Blizzard Beach water park opened at Walt Disney World as a giant April Fool’s joke on April 1st, 1995. While more guests visit Typhoon Lagoon every year Blizzard Beach is Disney’s largest water park at 66 acres. Which is only about 20 acres smaller than Disneyland Park in California.
Blizzard Beach’s most impressive attraction summit plummet is one of the tallest freefall body slides in the world towering at a hundred and twenty feet it sends guests straight down at almost 55 miles per hour. But we’ll get into the attractions more in a minute.
How much are tickets to Blizzard Beach?
Guests wanting to visit Blizzard Beach water park have several different options for tickets.
If you plan on only visiting the park for one day, then it makes things very simple for you. However, should you plan on visiting a Disney water park on multiple days, then you’ll want to consider adding the Park Hopper Plus option to a Magic Your Way ticket.
Of course, you could just purchase an Annual Pass to just the water parks for $138.45. The Platinum Plus Annual Pass also has water park entries included in its price, so keep that in mind as an option if you go more regularly.
One Day Ticket Cost at Blizzard Beach Water Park
$69.23 adult/$62.84 children (tax included)
Blizzard Beach Park Hopper Plus Tickets
Park Hopper Plus tickets are more costly. But they allow you to park hop between the 4 main theme parks. They also give you extra entry perks into venues outside of the main parks (like the water parks).
Basically, for every day that you have on your ticket, you get an extra entry into a park listed below. (This includes going back to the same location more than once)
- Typhoon Lagoon
- Blizzard Beach
- ESPN Wide World of Sports (event tickets cost extra)
- Fantasia Gardens or Winterland Summerland (free round of mini-golf before 4:00 pm)
- Free round of golf at Oak Trail
This is ONLY available if you get the park hopper plus add-on.
What are Blizzard Beach Hours?
As per the usual at Disney World parks, the hours for Blizzard Beach are posted 180 days in advance. You may want to check the current schedule for Blizzard Beach as it is very seasonal and changes throughout the year. You could also check out one of the many crowd calendars for Disney World out there on the internet as well.
How to get to Blizzard Beach
Located at 1534 Blizzard Beach Drive in Orlando, you’ll find Blizzard Beach, right off Buena Vista Drive. However, if you are a guest at any of the Disney Hotels then it’s easy enough to get where you want to go. You’ll have access to any of the Disney Transport Buses and other than the offseason they will get you there very efficiently as they have direct buses to the water parks.
Blizzard Beach Parking
If you are driving to Blizzard Beach then you are going to need to know about parking. Good news, they offer free parking! However, this can fill up pretty quickly during the peak summer season, so if you plan on spending the day at the park it’s always good to get there early.
Map Of Blizzard Beach
What attractions are at Blizzard Beach?
Let’s now take a look at all of the exciting attractions around the park. The slides found at Blizzard Beach park are divided up into sections, in fact like a normal ski resort they are grouped by different colored slopes.
Green Slope
First, we have the parks’ longest and tallest water slides located at the top of the green slope now. There are 2 ways you can get at the top of Mount Gushmore and the green slope you can do things the old-fashioned way and take the stairs or opt for a more relaxing ride on the chairlift.
The Chairlift
This is a feature that is truly unique to Blizzard Beach and will save some energy on those tired feet when going up the mountain. this relaxing and scenic trip up the mountain takes less than 5 minutes. you’ll get a fantastic view of the ski patrol training camp down below and get an up-close look at the parks’ most thrilling slide summit plummet.
If you’re afraid of heights this may be a little unsettling since the chairlift is wide open to the elements. But if you can overcome the fear I promise you’ll enjoy a great view of the entire park. From a practical standpoint, I must mention that you have to be at least 32 inches tall to ride the chairlift and if you’re using a wheelchair there is one gondola that will take you up the mountain you’ll just have to wait a few minutes for it to come around.
Teamboat Springs
Once you reach the top of the mountain the entire family can enjoy Teamboat Springs. This is the park’s family whitewater raft ride and it’s truly a great time for everyone. This is one of the longest family raft rides in the world and it stretches over one and a half thousand feet long. Each raft will hold between 4 and 6 guests and you’ll be sent on a wild ride all the way down. Just make sure you hang on tight because you can really get some air time on this ride.
