With more than 40 million visitors each year, Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is one of the most visited theme parks in the world. One popular way to cool off from the hot Florida sun is to visit one of Disney's two water parks, each of which has a variety of fun attractions.
Typhoon Lagoon
Typhoon Lagoon is a 56-acre Disney water park. Attractions include nine water slides, including the Crush n' Gusher, a water slide raft ride that offers the hairpin turns and sudden drops of a roller coaster; Ketchakiddee Creek, a children's area with slides, bubble jets, fountains and mini rapids; Shark Reef, where you can snorkel with sharks, stingrays and tropical fish; and the largest wave pool in the country, where you can body surf on six-foot waves.
Blizzard Beach
Blizzard Beach, Disney's snow-themed water park, features two leisurely raft rides, a toboggan race ride, a one-acre wave pool, a play area for children and two high-speed water slides, including Summit Plummet, one of the tallest and fastest water slides in the world.
Where to Go
Which water park you should visit depends on your own personal preferences.
If you're a wave fanatic, head to Typhoon Lagoon--its wave pool, which covers 2.5 acres and uses 2.75 million gallons of water, is one of the largest in the world. If you enjoy snorkeling, you'll enjoy the Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon. Between its wave pool, shark reef and slides, Typhoon Lagoon has slightly more variety than Blizzard Beach and delivers more "bang for your buck."
However, if you are a speed enthusiast, Blizzard Beach has faster and longer slides. The Slush Gusher is a 90-foot water slide, while the Summit Plummet is a whopping 120 feet high and will have you sliding down at speeds between 50 and 60 mph.
In terms of aesthetics, some enjoy the snow theme at Blizzard Beach, particularly during the hot summers, while others prefer the tropical, more weather-appropriate theme at Typhoon Lagoon.
Tips
It's advisable to rent a locker to safely store your belongings, and wear flip flops around the water park.
The water parks close for about a month during the fall or winter for refurbishment, so if you're planning a visit during this time and want to go to a particular water park, find out in advance when it will be closed.
For fewer crowds, go early in the week. And be sure to bring lots of sunscreen.
Tags: Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, wave pool, water park, water slides