11 Best Sights in Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

If flume rides, storm slides, and tube races aren't wild enough for you, get ready to defy gravity on Disney's multipassenger water coaster. Designed to propel you uphill and down along flumes, caverns, and spillways, this ride should satisfy the most enthusiastic daredevil. Keeping with park lore, Crush ’n’ Gusher flows through what appears to be a rusted-out tropical fruit factory, weaving in and out of the wreckage and debris that once transported fruit through the plant's wash facilities. Three "fruit chutes" are aptly named Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher, and Pineapple Plunger—one of which is designed for solo riders. Guests shouldn't ride if they are pregnant or have heart, back, or neck problems. For people with disabilities: An elevator takes guests using wheelchairs to the loading area; there's a short distance between this area and the ride.  Ride first thing in the morning before lines get too long. And don't forget to say cheese for the cameras!

Each of these three body slides is about 300 feet long and snakes in and out of rock formations, through caves and tunnels, and under waterfalls, but each has a slightly different view and offers a twist. The one in the middle has the longest tunnel; the others feature secrets you'll have to discover for yourself. Brace for splashdown on all three slides! Maximum speed is about 20 mph, and the trip takes about 30 seconds. These slides are not appropriate for guests who are pregnant or who have heart, back, or neck problems.  Try each of the three slides for different twists.

The heart of the park is this 2½-acre swimming area with almost 3 million gallons of clear, chlorinated water. It's scalloped by coves, bays, and inlets, all edged with beaches of white sand—that's spread over a base of white concrete, as bodysurfers discover when they try to slide onto the shore. Ouch! The waves are the draw. Twelve huge water-collection chambers hidden in Mount Mayday dump their load into trapdoors with a resounding whoosh to create 6-foot waves large enough for Typhoon Lagoon to host amateur and professional surfing championships.

A piercing double hoot from Miss Tilly (the boat that legend says was deposited on Mount Mayday's highest peak during a storm) signals the start and finish of the wave action. Ninety-minute periods generating bigger waves every 90 seconds are punctuated by 30-minute sessions of placid bobbing waves. Even during the big-wave periods, however, the waters in Blustery Bay and Whitecap Cove are protected.

On certain days, skilled surfers and novices alike can enter the park before it opens for private sessions ( 407/939–7529 for reservations). Instruction and a soft-sided surfboard are included in the $199 cost, and the experience (ages 8 and older) lasts 2½–3 hours. For people with disabilities: Accessible for people using water-appropriate wheelchairs.  See the chalkboard at beach's edge for the day's wave schedule.

Kids scramble up several steps tucked between faux-rock formations, where a lifeguard sits to supervise their slide into Blustery Bay. The incline is small, but the thrill is great for young kids, who whoosh into the bay (sometimes into the arms of waiting parents). These two scaled-down versions of the Storm Slides are geared to kids shorter than 60 inches.  Kids really burn up energy going up the steps and down the slides repeatedly. Parents should be prepared for their wanting to ride over and over again.

This circular, 15-foot-wide, 3-foot-deep, 2,000-foot-long waterway is supremely relaxing and satisfyingly soothing. Just snag an inner tube and float placidly along a clear creek that winds through the park and around the Surf Pool and beaches. You'll pass through a rain forest that showers you with spray, slide through caves and grottoes, float by overhanging trees and flowering bushes, and get drenched from the "broken pipes" at the Water Works. The current flows a gentle 2½ feet per second. Along the way are five landing areas where you can hop in and out. For people with disabilities: Guests using wheelchairs must transfer to an inner tube.  A full circuit takes about 20 minutes, longer if you stop at one of the five lifeguard-manned launches.

Families who scale Mount Mayday have to haul their raft to the peak before the adventure begins. Upon takeoff, a 6½-foot-long inflated raft plunges down the slide with impressive speed, with things getting bumpy at times along the 300-foot river. It's a pleasant ride for families—not too scary for kids, and not too dull for adults. Those who are pregnant or have heart, back, or neck problems should sit this one out.  The inner tubes are heavy, so have at least two willing carriers. Also be prepared to ride with two to four riders (five if some are smaller kids).

The basic question here is: do you want to get scared out of your wits in four seconds flat? Three side-by-side speed slides drop 214 feet downhill at a 60-degree angle in seconds. Oh yes, and then you go through a cave. In the dark. The average speed is 30 mph, but you can really fly if you lie flat on your back, cross your ankles, wrap your arms around your chest, and arch your back. A couple caveats: the ride lasts only a few seconds—too short for us—and lines are often too long to requeue for another plunge. Also, this ride isn't appropriate for guests who are pregnant or who have heart, back, or neck problems.  Race against your friends or family.

If you need to chill out after the high-velocity Humunga Kowabunga, venture up to Keelhaul Falls, a laid-back trip down the left side of Mount Mayday. Just kick back and relax as your blue tube cruises down the 400-foot slide and splashes into a pool. Although its winding path and scenic descent can be satisfying for guests of all ages, thrill seekers might be disappointed. Nevertheless, this ride isn't appropriate for guests who are pregnant or who have heart, back, or neck problems.  Ride before or after Mayday Falls.

Typhoon Lagoon's play area for young children has slides, mini rapids, faux sand castles, squirting whales and seals, bouncing barrels, waterfalls, sprinklers, and all the other ingredients of a splash fiesta. The bubbling sand ponds, where youngsters can sit in what seems like an enormous whirlpool bath, are favorites, as is the tiny-scale tube ride. Kids can have spray battles using small water cannons, and families can camp beneath lots of shady lean-tos when not in the water. For people with disabilities: Accessible for people using water-appropriate wheelchairs.  Parents can take turns watching the kiddies here and riding the thrill slides.

This 460-foot slide in bright-yellow inner tubes is the longest and bumpiest of the three falls. It's a long trek up—even higher than that at Keelhaul—but the increased speed and longer descent are worth the climb since the watery route slips through caves, slides under bridges, and skims past thundering waterfalls before splash down. This ride isn't appropriate for guests who are pregnant or who have heart, back, or neck problems.  While you're in the neighborhood, ride Keelhaul Falls, too.

What goes down can also go up—and up and up. Climbing Mount Mayday "[is] like climbing Mount Everest," one teenager moaned about a climb that seems a lot steeper than an 85-foot peak should be. Nevertheless, after you've passed hibiscus flowers, traversed a rope bridge, and trod across stepping-stones set in plunging waters you'll be near the summit where the view encompasses the entire park. Lovers of white-water rafting should head over to Mayday Falls, Keelhaul Falls, and Gangplank Falls, which utilize oversize inner tubes as they take guests plunging down the mountain's slope.