You know my frog family loves nothing more than to ribbit about Walt Disney World’s four main theme parks — but our Orlando trip isn’t complete without a splash at one of the resort’s two magnificent water parks. It can be so nice to cool off during those humid Florida summers, but thanks to Florida's warm weather year-round, you can ride the waves in the winter too. Before you dive in on your next trip, we've got the full scoop on what you need to know about Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park.
FAQs
- What is Disney’s Blizzard Beach? Disney’s Blizzard Beach is a water park at Walt Disney World, featuring waterslides, family raft rides, a lazy river and kid-friendly play areas, all themed around a melting ski resort.
- Is Blizzard Beach open? Blizzard Beach reopened on Feb. 15, 2026, for the spring and summer seasons. From May 26 to Sept. 8, 2026, guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort get free admission to a Disney water park on their check-in day. You can save by booking your tickets and resort stay through Undercover Tourist.
- Does Blizzard Beach provide towels? Yes, towels are complimentary for all guests. Just be sure to drop your towel in one of the towel return bins on your way out.
- What time does Blizzard Beach open? Typically, Blizzard Beach is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, but hours can vary depending on the season or weather. Be sure to check the park's hours on the day of your visit in the My Disney Experience app.
- Which is better, Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach? It depends! Blizzard Beach has a snowy ski resort theme and the most thrills, while Typhoon Lagoon's theme is tropical, with a huge wave pool and more chill attractions. Both have quick-service dining, lockers, merchandise stores and plenty of lounge seating around the park. Hop to our post How to Choose Between Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach for more info.
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park in Orlando
Blizzard Beach opened on April 1, 1995 — fittingly on April Fool’s Day — to go along with the contradiction of a snow-covered water park. The story here is that Blizzard Beach was meant to be a snowy ski resort that didn’t exactly find success. Instead, Blizzard Beach transformed into a wintry-themed water park with Mount Gushmore at its center. It's toadally clever, right?!
Who is Blizzard Beach best for?
| Quick Take | Blizzard Beach |
|---|---|
| Best for | Thrill seekers, teens and families |
| Time needed | Half day to a full day |
| Biggest draws | Best thrill-slides and two kids' play areas |
Blizzard Beach is best for families who want more thrills than Typhoon Lagoon, along with enough kid-friendly attractions and relaxing areas to keep everyone happy for a half-day or full-day visit.
What's New for 2026
Blizzard Beach recently reopened on Feb. 15, 2026, just in time for spring. Typhoon Lagoon, the second Disney water park, reopened after a short refurb on May 12, 2026. Both Disney water parks are now open all summer long. Wahoo!
Don’t froget that from May 26 to Sept. 8, 2026, guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel can enjoy complimentary access to one of the two Disney water parks on their check-in day. During this same time, as part of Cool Kids' Summer, guests visiting Blizzard Beach can meet Goofy in his beachy summer outfit while enjoying the park.
Experience all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks this summer with the 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket! Valid for arrivals from May 26 to Sept. 26, 2026.
How to Use the Free Water Park Benefit at Blizzard Beach
Guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel — from Disney's All-Star Movies Resort to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort — receive complimentary admission to a Disney water park on their resort check-in day. For summer 2026, the benefit is available for arrivals from May 26 through Sept. 8, 2026. (The dates for summer 2027 have not yet been announced.)
To use the benefit, each guest must be listed on the resort reservation for the night. Before you travel, double-check that everyone in your party is linked to the reservation in your MyDisney account. If you need to add an overnight guest, you can modify your reservation online.
Your complimentary water park admission will automatically appear in your My Disney Experience account before arrival. When you get to Blizzard Beach, simply scan your MagicBand or MagicBand+, Disney MagicMobile pass (on your phone or smartwatch) or a Key to the World card at the entrance.
Disney's Blizzard Beach Rides and Attractions
There's no shortage of fun and excitement at Blizzard Beach, and there is an attraction for every thrill level and desired experience. From a lazy day floating on the river to plummeting down a near-vertical slide, Blizzard Beach is here to match your desired pace for the perfect day. Generally speaking, we find that Blizzard Beach has a few more daring thrill rides than Typhoon Lagoon.
| Attraction | Best For | Good to Know | Height Requirement | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Plummet | Thrill seekers | One of the tallest & fastest free-fall body slides in the world. | 48 inches | Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV |
| Slush Gusher | Thrill seekers | Features drops and airtime. | 48 inches | Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV |
| Downhill Double Dipper | Friendly competition, pairs | Race another rider side by side. | 48 inches | Must Be Ambulatory |
| Runoff Rapids | Thrill seekers, older kids, tweens | Choose from three different inner-tube slides. | Any height | Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV |
| Attraction | Best For | Good to Know | Height Requirement | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teamboat Springs | Families & groups up to five | One of the world's longest group whitewater raft rides. | Any height | Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV |
| Melt-Away Bay | Everyone | Wave pool with gentle rolling waves and space to swim. | Any height | Must Transfer to Wheelchair/ECV |
| Cross Country Creek | Everyone | Lazy river that winds around the entire park. | Any height | Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV |
| Chairlift | Everyone | Skilift that takes you to the top of Mount Gushmore. | Any height | Must Transfer to Wheelchair/ECV |
| Snow Stormers | Everyone | Three winding toboggan-style waterslides. | Any height | Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV |
| Attraction | Best For | Good to Know | Height Requirement | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tike's Peak | Kids 48 inches and under | Frozen-themed play area with mini slides, shallow pools and splash area. | Under 48 inches | Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV |
| Ski Patrol Training Camp | Older kids and tweens | Includes obstacle courses, slides and a zip line. | Any height | Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV |
How to Get to Blizzard Beach
Blizzard Beach is nestled between Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios at 1534 Blizzard Beach Drive, Orlando, FL 32836. Nearby hotels include some of our favorites: Disney's All-Star Resorts and Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Parking is free at both of Disney World’s water parks — yay! — but it can fill up quickly during the peak summer season. As for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests staying on property, no worries! Bus transportation to and from the water parks is included, just like any of the four main theme parks, but the routes are limited. Hotels with direct bus service to and from Blizzard Beach currently include Disney's Coronado Springs and Disney's All-Star Resorts (All-Star Sports, All-Star Movies and All-Star Music). All other locations require you to take a bus to Disney's Animal Kingdom, where you will transfer.
