Guide to Blizzard Beach
Plan your visit with our Guide to Blizzard Beach, covering rides, slides, kids’ attractions, tickets, food, opening hours and top tips.
Guide to Blizzard Beach
Disney’s Blizzard Beach is one of Walt Disney World’s two water parks, combining a playful melting ski-resort theme with some of Disney’s biggest waterslides, family raft rides, a lazy river and areas designed especially for younger children.
Whether you want to tackle the near-vertical Summit Plummet, float around the park on Cross Country Creek or spend a slower afternoon at Melt-Away Bay, there is plenty here for thrill-seekers and families alike.
This guide covers the best Blizzard Beach rides, height restrictions, places to eat, tickets, opening hours, what to bring and useful tips for planning your visit.
Rides and water slides
Blizzard Beach has a good mix of high-speed slides, group rides and more relaxed water attractions spread around the snow-covered slopes of Mount Gushmore.
Slush Gusher
Slush Gusher offers another high-speed body-slide experience but is slightly less intense than Summit Plummet. Riders race over a series of humps as they descend Mount Gushmore.
The minimum height is 48 inches.
Runoff Rapids
Runoff Rapids gives you three different inner-tube slides to choose from, including an enclosed route and two open-air slides. Each winds its way approximately 600 feet down Mount Gushmore before reaching the splash pool.
There is no minimum height requirement.
Summit Plummet
Summit Plummet is the park’s headline thrill ride and one of its most recognizable attractions. Riders climb to the top of Mount Gushmore before taking on a near-vertical, 12-story drop and a high-speed 360-foot descent.
With a minimum height of 48 inches, this is firmly one for confident swimmers and thrill-seekers.
Toboggan Racers
Grab a mat and race your family or friends down one of eight lanes on Toboggan Racers. The attraction is less intense than Blizzard Beach’s biggest slides and works well for groups who want some friendly competition.
Snow Stormers
Snow Stormers offers three winding mat slides inspired by slalom ski racing. Riders lie face-first on their mats and weave their way down the mountain towards the pool below.
Downhill Double Dipper
Race another member of your group down two side-by-side enclosed waterslides on Downhill Double Dipper. Riders launch on inner tubes before dropping around 50 feet towards the finish.
Guests must be at least 48 inches tall.
Cross Country Creek
For something much slower, Cross Country Creek is Blizzard Beach’s lazy river. It loops around the park, passing caves, waterfalls and snow-themed scenery along the way.
It is also useful for taking a break between the bigger slides without having to leave the water.
Melt-Away Bay
Melt-Away Bay is the park’s large wave pool at the base of Mount Gushmore. Gentle waves roll across the water throughout the day, with shallower areas available closer to the beach.
Best rides for kids/families
Blizzard Beach isn’t just about huge drops. Several attractions are designed for families to enjoy together, while dedicated children’s areas give younger guests somewhere to play at their own pace.
Teamboat Springs
Teamboat Springs is one of the best attractions for families because several people can ride together in a large raft. The winding course sends groups through turns and splashes as they make their way down Mount Gushmore.
There is no minimum height requirement, making it much more accessible than the park’s headline thrill slides.
Tike’s Peak
Tike’s Peak is designed specifically for younger children and features small slides, fountains and shallow water play areas with Frozen-inspired touches.
Children must be 48 inches or shorter to use the area.
Ski Patrol Training Camp
Ski Patrol Training Camp is aimed at children who have outgrown Tike’s Peak but may not yet be ready for the largest attractions. It includes smaller slides, water obstacles and interactive play areas.
Cross Country Creek
The lazy river is another easy family favorite. With no minimum height requirement, families can float together and use it as a quieter break from the slides.
Melt-Away Bay
Families can also spend time together at Melt-Away Bay. Younger children can remain around the shallower edges, while stronger swimmers can head further into the wave pool.
Height restrictions
Most Blizzard Beach attractions can be enjoyed by guests of any height, but the biggest thrill slides have minimum requirements.
48 inches or taller: Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher and Downhill Double Dipper.
32 inches or taller: Chairlift.
48 inches or shorter: Tike’s Peak.
