Disney's Blizzard Beach
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| Location | Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 28°21′06″N 81°34′31″W / 28.351804°N 81.575415°WCoordinates: 28°21′06″N 81°34′31″W / 28.351804°N 81.575415°W |
| Theme | "Melting" ski resort |
| Owner | The Walt Disney Company |
| Operated by | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts |
| Opened | April 1, 1995[1] |
| Operating season | Year-round with annual maintenance closure |
| Website | Blizzard Beach |
| Status | Operating |
| Walt Disney World |
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| Theme parks |
| Other attractions |
| Resort hotels |
Disney's Blizzard Beach is a water theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. All water areas are heated (at approximately 80 °F or 27 °C), with the exception of the melting snow in the ice cave of Cross Country Creek.
The park opened on April 1, 1995 and was the third Walt Disney World water park.[1] In 2014, the park hosted approximately 2,007,000 guests, ranking it the third-most visited water park in the world, behind its sister park, Typhoon Lagoon.[2] Blizzard Beach is open year-round with an annual maintenance closure in either the fall or winter; during the closure, its sister park, Typhoon Lagoon, will remain open.
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). Mount Gushmore is split into three colored slopes to aid guests navigating around the park: Green, Red and Purple.
Park Story
According to Disney legend, a freak snowstorm in the area led to the development of Florida's first ski resort. Naturally, the snow did not last long. This left behind a collection of waterlogged but snow-less ski jumps and chair lifts. The operators were preparing to cut their losses and walk away. However, they were interrupted by an echoing "YAHHOOO!!!" coming from the mountain of melting snow. They looked up to see a blue alligator, wearing a red scarf and gold innertube, careening down the mountain at top speed. Ice Gator, the mascot, 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 Blizzard Beach, "the most slushy, slippery, exhilarating water park anywhere!"
Park Layout
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 Gushmore. 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 (97 km/h). It's the third-tallest and fastest free fall slide in the world. There is a minimum height requirement of 48 in (122 cm).
Summit Plummet is one of the highest and fastest water slides on Earth. Barely behind "Insano" in Beach Park in Brazil which,when opened in 1989, was credited by Guinness World Records as the tallest and fastest water slide on Earth
- Teamboat Springs is the world's longest "family white-water raft ride" at 1,400 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 four and maximum of six people, equipped with handles to hold on while the gushing water takes riders down the slide. No infants are allowed and other health restrictions are advised.
- Slush Gusher is a 90-foot-tall (27.4 m), 250-foot-long (76.2 m) snow-banked mountain gully body slide attraction that reaches speeds up to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). 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.
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 tube 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 mph (40 km/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 lie 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-foot (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 lie on their stomach on the toboggan style mat as they race to the finish line. Mat pickup at the top of attraction (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 different).
- Runoff Rapids is a 600-foot (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. Guests have to be ambulatory in order to ride as stairs are the only way to access this attraction.
Ground level
- Melt-Away Bay is a 1-acre (0.40 ha) wave pool nestled against the base of Mount Gushmore. This attraction is constantly fed by "melting snow" waterfalls creating "bobbing" (short) waves.
- Cross Country Creek is a 3,000-foot (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 five feet (1.52 m) tall into eight point five 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 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. There is a 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 Joe's 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
Coolers are allowed in the water parks. The only restricted items are glass and alcohol.
Merchandise
- Shade Shack: 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.
References
- 1 2 Disney.com A History of the Walt Disney Company
- ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2014 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blizzard Beach. |
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