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If you haven't already heard the great news, Disney Resort hotel guests can now visit one of Disney's water parks for free on their check-in day (for 2025 and summer 2026). Yep! Even before you step foot into Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, zip down waterslides, float down a lazy river and snack on those infamous Joffrey's mini donuts at either Disney's Blizzard Beach or Disney's Typhoon Lagoon — no park reservation or park ticket needed.
Annnnnd we have more good news: for the first time since 2019, both Disney World water parks will be open until Sept. 7, 2025, for the summer season! Why is that a big deal? Well, since 2019, only one of the Disney World water parks has been open at a time. Blizzard Beach was typically open from November through April or May, and then would close in the summer for refurbishment. Typhoon Lagoon would then take over and operate throughout the summer and close for refurbishment over the winter. To have both Disney World water parks open at the same time is a real treat, especially when taking the Florida heat and humidity into account. This all leads to the very reason you landed on this post ... which Disney water park should we visit?
Both Disney water parks are super fun, meticulously maintained, family-friendly and full of Disney magic. You can't go wrong with either, but there are some differences when it comes to theming, attractions and location. In this post, we'll break it all down so you can pick the best water park for YOUR visit. Let's jump in!
What's the Same at the Disney World Water Parks?
Let's start with the basics. No matter which Disney water park you choose, there are core conveniences and amenities that you'll find at both.
- Free Parking: Unlike the four main theme parks, parking at Disney water parks is free for all guests. Wahoo!
- Complimentary Towels: Towels are free at both parks. Just be sure to drop your towel in one of the towel return bins on your way out.
- Lounge Chairs: You'll find plenty of free beach chairs and loungers in all areas around both of the parks. If you'd like to upgrade, you can reserve a private Beachcomber Shack or Polar Patio online in advance.
- Lockers: Locker rentals are available at both parks.
- Lazy Rivers: Each park has a long, scenic lazy river that loops around the park.
- Heated Water: The water is heated at both parks, keeping it a comfortable temperature to swim year-round. On the rare day when temps are too cold, the water parks will close for the day, so just keep a close eye on any schedule changes.
- Quick-Service Dining, Snacks and Bars: Both water parks have casual dining locations, snack stands and bars. The food options are slightly different, but relatively speaking, are very similar offerings, including chicken tendies, fries, burgers, flat breads, rice bowls and frozen treats.
- Resort Transportation: Complimentary bus service is available, but there are a few different ins and outs here — more on that below. Bus service to either Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon begins 30 minutes before park opening and ends about 60 minutes after the water parks close for the day.
Now that we're clear on what's the same about both, let's chat about the differences between the two Disney World water parks.
Disney World Water Parks Transportation
If you're not driving, the location of your Disney resort may help you decide which water park to visit, just based on convenience.
Typhoon Lagoon is closest to Disney Springs and the resorts on the east side of Walt Disney World. At this time, direct bus service is not available. You will need to take a bus to the Disney Springs area and then transfer to a bus for Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. It's not difficult, as the Disney bus system is very efficient, but it does take time and additional planning, especially if you've got the tadpoles in tow.
Blizzard Beach, on the other hand, is closest to Disney's Animal Kingdom, which makes it ideal if you're staying at Disney's All-Star Resorts or Disney's Coronado Springs. All of the All-Star Resorts (Disney's All-Star Sports, Disney's All-Star Music, Disney's All-Star Movies) and Disney's Coronado Springs Resort have direct buses to Blizzard Beach.
Now through Sept. 7, 2025, direct bus services will also be available to guests staying at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Wilderness Lodge. If you're staying at any other Walt Disney Resort hotel, you would need to take a bus to Disney's Animal Kingdom and catch a bus transfer to Blizzard Beach from there.
If you're driving a car, the decision is easier. Like we mentioned above, parking is free at both parks, and Walt Disney Resort is pretty easy to navigate, with driving times between the resorts and water parks pretty comparable, give or take. In this case, you can decide purely based on theming and attractions.
Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon Theming
Now for the fun part, the theming! This is where the two Disney World water parks differ BIG time. In fact, they are complete opposites. The only thing similar is that each park has a unique fictitious story that tells the tale of each park. Since Blizzard Beach is this Mommy Frog's favorite, let's start there.
