Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon opened on June 1, 1989, at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, making it Disney’s second water park and today one of two operating alongside Blizzard Beach. Built around the playful legend of a catastrophic tropical storm that transformed a once-idyllic paradise into a waterlogged playground, the 56-acre park is anchored by Miss Tilly, a shrimp boat supposedly hurled by the typhoon onto the summit of Mount Mayday, where it erupts a 50-foot geyser of water every half hour.
At its heart is the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, one of the world’s largest outdoor wave pools, spanning about 2.75 acres and holding roughly 3 million gallons of water. The pool generates 6-foot waves approximately every 90 seconds, drawing surfers, body-boarders, and casual floaters alike. Beyond the wave pool, guests can drift along Castaway Creek — a 2,100-foot continuous lazy river circling the park — or take on Crush ‘n’ Gusher, the first water coaster ever built for a Disney water park. Typhoon Lagoon reclaimed the title of world’s most popular water park in 2022, welcoming around 1.92 million guests.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida (Walt Disney World Resort)
- Opened: June 1, 1989
- Park Size: About 56 acres
- Wave Pool Size: About 2.75 acres
- Wave Pool Capacity: About 3 million gallons
- Wave Height: Up to 6 feet
- Attendance (2022): 1.92 million guests
Rides and Attractions
Typhoon Lagoon offers more than 20 attractions spread across the park. Humunga Kowabunga sends thrill-seekers down steep speed slides reaching around 39 mph. Gang Plank Falls provides a gentler family raft experience through swirling water. Crush ‘n’ Gusher, which opened in 2005, was a landmark addition as Disney’s first water coaster, propelling riders uphill through a maze of water jets and flumes. The park’s lazy river, Castaway Creek, stretches 2,100 feet and takes roughly 20 minutes to circle the entire park, offering a relaxing counterpoint to the high-energy slides.
A Park Built on Storytelling
Unlike many water parks that rely purely on thrill rides, Typhoon Lagoon leans heavily on Disney’s tradition of environmental storytelling. Every detail — from capsized boats and tangled fishing nets to the iconic Miss Tilly shrimp boat lodged in the peak of Mount Mayday — reinforces the fictional narrative of a storm-ravaged tropical village. The park closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not reopen until January 2, 2022, making it the last Walt Disney World facility to resume operations. Despite that extended hiatus, it rebounded strongly, topping global water park attendance charts that same year.
Explore more: Water Parks Guide.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon FAQs
When did Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon open?
Typhoon Lagoon opened on June 1, 1989, as Disney World’s second water park, following the earlier River Country.
How big is the Typhoon Lagoon wave pool?
The Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool is one of the world’s largest outdoor wave pools, covering about 2.75 acres and holding around 3 million gallons of water, generating waves up to 6 feet high.
Is Typhoon Lagoon open year-round?
Yes, Typhoon Lagoon operates year-round at Walt Disney World, with the water heated during cooler months and brief seasonal closures for annual maintenance.
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Photo: Chad Sparkes from Kissimmee,Florida, United States / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.