Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon made a splash for a great cause this week. The Walt Disney World water park hosted nearly 600 children as part of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, an annual global event dedicated to promoting water safety and ensuring that children learn how to swim. Olympic gold medalist and swimming champion Simone Manuel was on hand and even jumped in the water herself to help make the event extra special.
Typhoon Lagoon Makes Waves For Water Safety
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon served as the Florida venue for this year’s World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, organized by the World Waterpark Association. Walt Disney World has hosted this event annually since 2011, and this year welcomed nearly 600 kids from five Central Florida nonprofits: Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Girl Scouts of Citrus, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, ELEVATE Orlando, and the Alianza Center. Approximately 100 Disney lifeguards supported the lesson, combining hands-on water safety instruction with water park fun.
Manuel, the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming (the 100m freestyle at the 2016 Rio Games), surprised the children by getting in the water herself to help lead the lesson. Manuel is also ESPN’s newest Take Back Sports Ambassador, with The Simone Manuel Foundation and ESPN working together to build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills in young people through sports.
Disney’s Commitment To The Community
Events like this reflect Disney’s broader commitment to using its platforms and venues for community good. For many of the young participants, it was their first visit to a water park and their first swim lesson. After the lesson, children enjoyed a full day at Typhoon Lagoon as part of Disney’s Cool KIDS’ SUMMER celebration. “What Disney is doing with The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson fits perfectly with my personal mission of bringing life-saving swimming skills to people,” Manuel said. For more Walt Disney World news, check out our coverage of the latest Walt Disney World resort updates.
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