Blizard Beach is themed like a ski resort that melted. The story goes like this: a freak snowstorm hit Central Florida and Disney quickly built a ski resort to take advantage of the snow, complete with a ski lift, slalom courses, toboggan runs — the works.
But Florida being Florida, the snow didn't stick around. As the sun came out and the snow began to melt, the ski resort was counted as a loss ... until Ice Gator, a fun-loving blue alligator, showed up, belly-sliding down the melting slopes and turning the place into a wild water park instead. You'll find "snow" covered slopes, a ski lift and icicles hanging from the building rooftops.
If you haven't already guessed, this park is a little quirky, but that's part of the charm, including melting snowmen right next to palm trees. Even the waterslides are themed to ski runs. There are the green slopes for the most intense rides, and red and purple for the rest. And listen closely, you'll even hear the occasional Calypso-style Christmas song played throughout.
Typhoon Lagoon's theming is what you'd typically expect at a water park — a tropical, laid-back, beachy vibe. Typhoon Lagoon's story begins with the "storm of the century." A massive typhoon swept through, tossing surfboards into trees, flipping boats upside down and leaving chaos in its wake. Now, the island is a mix of wreckage and relaxation (but still beautiful), with nature slowly reclaiming what the storm left behind.
At the center of it all is Miss Tilly, a shrimp boat that ended up skewered at the top of a mountain called Mount Mayday. Typhoon Lagoon also has a mascot — Lagoona Gator, a surfer and beach bum who's made the best of the storm's aftermath. You'll find Lagoona's likeness on signage, in the dining areas and shops. You can even peek inside his home, found in the board room under the clock tower. It is the cutest!
Disney World Water Parks Attractions & Waterslides
What Disney World water park has the best rides? Both water parks have a lazy river, kids' water play areas, waterslides, a wave pool and places to dine and relax.
Best Thrill Rides: Blizzard Beach
If your crew is more thrill than chill, Blizzard Beach is probably the better pick as it has a few more daring rides than Typhoon Lagoon.
- Summit Plummet: One of the tallest and fastest free-fall waterslides in the U.S. This one is a snow monster of a slide!
- Slush Gusher: A body slide where you'll catch airtime on your way down.
- Downhill Double Dipper: Side-by-side racing slides that are fast and fun.
- Chairlift: A ski-style lift that takes you to the top of Mount Gushmore (a relaxing ride with great views, but you're up there! If you're afraid of heights, don't look down).
- Teamboat Springs: A family raft ride, which is one of the longest in the country.
Best Wave Pool: Typhoon Lagoon
Hands down, Typhoon Lagoon takes the prize for the best wave pool. The Surf Pool is North America's largest outdoor wave pool — talk about main character energy! The Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool creates 6-foot waves every 90 seconds. You'll hear a giant "boom" (and guests' screams, LOL) before each wave.
But a little warning here — Mommy and daddy frogs, hold your little's hand as the wave comes toward you. We aren't messing when we say this wave is intense. Oh, and another cool bonus is that you can book surf lessons here before park opening for an additional cost.
But we also have to talk about Typhoon Lagoon's Crush 'n' Gusher attraction, a water coaster that uses powerful jets to propel riders uphill as well as down. There are three different slide routes themed to a fruit-processing plant: Pineapple Plunger, Coconut Crusher or Banana Blaster. This is unlike anything else at Disney's water parks and are super fun, especially for thrill seekers.
Best Family and Kid Areas: A Tie (But Different!)
Both Disney World water parks have great zones for kids. At Blizzard Beach, Tike’s Peak is the "Frozen"-themed water play area for young children, with mini slides and snow-themed splash areas.
Additionally, there's Ski Patrol Training Camp with a water obstacle course, a zip line and several slides for tweens and teens. For us, this park works perfectly for our family — Lily loves to splash at Tike's Peak, and our tween, Tad, can hang right next door at Ski Patrol Training Camp.
At Typhoon Lagoon, Ketchakiddee Creek is the kids' water play area, featuring smaller slides and splashing areas, including an adorable tugboat. If you're traveling with kiddos, either park will be a hit.
Best Lazy River: Also a Tie
Blizzard Beach has Cross Country Creek, and Typhoon Lagoon has Castaway Creek. Both loop around the park, surrounded by lush landscaping (the theming is SO cool), occasional waterfalls and there are several inner tube types to choose from for the primo floating experience.
