H2O Glow Nights at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

I had to drop everything this morning to write a quick post BEGGING you all to hit up the H2O Glow Nights hard ticketed event at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park.

H2O Glow Nights (which I always want to call H2Glow Nights…) are every Thursday and Saturday this summer from June 21-August 11, running after park close from 8-11 p.m. (Guests with tickets can enter starting at 7 p.m.) Tickets are $55 per person, or $50 for guests ages 3-9. Unlike after hours events at other parks, every attraction remains open. There are character meet & greets with Toy Story friends, including Buzz, Woody, and Jessie. A DJ spins a high energy dance party with games and other fun on the beach of the Surf Pool. There’s even an adult exclusive bar area with specialty libations – and even more exciting, there are event exclusive dining options at many of the food spots throughout the park.

I make no secret of the fact that I *love* Typhoon Lagoon. During the summer months, we’re probably there as much as if not more than the main parks. On a hot summer day, there’s nothing better than chilling on the beach there while the kids play in the wave pool – or playing in the wave pool myself(!) – or floating around on their lazy river. I’ve actually seriously considered investing in the waterproof Kindle Oasis for the sole purposes of reading in a float there.

Last night a friend had a media pass to this event and was kind enough to bring me along. I’ll admit that I’d been hesitant to spend the money on a ticket for this event before now. At $55 per person, it’s extremely reasonable – but I wasn’t as drawn to it as an after hours event at, say, Magic Kingdom – where crowds during normal hours can be insane and the prospect of all but walking onto every ride is amazing. That said, crowds at Typhoon Lagoon in the dead of summer can get pretty crazy, too, and the prospect of enjoying a nearly empty park, walking onto everything, and quite literally seeing one of my favorite spaces in a new light was enticing.

Earlier in the day we were able to speak to the GM of Disney’s waterparks, whose enthusiasm for the waterparks was infectious. We really enjoyed hearing the details of how the event came to be and were excited to learn that a decision would likely be made in the next 3-4 weeks as to whether to carry this event into summer 2019.

We then heard from the head chef of Typhoon Lagoon, who had us all drooling with many of the menu options that would be available – from the not-typical-to-a-water park teriyaki glazed salmon to the meatless Impossible Burger to the ((omg)) gelato cookie sandwich.

As the event began, I’ll first say that seeing the sun set over Typhoon Lagoon was all but in itself worth of price of admission.

There’s nothing quite like a Florida sunset…

And that access to the inexplicably delicious (and meat free!!) Impossible burger, with banana peppers, chipotle mayo, and fries, all but was as well. We indulged in one of these, along with a Glow X-Fusion Punch, which was covered in an incredible number of Boba balls, before hitting the attractions.

Then we enjoyed some music with Partysaurus Rex, the Dinosaur of Ceremonies. The beach was lit with lights in every color and guests were enjoying the music and competing in games like hula hooping and water balloon tosses.

We hit Miss Adventure Falls twice – which was even more fun than usual in the dark with the tunnels lit in different colors – and then hit the lazy river, which was newly filled with huge inner tubes in the shapes of rubber duckies, dragons, eagles, and penguins. After that, we hit a gloriously almost empty wave pool for so long that my fingers seemed pruned beyond repair.

*Pro-tip: Do not hit the Disney waterparks without a waterproof phone case on a lanyard. I have this one from Amazon and was able to take my phone with me from Miss Adventure Falls, to the lazy river, to the wave pool(!) with no issues at all.

All in all, I’m shocked to say that I had more pure fun at this after hours ticketed event than any other I’ve ever attended at Disney World. It was the perfect event to attend with a group of adult friends and just kick back and have fun together. And true to everything that I love about Typhoon Lagoon, it was completely relaxing and laid back. I so hope that they decide to repeat it next year – and would love to get back again before this summer is over!!