The Ultimate Guide to Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Everything You Need to Know About Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Disney’s Blizzard Beach, one of two Disney water parks, has reopened! It is currently the only Disney water park open until May 12 when Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon will reopen. Both water parks will then be open until at least the fall. If guests are looking to spend some time splashing in the sun, Blizzard Beach is the place to be!

Related – Make a Splash: The Top 10 Outdoor Water Parks You Need to Visit in the US!

The Basics

• Location: Near Animal Kingdom and the All-Star Resorts.
• Offerings: 12 attractions, 8 eateries/bars, and 1 souvenir shop.
• The “Other” Park: Its sister park is Typhoon Lagoon.

Ticketing Strategy

Don’t get soaked by buying single-day tickets! While they are available for ~$79, there are much smarter ways to pay:

• The “Add-On” Method: Adding the Water Park and Sports Option to your theme park ticket costs $70 total, making it cheaper than a one-day standalone pass.
• Park Hopper Plus: This combines the ability to jump between theme parks with water park access at a discounted rate.

Passholder & Seasonal Deals

• Annual Passholders: You can add a year of water park access to your pass for $99.
• Seasonal Passes: These are the hidden gems of Disney pricing. Currently, a pass for late 2025 through May 2026 is available for $89—offering months of fun for roughly the price of one visit.

The backstory of Blizzard Beach is wonderfully nonsensical: a freak Florida snowstorm inspired someone to build a full-scale ski resort, which—shocker—immediately began to melt. While the logic of building a ski lodge in the subtropics is questionable at best, the resulting “melting resort” aesthetic is one of Disney’s best. The park brilliantly repurposes alpine architecture and snow-sport concepts into high-speed water slides. Keep an eye out for Ice Gator, the park’s official mascot, who is the only one who seems to truly enjoy this frozen-yet-fluid logic.

Blizzard Beach features a diverse lineup of aquatic adventures, including seven distinct waterslide attractions, a scenic chairlift, a lazy river, and a massive wave pool. For younger guests, the park offers dedicated play areas tailored specifically for toddlers and pre-teens.

To help guests find their way around, the slides are organized into three color-coded zones: the Green Slopes (3 slides), the Purple Slopes (3 slides), and the Red Slopes (a single attraction featuring 3 separate slides). While these groupings are primarily used for navigation rather than ride intensity, they are essential for planning an efficient park itinerary.

Summit Plummet

Summit Plummet is the undisputed king of Blizzard Beach. This 12-story “ski jump” ranks among the fastest free-fall slides on the planet, reaching speeds that will satisfy any thrill-seeker.

• The View: Before the drop, enjoy a bird’s-eye look at all four Disney theme parks.
• The Thrill: The sheer verticality of the 120-foot descent is genuinely intense.
• The Verdict: What sets it apart is the gradual “pull-out” at the finish, providing a surprisingly comfortable landing for such an extreme ride. It’s a world-class attraction that lives up to the hype.

Slush Gusher

Think of Slush Gusher as Summit Plummet’s more social younger sibling. Located on the Green Slopes, this body slide trades the 12-story vertical drop for a series of three shorter, “slushy” hills. It’s arguably more “fun” than “frightening,” allowing you to soak in the experience (and the incredible views) without the sheer terror of a free-fall. Don’t be fooled, though—that third drop packs enough punch to send you nearly airborne before you glide into the splashdown. It’s the ideal “middle-ground” slide for those who want the height without the heart-stopping verticality.

Snow Stormers

For a ride that truly captures the “ski resort” theme, look no further than the slalom-style Snow Stormers. Descending face-first on a mat turns what could have been a basic slide into a high-speed navigate-the-moguls experience. It’s “zippy” in the best way possible, offering plenty of lateral G-force as you bank through the curves. Best of all? It’s the undisputed champion of fun for guests of all heights, proving you don’t need a 12-story drop to get a great rush.

Runoff Rapids

For those who love a long, leisurely-but-zippy descent, Runoff Rapids is a must-visit. This attraction consists of three separate tube slides that follow similar, winding paths down the mountain.

• The Highlights: The two open-air slides provide great views and a refreshing breeze, making them the superior choice for most guests.
• The Caveat: The third slide is entirely enclosed. While the darkness adds a layer of mystery, the lack of ventilation makes it feel quite humid and cramped, especially during the hotter months. Overall, it’s a quintessential water park experience that perfectly balances “bumps and splashes” with a decent ride time.

Toboggan Racers

Ready, set, slide! Toboggan Racers is the ultimate group challenge, allowing eight racers to battle it out on side-by-side mats. It’s one of the few spots in the park where bragging rights are on the line, and in our book, it’s the best competitive ride Disney has to offer. Whether you’re racing family or total strangers, the synchronized start and “zippy” descent make every heat feel like a championship final.