And here's an interesting Disney fact: the lazy rivers flow in opposite directions from each other. Is that little tidbit going to sway your decision? Probably not, but a fun Disney fact all the same. ;) (We live for those insider nuggets!)
Disney World Water Parks Dining & Snacks
You'll find quick-service dining locations at both water parks, including a Joffrey's Coffee stand. Get the mini doughnuts and dipping sauce (the raspberry is our favorite!), but here are a few other highlights:
Blizzard Beach:
- Lottawatta Lodge – Burgers, chicken tenders, rice bowls and salads
- Warming Hut – Sandwiches, nachos, pretzel bites and adult beverages
- Cooling Hut – Frozen treats, snacks and Dole Whip and drinks
- Frostbite Freddy's – Bar service with frozen cocktails and beer
- Polar Pub – Full-service bar with frozen specialties such as margaritas and daiquiris
- I.C. Expeditions – Sundaes and other sweet treats
Typhoon Lagoon:
- Leaning Palms – Rice bowls, burgers, flatbread pizzas and salads
- Typhoon Tilly's — Fried fish platter, Land and Sea platter, salads, chicken strips and fries
- Snack Shack – Specialty DOLE Whip sundaes and sweet treats
- Happy Landings Ice Cream – Home of the Sand Pail Sundae (served in a bucket!)
- Surf Doggies – Hot dogs, Mickey pretzels and drinks
- Let’s Go Slurpin’ – Full-service bar with frozen cocktails, beer and wine
- Lowtide Lou’s – BBQ chicken wrap, popcorn and cold drinks
Disney World Water Parks — Seasonal Events
There are a couple of special events that hoppen at the Disney World water parks at certain times of the year. These events won't necessarily play into your arrival day decision but possibly, especially when taking into account Disney H20 Glow After Hours.
H2O Glow After Hours are held at Typhoon Lagoon during the summer, now through Sept. 13, 2025, on select nights. This event is held after regular park hours and includes glow lighting effects throughout the park, a DJ-hosted dance party, Partysaurus Rex meet-and-greet, shorter waits for all attractions and unlimited free popcorn, ice cream bars and fountain beverages.
H2O Glow After Hours runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on select nights, and party guests can enter the park as early as 6 p.m. Most of the summer, this won’t affect your day — the park usually closes to daytime guests right at 6 p.m., so there’s no overlap. However, on a few dates — June 27, July 1 and July 8, 2025 — the park stays open until 7 or 8 p.m., which means there will be about an hour when both daytime guests and H2O Glow guests are in the park at the same time. Just something to keep in mind if you're planning to visit on one of those dates, as it may feel a bit more crowded during that overlap.
Now, maybe your arrival day coincides with an H2O Glow After Hours night and you want to keep the party going! We won't stop you — just be sure to purchase your tickets in advance so you'll be able to stay in the park for the event (you'll need to show your ticket and pick up an event wristband to stay in the park). Your favorite frogs here at Undercover Tourist offer discount H2O Glow After Hours tickets for all the dates listed below.
Here are the remaining Disney H2O Glow After Hours Dates for 2025:
- Friday, June 27
- Tuesday, July 1
- Tuesday, July 8
- Tuesday, July 15
- Tuesday, July 22
- Tuesday, July 29
- Tuesday, Aug. 5
- Wednesday, Aug. 13
- Monday, Aug. 18
- Monday, Aug. 25
- Sunday, Aug. 31
- Saturday, Sept. 6
- Saturday, Sept. 13
If you'll be visiting during the holidays, Blizzard Beach typically adds holiday decor and festive touches in the winter months, including "snow fall" and a Tropical Santa meet-and-greet.
Disney World Water Parks: Which One Should You Choose?
Here's a quick overview to help you decide:
Choose Blizzard Beach if you want:
- Thrilling high-speed slides
- Ski-themed fun
- Dedicated area for older kids
- Quicker bus access from Animal Kingdom-area resorts
Choose Typhoon Lagoon if you want:
- A tropical vibe
- A more chill, relaxed day
- An awesome wave pool
- You're OK taking a bus transfer from Disney Springs
Whether you pick Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, you really can't go wrong! Both Disney World water parks deliver lots of splashy fun, Disney storytelling and plenty of ways to relax on your travel day. So, let us know which Disney water park you'll visit on your arrival day? Drop it in the comments below!
Related: Best Times to Visit Disney World in 2025 and 2026
Hoppy planning!
