Typhoon Lagoon 2023 Reopening Date & Details
Walt Disney World has announced that Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will reopen later this month after following its routine winter closure for refurbishment. This post covers what to expect from the return, including new food and fun, H2O Glow After Hours details, and more.
With this announcement, Walt Disney World has revealed that Typhoon Lagoon will reopen to guests on March 19, 2023. This is actually surprising and unexpected to us since Blizzard Beach does not have operating hours for March 12 and beyond. That’s the start of spring break at Walt Disney World, which means one thing: crowds.
It seems highly unlikely that Blizzard Beach would close a week before Typhoon Lagoon opens. It’s doubly unlikely that Walt Disney World would let that happen during the week of spring break for Osceola and Orange County school districts, which will be the busiest week of spring break 2023 at Walt Disney World.
It’s possible that the operating gap needs to happen so Disney can shift Cast Members from one water park to the other and conduct some training or prep-work. Even that seems highly unlikely, though, as it hasn’t previously happened with water park closures. Usually, that’s an overnight transition–one water park closes the same day that the other reopens.
The most likely explanation is that the calendar of hours for Blizzard Beach is wrong. Rather than closing on March 12, Blizzard Beach will almost certainly close on March 19, 2023. Given that we had previously been (erroneously) informed that Typhoon Lagoon would reopen on March 12, it’s stands to reason that the public-facing calendar for Blizzard Beach is also incorrect. I have no clue why that would be the case, but it’s the only explanation that seems even remotely plausible. Either way, we’ll find out soon!
Along with the news that Typhoon Lagoon will reopen on March 19, Walt Disney World has shared new details about specially-ticketed event, H2O Glow After Hours. Tickets for H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon go on sale starting tomorrow (March 3, 2023) and the event itself starts on May 20, 2023!
H2O Glow After Hours allows families to spend time at Typhoon Lagoon for several hours after it closes, with short waits at popular attractions throughout the illuminated park. This special event also features an electric DJ dance party, complimentary ice cream treats, popcorn and select beverages, a ‘glow’-rious atmosphere and beyond.
We’ve mentioned in other posts that we’re big fans of Typhoon Lagoon at night, and have done this and several other “After Hours-adjacent” events at Typhoon Lagoon over the years. However, it’s been a long time since I’ve written about any of this because water parks generally have low reader interest. (That’s a real shame, for reasons we’ll discuss at the end of this post.)
Nevertheless, I’m curious as to whether anyone would be interested in a standalone photo/infos/review about H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon? I can probably throw something together later today or tomorrow morning before tickets go on sale–but it’s not like this is going to sell out quickly, anyway. Just let me know in the comments!
In other Typhoon Lagoon news, Walt Disney World has “announced” a couple of snacks that are new or returning to the water park, including the Pineapple Upside Down Cone available at Happy Landings and a Barbeque Chicken and Grilled Pineapple Flatbread available at Leaning Palms.
There’s also the Moana Cone, featuring DOLE Whip Strawberry swirled with vanilla. But wait, there’s more! The “popular” Hei Hei Cone made of DOLE Whip Pineapple and Raspberry available at Snack Shack. (I can’t believe they’re still trying to make this Hei Hei Cone a thing. Every version we’ve had looks like Frankenstein’s Monster: Ice Cream Edition.)
Finally, the exclusive Typhoon Tilly Sipper will be available for a limited time as an all-day, refillable fountain beverage offering. Adults can indulge in the Kungaloosh Kooler, a Strawberry DOLE Whip swirled with a mixture of rum, orange juice and blackberry brandy floated with Strawberry Fanta.
As a general matter, I do not buy novelty sippers, popcorn buckets, or other plastic food containers that serve no practical purpose at home and just take up space. (Yes, I know I sound like a curmudgeon.) I’ve even become increasingly annoyed by tiki mugs that are impractically shaped. (We bought the Big Al one, which is glorious, but have yet to use it because it’s so cumbersome and I’m scared of dropping it.)
Point being, this stuff does not appeal to me, and yet, I love the Typhoon Tilly Sipper. I managed to resist buying it last year, but I don’t think I can hold out again. That thing is calling my name, and I feel like I should “reward” Walt Disney World for producing unique (and good!) water park merchandise. Now, can we get a Lagoona Gator revival?!?!
Also, totally off-topic, but just so you know I’m not a complete curmudgeon, we did buy the Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, and Grand Californian souvenir steins. (In fact, we bought two of the Grand Californian ones since we love that stained glass door so much.) I’ve also gone on a Disney mug and demitasse cup buying spree as of late, so it’s not like I’m vessel-averse! But I digress.
