Difference between revisions of "Typhoon Lagoon"
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Unlike River Country which relied on the nostalgia of an old fashioned swimming hole, Typhoon Lagoon was built as a modern theme park. The park was themed to look as if a large storm had hit the area, beaching all kinds of ships and even fish. The town the resided where Typhoon Lagoon sits, was damaged badly in the storm. Because of this backstory, the facades guests see when walking around the park are usually themed to look like damaged buildings or beached ships. | Unlike River Country which relied on the nostalgia of an old fashioned swimming hole, Typhoon Lagoon was built as a modern theme park. The park was themed to look as if a large storm had hit the area, beaching all kinds of ships and even fish. The town the resided where Typhoon Lagoon sits, was damaged badly in the storm. Because of this backstory, the facades guests see when walking around the park are usually themed to look like damaged buildings or beached ships. | ||
| − | As opposed to other water parks which featured | + | As opposed to other water parks which featured waterslides as there primary attractions, Typhoon Lagoon's main attraction is a 126,000 square foot wave pool known as the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool. The wave pool alternates between 90 minutes of surf height waves (6 feet) and 30 minutes of smaller, calmer waves. At the time of it's construction the Surf Pool was the largest wave pool in the country. Before the park opened CEO Michael Eisner called the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, "The best surf East of Hawaii". |
The wave pool sits at the foot of a 95 foot, man-made mountain, Mount Mayday, which erupts a 50 foot geyser every 30 minute. Atop Mount Mayday the parks icon, Miss Tilly was built. The image of Miss Tilly sitting a top Mount Mayday was used as the parks "icon". | The wave pool sits at the foot of a 95 foot, man-made mountain, Mount Mayday, which erupts a 50 foot geyser every 30 minute. Atop Mount Mayday the parks icon, Miss Tilly was built. The image of Miss Tilly sitting a top Mount Mayday was used as the parks "icon". | ||
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==Opening Day== | ==Opening Day== | ||
| − | Typhoon Lagoon opened June 1, 1989 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Although the park was not heavily advertised, guests flocked to see the newest Disney water park. Grand Opening festivities were held for the park on June 6th when the park was officially dedicated. When Typhoon Lagoon opened it consisted of: a 2,100 foot lazy river known as Castaway Creek, the Shark Reef, the Surf Pool, an area for kids called Ketchakiddee Creek, and seven | + | Typhoon Lagoon opened June 1, 1989 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Although the park was not heavily advertised, guests flocked to see the newest Disney water park. Grand Opening festivities were held for the park on June 6th when the park was officially dedicated. When Typhoon Lagoon opened it consisted of: a 2,100 foot lazy river known as Castaway Creek, the Shark Reef, the Surf Pool, an area for kids called Ketchakiddee Creek, and seven waterslides. The waterslides were made up of three body slides (the Rudder Buster, the Stern Buster, and the Jib Jabber), three tube slide (Mayday Falls, Keelhaul Falls, and Gangplank Falls) and the popular speed slide, Humunga Kowabunga. |
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| + | ==Current Attractions== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Ground Level=== | ||
| + | '''Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool'''- The largest outdoor wave pool in the world, the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool is located at the base of Mount Mayday. The waves alternate between surf, which generates 6 foot waves, and a more relaxing bobbing waves. The surf waves are generated for 90 minutes at a time, followed by 30 minutes of the gentler waves. | ||
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| + | '''Castaway Creek'''- A 2,100-foot lazy river, which encircles the entire park. As guests float down the river, they will go trough small waterfalls, tropical rain forests, mist screens and even Mount Mayday. A round trip around the river takes approximation 20 minutes. Their are five entrance/exit locations. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Ketchakiddie Creek'''- Located at north west corner of the park, Ketchakiddie Creek is a play are for small children. Miniature waterslides, shooting fountains, and even a small river rapids ride can be found here. Ketchakiddie Creek also features 10 activity areas and a small white sand beach. Guests must be under 48 inches tall to enter the area. | ||
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| + | ===Mount Mayday Slides=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Humunga Kowabunga'''- Three side by side body slides that whisk guests down five stories in the dark. Humunga Kowabunga is located on Mount Mayday, and is 214 feet long. Guests reach speeds of up to 30 mph and must be 48 inches to ride. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Storm Slides'''-The Storm Slides are three unique body slides located on the side of Mount Mayday. The slides take guests down three stories, through caves, waterfalls and geysers before dropping guests into the pool below. All the slides reach top speeds of about 20 mph. The slides are: the Jib Jammer, the Stern Burner and the Rudder Buster. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Keelhaul Falls'''-A single tube waterslide that takes guests down Mount Mayday. While on Keelhaul Falls guests will scenically twist down the mountain through caves and waterfalls before splashing into the pool. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Mayday Falls'''-The longest waterslide in Typhoon Lagoon, Mayday Falls begins in the shadow of Miss Till atop Mount Mayday. While on Mayday Falls, guests swerve and curve down the waterslide through caves and waterfalls. Mayday Falls is more turbulant and faster then the other "falls" waterslides and it is located near Gangplank Falls. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Gangplank Falls''' | ||
Revision as of 14:25, 16 January 2012
Typhoon Lagoon is a water park located in Walt Disney World
Contents
Park Backstory
In order to fully understand and enjoy Typhoon Lagoon, it is important that guests know the parks backstory. According to the story:
"A furious storm once roared 'cross the sea
Catching ships in its path, helpless to flee
Instead of a certain and watery doom
The winds swept them here to Typhoon Lagoon."
