Disney's Blizzard Beach
Encyclopedia
Blizzard Beach is a water park
located at the Walt Disney World Resort
.
The park opened on April 1, 1995 and was the third Walt Disney World water park. The theme of the park is the "Disney legend" of a freak snowstorm in the area, leading to the construction of Florida
's first ski resort
. Naturally, the snow didn't last long, leaving behind a collection of waterlogged but snow-less ski jumps and chair lifts. The failed resort was in the process of closing for good when an alligator was seen sliding down a flume and splashing into a pool of water, screaming "Yahoo!" Thus the "ski resort" was reborn as a water park, with the alligator (named "Ice Gator
") as mascot
.
In 2009, the park hosted approximately 1.89 million guests, ranking it the second-most visited water park in the world, behind its sister park, Typhoon Lagoon.
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), making it the fifth highest point in Florida
. Mount Gushmore is split into three colored slopes to aid guests navigating around the park: Green, Red and Purple.
All water areas are heated (at approximately 80 °F or 26.7 °C) with the exception of the melting snow in the ice cave of Cross Country Creek.
. They can be accessed by foot, or by chairlift. The chairlift is a one-way ride, except for guests with disabilities.
Summit Plummet is the flagship attraction at 120 feet (36.6 m) tall, and speeds 60 miles per hour (26.8 m/s). It's the second tallest and fastest free fall slide in the world. There is a minimum height requirement of 48 in (122 cm).
Summit Plummet was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for being the highest and fastest until the opening of Insano—41 metres (134.5 ft) tall, with speeds of 105 km/h (65.2 mph)—at Beach Park
in Brazil.
Teamboat Springs is the world's longest "family white-water raft ride" at 1400 feet (427 m) long. This attraction sends guests down a twisting series of rushing waterfalls. Water Park guests sit in large blue rubber rafts, which can hold a minimum of 4 and maximum of six people, equipped with handles to hold on while the gushing water takes you down the slide. No infants and other Health Restrictions are advised.
Slush Gusher is a 90 feet (27.4 m), 250 feet (76.2 m) snow-banked mountain gully body slide attraction that reaches speeds up to 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s). It has two places where it almost levels off, only to drop back down again. As such, it is one of only a few water slides where "air time" is achieved. If you want to reach maximum air, raise your crossed-legs just before you reach the second hump and keep straight.
Downhill Double Dipper is one of the world's only side-by-side racing slides. It is located next to Snow Stormers on Mount Gushmore
. This adrenaline pumping attraction's slides are 50 feet (15.2 m) high and are 230 feet (70.1 m) long. Guests travel up to speeds of 25 mi/h on these twin inner tube runs as they race past internationally recognized ski racing graphic elements and flags. Time clocks count-off each downhill heat and the runs are outfitted with automated audio equipment that signals the start of each race. Also, it is one of the few racing slides where pushoff speed is not a factor, as gates hold back riders until it is time for the race to begin. This attraction has a minimum height requirement of 48 in (122 cm).
Snow Stormers is a "mat slide" consisting of three flumes that are 350 feet (106.7 m) long. This attraction sits between Downhill Double Dipper and Toboggan Racers on Mount Gushmore
. The attraction descends from the top of the mountain and follows a switchback course through ski-type slalom gates. Guests lay on their stomach on the toboggan style mat as they ride down the flumes. Mat pickup at the top of attraction (Shares Mat Conveyor with Toboggan Racers)
Toboggan Racers is an 8-lane, 250 feet (76.2 m) water slide next to Snow Stormers on Mount Gushmore
. The attraction sends guests racing over exhilarating dips as they descend the "snow" slope along the side of Mount Gushmore. Guests lay on their stomach on the toboggan style mat as they race to the finish line. Mat pickup at the top (Shares mat conveyor with Snow Stormers).
Runoff Rapids is a 600 feet (183 m) inner tube run featuring two open and one enclosed tube slides. This attraction careens guests down twisting, turning flumes, passing through corrugated steel pipes. Tubes available at the bottom of the attraction. The Red slope stairs are the only way to access this attraction.
. This attraction is constantly fed by "melting snow" waterfalls creating "bobbing" (short) waves.
The Cross Country Creek is a 3000 feet (914 m) slow-moving water attraction commonly known as a "lazy river," that travels around the perimeter of the water park. The attraction carries floating guests (in inner tubes) through a bone-chilling ice cave. Once inside the mysterious cave, guests will be splashed with the "melting" ice from overhead. There are 7 entrances and exits located throughout the park for this attraction, and any of these locations guests may pick up tubes and leave them as they exit the creek. The journey takes between twenty and thirty minutes to complete depending on crowd levels.
Ski Patrol is an area for pre-teenage children.
Tike's Peak features gentle slides designed to resemble scaled down versions of attractions at Blizzard Beach. Also included is a snow-castle fountain play area with pop (water) jets. Picnic benches also provided. Footwear is suggested due to hot pavement. The attraction is limited to children under 48 in (122 cm).
