H2O Glow Night at Typhoon Lagoon is Disney’s after-hours water park party, think Extra Magic Hours meets EDM-infused beach party meets unlimited snacks. After experiencing it firsthand with our crew, I’m here to break down whether this glowing pool party is worth adding to your Disney budget.
Spoiler alert: We’re already planning to go back next summer. But there’s definitely some stuff you need to know before booking.
What Exactly Is H2O Glow Night?
H2O Glow Night runs select nights from May through September, transforming Typhoon Lagoon into a neon-lit water playground from 8 PM to 11 PM. For around $85 per adult ($42.50 3-9), you get:
- Exclusive park access with seriously reduced crowds
- Free popcorn, ice cream, and soft drinks all night
- DJ dance party on the beach with character appearances
- Everything lit up with colorful lights and glow effects
- Special glow merchandise (not free, because Disney)
The Vibe: Beach Party Meets Disney Magic
Walking into Typhoon Lagoon at night hits different. The whole park glows with LED lights, the wave pool has this ethereal blue tint, and there’s upbeat music pumping from every speaker.
The crowd was noticeably lighter than daytime, though still plenty of families enjoying the magic. We waited 10 minutes or less for slides that usually have 30-minute waits. The energy was relaxed but fun, families dancing on the beach, kids running around with glow bracelets, adults enjoying themselves instead of managing meltdown schedules.
The Slides: Same Thrills, Zero Waits
We started off by knocking out the water rides while the sun was still going down. Given the reduced crowds, it didn’t take long, and we even rode some rides twice.
Based on our night, here’s my completely biased dad ranking if you want to prioritize what to check out first:
Tier 1: The Must-Dos
Storm Slides became my unexpected favorite. These body slides have just the right mix of speed and turns without making you question your life choices. In daylight, you can wait up to 30 minutes. At Glow Night? We waited 5–10 minutes and rode it twice.
Typhoon Lagoon Wave Pool at night is an experience. The waves are no joke, seriously, the ones toward the front will send you flying. But with manageable crowds, you can actually find your perfect spot without playing human bumper cars. Disney lifeguards are stationed along the entire wall and doing their normal, highly efficient Disney lifeguard scans, which made me feel better about letting the boys venture deeper.
We hit Storm Slides right after we arrived, way faster than daytime waits.
Tier 2: Solid Hits
Castaway Creek (the lazy river) gets a serious upgrade at night. They had special glow-in-the-dark floats, and drifting around under the stars while Disney mashups play is surprisingly zen. We probably did four laps as a family.
Miss Adventure Falls with the family raft was a blast. All four of us piled in, and the boys loved how the raft spins randomly down the slides. Again, minimal wait meant we could ride it multiple times without that “was it worth it?” regret.
Humunga Cowabunga. Look, you’ll either love this or hate it. It’s essentially being shot out of a cannon into water, complete with the mother of all wedgies. My oldest insisted we ride it three times. Me? I was good after one, but parental duty called. My wife did it once but declared never again.
Crush ‘n’ Gusher delivered fast, bumpy thrills on a double tube. The darkness actually made it more fun since you couldn’t see the drops coming.
Humunga Cowabunga at night is just as intense, less crowded, still terrifying, and somehow more fun when your kid talks you into doing it again.
Tier 3: One and Done
Keelhaul Falls and Mayday Falls are your standard tube rides. Nothing wrong with them, but nothing memorable either. We did each once to check the box.
For families with younger kids, the Bay Slides and Ketchakiddee Creek were still open and practically empty. Perfect if you’ve got toddlers who need gentler options.
Keelhaul Falls was our chill break between the thrill slides. Calm, twisty, and no wait at all during Glow Night.
The Beach Party That Stole the Show
Here’s what really made the night special. Around the time we wrapped up the slides, the DJ dance party on the beach by the wave pool started. Stitch, Goofy, and crew came out in beach gear, and suddenly the entire sandy area transformed into the most fun family dance party I’ve ever seen.
The DJ was spinning Disney remixes, and dance party classics that somehow worked perfectly. My boys, who normally wouldn’t be caught dead dancing in public, were out there trying to hit moves they had only imagined before in their dreams. From the floss to the griddy (those were the ‘cool’ moves at the time), it was quite the spectacle.
The beach itself becomes this incredible dance floor. Sand between your toes, stars overhead, and families from all over just letting loose together. Parents were dancing, grandparents were taking videos, and kids were making new friends through the universal language of terrible dance moves.
What surprised me most? How long we stayed out there. We probably spent 45 minutes just dancing and hanging out with the characters. In regular park conditions, you’d feel rushed to hit more attractions. But something about the relaxed crowd and unlimited time made us slow down and actually soak in the moment.
The Freebies That Sealed the Deal
Disney doesn’t usually give stuff away, so the included snacks felt almost suspicious. But they delivered:
Free popcorn stations scattered throughout the park. Not the stale stuff either, fresh popped and constantly refilled. The boys and I probably ate our body weight in popcorn.
Mickey Premium Bars handed out near the beach. Full-size ice cream bars, not some tiny sample. They had special spots set up where you could grab them at your leisure.
Unlimited soft drinks at multiple stations. Coke products in regular and frozen varieties. After years of paying $5 for a bottle of water, free refills felt borderline revolutionary.
The food quality matched regular Disney standards, which sounds like faint praise but actually means it was pretty good. Fresh, well-maintained, and plenty to go around even near closing time.
The Transportation Headache
Okay, here’s the major downside. Getting there and back is annoying.
There’s no direct bus from any resort to Typhoon Lagoon. You have to transfer at Disney Springs, which adds 30–45 minutes each way. Going there wasn’t bad since we were dry and excited. But at 11:00 PM, soaking wet and exhausted? That transfer at Disney Springs felt daunting.
The solution? Spring for a Minnie Van or regular Uber/Lyft for the return trip. Yes, it’s another $30–40, but those drivers come prepared with towels and will get you back to your resort in 15 minutes instead of an hour. After our first Glow Night, we built the rideshare cost into our budget. Sometimes throwing money at a problem really is the answer.
Strategy Tips From Someone Who Learned the Hard Way
- Bring a change of clothes or resign yourself to being wet.
- Eat dinner before you go. The free snacks are great but it’s still popcorn and ice cream.
- Don’t rush the beginning. Hit the slides while everyone’s grabbing food.
- Plan extra time for the beach party. It’s not a quick stop, it’s a main event.
- Glow merchandise is fun but pricey. Budget for the impulse buy.
- The lazy river at night is surprisingly magical. Don’t skip it!
Is H2O Glow Night Worth Your Disney Dollars?
For our family, H2O Glow Night hit that sweet spot of special but not bank-breaking. The boys still talk about dancing with Mickey on the beach, and my wife’s already checking dates for next summer. In the world of Disney upcharges, this one delivers value. Reduced crowds, unique atmosphere, and enough free snacks to make you feel like you’re getting away with something.
Just remember to book that Minnie Van for the trip home. Trust me on this one.
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