Snow Storm in Florida (Disney's Blizzard Beach)

Member Name: Mrlovepantsuk

Product:	Disney's Blizzard Beach
Date:	02/02/07 (232 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Refreshing, fun, thrilling

Disadvantages: Sunburn

Only the Disney corporation could come up with the idea of a park based on a ski resort smack bang in the middle of Florida, but they did and it certainly works.

Blizzard Beach, Orlando is a water park based loosely around a ski resort packed with slides etc. based on a snow and ice theme.

According to the Walt Disney World Website: "Legend has it that a freak snowstorm resulted in Florida's first ski resort, but when temperatures rose, the Florida sun turned the ski runs into water slides"

Only Disney could come up with a line like that.

The Slides:

Summit Plummet:
This is a 120 foot, 60 mph near vertical slide designed to look like a ski jump. The queues to this slide are very long especially if like me you get to the top, look down the slide and decide it is not for you. It is worth going to the top though for the all-round view of the area, you can see trees for as far as the eye can see with the occasional Disney Theme Park stuck in the middle of them.

Toboggan Racer:

Is an 8 lane water slide over bumps on a rubber toboggan.

Slush Gusher:
Slide through a snow banked gully.

Snow Stormers:
A flume ride on a rubber toboggan down 3 different flumes.

Steamboat Springs:
A white water rafting trip down a 1200 foot "river" in a 3-5 person rubber raft.

Run Off Rapids:
Ride an inner tube down 3 different flumes.

Downhill Double Dipper:
The worlds only side by side tube ride which reaches speeds up to 25mph.


There is also a large pool for you to relax in away from the hectic slides or you could take a leisurely ride on a tube around the park on the Cross Country Creek.

There is an area for the kids with pools, slides and other things for them to do.

There is a chairlift that takes you up to the summit of Mount Gushmore from its base by the beach.

The whole park is properly supervised with several lifeguards who keep rotating their position throughout the day so that they don’t get bored and complacent, and yes just like Baywatch they wear red shorts and swimsuits.

There is a variety of places around the park where you can buy either snacks or lunch and meals at affordable prices.

You can also buy souvenirs with of course the Disney and Blizzard Beach branding from the shops near the entrance/exit and should you run out of money which is quite easy to do at Walt Disney World there is an ATM just outside by the ticket booths.

Should you forget to bring a towel they can be hired from Snowless Joe’s at a reasonable cost, this is also the location of the lockers which you can hire for the day.

You can wash all the "snow and ice" off you in one of the shower blocks which is also near to Snowless Joes.

As is usual at most theme parks there are the usual restrictions like height and age to ride some of the slides and they also advise you not to use some of them if you are pregnant.

The park is open at various times but 9am until 7pm seems to be about the maximum time although the times may vary due to holidays and the weather.

Tickets can be bought in various places, either at the gate, hotels, shops, roadside booths, your travel agents on the internet or the Disney Store. There are too many variations in the price to put here as you can get entry with the multi day passes or buy tickets just to enter on the day.

A word of warning, take plenty of high factor sun screen, preferably waterproof and apply it regularly as the heat of the sun is magnified by the water, a hat is also a good option even if it does get wet.

A zip up pocket on your swimming clothing is a good idea as well to keep a small amount of money in to buy drinks instead of going back to your locker all the time for money.

Blizzard Beach can be found on the massive Walt Disney World complex and is well signposted from all over it.

I would definitely recommend Blizzard Beach to anyone especially if they want a relaxing day out in a safe family environment from the hustle and bustle of all the other theme parks and attractions Orlando has to offer.

Summary: A great place to cool down in the summer sun