Disney's Blizzard Beach is a water theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. All water areas are heated to approximately , with the exception of the melting snow in the ice cave of Cross Country Creek.
The park opened on April 1, 1995, as the third Walt Disney World water park after River Country and Typhoon Lagoon. In 2016, the park hosted approximately 2,091,000 guests, ranking it the third-most visited water park in the world behind its sister park Typhoon Lagoon.
Blizzard Beach is open year-round with an annual maintenance closure in the winter. When Blizzard Beach is closed, Typhoon Lagoon remains open.
The park's winter theming was conceived by designer-Imagineer Marshall Monroe, a Creative Executive and Principal Technical Staff at the Walt Disney Company. Innovative elements of the park include a beach chair-themed chair lift, complete with beach umbrellas, and pretend snow skis. The setting and atmosphere of the park blend together tropical landscaping with simulated melting snow. The central mountain is unique as a large structure in the high water table Floridian woodland. The architecture brings together an aesthetic of alpine lodges with Caribbean colors and accents.
The water park, along with all the other Walt Disney World parks, closed in March 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon remained closed while the four other Walt Disney World theme parks reopened from July 11–15, 2020. Disney's Blizzard Beach reopened at Walt Disney World Resort on March 7, 2021, after being closed for nearly a year.
On April 1, 2025, it was announced that both water parks would be open together for the summer season for the first time since 2019. Blizzard Beach closed for brief refurbishment on May 1, before reopening on May 21 to join Typhoon Lagoon for the summer season.
Park story
According to Disney "legend," a freak snowstorm on January 11, 1977, in the area led to the development of Florida's first ski resort. Ski lifts were put up, toboggan runs were laid down, and an entire resort area blossomed around the mountain of snow. Naturally, because of the normal temperatures in Florida, the snow dissipated very quickly, and the snow rapidly turned into slush. This left behind a collection of waterlogged yet snowless ski jumps and chair lifts. The operators were preparing to cut their losses and walk away. However, they were interrupted by a loud yell coming from the summit of the mountain of melting snow, and looked up to see a blue alligator sliding down the mountain at top speed. Ice Gator, the blue cartoon mascot of the park, 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 Disney's Blizzard Beach, "the most slushy, slippery, exhilarating water park anywhere!"
As the story goes in Disney's promotional materials, slalom courses, bobsled, and toboggan runs became downhill water slides. The creek of melted snow that formed at the base of the mountain became a relaxing tube ride. The chairlift carried swimmers instead of skiers. The ski jump became the "tallest and fastest water slide in the world."
Merchandises
- Shade Shack is a jewelry store featuring pearls. It is located in the Village across from the changing rooms.
- Snowless Joe's is a rental location offering locker and towel rentals and complimentary lifejackets. It is located in the Village next to the changing rooms.
- The Beach Haus is the main merchandise store and rental location for lockers, towels, and life jackets. It also offers souvenirs, swimwear, and footwear. It is located in the Village between the Main Entrance and Lottawatta Lodge.