Typhoon Lagoon for just the day

Shanna-like-Banana

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May 21, 2009
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Tell me everything about Typhoon Lagoon.

Our youngest decided he wants to go to Florida for this birthday. So we will be staying with my dad in Sarasota for the week, and decided we're going to take him to Typhoon Lagoon on his Birthday.Our family of 5 me, DH, DD17, DS11, DS turning 10.

I looked up the hours on our day will be 10am until 8pm.

Tell me everything I need to know.

Is it best to be there first in line and set up in one spot for the day ? Where ? Or maybe move around 2-3 times during the day ? What is the seating like ? Just sand areas where we need to bring our own blankets or are there beach lounges and chairs we can "claim" for the day?

Do they pretty much stick to their hours ? Or do they open early ?

Can you bring in small coolers/backpack coolers (no big or rolling ones) ?

Are there any A/C areas ?

Are there any indoor food places ? I looked on AllEars and they all look like outside walk up kiosks. What are the best food places ? Which ones to avoid ?

Are there any certain things to do that are unadvertised? (Think like Jedi training at DHS or Agent P at Epcot)

Do most people stay the entire day? 10-8pm ?

Are there changing areas, like most resort pools ? Are there showers in them too ?

Are there any things you're not allowed to bring, other than the obvious like glass and booze ?
 
We did a day at TL, I think it was Sat, 6/3. We got there around 9:45 and walked up to where they were holding people. I think they were actually a couple minutes late letting people go because the path to the left of us went a minute or 2 earlier. They finally blew a horn and our keepers let everyone go. I should of gotten there a little earlier and grabbed an umbrella and beach chairs. I hadn't been in a long time and didn't know umbrellas were available free. There were plenty of chairs available, but you have to think about where the sun will be later in the day. We were up against the trees by an entrance to the wave pool, with a sun net over us. We were in shade all day and still got burned! The net cast shade but didn't block the sun's rays apparently. It seemed like most people set up camp and came and went during the day. We left around 3:00ish because a storm was coming in. People around us either came early and left midday or came later and left later. I saw some folks with smaller coolers but none on wheels, but wasn't really looking for them either. I think there's A/C in the shops. My kids grabbed stuff from the outdoor food places. I don't think there's an indoor restaurant, but I wasn't looking for one either so I could be wrong. I can't recommend one place over another cause my kids just wanted chicken strips and ice cream. There are showers and changing areas in the bathrooms. I didn't see anyone with pool toys. They only thing I saw brought from home were some arm floats and life jackets for kids. They provide life jackets in all sizes if you need them and they have pool noodles and tubes in the lazy river.
 
TL is our favorite water park! We have been a few times so I'll try to help.

Knowing your trip dates might help. We have been in August where seating was near impossible to find unless you came at opening. We got our lounge chairs at opening and the rest of the day saw people just hovering waiting on someone to vacate so they could take over. We've also been in October when there were plentiful open seats all day long.

Any chance to splurge and rent a cabana?? I would try to do this if at all possible especially if trying to stay all day in the summer.

I think the stores have AC but they are still kind of "open air."

No indoor restaurant.

On things not to bring-- I know bathing suits cannot be the kind with metal parts.

There are changing rooms and showers.

Personally, we do not stay all day. 10-2 or 3 is about our limit. The sun gets to be a bit much.

Bring your own towels unless you want to rent them.

I can't remember the name of the place we eat but they have standard Disney QS fare. Burgers etc. I've heard TL is the last place now in WDW to get a jalapeño cream cheese pretzel. We used to get these in Hollywood Studios, but no more. They are amazing!

Not sure about the coolers. We like buying the refillable mugs for the soda stations. They have cooling/misting areas by the sodas.
 

Also be sure to do the Crushin Gusher!

And do it early, along with the rest of the slides. The lines build long in the summer as the day goes on. Once you've ridden all the rides you want, then hit the wave pool and lazy river
 
Tell me everything about Typhoon Lagoon.

Our youngest decided he wants to go to Florida for this birthday. So we will be staying with my dad in Sarasota for the week, and decided we're going to take him to Typhoon Lagoon on his Birthday.Our family of 5 me, DH, DD17, DS11, DS turning 10.

I looked up the hours on our day will be 10am until 8pm.

Tell me everything I need to know.

Is it best to be there first in line and set up in one spot for the day ? Where ? Or maybe move around 2-3 times during the day ? What is the seating like ? Just sand areas where we need to bring our own blankets or are there beach lounges and chairs we can "claim" for the day?

Do they pretty much stick to their hours ? Or do they open early ?

Can you bring in small coolers/backpack coolers (no big or rolling ones) ?

Are there any A/C areas ?

Are there any indoor food places ? I looked on AllEars and they all look like outside walk up kiosks. What are the best food places ? Which ones to avoid ?

Are there any certain things to do that are unadvertised? (Think like Jedi training at DHS or Agent P at Epcot)

Do most people stay the entire day? 10-8pm ?

Are there changing areas, like most resort pools ? Are there showers in them too ?

Are there any things you're not allowed to bring, other than the obvious like glass and booze ?

We love the water parks and go every trip. We're here now, and were just in TL a few days ago.

Yes, you can set up camp in one spot for the day, no need to move around. Much of the seating is in the sand, but not all of it. You can't bring a blanket and spread it out, no room for it. Beach chairs everywhere, so it'll be easy to find a spot. Just my own opinion, but the cabana rentals are a huge...enormous...waste of money. You can get private and shaded spots for free.

Get there at 9:55am, no need to be earlier. In the first hour, hit the big slides, there will be no lines.

We bring our own food in, so I can't comment on what they serve. Yes, you can bring a bag in, we bring in two...one for towels, one for food. They're large ones too

There are a few large places to get changed, no worries there.

There are a TON of stairs to climb, to get to the top. Some of the slides actually have stairs that go up 3 steps, down 2, up 5, down 3, etc...so it's a long walk.
 
Love Typhoon Lagoon, and when we lived in Sarasota and our kids were young we would go up for the day. Parking is usually available, and the crowds start to thin out in the afternoon.
 
We love TL! We go every year.

Our favorite is the surf pool. We are all strong swimmers and really enjoy the surf pool. It has surf size waves that are huge, it is not like a wave pool. Even if you are not a strong swimmers you can still enjoy the pool in the shallower parts.

We need a spot out of the sun and always get a cabana, even just for the two of us. The cabanas are very nice, have a locker, plenty of towels, refillable mugs, an attendant that will bring you food and drinks.

You can bring your own cooler, we see lots of people do this.

We usually go at opening and stay until 2PM, that's about all we can handle.
 
My two suggestions:

Rent a Beachcomber Shack

Try the mini donuts
 


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