Typhoon Lagoon is a water park located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States.
The park, which opened on June 1, 1989, is home to the world's largest outdoor wave pool. The theme of the park is the "Disney legend" of a typhoon that wreaked havoc upon a formerly pristine tropical paradise. Ships, fishing gear, and surfboards are strewn about where the storm flung them. The centerpiece of the park is "Miss Tilly," a shrimp boat impaled upon a mountain named "Mount Mayday" that erupts a 50-foot (15 m) geyser of water every half hour, right before the bells of the watch sound on Miss Tilly. The parks’ mascot is named “Lagoona Gator” who is related to Blizzard Beach’s mascot Ice Gator.
In 2008, Typhoon Lagoon admitted approximately 2.06 million visitors, currently making it the most visited water park in the world.
Typhoon Lagoon closes for about two months each year for annual refurbishments, beginning mid-fall. During its closure Blizzard Beach remains open.
Of the major parks at Disney World, Typhoon Lagoon is the only one that lies within the city limits of Lake Buena Vista. Blizzard Beach and the four theme parks are within the adjacent city of Bay Lake. However, Lake Buena Vista is the mailing address for the entire Walt Disney World Resort.
Mount Mayday[]
Mount Mayday, located behind the surf pool, features “Miss Tilly” as well as many of the park's waterfalls and slides.
- Humunga Kowabunga
- Storm Slides
- Gang Plank Falls
- Mayday Falls
- Keelhaul Falls
- Forgotten Grotto
- Overlook Pass
Hideaway Bay[]
Hideaway Bay, formerly “Out of the Way Cay,” is a sandy beach area located behind the dressing rooms. It is in the most hidden part of the park and features the newest attraction at Typhoon Lagoon.
- Crush 'n' Gusher
- Sandy White Beach
Typhoon Lagoon[]
The largest section of the water park houses the feature attraction as well as many shaded, white sandy beaches to relax and recuperate.
- Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool
- Bay Slides
- Blustery Bay
- Whitecap Cove
- Learn to Surf
Shark Reef[]
Two saltwater reefs separated by a sunken tanker provide guests with an "experience" with Caribbean sea creatures.
- Shark Reef
- Sunken Tanker
- S.A.S. Adventure
- Hammer Head Fred's Dive Shop
Other Attractions[]
- Castaway Creek
- Ketchakiddee Creek
Restaurants[]
- Leaning Palms
- Typhoon Tilly's
- Happy Landings Ice Cream
- Let's Go Slurpin'
- Surf Doggies
- Crush Cart
- Getaway Glenn
- Hideaway Bay
Shopping[]
- North Pearl
- Singapore Sal's
- High 'N Dry Towels
Incidents[]
- On August 4, 2005, a 12-year-old girl from Newport News, Virginia felt ill while using the wave pool. Lifeguards talked with her after noticing her sitting on the side of the pool; she said she felt fine, but passed out shortly thereafter. Though lifeguards performed CPR on her until paramedics arrived, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the local hospital. The autopsy showed that she died due to arrhythmia caused by an early-stage viral heart infection.
- On July 3, 2009, a 51-year-old man from Farmington, New York was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation after allegedly attempting to remove a teenager's bathing suit while both were in the wave pool. Disney security was notified and they called for Orange County deputies. In the arrest report, both Disney security and the deputies report observing the man attempting to do the same to at least five other girls.
- On July 10, 2009, a 51-year-old Connecticut man was charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition after he allegedly fondled himself in front of a teenage girl near the park's wave pool. One eyewitness, a visitor who worked with paroled sex offenders in Missouri, confronted the man, who then fled the scene. As he attempted to leave the parking lot, he ran a stop sign and was stopped by an Orange County deputy and detained on charges of driving with a suspended license. The man denied the lewd conduct charges, claiming his European-style swimsuit was too small. The charges were dropped in August 2009 after prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence in the case.
- On July 16, 2009, a 29-year-old man from Washington was arrested and charged with one count of lewd molestation of a teenager. He was sentenced to 24 months in state prison.