Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Disney Water Parks’ opening times!
Typhoon Lagoon opens from 10am-8pm. Blizzard Beach will re-open to the public after refurbishments are complete on November 4th!
If you’re planning an exciting trip to Walt Disney World and want to experience the thrilling water adventures of Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, you’ve come to the right place.
In this post, we’ll provide you with all the essential information about the operating schedules of these two fantastic water parks, ensuring you make the most of your magical vacation. Let’s dive in and explore the opening times, so you can plan your splashtastic day with confidence!
Disney Water Parks: An Overview
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach are two premier water parks located within the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Each park offers a unique and exciting experience for visitors of all ages.
Brief Introduction to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach
Typhoon Lagoon is themed around a tropical paradise that has been struck by a massive storm, resulting in shipwrecks and surfable waves. It features a giant wave pool, water slides, a lazy river, and a children’s play area.
Blizzard Beach, on the other hand, boasts a winter wonderland theme, with a backstory of a freak snowstorm hitting Florida, turning it into a ski resort. The park offers thrilling water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and a family raft ride.
Both water parks provide an escape from the Florida heat and offer a wide range of water attractions and relaxation spots for guests to enjoy. Let’s delve into the unique offerings and attractions of each park to help you decide which one to visit during your Disney vacation!
Unique Themes and Attractions of Each Water Park
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach each offer distinctive themes and attractions, providing visitors with memorable and immersive experiences.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon:
- Theme: Typhoon Lagoon is designed as a tropical paradise that has been battered by a massive storm. The story behind the park centers on a typhoon wreaking havoc, leaving behind shipwrecks and surfable waves.
- Signature Attraction: The centerpiece of Typhoon Lagoon is the massive Surf Pool, one of the largest wave pools in North America. Guests can ride the swells or relax on the sandy beach.
- Thrilling Slides: The park offers thrilling water slides, including Crush ‘n’ Gusher, a water coaster attraction, and Humunga Kowabunga, featuring three high-speed enclosed body slides.
- Lazy River: Castaway Creek is a tranquil lazy river where visitors can float leisurely on inner tubes through lush landscapes and gentle waterfalls.
- Children’s Play Area: Ketchakiddee Creek provides a safe and fun-filled play zone for younger guests, with mini slides, water fountains, and plenty of interactive elements.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach:
- Theme: Blizzard Beach is inspired by a quirky concept of a freak snowstorm hitting Florida, transforming it into a winter ski resort. The park is designed like a snowy mountain with melting ski lifts and “snow”-covered slopes.
- Signature Attraction: Summit Plummet is the park’s iconic attraction, a near-vertical, 120-foot-tall water slide that offers an adrenaline-pumping free fall experience.
- Family Raft Ride: Teamboat Springs is the world’s longest family whitewater raft ride, accommodating groups of up to six riders as they navigate through twists and turns.
- Wave Pool: Melt-Away Bay is a popular wave pool with bobbing icebergs and gentle waves, offering a relaxing swimming experience for guests of all ages.
- Ski Resort Setting: The park’s theming includes unique touches like chairlifts-turned-water rides and snow-capped attractions, creating a whimsical and fun environment.
Visiting Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or Disney’s Blizzard Beach guarantees a day filled with excitement, whether you’re seeking thrilling water slides, relaxing in the wave pools, floating along lazy rivers, or exploring the creative theming unique to each park. With these distinct offerings, both water parks provide an unforgettable aquatic adventure for every member of the family.
Understanding Disney Water Parks Opening Times
Both of Disney’s water parks are generally open year round, except for refurbishments and unseasonably cold temperatures in the winter time.
Why Opening Times Matter
Managing expectations and planning ahead can significantly enhance your experience at Disney’s water parks.
Here are some tips to help you navigate crowd levels, minimize wait times, and make the most of your visit:
- Arrive Early: Getting to the water park early can give you a head start on popular attractions before the crowds arrive. This is especially important if there are specific rides or slides you don’t want to miss.
- Avoid Peak Times: Try to visit during less crowded times, such as weekdays or non-holiday periods. Afternoons are often busier, so consider starting your day early and taking a break during peak hours.
- Hydration and Sun Protection: Florida’s heat can be intense, so stay hydrated and apply sunscreen regularly to avoid sunburn and fatigue.
- Break for Lunch Strategically: Plan to eat during off-peak hours to avoid long lines at dining locations.
- Explore Less Popular Attractions First: Head to lesser-known attractions early in the day when crowds are lighter, then move on to more popular ones later.
- Enjoy Other Park Amenities: Take breaks from the attractions to enjoy other amenities like wave pools, lazy rivers, or relaxing spots, which often have shorter wait times.
- Be Flexible: Sometimes plans change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. Stay flexible and be willing to adjust your schedule accordingly.
By implementing these strategies, you can have a more enjoyable and efficient experience at Disney’s water parks. Remember to have fun and make lasting memories with your family and friends!