The Chairlift
is a "one-way" ride which carries up to 3 guests over the craggy face of Mount Gushmore
, from its base at the beach, to its summit. The chairs carrying guests feature wooden-bench seats, colorful overhead umbrellas and snow skis on their underside. This is the most recognized means of transport to the summit, where many of the rides are located (Guests can also climb a staircase to the top). A Gondola
is also provided for disabled guests to access the top of Mount Gushmore. Requirements: Minimum height requirement of 32 in (81 cm), 48 in (122 cm) to ride alone.
Coolers are allowed in the waterparks. The only restricted items are glass and alcohol.
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
located at the Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
.
The park opened on April 1, 1995 and was the third Walt Disney World water park. The theme of the park is the "Disney legend" of a freak snowstorm in the area, leading to the construction of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
's first ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
. Naturally, the snow didn't last long, leaving behind a collection of waterlogged but snow-less ski jumps and chair lifts. The failed resort was in the process of closing for good when an alligator was seen sliding down a flume and splashing into a pool of water, screaming "Yahoo!" Thus the "ski resort" was reborn as a water park, with the alligator (named "Ice Gator
Ice Gator
Ice Gator is the fictional alligator mascot of Disney's Blizzard Beach water park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, in the United States. According to Disney legend, Florida's first ski resort was melting, and the operators were preparing to cut their losses and walk away...
") as mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
.
In 2009, the park hosted approximately 1.89 million guests, ranking it the second-most visited water park in the world, behind its sister park, Typhoon Lagoon.
The majority of the major attractions at the park are hosted atop of Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore is an artificial hill in Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark. The mountain formerly included a rock climbing wall attraction; this has, however, been non-operational for a number of years, due to safety and staffing considerations. A chairlift transports guests to the top of Mount...
, an artificial hill with an elevation of 90 feet (27.4 m), making it the fifth highest point in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Mount Gushmore is split into three colored slopes to aid guests navigating around the park: Green, Red and Purple.
All water areas are heated (at approximately 80 °F or 26.7 °C) with the exception of the melting snow in the ice cave of Cross Country Creek.
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 GushmoreMount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore is an artificial hill in Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark. The mountain formerly included a rock climbing wall attraction; this has, however, been non-operational for a number of years, due to safety and staffing considerations. A chairlift transports guests to the top of Mount...
. They can be accessed by foot, or by chairlift. The chairlift is a one-way ride, except for guests with disabilities.
Summit Plummet is the flagship attraction at 120 feet (36.6 m) tall, and speeds 60 miles per hour (26.8 m/s). It's the second tallest and fastest free fall slide in the world. There is a minimum height requirement of 48 in (122 cm).
Summit Plummet was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for being the highest and fastest until the opening of Insano—41 metres (134.5 ft) tall, with speeds of 105 km/h (65.2 mph)—at Beach Park
Beach Park (water park)
Beach Park is a touristic complex on the coastline of the Northeast Region, Brazil, situated in the Metropolitan region of Fortaleza on the beach of Porto das Dunas, 16 km from Fortaleza, in the municipality of Aquiraz. Distributed along an area totaling 170 thousand m²...
in Brazil.
Teamboat Springs is the world's longest "family white-water raft ride" at 1400 feet (427 m) long. This attraction sends guests down a twisting series of rushing waterfalls. Water Park guests sit in large blue rubber rafts, which can hold a minimum of 4 and maximum of six people, equipped with handles to hold on while the gushing water takes you down the slide. No infants and other Health Restrictions are advised.
Slush Gusher is a 90 feet (27.4 m), 250 feet (76.2 m) snow-banked mountain gully body slide attraction that reaches speeds up to 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s). It has two places where it almost levels off, only to drop back down again. As such, it is one of only a few water slides where "air time" is achieved. If you want to reach maximum air, raise your crossed-legs just before you reach the second hump and keep straight.
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.Downhill Double Dipper is one of the world's only side-by-side racing slides. It is located next to Snow Stormers on Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore is an artificial hill in Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark. The mountain formerly included a rock climbing wall attraction; this has, however, been non-operational for a number of years, due to safety and staffing considerations. A chairlift transports guests to the top of Mount...
. This adrenaline pumping attraction's slides are 50 feet (15.2 m) high and are 230 feet (70.1 m) long. Guests travel up to speeds of 25 mi/h on these twin inner tube runs as they race past internationally recognized ski racing graphic elements and flags. Time clocks count-off each downhill heat and the runs are outfitted with automated audio equipment that signals the start of each race. Also, it is one of the few racing slides where pushoff speed is not a factor, as gates hold back riders until it is time for the race to begin. This attraction has a minimum height requirement of 48 in (122 cm).
Snow Stormers is a "mat slide" consisting of three flumes that are 350 feet (106.7 m) long. This attraction sits between Downhill Double Dipper and Toboggan Racers on Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore is an artificial hill in Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark. The mountain formerly included a rock climbing wall attraction; this has, however, been non-operational for a number of years, due to safety and staffing considerations. A chairlift transports guests to the top of Mount...