Slush Gusher
Next up, we have slush gusher for those who are slightly intimidated by the park’s tallest freefall slide slush gusher is located at the top of the mountain just like team boat Springs it stands at 90 feet high. Unlike summit plummet that sends you straight down, this one sends guests on to fun bunny Hills down Mount Rushmore. You’ll reach some top-notch speeds and catch some big air-time on this ride.
Blizzard Beach Summit Plummet
The big one at the top of the slope is Summit Plummet. This is actually one of Disney world’s scariest attractions, but boy is it fun. Once you reach the top of the mountain you’ll have to climb an extra 30 feet of steps to reach the top of the slide. The slide itself stands 120 feet high. This slide is an exhilarating, heart in your throat, 10-second drop straight down. Both of these thrill slides have a height restriction of 48 inches.
If taking a steep plunge down summit plummet or slush gusher is simply too much for you, then at least enjoy the observation deck right under the ski jump structure. You’ll get some of the most awesome views of the park down below from here.
Purple Slope
If you like to have a good time, but aren’t quite up for dropping yourself down 120 feet of water slide, then head on over to the purple slope. You can reach the purple slope by taking the chair lift up the mountain and taking some steps back down a bit. It’s not quite as high, but the wait for the chairlift could be backed up, so another good way to get to this area is to climb the stairs right behind Melt Away Bay.
Downhill Double Dipper
The first slide in this section also has a height restriction of 48 inches. It’s not as intimidating as the big 2 slides but it still packs a punch with speed. Downhill Double Dipper is one of several race slides at Blizzard Beach this one features two slides side-by-side and guests can race each other down the 50-foot plunge aboard an inner tube. It’s almost the same height as the drop on Splash Mountain.
This ride might still have you a little bit nerved up because you’ll be lined upright against a drop door that will send you down at 25 miles an hour. This slide does get busy and the line can back up quickly, mostly because of waiting for an inner tube. Which you pick up halfway up the stairs as your going up, so it does save a little bit of energy.
Blizzard Beach Snow Stormers & Toboggan Racers
These two rides are quite unique because you use a sled instead of an inner tube to take you down the slides face-first which gives you an extra thrill. The good news here is that you’ll pick up the mat sleds at the very top of the slide and entrance so there’s no need to carry them all the way up.
Snow Stormers is fun and that it’s meant to look like slalom skiing where you race down the slope zigzagging poles and flags. There are three identical flumes here side by side and you’ll be sent on twists and turns all the way down.
But my personal favorite slide on the purple slopes is toboggan racers. Like Snow Stormers, there’s no height restriction on this ride so the whole family can get in on the fun and race side-by-side. You get on the purple mat and take your position in one of the 8 rows, when you hear the sound of the whistle you’ll all race down a 250-foot long slide.
If slush gusher piques your interest but you’re a little too unsure or scared to ride it, then Toboggan Racers is the next best thing. It’s almost the same height in speed but since this one handles more guests at a time you’ll weight in a much shorter line.
Red Slope
The final slope found at the top of Mount Rushmore is the red slope home to Runoff Rapids. This is kind of hard to find, because unless you walk the backside of the mountain or take a trip down the lazy river you may completely miss this one.
There are no height restrictions here, but the one caveat here is that this is the one major slide at Blizzard Beach water park that requires you to grab an inner tube at the bottom of the slide and walk it up yourself.
These slides don’t really feature the unique ski slope design of the rest that we’ve talked about. But they are three very fun and fast tube slides and each one is slightly different. The two outer slides are open while the middle one is completely enclosed.
Blizzard Beach – Melt Away Bay
In between the thrilling speed slides, there’s always time for a break and relaxation at Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Melt Away Bay is the park’s main pool, and unlike the infamous wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon this one is much milder and only bops guests up and down at a nice pace. For some people, scoring a prime lounge chair at the shores of melt-away Bay is essential. No matter where you park yourself for the day though, you can easily walk to the 1 Acre pool.
On a practical note for those traveling with little kids who are not advanced swimmers yet… make sure you grab a life vest before getting in the pool. These are free and come in different sizes. This zero-entry pool does make it easier for little ones to enter and for adults to keep a good eye on them, but life preservers are definitely available.
