Gangplank Falls at Typhoon Lagoon (A Whitewater Rafting Adventure)
If you’re looking for family thrills at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, consider the park’s family raft ride, Gangplank Falls. This waterslide attraction is similar to a whitewater rafting adventure in which multiple guests share an oversized inner tube. Below, we’ll discuss the specifics of experiencing Gangplank Falls during your water park visit and preview a few photos of the attraction.
Gangplank Falls is located toward the back of the park near Ketchakiddee Creek, the park’s dedicated toddler area. The attraction is part of three “falls” rides. The two neighboring slides are Mayday Falls and Keelhaul Falls. Both of those slides are for individuals. Gangplank is the only one designed for multiple riders.
How Disney Water Parks Operate
It’s important to note that Disney’s water parks operate on a rotational schedule. Blizzard Beach is typically open between early November and March, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is open between March and November. You’ll want to check the exact hours and availability for your visit.
This attraction is described as follows: Take a family-sized inner tube down a winding watery course with scenic views, caverns, and lots of twists and turns.
Gangplank Falls does not have a listed height requirement. Typically, for these kinds of rides, guests must be able to sit in the inner tube and hold the handles closest to them. You’ll need multiple guests in your party to experience this attraction. (If you have fewer than four guests in your party, you might be combined in another raft with other guests.)
At the base of the attraction, you’ll pick up a raft and carry it to the top. Unfortunately, the rafts are heavy and somewhat difficult to maneuver due to their size. When my son was younger, I remember struggling to get the float up to the top. So, this became the attraction we always skipped. In the picture below, you can see the slide exit. You might notice how the raft is taller than the cast member who is getting ready to pass it off to the next party of waiting guests.
The Resorts Gal Spin on Gangplank Falls
We give Gangplank Falls the red light. If you fear you’ll have difficulty managing the raft or if the lines long, we would skip this attraction. It’s important to note Gangplank Falls is only 300 feet long, which isn’t long for a family raft ride. In my opinion, it’s one of those rides where you blink, and it’s over. So, if you haven’t experienced Gangplank Falls and the line isn’t long, try it. But I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a deal-breaker if you miss it.
Resorts Gal Traffic Signals
Green Light
We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
Red Light
We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we would prefer to wait for Miss Adventure Falls multiple times before riding Gangplank Falls. For more on Typhoon Lagoon, you might enjoy these other attraction reviews:
You might also enjoy the Resorts Gal Guide to Typhoon Lagoon or our Typhoon Lagoon Dining Guide. For comparable rides at Disney’s Blizzard Beach, try our review of Teamboat Springs. You might also enjoy our Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Blizzard Beach or browse all of our coverage of the Disney Water Parks.
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In the Comments
What are your thoughts on Gangplank Falls? Does this look like an attraction you’ll want to hit or miss? Let us know below in the comments.
