Sports and Recreation

05_53727X_Pt5.qxd 8/7/03 9:55 AM Page 104 Part Five Sports and Recreation You would be hard-pressed to come up with any sort of nonex- treme recreational activity that is not available somewhere in Walt Disney World, with the possible except of bowling and the super slalom (and there are some surprisingly similar virtual games available at Epcot and DisneyQuest). Otherwise, the World is your playground: golf, tennis, croquet, swimming, boating, fishing, skiing, ice skating, weight lifting, trail riding, rock climbing, running, volleyball, biking, parasailing, surfing, and scuba diving—even NASCAR driving. There are no official skateboard or inline skating areas, but none are necessary; there are sidewalks, parking lots, roads, and, though we hate to point it out, stairways everywhere. However, we caution you that you should make as many reservations or tee times as you can as early as you can; consult the operator or hotel clerk when you call. Golf tee times can be made as far ahead as 60 days if you’re staying at one of the resorts, or 30 days if you’re staying outside; call (407) 939-4653. Or ask about Golf Getaway packages or other sports packages. The Water Parks The two Disney World water parks—the mixed smooth- and surf-water Typhoon Lagoon, and the 66-acre big bear, Blizzard Beach—aren’t sporting arenas, exactly, although the idea of “skiing” barefoot at 60 miles an hour down 120 feet of water may constitute the thrill of victory and the agony of the feet. These are regularly refurbished, although on a rotating sched- 104 05_53727X_Pt5.qxd 8/7/03 9:55 AM Page 105 The Water Parks 105 ule; and usually out-of-season; but if the water parks are among your primary destination, you may want to check out their sta- tus before booking your trip. River Country The oldest of the Disney swimming parks, River Country was closed during 2002 as a consequence of the soft travel market. It now appears that the closure is permanent. Typhoon Lagoon Built nearly 20 years later and on a scale four times the size, Typhoon Lagoon is far more of a playground than River Country ever was, with a 90-foot-tall “mountain” that spews out water slides, “typhoon”-battered concession stands, geysers, and tube rides. Actually, whereas River Country was more an oversized swimming pool, Typhoon Lagoon is its own theme park, with a surf pool (that is, with machine-produced “tsunamis” higher than those at wave pools and designed for body surfing); a 360,000-gallon snorkeling tank called Shark Reef stocked with smallish and nonthreatening hammerhead and leopard sharks among flocks of tropical fish (this is also visi- ble through a viewing wall); and, to offset the 50-foot high water slides through which swimmers usually barrel (through a dark tunnel) at about 30 miles an hour, a really relaxing tube ride that wanders for nearly a mile through a “rain forest” and assorted archaeological anomalies. The story behind the park is that it used to be a pleasant resort that was upended by, in quick order, a typhoon, an earthquake, and a volcanic eruption, which left a hapless shrimp boat, the Miss Tilly, marooned atop “Mount Mayday,” where it periodically blows water out its stack like a beached whale. (Here’s a tip for sun-bathers pursuing an even tan: the smokestack goes off every 30 minutes—time to turn over.) If you’d like to take some basic surfing lessons, this is the place; ask about Craig Carroll’s Surfing School at your hotel’s Guest Relations desk. Blizzard Beach The newest, largest (66 acres, more than eight times the size of River Country), and most theatrical of the three, Blizzard Beach also has a full-blown (so to speak) history, though one with a logic only a Floridian could love. It seems that during an unusual cold snap that dumped a freak blanket of ice over the area, a real estate developer had the smart idea of making lemon- ade from lemons by opening a ski resort, complete with a little 05_53727X_Pt5.qxd 8/7/03 9:55 AM Page 106 106 Part Five Sports and Recreation chalet and ski lifts, but of course, the climate eventually reverted, and the entire resort went into meltdown. The peak is called Mount Gushmore, and there are 17 water slides in all, counting raft rides, tube slides, and the infamous Summit Plummet, which measures about 350 feet, starts off with a 120-foot free fall at a 66° angle, and generates sliding speeds of about 60 mph. The “chicken slide” is only 90 feet long. There is even a sort of water slide for two, a tandem slide called the Downhill Double Dipper, that only hits a safe 25 mph or so. (The view from the 120-foot chair ride to