Cross Country Creek
I know that the surf pool at Typhoon Lagoon is way more exciting but this is a good alternative for kids who are not expert swimmers yet. But if the bopping up and down is not really your speed and you really want to relax then take a ride on Cross Country Creek. This is Blizzard Beach’s lazy river and it stretches over 3,000 feet long. In fact, a complete trip around the river can take at least 20 minutes. But be warned, when you enter the cave section that cuts through mountain gush more get ready for some ice-cold waterfalls to come crashing down.
What is there to eat at Blizzard Beach?
Blizzard Beach offers many quick service options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, at this time they don’t offer any sit-down restaurants.
Mini Donuts
This place is great for breakfast. You can get some delicious mini donuts here with some tasty dipping sauces. The only downside is that snack credits can only be used for beverages here.
Warming Hut
This place is a great little place for a quick lunch. You can use your snack credits here as well, but it’s only open seasonally.
Avalunch
This is a great little place to grab some quick lunch like a hot dog. But there’s no real seating, so you’ll have to do your best to find a spot to sit.
Lottawatta Lodge
This is kind of the premier place to eat at Blizzard Beach and it can get busy fast. Great food and nice views of Mt. Gushmore as well.
Polar Pub
Great place to grab a refreshing drink. They serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well.
I.C. Expeditions
This is a great little food truck style place to grab a Mickey Bar on a hot day! Although it can be closed when the park is a little less busy.
Frostbite Freddy’s Frozen Freshments
This place has a limited menu, but they accept Disney Dining Plan snack credits and offer many frozen beverages and ice cream options.
Cooling Hut
There’s no seating here either. But you can pick up your Mickey Bars or other small snacks here as well.
Do They Sell Alcohol at Blizzard Beach?
Yes, there’s an outdoor pool bar and quick-service restaurant called Polar Pub that serves smaller light snacks and chilled tropical alcoholic drinks for guests 21 years of age and older as well as other very refreshing beverages.
Can I bring my own food and water?
Any guest can bring their own food or water into Blizzard Beach as long as it doesn’t require heating it up. I would let security know that you have food items of your own when you enter the park just to avoid any confusion though.
Cabana and Umbrella Rental at Blizzard Beach
Yes, you can rent cabanas and umbrellas at Blizzard Beach. If you’ve got money to burn and you don’t want to worry about waking up early and snagging a prime spot then you can just rent a private cabana. I am of the mindset that it’s better to simply get to the park early and snag a good lounge chair. That way you can experience the busier slides first and save money by skipping rentals. But since this needs to be a complete guide and I’m sure that some of you are curious about how this works so I’ll give you the low down.
Instead of traditional cabanas, Blizzard Beach has private patios that come with plenty of shade. These can be found around the outer lounge area of melt-away Bay and alongside Cross Country Creek. These patios come with your own attendant, who will bring food and beverages directly to you so that you can spare the extra walking. You’ll also get your own private lockers, towel rentals, and refillable souvenir cups.
They can accommodate up to six guests but it can get pricey depending on the season. That can range from $200 a day up to $350 a day. Reservations can be made on the same day but to check and see if you can pre-book this I would try to contact 407-WDW-PLAY.
However, if that sounds too much out of your price range you can take things a step-down and simply go for the premium seating reserved lounge chairs. These are great and can accommodate up to four guests and simply come with lounge chairs, umbrellas, a small cocktail table as well as some towels. It’s important to note that you won’t get your own private attendant at these tables. That’s why it’s priced lower in the forty to sixty dollar range and again the price is based on the season.
How To Get A Good Spot At Blizzard Beach
Rope drop is all about scoring a good lounge chair or home-based spot when you enter the park. The water parks tend to open at 10 a.m. so it’s an easy place to do rope drop. You may be thinking “why is it worth waking up early to get to a water park”? Well if you’re hoping to score a prime spot with shade and a lounge chair by Melt Away Bay. Then making sure that you are one of the first in the park will really make this happen. Remember though, there are other great spots to get depending on your group. Again, like I said if you’re at least with one toddler try and snag a spot by Tykes Peak. Your little one will spend most of the day here, so implanting yourself in this area will just make life easier for all involved.
