Disney parks part 1: Typhoon Lagoon and Downtown Disney
So diverting my attention from the food for a moment, I thought I’d give you a little taster of what we, the intrepid Disney 7, put ourselves through just so we could report back to you about what it’s like to experience Walt Disney World at close quarters. See, the things we do for you?
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- Typhoon Lagoon
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- Crush’n'Gusher
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- Storm slides
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- Castaway Creek
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- Surf pool
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- Shark reef
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- Ketchakiddee Creek
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- Surf pool beach
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- The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
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- Characters in Flight
Typhoon Lagoon
First up, then, was the colossal watery infinity that is Typhoon Lagoon. Stepping, bleary eyed and jet-lagged out of the inferno-bus, we were met by our guide – whose name, very rudely, escapes me, but who was undoubtedly one of the most Disneyfied people we met on our trip. She was ridiculously, madly, rabidly in love with her job and I have to say, her enthusiasm was pretty infectious. First we had a good look (from a dry, fully-clothed perspective) at the Crush ‘n’ Gusher, the water roller coaster. Second up was Humunga Cowabunga. This is for you if you wish to be hurled at speeds of up to 40mph down a triple set of slides whilst achieving the biggest swimsuit-wedgie known to civilisation. The more sedate amongst us can grab an inflatable ring and spend a happy hour bobbing mindlessly around Castaway Creek (‘many a parent lost there, I can tell you’, said our guide), a lovely river which bimbles gently around the perimeter of the park, and which looked so relaxing we all nearly made a run for it and threw ourselves in. And there was still time to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ and the 2.75 million gallon wave pool, complete with huge, explosive wave every 90 seconds for the daredevils amongst us (full learn-to-surf programme available – blonde, shaggy hair optional). There’s an amazing opportunity to snorkel with some real, live sharks on the shark-reef – a sunken tanker complete with its own wildlife and for the smalls, there’s even a little tiddler area, Ketchakiddee Creek, with little slides, rafts and bubbling jets and Gangplank Falls – a family raft slide. Oh, and those buckets of ice cream? The ones with the free spade? They’re $10. Mine’s a large one.
Downtown Disney
I’m not sure if Downtown Disney is actually a resort/park in its own right, but it really is a lovely place and not to be missed. Sadly, our Characters in Flight ride (the new Disney hot air balloon) was cancelled due to strong winds, but we headed off to gawp at the little princesses in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and make silly noises at teeny little baby clothes in the countless Disney shops (obviously, we spent a considerable time in the Disney kitchen shop, Mickey’s Pantry. While you’re there, don’t forget to visit Disney Design-A-Tee where you can customise your very own Disney t-shirt (I made an Englishmum.com one, obviously). There are loads of restaurants here (and Raglan Road Irish Pub too, I noticed), and we had a fabulous cob salad in the Earl of Sandwich, but hey, if you fancy a Macs, you’ll find that here too. My oldest nerd would have killed to get to DisneyQuest: five floors of interactive rides and games, and a lot of us would definitely have loved La Nouba, an amazing live act by Cirque du Soleil. Sadly, time beat us and we were off again, this time to Hollywood Studios: the Rock’n'Rollercoaster, the Towerrrrr of Terrorrrrr and Craig, the rubbish cocktail waiter. Tune in, if you’re still awake, for my next riveting instalment!
12 Responses to “Disney parks part 1: Typhoon Lagoon and Downtown Disney”
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I haven’t got any pics of ‘up the bumber chumbawumba’.
I have however, got pics of the woman who loved the wave machine and kept near drowning herself for MORE.
Sindy WAS pretty awesome and I could have happily been shipwrecked at Typhoon and, as you know, I am SO not a theme park person. But it really is the perfect beach experience.
Loved the cook shop too……just wish I’d bought the Mickey egg cooker….
Love the verb ‘to bimble’…..
Pootle is good but had never heard of bimble….
[...] and the Mad Professor turned 14. I made not cross buns for Easter and continued boring you about my Disney trip well into May (we even got a mention in The Times… yawn…), as well as churning out some [...]