Regular Operating Hours vs. Seasonal Variations
Both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach undergo temporary closures fairly regularly. These closures are generally staggered and can last as long as 5 months. They often close down initially during the off-season, which usually occurs during the colder months.
When we visited in January, the water parks were closed because it was a really cold winter!
The exact closure dates can vary from year to year, but typically, one water park will be closed while the other remains open to provide guests with a water park option throughout the year.
Disney H20 Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon
Buy Your H20 Glow Party Tickets Here
Disney’s H2O Glow After Hours Party at Typhoon Lagoon is a special ticketed event that offers guests a unique nighttime experience. The park is transformed with vibrant illuminations, creating a magical atmosphere that’s different from the usual daytime experience.
One of the key advantages of attending this event is the significantly lower wait times for attractions, allowing guests to enjoy more rides and experiences without the usual crowds.
The event also features a lively DJ dance party, adding an extra layer of fun and entertainment to the evening. Guests can dance the night away under the glow of the park’s illuminations.
In addition to the entertainment and attractions, the ticket for the H2O Glow After Hours Party includes select snacks and beverages. This means guests can enjoy a variety of refreshments as part of their ticket, adding value and convenience to the experience.
Planning Your Visit: Tips and Strategies
Visiting Disney’s water parks, or any theme park for that matter, can be a balancing act between crowd levels, weather, and peak seasons.
Here are some general recommendations:
Best Times to Visit
- Avoid Peak Seasons: Peak seasons typically include major holidays, spring break, and the summer months when most schools are on vacation. During these times, the parks can be quite crowded, leading to longer wait times. If possible, plan your visit during off-peak times, such as late January through early February, or in the fall after schools have started but before the holiday season begins.
- Consider the Weather: The weather in Florida can be quite hot and humid in the summer, which can make a day at a water park more appealing. However, summer is also the rainy season in Florida, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. The cooler months of late fall, winter, and early spring can still offer warm enough weather for a water park visit, but without the extreme heat and humidity.
- Weekdays vs. Weekends: If your schedule allows, try to visit on a weekday. Weekends, especially long holiday weekends, tend to be busier.
- Check the Park Calendar: Disney’s water parks occasionally close for maintenance or due to weather conditions. Always check the park calendar before planning your visit.
Arrival Strategies
Arrive Early or Stay Late: If you’re visiting during a busier time, try to arrive right when the park opens or plan to stay until it closes.
Many guests don’t arrive until later in the morning or leave in the early evening, so you can often experience shorter wait times during these periods.
- Check Park Hours: Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is currently open at 10am (summer). Be sure to double check the hours before you plan your day.
- Prioritize: Decide in advance which attractions are your top priorities and head to those first.
- Stay Nearby: If possible, consider staying at a nearby hotel. This can make it easier to arrive at the park early and can also provide other benefits, such as extra magic hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What months are Disney World water parks open?
Disney World water parks are open all year round EXCEPT for scheduled maintenance and refurbishments AND unseasonably cold weather. They may also close temporarily for prolonged lightning storms.
Are Disney water parks open all year?
Yes! Barring any refurbishments or super cold weather, both parks remain open all year long. Currently, Blizzard Beach is closed for refurbishment.
Which Disney water parks are open?
Currently, Typhoon Lagoon is open and Blizzard Beach is closed.
Which Disney water park closed?
Currently, Blizzard Beach is temporarily closed for refurbishments. It will most likely reopen sometime in late 2023.
How long will Blizzard Beach be closed 2023?
Based off of the length of time Typhoon Lagoon was closed, Blizzard Beach will most likely be closed for a total of 5 months. We estimate that it will reopen sometime in late 2023.
How long will Typhoon Lagoon be closed?
Typhoon Lagoon is no longer closed, it re-opened on March 19, 2023.
Is Typhoon Lagoon Open?
Yes, Typhoon Lagoon is open!
Is the water heated at Typhoon Lagoon?
Yes – all of Disney’s pools are heated all year round to about 82 degrees F.
Can you still swim with sharks at Typhoon Lagoon?
No, you cannot still swim with sharks at Typhoon Lagoon because that attraction closed permanently in 2016.
Conclusion
Understanding the opening times and planning your visit to Disney’s water parks can significantly enhance your experience.
Whether you’re splashing around at Typhoon Lagoon or braving the slopes at Blizzard Beach, arriving early can provide numerous benefits, from shorter wait times to securing prime spots for your belongings.
Remember to consider factors such as weather, crowd levels, and peak seasons when planning your visit.
Always check the official Disney website or app for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
With a little planning and strategy, you can make your visit to Disney’s water parks a memorable and enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Beth McCarter is the lead writer and CEO of The Travel Fam. Her first trip to Disney was spent in a double stroller next to her baby brother. She’s been to Disney too many times to count; her favorite ride is the Haunted Mansion and she loves the Animal Kingdom. She enjoys planning holiday trips to Disney with her husband and two children.