Are Coolers Allowed At Blizzard Beach?
Yes. Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon will allow large coolers (even with wheels) allowed into the parks. There are no places to store your cooler though, so keep in mind that if you bring one in, you’ll have the distinct pleasure of carrying around your own cooler.
Do I need to bring my own towels to Blizzard Beach?
You can bring your own towel. Which is what we do. However, if you either forget your towel or decide you don’t want to bring your own then they are available for rent at a cost of $2/day (each). You can find towel hire at both Beach Haus and Snowless Joe’s.
Does Blizzard Beach have FastPass?
No. Currently, no attractions offer FastPass+ at Blizzard Beach.
Is the water heated at Blizzard Beach?
Every water area at the park is heated (at approximately 80 °F or 27 °C), with the minor exception of the snow melting in the ice cave of Cross Country Creek.
Are There Lockers at Blizzard Beach?
Yes, there are lockers at Blizzard Beach. They are 11″ x 9″ x 16″ (which is a small) for $8.00 per day and 17″ x 9″ x 16″ (which is large) for $10.00 per day. You have a returnable key that you rent for $5, which is then returned to you when you return the key to the park.
Are There Showers at Blizzard Beach?
Yes, there are showers at Blizzard Beach. This is awesome, because then you can be clean as a whistle when you plan on leaving to head to dinner or anywhere else and you don’t want to smell like pool chlorine.
Do Refillable Disney Resort Mugs Work at Blizzard Beach?
Ok, let’s provide some clarification here. There are two types of mugs. There are Refillable Mugs that you can buy at Blizzard Beach, but there is also the 16 oz. insulated coffee mugs sold at Walt Disney World hotels. You will need to purchase a different refillable mug for $11.99 plus tax if you want to keep filling up at Disney’s Blizzard Beach.
The water park refillable mugs can be used at both of Disney’s water parks, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach. The one caveat about the mugs at the water parks is that if you won’t be returning at least a few times or plan on pounding down the soda then it really isn’t worth it in my opinion.
Is my magic band waterproof?
Yes. MagicBands are waterproof so you can feel free to enjoy a swim at the pool at your Disney Resort hotel or if you happen to get caught in an afternoon downpour.
Does Blizzard Beach if it rains?
No. In Florida, there is one sure thing other than death and taxes and those are afternoon showers. The parks will remain open and while you may not enjoy the rain you can always take some time to walk through the shops or grab a bite to eat while you wait it out.
Does Blizzard Beach Close For The Winter?
No. Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park does not close for the winter season. However, there are certain times when both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon lagoon will close each year for refurbishment. Usually, this happens in the offseason, but you can check Disney’s Website for closures.
Is Blizzard Beach The Best Water Park For Kids?
The biggest question I get regarding water parks is “which one is better for kids”, specifically toddlers. The answer to that is undoubtedly Blizzard Beach. Mostly because there are two different kid sections at this park that are geared towards two specific age groups. For those traveling with toddlers, Tykes Peak is the place to be. It’s designed for the little kids who are three and under. The main pool in this section is only a couple of inches deep. There are also three different slides that toddlers can enjoy. One small one where they can board an inner tube and slide on down and two more body slides.
It’s important to know that the parents won’t be able to slide down with the kids on some of these slides, but the good news is that there’s a cast member at the top and bottom to catch them. So you can easily position yourself on a bridge right in between them. That way you can get a good look of the entire slide and watch them go all the way down. If you’re traveling only with a toddler and undecided between Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon then you should definitely pick Blizzard Beach.
Full Video Overview Of Blizzard Beach
Our friend David over at Beyond The Kingdoms was generous enough to provide help with this post. We’d appreciate it if you would check him out over on youtube and his website as well. Below is his full video overview of Blizzard Beach from their youtube channel.
Is Blizzard Beach Worth It?
At the end of the day, I think that if you have the time to visit a Disney water park, especially if you have little ones, then this is the perfect place to go. If you think I’ve missed anything in this guide please feel free to send me a message and let me know. Thanks for taking the time to read my guide and hopefully it will help you out the next time you are planning your Walt Disney World Resort vacation.
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