Typhoon Lagoon Questions

[tss2]

My family has never been to Typhoon Lagoon and we plan on going in July (after the 4th, probably a thurs, fri or saturday) for the day. Does anyone have any tips or things we should bring with us? Is it really crowded so that we should get there close to park opening? Do we need to wear water shoes? We have those strap on water sandles can we wear them on the water slides? Do people bring their own towels or rent them? We are staying at pop century so we can take the bus there. We are looking forward to our visit, but not sure which day to go. Any help would be great! Thanks!

 

[Alice Sr.]

I'm sure you will get some more specific advice, but from my experience if you are not there when they 1st open then you will not get a chair, until well after lunch (like mid afternoon) when the early people start to leave.

I don't think you can wear any type of water shoes on the slides.

Probably later in the week (farther from the very crowded 4th) but not on Saturday. If we decide to go on our next trip I'm going to get a "to go lunch"
from the Boardwalk Bakery or Sunshine because I have read many food complaints.

 

[lovethattink]

My family has never been to Typhoon Lagoon and we plan on going in July (after the 4th, probably a thurs, fri or saturday) for the day. Does anyone have any tips or things we should bring with us? Is it really crowded so that we should get there close to park opening? Do we need to wear water shoes? We have those strap on water sandles can we wear them on the water slides? Do people bring their own towels or rent them? We are staying at pop century so we can take the bus there. We are looking forward to our visit, but not sure which day to go. Any help would be great! Thanks!

We have PAP's and go to the water parks often. Finding a chair can be difficult, especially close to holidays. I'm sending you a PM of where we look if we can't find chairs right away. A towel is a good thing to bring. You can rent them, but we usually bring our own. I wear water shoes, but the rest of my family doesn't. I have sensitive bottoms on my feet. To me the paths are too hot, even though they spray them with water, and the pine needles from the trees hurt my feet too. I have never seen anyone wear water sandles on the slides. Hope this helps.

 

[tcfdick]

I have worn water sandals and my DS has worn water shoes on all of the slides at TL (except Humunga-Kowabunga, you aren't allowed any shoes on that one) and no one has ever said anything to me. I agree with lovethattink that the paths get really hot on the feet.
Last year I went to WDW the week of July 4th and I would definitely get to TL at opening or soon after because it gets really busy.

 

[slp87]

I agree with bringing your own towel. It makes finding your stuff a lot easier. We typically bring some of our older towels that aren't as fluffy and don't take much room to pack and if by chance they do get stolen, it's no big loss. The rented towels are all white and if it walks away, it will not be replaced for free.

We usually stake out just 2 chairs for our family because we're so busy in the water & on the slides that we're hardly ever using them.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Typhoon Lagoon will be very busy but to my family it was a welcome break from the crowds of late June last year. Somehow it was a little less hectic and much more relaxing than tramping through the parks for yet one more day. I agree with those who say go early and don't stake out more chairs than you'll really need. I found that there was no point that our entire party of four (two adults and 2 10 year olds) was ever at the chairs at the same time.

 

[mjmcca]

I really love going to the water parks later in the day. They are open later inthe summer so you can stay longer. The crowds are gone for the most part.I also have a PAP so it isnt like i am burning a whole days ticket or a plus option for a few hours.

 

[AJKMOM]

Make sure you remember where your chair is! We were so excited to be there, we could not find our towels when we wanted to take a lunch break.

 

[snowy76]

Make sure you remember where your chair is! We were so excited to be there, we could not find our towels when we wanted to take a lunch break.

I am getting a visual on this and I have to share...
Last summer we stayed at AKL and ate breakfast almost every morning at Boma. DD8 at the time was so into the buffet that she walked to someone ELSE's table and sat down to start eating. Needless to say when DH and I got back with our food we started to panic a bit, since we knew Maddie had already gotten her food. That's when I spotted her just munching away on her waffles on the other end of the restaurant, all by herself. Afterwards we could laugh about it but it was pretty scary for about three minutes.

The moral of the story is: better to lose your towels than your DD!

 

[Epcot82Guy]

The chair stakeout does take awhile. Therefore, I second (or fifth) the getting there early part. However, when I went with my friends, we would always just get a locker, and one person be on key duty. We could all (4 of us) usually fit our stuff in a locker (4 towels, 2 sunscreens, and clothes), and then you have a guarantee of it being there. That you usually can get throughout the day.

Another tip I have is that, depending on what all you are doing that day, it might be worth your while to wait and go to the park later (i.e. around noon) in that it can start to clear out soon after that. Do some of the lesser attractions first (like the wave pool and river), and the slides should be cleared out in a couple hours or so.

