Walt Disney World – Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon

I don’t think many people are aware that Disney World not only has four incredible theme parks. But has two amazing family friendly water parks too!

When you book your Disney World holiday, you just want the entire holiday to be everything Disney, and do as much as you can every day. When in reality, every Disney holiday needs a good ratio of rest days to park days. After all, the excitement, adrenaline and sheer about amount of walking you do, you really do need a day to recoup.

This is where the water parks come in handy. If you are in need of a rest day, but don’t want to waste any days being outside of the magic. Why not rest at either Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon? It is perfect to relax along the lazy rivers, the pools or sun loungers. And if you have some family members that are wanting to seek some thrills, they can have a wander around some super fun water slides. Perfect!

Blizzard Beach opened 1995 and Typhoon Lagoon in 1989!

Both parks are amazing. Both have the suitable shops, food and beverage areas, great toilet and changing facilities with showers, and most importantly character meets! On this visit, we bumped into Lilo at Typhoon Lagoon and Surfer Goofy at Blizzard Beach.

Also, to note, you don’t really have to worry about burning your feet on the hot floors. Disney have you covered. There are nozzles that spray water on the paths in a constant stream. So the ground is never too hot to walk on.

Oh, and not to forget about the refillable cups you can buy. At a water park you need your refillable drinks more than ever!

Blizzard Beach

Funnily enough, over the years of visiting Blizzard Beach – there has actually been some quite bad storms whilst being there. Literally living up to the name – but not this year!

Blizzard Beach is located between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. And has a lovely snowy-wintery setting.

The main attractions are location at the top of ‘Mount Gushmore’ – Summit Plummet, Teamboat Springs ( my absolute favourite ride) and slush gusher. These are all accessible by steps, or chair lift – in the heat, the steps can take its toll, so maybe change it up with the fun chair lift. These are all classed as green slope rides (you will see this detailed on the park maps).

If you are after rides that are seen a ‘racing rides’. Purple slope rides are for you – Downhill Double Dipper, Snow Stormers and Taboggan Racers. Runoff Rapids is the red slope ride, which is an open and closed tube rides.

On the ground level of the park, you can find Meltaway Bay – the massive wave pool. Cross Country Creek – the amazing lazy river that takes you on a slow adventure around the park – also a great way to transport yourself around. For this tweens, Ski Patrol Training camp is great, pool, Fahrenheit drops, freezin’ pipe streams and cool runners. Tikes Peak is for the little ones, and then you have the chair lift (one way).

There are also seven different food and beverage spots covering everything from hot food snacks to ice cream and delicious funnel cake! If you are short of any water park accessories, there are three shops to browse in for anything swim related from towels to swimwear to some typical Disney merch like pins!

Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

Just outside of Blizzard Beach, you will find a fun mini golf called Winter Summerland – and the name is exactly what you would expect the theme to be. A Christmas-summer-winter theme.

There are two courses, summer and winter. Both consist of 18 holes, that are super fun, and well themed. Imagine playing mini golf in Florida, in August, when it is painfully humid. But you are looking at things covered in ‘snow’ and have Christmas music playing.

Insider tip, be sure to stick around the last hole. Because every few minutes there is a snow shower.

It’s a confusing one, but sure is a good one

Typhoon Lagoon

Located nearest to Disney Springs, it is probably the most popular water park to visit out of the two. The theme is a ship wreck, and you can find lots around the park to do with fishing, surfboards and ships.

I always thought Typhoon Lagoon was more for older children. But I have never visited with young children, so could be wrong. But the rides definitely feel way more grown up.

The main part of the park is the huge wave pool that is pretty epic. Six foot waves every 90 seconds. You definitely can’t leave your young children in this pool, the waves are pretty strong even in the shallow end.

Mount Mayday has seven attractions from speed flumes, to family river rafts. Hideaway Bay has three attractions, including the beach area. Typhoon Lagoon, which has the large surfer ‘wave’ pool, and more activities such as a surf school. Castaway Creek is the beautiful and relaxing lazy river, that is very much like the one in Blizzard beach. And you will probably find more hidden gems around the water park, like play areas for the young ones.

Food, beverage and shopping is the same as Blizzard Beach. Lots of choice with seven places for yummy food and drink, and two shops with everything you could possibly need at a water park.

Overall

Definitely check out the water parks on your next visit to Walt Disney World. They are so much fun, and so relaxing.