. The attraction descends from the top of the mountain and follows a switchback course through ski-type slalom gates. Guests lay on their stomach on the toboggan style mat as they ride down the flumes. Mat pickup at the top of attraction (Shares Mat Conveyor with Toboggan Racers)
Toboggan Racers is an 8-lane, 250 feet (76.2 m) water slide next to Snow Stormers on Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore is an artificial hill in Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark. The mountain formerly included a rock climbing wall attraction; this has, however, been non-operational for a number of years, due to safety and staffing considerations. A chairlift transports guests to the top of Mount...
. The attraction sends guests racing over exhilarating dips as they descend the "snow" slope along the side of Mount Gushmore. Guests lay on their stomach on the toboggan style mat as they race to the finish line. Mat pickup at the top (Shares mat conveyor with Snow Stormers).
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 so different).Runoff Rapids is a 600 feet (183 m) inner tube run featuring two open and one enclosed tube slides. This attraction careens guests down twisting, turning flumes, passing through corrugated steel pipes. Tubes available at the bottom of the attraction. The Red slope stairs are the only way to access this attraction.
Ground level
Melt-Away Bay is a 1 acre (0.404686 ha) wave pool nestled against the base of Mount GushmoreMount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore is an artificial hill in Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark. The mountain formerly included a rock climbing wall attraction; this has, however, been non-operational for a number of years, due to safety and staffing considerations. A chairlift transports guests to the top of Mount...
. This attraction is constantly fed by "melting snow" waterfalls creating "bobbing" (short) waves.
The Cross Country Creek is a 3000 feet (914 m) slow-moving water attraction commonly known as a "lazy river," that travels around the perimeter of the water park. The attraction carries floating guests (in inner tubes) through a bone-chilling ice cave. Once inside the mysterious cave, guests will be splashed with the "melting" ice from overhead. There are 7 entrances and exits located throughout the park for this attraction, and any of these locations guests may pick up tubes and leave them as they exit the creek. The journey takes between twenty and thirty minutes to complete depending on crowd levels.
Ski Patrol is an area for pre-teenage children.
- Leisure Pool- The pool contain "icebergs" on which guests under 12 can walk across.
- Fahrenheit Drops - Commonly known as the "T-Bar", this attraction is a rope drop that deposits guests that are under 5 feet (1.52 m) tall into 8.5 feet (2.6 m) of water.
- Freezin' Pipe Springs - This attraction is a short body slide. It deposits guests in the same water area as Farenheight Drops, but has no height restriction.
- Cool Runners- a wide-open slide (inner tube) area created by rapidly melting snow mounds (moguls).
Tike's Peak features gentle slides designed to resemble scaled down versions of attractions at Blizzard Beach. Also included is a snow-castle fountain play area with pop (water) jets. Picnic benches also provided. Footwear is suggested due to hot pavement. The attraction is limited to children under 48 in (122 cm).
The Chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
is a "one-way" ride which carries up to 3 guests over the craggy face of Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore
Mount Gushmore is an artificial hill in Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark. The mountain formerly included a rock climbing wall attraction; this has, however, been non-operational for a number of years, due to safety and staffing considerations. A chairlift transports guests to the top of Mount...
, from its base at the beach, to its summit. The chairs carrying guests feature wooden-bench seats, colorful overhead umbrellas and snow skis on their underside. This is the most recognized means of transport to the summit, where many of the rides are located (Guests can also climb a staircase to the top). A Gondola
Gondola lift
A gondola lift is a type of aerial lift, normally called a cable car, which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal,...
is also provided for disabled guests to access the top of Mount Gushmore. Requirements: Minimum height requirement of 32 in (81 cm), 48 in (122 cm) to ride alone.
Food and beverage
- Avalunch: Offers light snacks and refreshments. Located next to the entrance of the Chairlift.
- Frostbite Freddie's: Bar located adjacent to Snowless Joes in the Village.
- Lottawatta Lodge: Ski lodge providing outdoor covered seating and is the main counter service area.
- Polar Pub: Bar located on the beach by the wave pool.
- I. C. Expeditions: Offers ice cream, deserts and refreshments. Located near the Chairlift.
- The Cooling Hut: Offers light snacks and refreshments. Located in the Village
- The Warming Hut: Offers snacks, lunch and dinner. Located near the bottom of Downhill Double Dipper.
Coolers are allowed in the waterparks. The only restricted items are glass and alcohol.
Merchandise
- North Pearl: Jewelry store featuring pearls. Located in the Village across from the changing rooms.
- Snowless Joe's: Rental location offering locker and towel rentals and complimentary lifejackets. Located in the Village next to the changing rooms.
- The Beach Haus: Main merchandise store offering souvenirs, swimwear, footwear, etc. Located in the Village in-between the Main Entrance and Lottawatta Lodge.