On the 7th March 2021 Blizzard Beach reopened! This iconic Disney World Water Park is now available to enjoy once again!
Visiting a water park is a great way to have a relaxing day whilst still getting to visit a Disney Park. Because of this a visit to Blizzard Beach is an amazing option for one of your rest days!
To celebrate the reopening of Blizzard Beach let's take a look at the new measures in place and then learn some fun facts about this cool water park!
What Is New At Blizzard Beach?
Blizzard Beach will be the first Disney Park to reopen since Walt Disney World shut down in March 2020. To help ensure everyone has an amazing time whilst still being safe Disney have implemented some new safety measures.
The new safety measures in place when Blizzard Beach reopens will operate in alignment with the health and safety protocols implemented throughout Walt Disney World Resort, including:
· Reduced capacity
· Temperature screenings
· Physical distancing
· Face coverings
Face coverings are required for all guests aged 2 and up at the entrance and exit, retail areas and food and beverage ordering areas in Blizzard Beach.
Face coverings are not permitted while experiencing water slides or in the water.
You can remove your face covering when actively eating or drinking but you must be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing.
The measures are pretty much the same as when visiting any other Disney Park. Just make sure you pack your face coverings along with your swimwear and you will be set for the day!
Fun Facts About Blizzard Beach
Blizzard Beach first opened on April 1st 1995, meaning this park is about to celebrate its 26th year!
Blizzard Beach is a 66-acre themed water park and is the biggest out of the two Disney water parks at Walt Disney World.
The wave pool is the size of 1 football field!
Teamboat Springs is the longest family water raft ride in the world at 1,400 feet! This attraction is a white water raft designed for families and has a 1200 foot series of waterfalls.
The water is heated to approximately 80 °F or 27 °C giving it a lovely temperature all year round. The only area where the temperature is lower is in the ice cave of Cross Country Creek where the melting snow cools the water.
In 2016, the park hosted approximately 2,091,000 guests, ranking it the third-most visited water park in the world!
The storyline behind Blizzard Beach is rather amazing and is the reason behind the unique theming you see throughout the park. According to legend, a freak snowstorm hit Orlando in 1977 leading to the development of Florida's first ski resort. Toboggan runs and ski lifts were installed to let everyone play in the snow. But due to the Florida weather the resort soon melted! The proprietors were ready to abandon the new defunct ski resort when they lead a loud yell! Plummeting down the mountain was a blue alligator, the mascot of the resort, called Ice Gator. The owners then saw the potential to turn the ski resort into an exhilarating water park and Blizzard Beach was born!
The park's whimsical and imaginative concept was conceived by Disney designer-imagineer Marshall Monroe.
The most iconic attraction at Blizzard Beach is Summit Plummet. This thrilling slide is 120 feet or 13 storeys tall! Summit Plummet is one of the highest and fastest freefall water slides on Earth where you will travel at speeds up to 55 miles per hour!
Slush Gusher is a unique attraction as it is one of only a few water slides in the world where air time is achieved! This 90-foot-tall body slide attraction reaches speeds of up to 35 miles per hour and has two places where it almost levels off, only to drop back down again, which gives you air time!
Cross Country Creek is one of the longest lazy rivers in the U.S. It is 3000 feet long and takes between 20 to 30 minutes to complete one journey around this awesome attraction!
Mt. Gushmore is the iconic landmark at Blizzard Beach as is a 90-foot tall artificial hill.
Tike's Peak is an area specifically created for children! Tike's Peak has a series of gentle water slides and a snow castle play area. It even has a smaller version of Mt. Gushmore!
In 2012 the park joined with 500 other locations to help set the Guinness world record for the world's largest swimming lesson!
Blizzard Beach has private patios called Polar Patios that guests can rent. They include private decks, lounge chairs, lockers, coolers, towels, and other bonuses for up to six guests.
To see a full tour of Blizzard Beach check out this video from 4K WDW!
Food and Drink
With Blizzard Beach now reopen it is also great news that all the dining locations and bars are open too!
Here are all the food and drink locations at Blizzard Beach.
Arctic Expeditions - for amazing drinks
Avalunch - for hot dogs and nachos
Cooling Hut - for popcorn or a Mickey ice cream bar
Frostbite Freddy's Frozen Freshments - for beers or margaritas
I.C. Expeditions - for sundaes, floats and ice creams
Lottawatta Lodge - for burgers, chicken strips and flatbreads
Blizzard Beach Mini Donuts by Joffrey's Coffee - for mini donuts and hot drinks
Polar Pub - for alcoholic beverages
The Warming Hut - for sandwiches, tots and churros
Will you be making a trip to Blizzard Beach on your next Disney World trip? Will you brave Summit Plummet? Let me know in the comments below, over on Instagram @most.magical.guides or on Facebook!
If you are planning your next Disney World trip be sure to check out my full range of helpful guides and planning templates in the Most Magical Shop! Or in my Etsy store!
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