Walt Disney World Resort has announced that one of its attractions, which was recently embroiled in a lawsuit over a “painful wedgie,” will close on January 20, 2026. The Humunga Kowabunga waterslide at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will shut down weeks before its home park closes for seasonal refurbishment in February. Previously released construction permits revealed the scope of the work Disney plans to do on the slide.
Trouble at Typhoon Lagoon
It’s been a rough few days at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, which has been closed since Monday, January 12, due to freezing temperatures and frost warnings in Central Florida. The park is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, January 17, but will close again from Sunday, January 18, to Tuesday, January 20, due to returning low temperatures.
On February 15, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park will reopen, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will close for seasonal refurbishment. Both Central Florida Disney water parks will operate simultaneously from May 26 to September 8, 2026, as part of Cool Kid Summer at Walt Disney World Resort. During this time, Disney Resort hotel guests will receive complimentary admission to their choice of one of the water parks on check-in day.
Disney Closes Waterslide Involved in Lawsuit
On January 7, Inside the Magic reported that Walt Disney World Resort had filed construction permits for the Humunga Kowabuna slide at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. The filing came days after reporting revealed that a judge had dismissed the lawsuit against Disney over a “painful wedgie” on the attraction.
Humunga Kowabunga Lawsuit
Over two years ago, Emma and Edward McGuinness filed a complaint against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, claiming that Mrs. McGuinness had obtained “severe and permanent” injuries after suffering a “painful wedgie” on Humunga Kowabunga. The couple claimed that, prior to the incident in 2019, Walt Disney World Resort failed “to warn of the inherent dangers presented” on the waterslide.
The family requested $50,000 from Walt Disney World Resort in their initial lawsuit documents. Emma McGuinness’s injury, which was widely described as a “painful wedgie,” reportedly included vaginal lacerations, a protruding bowel, and internal organ damage. She claimed to have suffered “immediate bleeding” after riding Humunga Kowabunga.
Walt Disney World Resort argued that Mrs. McGuinness “may have failed to use reasonable care” when riding Humunga Kowabunga, and that some of her “injuries or damages pre-existed” her ride.
Earlier this month, court records showed that the couple’s lawsuit had been dismissed by Judge Brian Sandor in Disney’s favor. Judge Sandor previously ordered Emma McGuinness to return to Florida for court proceedings, but she refused to do so.
The complaint was voluntarily dismissed, meaning the McGuinness family cannot sue Walt Disney Parks and Resorts over the same incident again. However, records do not indicate a private financial settlement between the guest and Walt Disney World Resort.
Construction Permit
Earlier this month, Walt Disney World Resort filed a permit for “general construction” at the exact address of the Humunga Kowabunga waterslide at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Although the filing didn’t offer much information about the planned work, the third-party contractor listed on the document hinted that Disney planned to rebuild the attraction.
Proslide Technology, a leader in the waterslide industry, is listed on the project. This company has previously helped Disney construct or rebuild waterslides around its properties. It seems unlikely that Disney will redesign the ride within the repair timeline it has set, but a complete rebuild is possible.
Waterslide Closure
On Thursday, Walt Disney World Resort confirmed that Humunga Kowabunga will close weeks before the seasonal refurbishment at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. The ride will be unavailable beginning January 20, 2026.
What did you think about the lawsuit against Walt Disney World Resort regarding Humunga Kowabunga? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments.
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