Runoff Rapids, Teamboat Springs, Toboggan Racers, Snow Stormers, Cross Country Creek, Melt-Away Bay and Ski Patrol Training Camp currently have no minimum height requirement.
Children who are too short for the Chairlift can still reach the top of Mount Gushmore using the stairs.
Always check the latest restrictions before riding, as Disney can update attraction requirements.
Restaurants and places to eat
Dining at Blizzard Beach is casual and designed around easy meals, snacks and drinks between time in the water.
Lottawatta Lodge
Lottawatta Lodge is the park’s main quick-service restaurant. The menu includes burgers, chicken, flatbreads, salads, rice bowls and other easy lunch options, with Mobile Order available.
It is a useful choice when you want a more substantial meal without leaving the water park. There is also a broader choice here than at the smaller snack stands, making it one of the easiest places for groups with different tastes.
Avalunch
Avalunch is a smaller quick-service kiosk serving items such as specialty hot dogs alongside soft drinks and draft beer. Mobile Order is also available.
It works well for a quicker stop when you do not want to spend too long away from the pools and slides.
I.C. Expeditions
For something sweet, I.C. Expeditions specializes in ice cream, including sundaes, floats and cones.
It is an easy place to stop for a cold treat during the hottest part of the day or after a few hours in the water.
Polar Pub
Adults looking for a poolside drink can stop at Polar Pub, which serves beer, wine and cocktails.
It is one of the better choices if you want a relaxed drink without heading away from the main water park atmosphere.
There are several other snack kiosks around Blizzard Beach, so you do not necessarily need to plan a full sit-down lunch into your day.
Tickets
A separate ticket can be purchased for Blizzard Beach without visiting one of Walt Disney World’s four main theme parks.
Disney currently lists a standard 1-Day Water Park Ticket at $74 for adults and $68 for children aged 3 to 9. A cheaper ticket with blockout dates is also available at $64 for adults and $58 for children aged 3 to 9.
Water park access can also be included with certain Walt Disney World ticket options, such as Park Hopper Plus.
Prices, availability and ticket rules can change, so check the current options for your travel dates before buying. Top Villas guests can explore our Disney World tickets when planning their Blizzard Beach day or wider Disney park itinerary.
Opening hours
Blizzard Beach opening hours change throughout the year and can vary according to season, refurbishment schedules and weather.
During summer 2026, the park has typically been opening at 10am, with closing times around 7pm or 8pm, depending on the date.
Disney’s water parks can also operate seasonally or close temporarily for refurbishment, so always check the operating calendar shortly before your visit rather than relying on standard hours.
What to bring
Pack for a full day outdoors and remember that you will spend much of it moving between pools, slides and sunny walkways.
Useful things to bring include:
- Swimwear
- High-factor waterproof sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- A hat
- Water shoes or flip-flops
- Dry clothes for afterwards
- Refillable water bottles
- A waterproof phone pouch
- Any swimming aids your family normally uses
You do not need to bring everything from home. Towels can be rented at Blizzard Beach, and lockers are available for valuables and spare clothes. Disney currently offers standard and large water-park lockers for a daily charge. For a more comprehensive guide on what to bring to the parks, our Disney World packing list is a great help.
Tips for visiting
Arrive close to opening time. Getting there early gives you time to tackle popular slides before more guests arrive and temperatures climb.
Do the thrill rides first. If Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher or Downhill Double Dipper are priorities, head towards Mount Gushmore early in the day.
Use quieter attractions between slides. Cross Country Creek and Melt-Away Bay are ideal when everyone wants a break without actually leaving the water.
Check height restrictions before joining a queue. This is particularly useful when visiting with children of different ages, as the major thrill slides require riders to be at least 48 inches tall.
Bring waterproof sunscreen and reapply it. Even when you are spending most of the day in the water, Florida sunshine can be strong.
Consider a locker. Keeping phones, wallets, dry clothing and other valuables together makes it much easier to move around the park without carrying everything.
Plan around the weather. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in Central Florida, particularly during summer, and water attractions may temporarily close when lightning is nearby.
Leave room for a slower afternoon. Blizzard Beach doesn’t have to be approached like a theme park checklist. A few hours floating along the lazy river, playing in the wave pool or relaxing beside the water can be just as enjoyable as trying every slide.
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