Typhoon Lagoon's Water Attractions are Still Closed

[Buttercup Roberts]

This past year, on two seperate occasions, a lightning storm ended up closing down Typhoon Lagoon on us.

The first time, we waited out the storm, and within 90 minutes it passed and we got some swim time in. But the second time, an hour went by, and it was about an hour left until closing, and they just closed the place completely.

We had Premium AP's at the time, so we weren't out anything but our time, but if we'd been paying at the gate or burning Hopper days my husband would have been pissed.

Did we just have a spot of bad luck, or is it a safe bet that the water parks are non-functional on summer afternoons?

We are debating getting regular non-Premium AP's next year, but this one issue with the water parks gives us pause. We do not want to be wasting $40 a person to hear over and over again, "Due to inclement weather, Typhoon Lagoon's water attractions are still closed."

 

[PCFriar80]

This past year, on two seperate occasions, a lightning storm ended up closing down Typhoon Lagoon on us.

The first time, we waited out the storm, and within 90 minutes it passed and we got some swim time in. But the second time, an hour went by, and it was about an hour left until closing, and they just closed the place completely.

We had Premium AP's at the time, so we weren't out anything but our time, but if we'd been paying at the gate or burning Hopper days my husband would have been pissed.

Did we just have a spot of bad luck, or is it a safe bet that the water parks are non-functional on summer afternoons?

We are debating getting regular non-Premium AP's next year, but this one issue with the water parks gives us pause. We do not want to be wasting $40 a person to hear over and over again, "Due to inclement weather, Typhoon Lagoon's water attractions are still closed."

Sorry, but weather happens! I believe it is in Disney's best interest, and the guests as well to close water parks when there is lightning or other inclement weather in the area. But to answer your questions; we were at Blizzard Beach three days in a row in late June...no problems. Concerning the AP vs. premium AP...if you go more than once to the water parks on the premium you are doing okay. There are a lot of things in the WDW experience that are affected by weather, from airline delays to hurricanes. We all roll the dice when we plan ahead and hope for the best when our dates do come up. I only wished is was 20 degrees warmer when I ran the 1/2 marathon last year!
Good luck with your decision!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Do you have any idea how much paperwork would be involved if a Guest was struck by lightning??????

The rule is as long as there is any electrical storm activity within five miles of TL all the slides and attractions will shut down immediately and people are requested to clear the beach.

And, BTW, only people who have single entry tickets will get a rain check, and then only if they were in the park for less than three hours if it closes due to weather.

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

I'm trying to figure out if we just hit a freak week where it was that bad every afternoon, or if Orlando weather in the summer *always* has lightning storms. Thanks for the report on your experience in June, that's good to hear that someone hit a spot of luck.

If we do buy one day admission tickets, how long do they have to close the attractions before they'll give you a rain ticket?

Debating whether or not they should close the park or not is some place I hope this thread doesn't have to go. We have our opinions like everyone else, but I'm hoping to see some real information about Orlando weather. I'm going to see if I can Google up some kind of lightning strike database somewhere.

 

[safetymom]

Orlando has the most lightening strikes in the US in the summer. We went to TL quite a few times this summer but we go in the morning when it opens and we avoided any problems with storms.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The Orlando area is the secondary lightning capital of the world, after the Nairobi, Kenya, area. In other words, choose either the Northern Hemisphere or Western Hemisphere and Orlando is it.

Normally we will start to issue rain checks if we expect to be closed for thirty minutes or longer. To get a rain check you must turn in your single entry ticket and we will check to see that the time you entered the park is within the last three hours before we closed it. Even if we have started to issue Rain Checks, if the park is reopened we will immediately stop issuing them.

If you are using any sort of multi-entry ticket we will not give you a rain check. This means any ticket with Water Parks Fun and More, a Premium Annual Pass, a Water Parks Annual Pass, An Ultimate Pass (not available in the US), or Plus options from any pre-MYW ticket.

(I work at TL in Guest Relations/Ticket Sales/Turnstile Greeter, so handling water park tickets is part of my job.)