Disney's Blizzard Beach

Disney's Blizzard Beach

Location Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, U.S.
Coordinates 28°21′06″N 81°34′31″W / 28.351804°N 81.575415°W / 28.351804; -81.575415Coordinates: 28°21′06″N 81°34′31″W / 28.351804°N 81.575415°W / 28.351804; -81.575415
Theme "Melting" ski resort
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Opened April 1, 1995 (1995-04-01)[1]
Operating season Year-round with annual maintenance closure
Website Blizzard Beach
Status Operating

Disney's Blizzard Beach is a water theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. All water areas are heated (at approximately 80 °F or 27 °C), with the exception of the melting snow in the ice cave of Cross Country Creek.

The park opened on April 1, 1995 and was the third Walt Disney World water park.[1] In 2015, the park hosted approximately 2,107,000 guests, ranking it the third-most visited water park in the world, behind its sister park, Typhoon Lagoon.[2] Blizzard Beach is open year-round with an annual maintenance closure in either the fall or winter; during the closure, its sister park, Typhoon Lagoon, will remain open.

The majority of the major attractions at the park are hosted atop of Mount Gushmore, an artificial hill with an elevation of 90 feet (27.4 m). Mount Gushmore is split into three colored slopes to aid guests navigating around the park: Green, Red and Purple.

Park Story

According to Disney legend, a freak snowstorm in the area led to the development of Florida's first ski resort. Naturally, the snow did not last long. This left behind a collection of waterlogged but snow-less ski jumps and chair lifts. The operators were preparing to cut their losses and walk away. However, they were interrupted by an echoing "YAHHOOO!!!" coming from the mountain of melting snow. They looked up to see a blue alligator, wearing a red scarf and gold innertube, careening down the mountain at top speed. Ice Gator, the mascot, then landed in a pool of melted snow at the base of the mountain with a thunderous splash. The ski resort operators suddenly saw the park's potential, and the mountain of snow became Blizzard Beach, "the most slushy, slippery, exhilarating water park anywhere!"

Park Layout

Green Slope

The Green Slope attractions (all are single track water slides, and as such are not meant for racing), are found at the uppermost point of Mount Gushmore. They can be accessed by foot, or by chairlift. The chairlift is a one-way ride, except for guests with disabilities.

Summit Plummet as seen from the beginning of the line.
An overview of Teamboat Springs.

Purple Slope

Access to the Purple Slope attractions (all of which have at least two nearly identical tracks, and as such are designed for racing), is from a pathway next to the catch pool of Downhill Double Dipper.

Red Slope

The Red Slope is found at the very rear of the park, containing only one attraction (a multi-slide attraction, but not designed for racing, due to the slides being different).

Ground level

An overview of Ski Patrol and the Chairlift

Food and beverage

Coolers are allowed in the water parks. The only restricted items are glass and alcohol.

Merchandise

References

  1. 1 2 Disney.com A History of the Walt Disney Company
  2. "TEA/AECOM 2015 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
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