However, during Cool Kids' Summer (May 26 to Sept. 8, 2026), Disney Resort hotel guests staying at Disney's Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Coronado Springs and All-Star Resorts will also have direct bus service. All other resorts will transfer through Disney’s Animal Kingdom before continuing on to Blizzard Beach.
It's important to note that the park sometimes reaches capacity in the early afternoon and doesn't reopen for entry until later in the day, especially during the peak summer season. We highly recommend arriving at park opening to get in plenty of ride time when crowds are at their lowest. Plus, you can make sure you snag enough beach chairs for your whole squad!
Dining at Disney's Blizzard Beach
Whether you're grabbing a quick snack between slides or sitting down for lunch, Blizzard Beach has plenty of dining options across the park. You'll find everything from burgers and rice bowls to ice cream, mini donuts and frozen cocktails. Mobile ordering is available at select locations.
| Dining Location | Category | Mobile Order | Menu Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lottawatta Lodge | Quick-service | Yes | Burgers, chicken strips, rice bowls, wraps, salads, plant-based options |
| Warming Hut | Quick-service | Yes | Sandwiches, wraps, pulled pork, Elote Nachos |
| Avalunch | Snack counter | No | Hot dogs, sandwiches, wraps, salads |
| Arctic Expeditions | Snack counter | No | Pizza, Mickey-pretzels, chips |
| Cooling Hut | Snack counter | No | Mickey-pretzels, popcorn, chips, fruit cups |
| I.C. Expeditions | Snack counter | No | Sand Pail Sundae, waffle cones, churros, Mickey Ice Cream Bar |
| Joffrey's | Snack counter | No | Coffee, frozen drinks, mini donuts |
| Polar Pub | Bar | No | Margaritas, Daiquiris, draft and bottled beverages |
| Frostbite Freddy's Frozen Freshments | Bar | No | Margaritas, Daiquiris, draft and bottled beverages |
Our favorite quick lunch stop is Lottawatta Lodge, where the rice bowls are always a filling and delicious pick. We also really love the Elote Nachos from the Warming Hut! If you're craving something sweet, don't skip the Mini Donuts or the iconic Sand Pail from I.C. Expeditions — it's a classic Blizzard Beach treat that's big enough to share.
Disney's Blizzard Beach Tips
Here are our best tips for making a splash at Disney's Blizzard Beach:
- Arrive early, especially if you're traveling during the summer months. If you're driving, you'll want to note that the parking lot is on the smaller side and fills up quickly on busy days. While there are ample beach chairs available, the best real estate (especially for groups of two or more) is available within the first hour or two of park opening.
- Be on the lookout for special characters! Occasionally, Disney characters will make an appearance and meet with guests around the entrance or near the merchandise shops. Our frog favorite is Tropical Santa! During the Christmas season, Santa meets at Sonny's Sleds (near the main entrance). For Cool Kids' Summer, you may spot Goofy wearing his beach attire.
- Can't find any chairs on the main beach? Follow the lazy river for a stroll around the park. There are some tucked-away, quieter spots throughout the park behind Mount Gushmore.
- Bring your cheapest sunglasses! Leap learned his lesson quickly after losing his freshest froggy shades on Runoff Rapids. Buy a few $5 pairs of glasses at the drugstore (and a strap) for your underwater adventures.
- Stay hydrated. This is our most serious piece of advice. Nothing can ruin your day like getting absolutely drained from the sun. Drinking lots of water will keep you energized to enjoy the fun all day.
- Have that phone camera ready! Blizzard Beach is gorgeously themed and has quite a few fun photo-op locations worth checking out.
- Bring your own supplies rather than renting or purchasing on-site. As a family, you'll save a hefty buck by bringing your own supplies rather than renting. Stock up on other items, including sunscreen, at your pond's local grocery store and bring them with you so you don't have to pay for on-site convenience.
Are you ready to hop on over to Blizzard Beach for a day of fun on the slopes? Get your discount Blizzard Beach tickets, or be sure to take advantage of the free water park benefit this summer to add some extra aquatic fun to your next Disney trip. Have questions about Blizzard Beach? Share them in the comments below!
Related: When to Opt for a Disney Water Park Visit
Hoppy planning!
