Is Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Worth It? Our Family Review Plus Tips for Visiting with Kids Ages 3-11
If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation and wondering whether Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is worth a visit, the answer from our family is a big yes! Here is our candid Typhoon Lagoon review and why it’s a fun choice for a family with varying ages
We recently spent a day at Typhoon Lagoon with our four daughters, ranging in age from 3 to 11, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Between the family-friendly attractions, exciting slides for older kids, and special Cool Kid Summer activities, there was truly something for everyone.
Even better? Disney Resort guests can now enjoy free admission to a Disney water park on their check-in day, making Typhoon Lagoon an even better value for families.
Here’s everything we loved, a few things parents should know before visiting, and our best tips for making the most of your day.
Disney Water Parks Are Free on Check-In Day
One of the best perks available to Disney Resort guests right now is complimentary admission to a Disney water park on your check-in day.
What many families don’t realize is that you do not need to check into your hotel first. As soon as your vacation begins, you can head straight to your preferred water park and use the My Disney Experience app for entry.
This has become one of our favorite ways to start a Disney vacation.
Since we live a few hours away, we usually drive down early in the morning and head directly to Typhoon Lagoon. We spend the day enjoying the slides, lazy river, and splash areas while getting a jump start on vacation.
By the time Florida’s typical afternoon thunderstorms begin rolling in, we’re usually ready to leave the water park anyway. That’s when we head over to our Disney Resort, complete check-in, freshen up, and then make our way to one of our favorite theme parks for dinner and fireworks.
It feels like getting an extra vacation day without paying for an extra park ticket, and it’s one of the reasons we think this Disney Resort benefit is such a great value for families.
Why Typhoon Lagoon Works So Well for Families with Multiple Ages
One thing I always look for when planning family activities is whether everyone can enjoy themselves.
With kids ages 3, 5, 9, and 11, finding attractions that appeal to all of them isn’t always easy. Typhoon Lagoon did an amazing job of offering experiences for every age group.
For Younger Kids
Our youngest daughter loved:
- Ketchakiddee Creek
- Sandy play areas
- Gentle slides sized just for little ones
- Splash zones with plenty of room to explore
The kid-friendly areas felt manageable and safe while still giving her plenty of independence.
For Older Kids
Meanwhile, our older girls couldn’t get enough of:
- Crush ‘n’ Gusher
- Humunga Kowabunga
- Storm Slides
- The lazy river
- Body surfing in the wave pool
There were enough thrills to keep them entertained all day without feeling overwhelming.
For the Whole Family
Our favorite moments happened when we were all together.
Family raft rides, floating the lazy river, and relaxing on the beach gave us plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy time together.
Typhoon Lagoon feels large enough to offer variety while still being easy to navigate as a family.
A Parent Warning About the Wave Pool
If you’ve never visited Typhoon Lagoon before, there is one thing parents should know:
The wave pool is no joke.
Typhoon Lagoon’s Surf Pool is famous for generating massive waves, and they’re much stronger than what many families expect.
Our older girls absolutely loved it, but younger children needed close supervision and a secure grip from an adult.
Even confident swimmers may be surprised by the strength of the waves. If you have younger children, stay in the shallower sections and keep them within arm’s reach.
The wave pool is one of the most exciting parts of the park, but it’s definitely worth approaching with caution.
Cool Kid Summer Made Our Visit Even More Fun
One of the biggest surprises during our visit was all of the extra entertainment included as part of Disney’s Cool Kid Summer celebration.
Throughout the park we found:
- Interactive games
- Special activities for kids
- Fun themed decorations
- Unique photo opportunities
- A scavenger hunt adventure
- A prize at the end of the scavenger hunt
My girls immediately wanted to participate, and it added another layer of fun beyond the water attractions.
The scavenger hunt was especially popular. They loved searching for clues throughout the park and were so excited to earn their prize at the end.
For families visiting this summer, I highly recommend taking time to participate in these activities. They’re easy to miss if you’re rushing from slide to slide.
Our Best Typhoon Lagoon Tips
Use Mobile Order for Food
One of our favorite Disney hacks worked perfectly at Typhoon Lagoon.
Instead of waiting in long lunch lines, use Mobile Order through the My Disney Experience app.
You can place your order while relaxing by the pool or floating the lazy river and then pick it up when it’s ready.
This saved us a surprising amount of time during the busiest part of the day.
Skip Packing Towels
Before our trip, I almost packed several beach towels for the family.
I’m glad I didn’t.
Typhoon Lagoon provides complimentary towels, which means one less thing to carry, dry, and pack at the end of the day.
When you’re already juggling sunscreen, water shoes, changes of clothes, and snacks, every bit of saved luggage space helps.
Arrive Early
Popular attractions can build longer waits later in the day. If bringing a stroller (which I HIGHLY recommend with little ones) try to grab a covered parking spot in the kiddie area just in case it spontaneously rains. In Florida, that is very common.
Getting there early allowed our girls to enjoy several favorite attractions before crowds increased.
Bring Water Shoes & Phone Pouch
The Florida pavement can get hot during the summer months. Water shoes made moving around the park much more comfortable, especially for our younger kids. A waterproof phone pouch is so handy for a water park visit! It allows you to take photos, mobile order, and stay connected with others in your party while exploring the park.
Is Typhoon Lagoon Worth It?
Absolutely.
Typhoon Lagoon delivered exactly what we hope for in a family day: fun for every age, plenty of opportunities to make memories together, and enough variety that nobody got bored.
The combination of exciting slides, kid-friendly play areas, the famous wave pool, and special Cool Kid Summer activities made it one of our favorite days of the trip.
If you’re staying at a Disney Resort and can take advantage of the free water park admission on check-in day, it’s an even easier decision.
Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, tweens, or a mix of ages like we are, Typhoon Lagoon is one Disney experience that’s well worth adding to your vacation plans.