Anyway, Typhoon Lagoon features family fun, thrilling water rides and slides. But more than anything, this water park is beloved among fans of theme park design for its immersive storytelling, attention to detail, and thematic cohesion.
Typhoon Lagoon tells the tale of a rogue storm and its ensuing tidal wave that wreaked havoc on a formerly pristine waterside paradise. From topsy-turvy architecture and storm-strewn nautical gear to the stranded shrimping ship, Miss Tilly, impaled upon the summit of Mount Mayday, each detail brings the legend to life.
Popular attractions and features will delight guests, including exhilarating slides, flumes and wet and “water-ful’’ play spaces for every member of the family. Among the favorites:
- Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, America’s largest outdoor wave pool where guests can “hang 10’’ while bodying surfing on the perfect wave every time.
- Miss Adventure Falls, a fast-paced family raft attraction created, as the story goes, when Captain Mary Oceaneer — a seafaring treasure hunter — got her haul caught years ago in a rogue typhoon, scattering her treasure across this tropical paradise.
- Crush ‘n’ Gusher, a thrilling water coaster featuring three 400-foot-long tube slides named for the various fruits they once transported.
- Castaway Creek, a scenic lazy river encircling the entire water park, offering gentle passage past shady grottoes, gushing waterfalls, overhead rope bridges and lush rainforest landscapes.
- Humunga Kowabunga, offering a choice of three adrenaline-filled body slides set against the steep inclines of Mount Mayday.
Finally, did you know that the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool is the largest wave pool in North America? With a picturesque view of the iconic Mount Mayday, guests of all ages can catch gnarly waves while body surfing in the water. The Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool uses state-of-the-art technology to create the perfectly controlled wave each time, including right, left or center peaks.
For those who want to test their skills even further, hang 10 with a private surf session in the Surf Pool. Open Surf will also be available this year for surfers or small groups that want to surf, but do not need the entire pool to themselves. No matter what your experience level is, spend time riding waves before or after the park closes to polish your skills.
Ultimately, we are excited for the reopening of Typhoon Lagoon and highly recommend that you visit this water park during a “down day” in your 2023 Walt Disney World vacation. For more reasons to love it–and strategy for making the most of your day–see our Ultimate Guide to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.
I’ve gushed about it over the years, imploring Walt Disney World fans to give it a chance, as it’s criminally underrated. Everything about it is exceptional, from the atmosphere to the details to its underutilized mascot, Lagoona Gator. On the surface, Typhoon Lagoon seems like a pretty “safe” concept for a water park.
It seems like something tropical and laid back that is conducive to sitting on the beach, swimming, and other water activities. That’s true. This is part of the appeal; Blizzard Beach is also incredibly well-themed, but the juxtaposition of winter and swimming just doesn’t feel right. But, there’s more to it than that.
Once you get beyond the beach vibe, there is rich theming throughout Typhoon Lagoon, and the Imagineered tropical environment has the added elements of a tropical resort and the huge storm that decimated it layered on top. This is all easily conveyed through the park’s details, and it coalesces really well. As a result, Typhoon Lagoon has a great sense of place, and it’s great to just be there.
This is far and away the biggest reason why I think Typhoon Lagoon is a must-do for Walt Disney World fans. It’s a masterclass of cohesive design and one of the few parks at Walt Disney World that maintains full thematic integrity so long after its opening. Don’t let the fact that it’s a water park discourage you—even if you don’t care about water slides or anything else, it’s a great place to waste a morning…or evening…at Walt Disney World!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you pleased with the March 19, 2023 reopening date for Typhoon Lagoon water park? Cautiously optimistic that Spring Break 2023 will mark a turning point for Walt Disney World with both water parks open simultaneously? Eager to return to Typhoon Lagoon, or are you not a water park person? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We’ll be visiting family in July and wonder if both water parks will be open – do you know? Thanks!
Here’s my question: How long has it been now that both waterparks were open at the same time?
The hei hei cone is the BEST! Ours were absolutely adorable!
just upgraded upcoming park hopper tickets to ‘plus’ ,..
We are “‘water park” people; we’ve had multiple trips to Orlando just doing water parks! I know Typhoon Lagoon is typically regarded as better – and I love the wave pool – but for the attractions themselves, my family enjoys Blizzard Beach a little more. I find that it’s very easy to “theme” a water park to something tropical, so the unusual juxtaposition provided at Blizzard Beach actually feels quite unique to us!
We attended H2O Glow pre-pandemic, but we actually felt that it wasn’t quite as enjoyable as the water parks will be during the day time. If you “rope drop” the water parks, they are pretty uncrowded in the morning – and we found that those mornings were actually quieter and less crowded than H2O Glow. We also found that we much preferred having the sun to dry you off in the daytime, rather than being a little chilly at night, but that’s probably personal preference!
