Typhoon Lagoon (12)

If you want a day at the parks but also need to chill out, why not try Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, it has everything that you need for a superb, but relaxing, or not, day out. Try to get there early to set up a central area with loungers on one of the many “beaches”, from there, the kids can go off and do as they wish in the knowledge that there are ample Disney cast members around to help if anything goes wrong.

Typhoon Lagoon is one of Disney’s premier water parks. While away an hour floating gently around the lazy river in a float provided by the park, lie on the lounger and soak up the sun, eat at one of the outlets, enjoy the many chute type water rides or see how far the wave machine moves you in the wave pool.

The lazy river is a slow moving river that skirts the park; old and young alike enjoy this ride in a float that looks a little like a car inner tube, cast members are strategically placed to ensure that no one comes to any harm so parents can allow their children to enjoy the river without worry, but beware of the waterfalls that drop on you, they’re cold.

The wave pool has sand on it’s entry changing to a hard surface as you enter the water, it increases in depth gradually until it gets quite deep, at the sound of a ship’s horn, the wave machine sends a body of water rushing from one end to the shallows. The size of the wave varies from around 3 foot up to around 6 or 7 foot and carries you quite a way towards the shallows. Whilst non swimmers should not go out of their depth in this pool, they can still enjoy the rush of the water closer to the shallow end where all, or most of the force has gone from it, but if you are a good swimmer, and can stand the rush of this body of water, it’s great fun.

Other rides on the park include various water chutes and float type rides that twist and drop like a roller coaster, on some of these rides you can get a double float that allows two people to go down the ride at the same time. It’s good to enjoy these with your kids. If you want to, you can snorkel with sharks, all the equipment is found at the park.

For a small charge, you can hire towels so nothing apart from your swimming costume and perhaps some reading material needs to be taken with you for a great day out.