Disney’s Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is a water park built around one of Disney’s more unusual themes: a ski resort in the middle of Florida. According to the park’s story, a freak snowstorm once turned the area into a winter destination, only for the Florida sun to return and transform the melting ski resort into a water park. Since opening in 1995, this playful idea has shaped everything from the snow-covered buildings to the ski lifts and water slides.

At the center of the park stands Mount Gushmore, home to many of Blizzard Beach’s major attractions. Summit Plummet sends riders down one of Disney’s most recognizable body slides, while Teamboat Springs offers a much more family-friendly rafting experience. Toboggan Racers, Runoff Rapids and the Cross Country Creek lazy river add plenty of variety, while younger visitors have their own dedicated play areas.

What makes Blizzard Beach particularly enjoyable is how naturally the water attractions are worked into the ski resort theme. Chairlifts carry visitors up the mountain, slides resemble ski runs and melting snow seems to flow throughout the park. It’s a wonderfully strange concept for Central Florida, but one that works remarkably well.

Reviews

Going down the Summit Plummit

Downhill Double Dipper

A fun downhill racer

Slush Gusher and Summit Plummit

Two great slides for the fearless ones

Teamboat Springs

Family fun down the chute