Because of the storm that hit the area, everything in Typhoon Lagoon changed. Fish were swept into an inland bay, which guests can now snorkel in. All around, visitors will see beached ships and surfboards which were thrown around when the storm him. The formally quiet town that resided in Typhoon Lagoon was severely damaged, and many of the people and businesses either closed or left all together. The parks icon "Miss Tilly", is a former fishing boat which was beached atop Mount Mayday.
Park History
The origin of Typhoon Lagoon began in 1986. Due to the popularity of their water park River Country, and also the popularity of the Wet and Wild park located in Orlando, Disney decided it was time for a new water park in Walt Disney World. Michael Eisner the CEO of Disney said that he wanted Typhoon Lagoon to, "Do for water parks what Walt Disney did for amusement parks when he built Disneyland 31 years ago". The location of the park was chosen, due to the fact that it was near the soon to open, Disney's MGM Studios and Pleasure Island.
Unlike River Country which relied on the nostalgia of an old fashioned swimming hole, Typhoon Lagoon was built as a modern theme park. The park was themed to look as if a large storm had hit the area, beaching all kinds of ships and even fish. The town the resided where Typhoon Lagoon sits, was damaged badly in the storm. Because of this backstory, the facades guests see when walking around the park are usually themed to look like damaged buildings or beached ships.
As opposed to other water parks which featured waterslides as there primary attractions, Typhoon Lagoon's main attraction is a 126,000 square foot wave pool known as the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool. The wave pool alternates between 90 minutes of surf height waves (6 feet) and 30 minutes of smaller, calmer waves. At the time of it's construction the Surf Pool was the largest wave pool in the country. Before the park opened CEO Michael Eisner called the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, "The best surf East of Hawaii".
The wave pool sits at the foot of a 95 foot, man-made mountain, Mount Mayday, which erupts a 50 foot geyser every 30 minute. Atop Mount Mayday the parks icon, Miss Tilly was built. The image of Miss Tilly sitting a top Mount Mayday was used as the parks "icon".
The other unique attraction that Imagineers built in Typhoon Lagoon was the snorkeling pool called Shark Reef. Due to the high demand by guests to snorkel with the fish in EPCOT's The Living Seas, it was decided that Typhoon Lagoon would feature a large, full time snorkeling pool. The pool was constructed as such, that guests would swim freely with many different kinds of fish, however large dangerous fish would be kept in separate tanks. This was done so that while snorkeling, it would appear to guests that they were actually in the same area as large fish, giving them an adrenaline rush while also removing any real danger. When Typhoon Lagoon opened the estimated cost was 20 million dollars, with many on Wall Street believing the actually cost could have been as high as 50 million.
Opening Day
Typhoon Lagoon opened June 1, 1989 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Although the park was not heavily advertised, guests flocked to see the newest Disney water park. Grand Opening festivities were held for the park on June 6th when the park was officially dedicated. When Typhoon Lagoon opened it consisted of: a 2,100 foot lazy river known as Castaway Creek, the Shark Reef, the Surf Pool, an area for kids called Ketchakiddee Creek, and seven waterslides. The waterslides were made up of three body slides (the Rudder Buster, the Stern Buster, and the Jib Jabber), three tube slide (Mayday Falls, Keelhaul Falls, and Gangplank Falls) and the popular speed slide, Humunga Kowabunga.
Current Attractions
Ground Level
Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool- The largest outdoor wave pool in the world, the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool is located at the base of Mount Mayday. The waves alternate between surf, which generates 6 foot waves, and a more relaxing bobbing waves. The surf waves are generated for 90 minutes at a time, followed by 30 minutes of the gentler waves.
Castaway Creek- A 2,100-foot lazy river, which encircles the entire park. As guests float down the river, they will go trough small waterfalls, tropical rain forests, mist screens and even Mount Mayday. A round trip around the river takes approximation 20 minutes. Their are five entrance/exit locations.
Ketchakiddie Creek- Located at north west corner of the park, Ketchakiddie Creek is a play are for small children. Miniature waterslides, shooting fountains, and even a small river rapids ride can be found here. Ketchakiddie Creek also features 10 activity areas and a small white sand beach. Guests must be under 48 inches tall to enter the area.
Mount Mayday Slides
Humunga Kowabunga- Three side by side body slides that whisk guests down five stories in the dark. Humunga Kowabunga is located on Mount Mayday, and is 214 feet long. Guests reach speeds of up to 30 mph and must be 48 inches to ride.
Storm Slides-The Storm Slides are three unique body slides located on the side of Mount Mayday. The slides take guests down three stories, through caves, waterfalls and geysers before dropping guests into the pool below. All the slides reach top speeds of about 20 mph. The slides are: the Jib Jammer, the Stern Burner and the Rudder Buster.
Keelhaul Falls-A single tube waterslide that takes guests down Mount Mayday. While on Keelhaul Falls guests will scenically twist down the mountain through caves and waterfalls before splashing into the pool.
Mayday Falls-The longest waterslide in Typhoon Lagoon, Mayday Falls begins in the shadow of Miss Till atop Mount Mayday. While on Mayday Falls, guests swerve and curve down the waterslide through caves and waterfalls. Mayday Falls is more turbulant and faster then the other "falls" waterslides and it is located near Gangplank Falls.
Gangplank Falls