Either way, TL is great and a really relaxing atmosphere. It also is great being across from DTD. I always brought a change of clothes and went straight over to the Marketplace to bum around for awhile and have dinner (usually at a resort, though).

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

If you are going to swim with sharks dont forget your waterproof disposable camera

 

[lovethattink]

I am getting a visual on this and I have to share...
Last summer we stayed at AKL and ate breakfast almost every morning at Boma. DD8 at the time was so into the buffet that she walked to someone ELSE's table and sat down to start eating. Needless to say when DH and I got back with our food we started to panic a bit, since we knew Maddie had already gotten her food. That's when I spotted her just munching away on her waffles on the other end of the restaurant, all by herself. Afterwards we could laugh about it but it was pretty scary for about three minutes.

The moral of the story is: better to lose your towels than your DD!

Cute, but scary. Last night at Cici's, a little girl sat down with me at our table while dh and ds were up from the table. Even seeing me, she didn't realize she was at the wrong table. She just sat there looking out the window until someone she was with, told her she was at the wrong table.

 

[VistaLeigh'smommy]

I worked at Blizzard Beach during fouth of July in 2002. That is when crowds weren't back up to full blown craziness because of September 11th.

My advice is get there early, and by early I mean an hour before they open. It will fill up FAST. We would close to capacity at 11 on a REGULAR day in August, so July 4th we were closed FAST. ... sure they open up later in the day (after the 3:00 thunderstorms) but if you get there early you can get on two or three rides before anyone else, and that is ALWAYS fun. People always go to Typhoon because it's what they think of when they think of a Disney water park. (considering Blizzard is still less then 10 years old).

So get there early and bring a towel to avoid the line to rent them.

HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[HANDYMOM]

Last May we were at DW for a week. Instead of going to TL for an entire day, we followed Tour Guide Mike's advice to take advantage of meal times in the other parks and then go to TL. We enjoyed shorter lines at lunchtime in the MK or AK then went to the nearest resort to hop a bus to TL. Arriving between 1:30 and 2 gave us plenty of time to enjoy the park, lower crowds and chairs galore.

Enjoy! We can't wait until May 2006 for our return. The Crush n Gusher is calling our names

 

[LittleMermaidsMom]

Another item I would recommend bringing is one of those necklaces with the waterproof container attached. They sell them at the waterparks, however you can find them much cheaper at Target or Walmart. We would put our KTTW card and our money in it. We also bring our own towels and usually only stake out 1-2 chairs, since most of the time we are on the slides or in the water.

I would either go very early when the park first opens, because as mentioned above, the parks will close to capacity in the summer, or wait and go later in the afternoon, around 2 or 3, when they start to empty out.

By the way, I noticed you're from Sterling Heights... I'm in Warren!

 

[Seahag]

Hi all, We are going to be in Orlando in October - is TL open in the fall? The calendar on the Disney website only goes to August. If they are open, what (basically) would the hours be?

TIA !

Edited to ask: can you leave the park & re-enter during the day?

Thanks guys

 

[tss2]

All your helpful input is great! and thanks for the PM. Looking forward to going to Typhoon Lagoon and being prepared thanks to your help!

 

[LisaS]

We were just at TL a few weeks ago. For the first time ever, the CM at the top of the three Storm Slides made us take off our Teva sandals before going down the slides. We've always been allowed to keep them on in the past. Not a problem -- but if we had known before hand we would have left them at the sitting area at the bottom of the slides so we didn't have to hold on to them on the way down.

The wave pool at TL is really fun but I want to warn you that the waves are very powerful. It's best to jump up into the wave as it gets to you and sort of body surf with the wave rather than try to stand firm and let it pass you by. If you just stand there you will find yourself knocked down hard to the bottom of the pool -- not a pleasant experience! Also hold on to your glasses or sunglasses if you wear them into the wave pool because the wave will knock them right off your face!

 

[tss2]

LittleMermaidsMom Hello neighbor!

I just noticed you are from warren, I've been slow on reading these posts. It has been so hot here in michigan I can't wait for TL! Less than a month till we go! I guess I will pack some old towels and either go early or hit mid afternoon.

 

[Miller1412]

If your kids are into autographs and characters be sure to bring your autograph books and a camera. I didn't expect to see characters at the water parks, but Lilo and Stitch were at Typhoon Lagoon and actually spent a lot of time with my kids in the dining area. We had the camera, but no autograph books.