I can’t argue with you about Blizzard Beach taking on a more difficult theme for a water park, but I’d argue that Typhoon Lagoon absolutely masters the tropical theme and takes it to the next level. It’s like the difference between a brilliant burger and an excellent turkey burger. Sure, it’s harder to make a turkey burger that’s actually good, but the brilliant (real) burger is still better. (I can respect other opinions on this one, though!)
For the most part, I do agree with you on actual attractions. Typhoon Lagoon’s slides are more old school, and the newer stuff is good but not great. However, I’ll take Typhoon Lagoon’s wave pool and lazy river any day of the week. To each their own, though! 🙂
Can’t believe how much we enjoyed Blizzard Beach last month. No lines anywhere. Summit Plummet was awesome but so were all the other slides. Chairlift was a cool feature. And there was decent reggae music and a sandy beach. I fell asleep on the lazy river and a life guard thought I was dead. Is Typhoon Lagoon as uncrowded as Blizzard Beach? One of the CMs I was chatting with said Blizzard Beach is always uncrowded but Typhoon Lagoon is more popular and crowded because it is closer to Disney Springs.
What was the temperature when you visited? This time of year, that really dictates crowd levels.
As for which is more crowded, that’s out the window right now since Walt Disney World has only been operating one at a time. I’d probably agree that Typhoon Lagoon was more crowded on average as of 2019, though.
Any chance there will be a direct bus route between Typhoon Lagoon and anywhere but Disney Springs? It looks like Blizzard Beach has routes to Animal Kingdom and the All-Stars as well as the traditional Coronado Springs bus.
Tom, you could always compare the WDW After Hours events if a water park only article doesn’t cut it.
Tom, Disney has updated the web site to show Blizzy open through March 18:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/water-parks/
growing up we always visited in winter so didn’t do water parks until i was older. typhoon lagoon remains my favorite water park in the world, even though i’ve only been a handful of times. i enjoy reading about it regardless.
We have never done the Disney waterparks. Not really our thing- however they do look nice so maybe one day. We do a Hershey park trip during summer with kids and they do the water park there along with the other attractions, but that’s about our extent with waterparks.
I bought water park tickets already for my husband and I to use on a couples trip in July before the after hours event was announced. Now I’m wishing I hadn’t as after hours might have been the way to go instead. My question is this – is it worth the after hours event on a day when we already have tickets? Or will that be too much time at a Waterpark for one day?
For me, that would be too much water park time in a day. Some people really love water parks, though, so I probably can’t speak for you.
What I’d recommend doing is calling Disney and seeing if someone is able to “upgrade” the ticket to After Hours. Failing that, try at your hotel upon arrival. We’ve had success with this type of thing in the past, but there are no guarantees.
I too would love a review! My hesitation about nights at water parks is that I’ll just be too cold once wet. This is true for me when it is low 80s and sunny, so even in peak summer, won’t I be too cold in the dark?
The year that DVC members were offered discounted platinum annual passes we did both water parks several times throughout the course of that year. They are both tons of fun. In fact, for our upcoming June trip we are at least planning to go to an H2O Glow After Hours on our arrival day – so I’d love any details or additional posts you’d do.
One thought – I LOVED TapuTapu when we tried Volcano Bay last year. Any chance Disney considers something like this? I also adored that water park, though that was majorly skewed with the delightful spring weather and the purchase of a cabana.
Tom, appreciate all you do. I and my family were planning a “water parks only” trip this summer in July and were planning to go to both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Do you think Blizzard Beach will be open by then? If not then we may have to finally try the Universal water park although we’d rather not. Thank you!
“Do you think Blizzard Beach will be open by then?”
No clue whatsoever. There’s enough summer demand to justify having both open simultaneously, so it all comes down to staffing and desire. I don’t have any insight as to what Disney’s staffing situation looks like for the water parks. I know it’s getting better as a whole, and I assume that translates to the water parks, too. That’s just a guess, though.
I LOVE Typhoon Lagoon, its my favorite water park but my son likes blizzard beach. We’re going in September and I’ve already said if its reopened that it’s time for Typhoon, because its been since before covid since my last visit to the Lagoon! I’ve never heard of after hour events there. I would actually love to read a review about it. Although after hour events like the one in HS right now seem to always be done in the fall when we frequently go. We do LOVE and attend MNSSHP. I’m anxious about the calendar for September because party dates and other special events haven’t been announced yet. My favorite time in all the parks is after dark so I am hoping this fall trip we have those opportunities. I haven’t made any park reservations because I’m waiting on info!