Looking for a thrill at Walt Disney World? The Resort’s four theme parks aren’t the only places to satisfy that urge.

Typhoon Lagoon, as legend holds, resulted when disaster struck Placid Palms Resort in the tropical paradise of Safen Sound. Ships were tossed upon mountains, surfboards flung through trees and sharks deposited into the harbor. Left in the wake were an inland sea with breaking waves, a watershed mountain, caves, waterfalls, rivers and slides—a vacationer’s dream adventure.

• Surf Typhoon Lagoon in one of the world’s largest wave-motion pools. For $150 per person, strong swimmers ages 8 and up can learn surfing basics in a 2-1/2 hour session taught by professional instructors from Craig Carroll’s Cocoa Beach Surf.
• For nothing more than Park admission, snorkel the 362,000-gallon saltwater Shark Reef and swim with tropical marine life in a natural aquarium. Swimmers longing for more may rent SAS (Supplied Air Snorkeling) tank systems at an additional charge.
• If you’re just looking for some awesome aqua time, chute down Crush ‘n’ Gusher, the only water coaster in North America with three separate rides off a single tower.

How in the world did a ski resort end up in Florida? Well, they say a freak snow storm blanketed the area awhile back. Alas, just as quickly as the resort sprang up the heat returned, and it all began to melt. But a fun-loving alligator had a solution. He slid down the snowless ski jump, shouting “Yahoooo!” all the way they say, and landed in a pool of runoff. Everyone around followed his lead and so transformed the snowy slopes into the ski-themed Blizzard Beach.

• Plummet from the Summit, an 8-second drop down a 12-story, slightly over vertical flume at 50-60 miles per hour. Instead of catching a wave like at Typhoon Lagoon, here Guests catch some air.
• Scale back up Mount Gushmore or enjoy a leisurely ride on the Chair Lift to access the tamer “green slopes” like Slush Gusher, Snow Stormers, and the racetrack Downhill Double Dipper and Taboggan Racers.
• And when you need a break, catch your breath with a relaxing float along Castaway Creek.

Typhoon Lagoon also offers a lazy river (Castaway Creek), and both water parks feature separate water play areas for the Resort’s littlest Guests as well as lounge areas, snack shacks and, of course, gift shops for whatever else you need.

Are the water parks worth your time and money? I’d say absolutely! If the length of your stay allows, I’d suggest adding the Water Park Fun and More Option to your vacation package. For each day of your ticket, you’ll have access to one of the following:

• Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park
• DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park
• ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• a round of golf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course

One-day water park admission is approximately $53 per adult. At $55 for the Water Park & More option, you’re getting a whole lot of bang for the buck.

So go on and have a splashin’ good time!