the peak is worth it even if you don’t want to dare the chutes.) The longest water bobsled run totals 1,200 feet, which you take in a tube-like raft similar to those at the Kali River Rapids. The hint for this one is the more weight, the more speed, so make friends in line. This, too, is a total theme park, with a lovely float creek called Cross Country, which you can circle in 45 minutes, a mild wave pool, much more energizing flume rides, raft rides, and so on; not surprisingly, it’s very popular with children. Gauge your volume tolerance level, too. One possible tactic is to go earlier in the day, when some families might be doing the main parks; or you could wait until later, say, mid- or late after- noon, and hope to hit peak nap time. Incidentally, Disney cast members and water park veterans will tell you that unless you are planning on sticking to the more sedate rides and floats or improving your tan, make sure you wear a strong and stay-put bathing suit; the slides and flumes can expose you to more than just a new experience. And it shouldn’t even require neck problems to make older visitors think twice about Summit Plummet; many people complain of being shaken up and bruised, especially on the buttocks, which is undoubtedly part of the fun for kids, but not, perhaps, for the rest of us. Other Water Sports Water comes in a lot of forms in Walt Disney World—Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, Buena Vista Lagoon, the Fort Wilder- ness waterways, the Disney Village waterways and the Sassagoula River, Barefoot Bay, Crescent Lake, and so on—and not surprisingly, boating comes in nearly every variety imaginable, too, from jet- skis or mini-speedboats (you must be age 18 for these, and the water patrol pays close attention) to 20-foot pontoons 05_53727X_Pt5.qxd 8/7/03 9:55 AM Page 107 The Water Parks 107 for larger parties. There are also canopy boats, rowboats, canoes, sailboats, catamarans, speedboats, and kayaks—even outrigger canoes at the Polynesian. (These require at least five passengers, but unlike the others, they’re free, perhaps because most ama- teurs are so clumsy in them that they provide entertainment for other visitors.) Port Orleans has kayaks, and Fort Wilderness has sailboats—in fact nearly every resort hotel has some sort of craft available, and if not, they can show you where to go. For those who would rather be chauffeured than steer themselves, there are charter boats and excursions that you can book in advance, either for private parties, fireworks viewing, or pic- nic lunches. Ask at the BoardWalk; Yacht and Beach Club Resorts; Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Hotels; or at Cap’n Jack’s Marina at the Marketplace. Bay Lake was originally stocked with 70,000 largemouth bass who’ve been cheerfully spawning ever since (many are in the eight- to ten-pound range) and you can pole-fish off Fort Wilderness, the BoardWalk, and the Marketplace. (Everything you catch should be thrown back, although Disney regulations have a loophole for those actually camping out or cooking for themselves; however, it’s best to check with the guide before you go. Some particularly large fish may be mounted; again, ask the guide.) You can arrange fishing trips, usually about two hours long, on pontoons that leave from several of the resorts or from Cap’n Jack’s. You can bring your tackle or use the on-board equipment. Most of these require reservations some time in advance; call (407) 824-2621. If you don’t mind spending $60 for about ten minutes’ fan- tasy of flying, you can go parasailing over Bay Lake and see Cin- derella Castle the way Tinkerbell does; reservations are required, call (407) 824-1000 x3586. Water skiing can be arranged for about $100 an hour, which covers the boat, a driver-instructor, two to four skiers, and skis if you don’t have your own, along with mini-surfboards and knee boards; make reservations at least 24 hours in advance at (407) 824-2621, specifying pick-up at Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Grand Floridian, Con- temporary, or Polynesian resorts. The most concentrated site of water sports is Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre at the Contemporary Resort, which offers parasailing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, and boat rentals. For information, call (407) WDW-PLAY (939-7529). 05_53727X_Pt5.qxd 8/7/03 9:55 AM Page 108 108 Part Five Sports and Recreation If you have a scuba diving certificate and about $150, you can take a half-hour dunk into The Living Seas; call (407) 939- 8687.

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