NurseMinnie 0 Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 I reserved a date in September for surfing lessons in Typhoon Lagoon for my son's birthday.Just wondering if anyone has done it? I want to hear from others experiences. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 I did the surfing lessons about 5 years ago. It was pretty good. The staff were really good with everyone of different skill levels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 I had no idea they did this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BayLake Campers 83 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 We did this on our June trip, WOW. It was awesome. The instructors were fantastic and everyone in our group was able to ride the waves by the end. Defiantly going to do it again, we all caught the surf bug. Now getting everyone up and to the park by 5:45 AM that was the big challenge. lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NurseMinnie 0 Posted August 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 The wave pool surface is really rough. Any issues with surfing and the rough surface? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BayLake Campers 83 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 You have to get off of your surf board at the point where the pool widens, so the water is still 5 feet deep. But if you do happen to hit the bottom, like I did with the top of my foot, you will loose some skin. Makes a wonderful memento from the day :) I will take the bottom of a pool any day for not getting stung by a jellyfish or ground up in the seashells. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jjbescher 17 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 I have not done this, but the guarantee of knowing that there will be waves to learn on would be worth it for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 I have not done this, but the guarantee of knowing that there will be waves to learn on would be worth it for me. That's the truth. I paid for surfing lessons for my kids at a beach several times, and it's hard for beginners to learn if the wave conditions are not cooperating. At TL, they can create perfect wave after perfect wave. I think it would be a great place to learn. I've never been, but I've seen the surfers exiting when we have been at TL for rope drop. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rdancemom... Pam 113 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 DS35 did it during the soft opening with two other guys and five CMs when they first started offering it many years ago. Not sure exactly but I know that was probably 15 years ago. They had Ron Jon instructors come in to do the lessons in the beginning but I think I heard something in their arrangement has changed since. In any case, it's always been a must-do since if he's with us - and it's always been a good time. One of the few extra tours that I can honestly say is more than worth the cost. TL is often privately rented for world class surfing competitions to be held there b/c they can ensure every wave is a good wave. It's a fantastic opportunity for both experienced surfers and for those who've never surfed before. The only complaints I've ever heard are that, for the lessons, you have to use their softer boards and not your own. The experience will always be very special to me b/c it was the first time I was able to get good pictures of DS surfing. He'd surfed for years before but usually in Outer Banks and the angles were difficult from shore for photos. At TL, we could stand on the wall and shoot to our hearts' content. It was a camera loving mom's dream. DD12's been begging me to do it but our rule has always been 13. Next summer, perhaps she'll be ready. The instructors worked on skills with him and two others, while they also helped those who'd never been on a board before to be successful before the morning was over. Unless it's changed, you can stay to enjoy the park when it opens afterwards but our kids have always been ready for a break by that point so we never did. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specularius 102 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 I took our DD June of 2010. She is not very athletic but she loved it. My biggest complaint is the distance from where they hit the shore to where they have to pack the surf boards back to. It is a long way. I think DD got to try over 20 waves on her morning. I packed the board most of those tries. She did make one good ride before she got to tired to get up. She had a small group in her class, one of which was a reporter for a travel magazine that was doing research for an article. There is a photo pass photog on site and they get some very good shots. It was a very good event and DD loved it. It is very early for people from the western time zones. For us it was like getting up at 4am to make it on time. I would recommend that anyone attending be able to pack a surf board up a hill for 100 yards over and over, again and again. rdancemom... Pam 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rdancemom... Pam 113 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Good point. Since DS was older I never gave the trip back up a thought. I've never seen a parent do that before. Kudos to you for being a terrific dad!One thing's for sure, there's no way I'm carting one for the smallest princess either. On the plus side, it is a really light board in comparison to the ones that live in my garage... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Do they let parents come in with their children without having to pay? If so, I doubt anyone is allowed to stay and enjoy the park without buying admission. I've always seen the surfers leave right before they open the park. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rdancemom... Pam 113 Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 Do they let parents come in with their children without having to pay? If so, I doubt anyone is allowed to stay and enjoy the park without buying admission. I've always seen the surfers leave right before they open the park. TCD every time we've done it, there have been parents, and even a few friends like us, allowed in with the participants. Only the participants get in the water but the family could go along to watch. There wasn't an extra charge for spectators. I'd think with minors especially, they'd require an adult to be present somewhere in the park. DH still talks about how he spent an entire morning with the guy in charge of the wave machine hearing all about the mechanics of how the waves were made instead of watching his son surf. He loves all that mechanical talk so that really made his week. We always leave when the lesson is over b/c it's such an early morning nobody wants to stay but we've never been herded out the gate either. Then again, we've always had waterpark passes so it wouldn't have been an issue if they'd needed to run the tickets either. It's probably been 4 years or so since we've had anyone with us do it. Not sure how it's done now... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specularius 102 Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 Yes family was allowed in but after the lesson was over everyone was escorted out of the park and as stated only the surfer was allowed in the water. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BayLake Campers 83 Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 You can bring as many watchers as you want, only the surfer with the ticket gets in the wave pool. You have to buy an additional water park ticket if you want to stay in the park. They will scan your ticket when the lessons are done and you go on your merry way. If you are done you are escorted to the front gate. It is worth every dollar. We had an awesome time and would do it again in a heart beat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 If it was not being rehabbed this Thanksgiving, I would have gotten the surf lessons for the boys. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 How do you get there that early if you don't have a car? Will Disney help you out or tell you to take a cab? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 This just popped up on the official Disney Parks Blog: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/08/learning-to-hang-10-at-disneys-typhoon-lagoon-water-park/ TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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