me tell you something--your swimming strength doesn't matter. I am a good swimmer and one of my friends can't swim at all, and we both had the same experience regarding the waves.

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

I stay out in the very deep end, next to the rope (I'm like a human floatation device) and just mosey over the waves. I naturally float and my hubby will hold on to me since he sinks like a stone. I don't body surf at all.

The last time we went we saw a middle aged gentlemen being helped out of the pool by lifeguards. He was holding his arm funny so I think he may have had an incident that caused him to break his arm (it looked really bent and droopy). They hustled him out of there.

I just realized my avatar is us years ago at TL. That wave that is coming behind us actually knocked all of us over and slammed me pretty good!

 

[tmq2766]

about 3-4 years ago we (me and my daughter 11-12 at the time) decided to body surf at about the 3 foot area... I came up out of the water with blood running down my face because of some big guy and his long tallon like toe nail that cut the bridge of my nose open. (Ewwwwwwwwww) all I remember is being upside down with my eyes open and seeing this big hairy foot coming my way.

 

[stevenpensacola]

When we were there last, there was a older gentlemen at the very front of the line. He was in excellent shape for any age.

As the time for the rope drop neared, he proceeded to slip off the sweat pants he was wearing, revealing a speedo type swimsuit. He then coated himself down with sunscreen, and inserted custom earplugs in his ears.

Just before the rope was dropped, he put on a swim cap and goggles...and picked up all his stuff...when the rope dropped...poof...he was gone.

I later saw him in the wave pool. He would very strongly swim way way out in the pool...where he would float...and wait for the next wave...which he'd body surf for quite a ways. He was able to pull out of the wave as he neared the wall of folks in the shallower water...he'd then swim back out...I was tired just watching him.

It was really amazing the speed at which he traveled within the wave. Would not want to have been hit by him.

 

[drag n' fly]

On our first visit to TL I was sitting in the shallow part also. A big mutha of a wave hit me and tumbleweeded me across the pool and slammed me directly into the wall face first. It wasn't pretty. As soon as I got my bearings straight I stood up and blood was gushing from my nose. The lifeguard looked me right in the eye and did not move an inch. It was pouring down my face and swimsuit as I was trying to exit the pool ASAP. I got out and again no one even blinked an eye. I managed to get some paper towell to begin soaking it up. In the end no one offered assistance and I ended up with a concussion and a pretty bruised face. I still do not understand to this day why not a single staff member offered assistance

 

[mickaholic4077]

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.

Haven't read the whole thread ,but does anyone other than me think that the life guard shouldn't have had such a smug look on his face??

 

[TheGoofster]

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.

I can't even imagine what a 7.5 wave must have been like!!!! Thanks for the info on the waves though!

Haven't read the whole thread ,but does anyone other than me think that the life guard shouldn't have had such a smug look on his face??

Actually I don't blame him. I can only imagine that the life guards must see quite a few Einsteins like me, and must be thinking to themselves, "oh boy, here we go again." Sure a word of warning might have been useful, but then again, I'm stubborn enough to probably have ignored it anyway.

 

[rufusrex]

The waves can be rough, and even at the end of the pool they still have power. My son, who loves big waves at the beach, took a couple nasty spills and scraped his knew pretty bad, so be careful.

 

[mollygirl13]

I'm afraid of the wave pool at TL!

 

[TheGoofster]

I'm afraid of the wave pool at TL!

Don't be afraid of it, but just give yourself a few minutes of watching it first before plunging into it. A couple of minutes of observation should give you all of the info you need to avoid any mishaps. It really is a great pool!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I love Typhoon Lagoon and its wave pool, but had this exact same experience happen there our very first trip to WDW back in 2004. My dd was 8 but very small for her age and she and I got separated and we both ended up skinned up. So I feel your pain!

Now I don't head out into the wave pool until just after a wave has passed so I have time to get deeper and away from that rough surface in the shallow part.