Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is the only water park in Central Florida that offers surf lessons.

  • Disney's Typhoon Lagoon offers surfing lessons
  • Pro surfers facilitate lessons
  • Available on select days before the park opens

"You don't have the sharks," said Scott Langefeld from New Jersey. "You don't have to worry about waiting for a wave to come."

Langefeld flies to Orlando about every 6 months to take advantage of the early morning program.

The Sobek brothers from Connecticut were also in his group.

"Falling down in the wave hurts a lot!" Cedar Sobek said, chuckling, adding that he got the hang of it pretty quickly.

Two and a half hours before Typhoon Lagoon opens to guests in the morning, the surfing lesson happens in what Disney says is the largest surfable wave pool in the U.S.

Pro surfers facilitate the group lessons, which start with an on-land tutorial, followed by time in the wave pool for paddling practice. The class ends with guests riding the waves.

Each wave comes off at 6 feet with a smaller one behind it.

"It was a little slower and therefore a little more challenging," Isaak Sobek told us, referring to the second wave.

"We have multiple chambers back there that hold hundreds of thousands of gallons on water," said Mark Dukes, general manager of Walt Disney World Water Parks & Mini Golf. "Then they drop the water, and that creates the wave."

The group is no larger than 12 people, so it's pretty intimate.

"Yeah, it was really nice," Sage Sobek said, referring to the exclusivity. "They had the speaker system up, too."

There are two surfing options at the park: “Hang 10” private sessions for experienced surfers and “Surf Like a Pro” group lessons, for all skill levels.

Guests must be at least 8 years old to participate.

Surfing lessons are only offered on select days. To book surfing lessons, call 407-939-7529 or visit the Walt Disney World website.