Walt Disney World Resort is preparing to rebuild the Humunga Kowabunga waterslide at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park following a high-profile lawsuit from a guest who claimed the attraction caused severe injuries. Construction permits filed recently suggest major work is planned for the controversial slide during the water park's upcoming seasonal closure, which begins February 15.
$50,000 Lawsuit Details Alleged Injuries
Emma and Edward McGuinness filed a complaint against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in 2023 over a 2019 incident at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Emma McGuinness claimed she suffered “severe and permanent” injuries after experiencing a “painful wedgie” while riding the Humunga Kowabunga waterslide. The couple alleged Walt Disney World Resort failed “to warn of the inherent dangers presented” on the attraction.
Court documents described Humunga Kowabunga as “three, 214-foot, side-by-side enclosed body slides in which riders plummet down a near-vertical [five]-story drop in the dark, reaching speeds approaching 40 miles per hour.” Mrs. McGuinness allegedly rode the waterslide alongside her mother and daughter, neither of whom suffered injuries.
The McGuinness family sought $50,000 in damages, claiming Emma experienced “immediate bleeding” after riding Humunga Kowabunga. They alleged long-lasting injuries, including vaginal lacerations, a protruding bowel, and internal organ damage. Disney countered that the guest “may have failed to use reasonable care” or that her “injuries or damages pre-existed” her ride at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.
Plaintiff Drops Case Rather Than Return to Florida
Florida Politics reported on January 2 that the lawsuit had been dismissed by Judge Brian Sandor in Disney's favor. Judge Sandor previously ordered Mrs. McGuinness to return to Florida for court proceedings after she requested a virtual deposition to avoid traveling to the state.
Court filings indicate McGuinness voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, preventing her from filing the same complaint against Disney again. The documents do not mention a private settlement between the parties.
Construction Permit Filed for Waterslide Rebuild
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is scheduled to close for seasonal refurbishment on February 15, reopening by May 26 to operate in tandem with Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park through September 8, 2026. Despite the recent dismissal of the “painful wedgie” lawsuit, a construction permit filing suggests Walt Disney World Resort plans to rebuild Humunga Kowabunga during this maintenance period.
Recent reporting confirms Disney filed a permit for “general construction” at the exact address of the Humunga Kowabunga waterslide. Though the work description provides no specific details about Disney's plans, the company listed Proslide Technology as the contractor. Proslide Technology is a waterslide industry leader that has previously rebuilt other slides at Walt Disney World Resort.
A rebuild differs from a redesign, which would require far more than the three months Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be closed. The permit came from Walt Disney World's Facility Asset Management division, which typically handles maintenance work rather than new creative projects throughout the Central Florida Disney parks.
The timing raises questions about whether the lawsuit influenced Disney's decision to rebuild the waterslide, or if the reconstruction was already planned as routine maintenance. Walt Disney World Resort has issued no public statement about the project or the lawsuit's dismissal.
Have you ever been on Humunga Kowabunga at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
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