Latest news with #TyphoonLagoon
Travel Weekly
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Dispatch, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon: Waterpark perk is refreshing and exhilirating
ORLANDO — It's just after noon here at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon waterpark, and the springtime sun is at its peak. Temps are hitting close to a broiling 90 degrees. Suddenly, a loud, deep thud reverberates across the park. That sound — part warning, part promise — sends an electric current of excitement through the crowd. My 7-year-old son shrieks, while my 3-year-old daughter clutches my side, wide-eyed with a mix of delight and a tiny bit of genuine terror. I grip her life jacket and plant my feet firmly on the pool bottom, going into my tried-and-true wave survival position. The the 2,000-foot-long Castaway Creek lazy river attraction at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon waterpark. Photo Credit: Christina Jelski A 6-foot swell of water comes crashing toward us, diminishing in height but not in power as it races across the massive, zero-entry pool. Even at the shallow end, it takes a not-so-insignificant amount of strength to stay standing as the wave hits my legs. My son flies past us, laughing maniacally as the wave pushes him to shore. My daughter squeals with glee as she gets hit with the cool blast of water. All around us, kids topple like dominos, and parents lunge to grab their bobbing toddlers. Lifeguards perch above us on pool-side cliffs, vigilantly scanning the chaos. "Again!" my kids shout, before the churning water has even settled. And so, we wade deeper in, waiting for the pool's cycle of complete pandemonium to begin again. Typhoon Lagoon's Surf Pool — billed as North America's largest wave pool — is just one of many, many attractions at the sprawling waterpark, but it quickly became my family's obsession. (And yes, the waves are so big you can actually surf them.) We eventually did take a break to float the entire length of the 2,000-foot-long Castaway Creek lazy river and sample a few slides, but the centrally located Surf Pool was always nearby, beckoning us to catch one last wave. What finally pulls us away for good is an alert on the My Disney Experience App, telling us our room at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is ready for check-in. We'd dropped our bags with bell services that morning — a seamless process that freed us to hop on Disney's free shuttle service to Typhoon Lagoon. The timing feels perfect, as our early flight in and several hours of battling waves have left us red-faced, tired and ready for a refresh. Perfect perk The best part, however, is the fact that our waterpark visit came as a complimentary perk with our hosted Disney resort stay. This year, guests at Disney Resorts Collection properties receive free waterpark admission on check-in day — a starting value of $64 per adult and $58 per child that made arriving well ahead of our 3 p.m. check-in well worth it. And for families visiting later this summer, those waterpark options will soon double, with both Typhoon Lagoon and its sister waterpark, Blizzard Beach, set to operate simultaneously for the first time since 2019. (Over the past several years, the pair stuck to rotating maintenance schedules, with one park staying closed while the other remained open.) The winter-themed Blizzard Beach is scheduled to reopen on May 21. Blizzard Beach was still closed during our stay, so I can't offer any advice when it comes to deciding between one or the other. But given that several days into our stay and two theme park visits later my kids are still raving about the "biggest waves ever" at Typhoon Lagoon, I'm pretty sure I know which waterpark would be getting their vote.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman Says She's Conflicted Over Husband's Plans to Hire a Disabled Person to Join Them at Disneyland to Skip Waiting in Lines
A woman shared on the community forum that her husband wants to hire a disabled person to help them skip the lines at Disneyland Paris Explaining the plan, she said it isn't uncommon for people to use their disabled parents to speed up the time it takes to get on rides and meet characters Responses to the woman's post were divided, with many readers arguing that her plan is unfair to those with genuine disabilities A woman is conflicted about her husband's plans for their upcoming visit to Disneyland Paris. In a post on the community forum the woman explained that they are taking a vacation to France in October, and her husband has been thinking about paying someone disabled to accompany them to the theme park. She included a link to the website of a man who, for just over $100, will ensure they have a 'seamless and fun' day at Disneyland Paris by using his disabled access pass to skip the lines. 'I didn't even know these things existed,' the woman wrote. 'I've not been to DLP [Disneyland Paris] for a number of years, but apparently it's a thing that people go with their disabled parents just so they can skip queues for rides and to see characters etc.?' Related: Mom Sues Disney for $2 Million After Claiming a 'Mammoth Wave' Injured Her in a Typhoon Lagoon Kiddie Pool: 'There Was Blood' The woman was curious if anyone else had tried using a disabled person to bypass the lines at a theme park. And despite being apprehensive, she also asked whether she should listen to her husband and go ahead with his plan to try it for themselves. 'Can anyone corroborate this? It seems mad to me and beyond unethical,' she wrote. 'Anyway, AIBU [am I being unreasonable] or should we really use someone like this to help us skip queues?' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The post shocked many people and quickly garnered hundreds of outraged comments from readers telling the woman not to do it. 