Downhill Double Dipper

If you have a need for speed, the Downhill Double Dipper is your go-to. This high-stakes “drag race” pits two riders against each other in a mostly-enclosed tube. It’s arguably the fastest-feeling slide in the park, especially for lighter guests who tend to hydroplane across the finish line.

• The Catch: Because of its popularity and lower capacity, it often boasts the longest wait times in the park.
• The Verdict: While it’s one of the most fun rides at Disney, its short duration keeps it just outside our top five.

Teamboat Springs

Gather the whole team for a trip down Teamboat Springs, a “super-long” whitewater adventure that winds down the slopes of Mount Gushmore. This isn’t your average waterslide; the 1,200-foot track is wide enough to allow your raft to bank, spin, and slide through the rapids at will. It’s a chaotic, splash-filled experience where the random rotations mean no two rides are ever the same—and no one stays dry for long!

Chairlift

Why hike when you can glide? The Chairlift is the ultimate thematic “bonus” at Blizzard Beach, offering a scenic break from the endless stairs leading to the Green Slopes. It’s the easiest way to reach the start of Teamboat Springs and Slush Gusher, though Summit Plummet purists will still have a small climb waiting at the top. Just remember: once you’re up there, the only way down is via water or your own two feet—there’s no “return trip” on the lift. Also, because of its height and mechanics, it’s highly sensitive to wind and weather. If the skies look gray, hit the lift early!

Cross Country Creek

As far as lazy rivers go, Cross Country Creek is a solid, middle-of-the-road experience. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does offer a few charming highlights, such as a cavernous passage through the heart of Mount Gushmore and a peek at Ice Gator’s “frozen” cabin. It is impressively long, requiring over 28 minutes for a full loop, and features seven convenient entry and exit points located throughout the park. Whether you prefer a standard tube, a specialized model, or simply drifting along without one, this river provides a steady, scenic way to navigate Blizzard Beach.

Melt-Away Bay Wave Pool

According to park lore, Melt-Away Bay is fed by the constant “ice-melt” runoff from Mount Gushmore. Unlike the powerful, crashing surf found at Typhoon Lagoon, this wave pool is all about “bobbing” waves. These gentle, rolling swells provide a leisurely experience, making it the perfect spot to tread water, lounge on a tube, or simply play around without the fear of being swept away by a massive crest.

Mt. Gushmore

Don’t treat Mount Gushmore as just a staircase to your next ride! Although it’s the hub for all seven main attractions, the mountain itself is an unlisted attraction in its own right. If you only focus on the slides, you’re missing out on some of the best vistas in Walt Disney World. We suggest a dedicated “mountain hike”: head up the Green Slopes to find the secret Observation Deck (keep your eyes peeled, as it’s left off the official map!), then wander down the Purple Slopes. It’s the best way to catch the 360-degree views and truly “take in” the melting ski-resort atmosphere.

Tike’s Peak

If you’re visiting with small children, Tike’s Peak is your go-to destination. Strictly reserved for guests under 48 inches, this play area eliminates the “big kid” chaos, offering a gentler environment filled with shallow splash zones and miniature fountains. It’s the perfect spot for toddlers to get their feet wet while the rest of the family tackles the bigger peaks nearby.

Ski Patrol Training Camp

For kids who have outgrown the toddler area but aren’t quite ready for the vertical drops of Mount Gushmore, the Ski Patrol Training Camp is the ultimate hangout. Specifically geared toward pre-teens, this interactive zone trades “kiddie” fountains for more active challenges. Your “recruits” can test their balance on the Thin Ice Training course (a floating iceberg ropes feature), take a T-bar zip line plunge, or race down three specialized slides. With plenty of open space for swimming, it’s a high-energy spot where older kids can burn off steam.

When you arrive to Blizzard Beach, you’ll want to grab your complimentary towels and rent a locker if you choose. Lockers are $10 for small ones and $15 for large. There are changing rooms and showers as well. You’ll then want to grab your seats so you have a spot when you want to take a break from the sliding and splashing.

Food & Drinks

While the dining landscape at Blizzard Beach is a bit more streamlined than at Typhoon Lagoon, there are still plenty of spots to refuel. The park features a central Quick Service restaurant for hearty meals, complemented by three smaller food stands, two dedicated snack and ice cream counters, and two bars for poolside cocktails. For those needing a caffeine fix, you’ll find two Joffrey’s Coffee locations: the first is conveniently situated next to Lottawatta Lodge near the lazy river, and the second is tucked away at the north end of Melt-Away Bay.

Have you had a chance to experience Disney’s Blizzard Beach?

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