'I would be thoroughly ashamed of my DH [dear husband] if he suggested this. I've been to DLP with my severely disabled child and even with the queue pass, it was difficult and stressful to manage his behavior while waiting," one person wrote. "To think that some people would be so deceitful and scheming is profoundly depressing!' Another commented: 'As someone with two genuinely disabled DC [dear children] who may no longer qualify for Disability Access Pass when we go to Disney later this year because they've clamped down massively due to s--- like this, tell your DP he's being a selfish [jerk].' "As someone with a disability who now has to jump through ridiculous hoops in Florida, people like your husband are the reason getting the pass I've legitimately used for years is now near impossible. Absolutely disgusting," a third said. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Related: Woman Is Horrified by Friend's Sleeping Arrangements for Group Trip — 3 People in 1 Bed: 'Am I Wrong to Back Out?' However, other commenters defended using a disabled person to line jump and argued it was no different from buying a fast track pass. 'My first reaction was that this seems a bit off, but he is not doing anything illegal,' one person said. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! 'A friend told me that at Disneyland Shanghai, there are disabled people who wait outside the entrance offering these very services,' another wrote. 'It's obviously very ethically questionable, but at the same time I commend the chap on his entrepreneurialism. It can't be easy being disabled and holding a job.' PEOPLE has reached out to Disneyland Paris for further comment. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Fear a 'Heartbreaking' Summer as Iconic N.Y. Amusement Park Playland Faces Uncertain 2025 Opening
A local government legal battle is jeopardizing the future of a nearly 100-year-old theme park in New York County officials in Westchester County, N.Y., are at odds with the management company Standard Amusements after theme park managers alleged that the local government did not honor its contracts and construction obligations. The county denies these claims Rye Playland is 96 years old and has been open every summer since since 1928, expect for 2020 during the COVID pandemic A historic New York theme park is in jeopardy after its management said that it may not be able to run it this summer — and longtime fans are in uproar. Rye Playland is a historic, 96-year-old, 280-acre amusement park that sits along the Long Island Sound in Rye, N.Y.— located about 30 miles outside Manhattan — that has been open every summer (other than 2020) since Calvin Coolidge was president and has even been featured in movies like Tom Hanks' Big and Fatal Attraction. Officials in the state's Westchester County are uncertain of the park's future, according to reports from Gothamist and Fox 5 NY, as the park's management, Standard Amusements had accused the county of improper conduct when it comes to their contract. Related: Mom Sues Disney for $2 Million After Claiming a 'Mammoth Wave' Injured Her in a Typhoon Lagoon Kiddie Pool: 'There Was Blood' Playland, Westchester County and Standard Amusements had a privatization deal that allowed the county to own the land that the park sits on while the company operates the park, per the outlets. Although Standard Amusements had signed a 30-year contract to manage Playland, the company has accused Westchester County of failing to finish construction and meet contractual deadlines — but the county is denying these claims, trigging a local government controversy. County officials are now speaking out about the deal, which they called "one-sided" and said that local taxpayers have been left to deal with the fallout. Westchester County communications director Catherine Cioffi criticized former county executives for brokering the deal that has cost taxpayers $125 million and left the park in "heartbreaking" condition, despite initially being promised as $30 million, in a statement to Gothamist. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'This is exactly what happens when someone with a radical ideology, no real experience, no financial skill, and no understanding of how budgets and contracts are built seeks an executive position,' she said. County Executive Ken Jenkins added during his "State of the County" address last week that he planned to open the theme park this week despite the controversy, according to the outlets, although he did not share specific dates. Related: Universal Announces 'Thrilling' New Theme Park, but It's Not in Florida or California "Playland is more than just a park; it is a cherished treasure, the crown jewel of Westchester — a place where memories are made, and community thrives," Jenkins said, per Gothamist. "Despite the legal challenges we face with Standard Amusements, on a bad deal handed to us by a previous administration, a deal that I ultimately voted against because it requires the county to repay all of Standard Amusements' investments, my intentions remain to open Playland for the 2025 season." The park typically opens on Mother's Day, which will be Sunday, May 11, 2025. The county also accused Standard Amusements of failing to properly conduct several safety checks, but the company denied those allegations to the Rockland/Westchester Journal News. 'As managers of Playland, Standard Amusements prioritized both the improvement and maintenance of rides to the highest standard, including the winterization of rides after the end of the 2024 season consistent with both previous years and industry standards," a spokesperson told the outlet in a statement. "This is yet another baseless claim from the County to try to distract from its own failures to prioritize Playland.' Locals in Westchester County have shared their disappointment more than anyone — as visiting the park has been a generations-long tradition for some families. "It would be heartbreaking," a Rye resident told Fox 5 of the prospect of the park not opening. "My husband's birthday is on Mother's Day, and [Playland is] where we were going to be," local grandmother Kathryn Burke, who wrote a book on a history of Playland in 2008, told the Journal News. "I don't think that's happening this year." Read the original article on People
