Disney's Blizzard Beach

Disney's Blizzard Beach
Location	Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, United States
Theme	"Melting" ski resort
Website	Blizzard Beach Homepage
Owner	The Walt Disney Company
Operated By	Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Opened	April 1, 1995[1]

Walt Disney World Resort
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Blizzard Beach is a water park located at the Walt Disney World Resort.

The park opened on April 1, 1995 and was the third Walt Disney World water park.^[1] The theme of the park is the "Disney legend" of a freak snowstorm in the area, leading to the construction of Florida's first ski resort. Naturally, the snow didn't last long, leaving behind a collection of waterlogged but snow-less ski jumps and chair lifts. The failed resort was in the process of closing for good when an alligator was seen sliding down a flume and splashing into a pool of water, screaming "Yahoo!" Thus the "ski resort" was reborn as a water park, with the alligator (named "Ice Gator") as mascot.

In 2009, the park hosted approximately 1.89 million guests, ranking it the second-most visited water park in the world, behind its sister park, Typhoon Lagoon.^[2]

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), making it the fifth highest point in Florida. Mount Gushmore is split into three colored slopes to aid guests navigating around the park: Green, Red and Purple.

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.

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 as seen from the beginning of the line.

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 second tallest and fastest free fall slide in the world. There is a minimum height requirement of 48 in (122 cm).
Summit Plummet was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for being the highest and fastest until the opening of Insano—41 metres (135 ft) tall, with speeds of 105 km/h (65 mph)—at Beach Park in Brazil.^[3]

An overview of Team Boat Springs.

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 4 and maximum of six people, equipped with handles to hold on while the gushing water takes you down the slide. No infants 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. If you want to reach maximum air, raise your crossed-legs just before you reach the second hump and keep straight.

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 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 lay 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 lay on their stomach on the toboggan style mat as they race to the finish line. Mat pickup at the top (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 so 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. The Red slope 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.

The 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.

An overview of Ski Patrol and the Chairlift

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. Requirements: 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 Joes 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: Offers snacks, lunch and dinner. Located near the bottom of Downhill Double Dipper.

Coolers are allowed in the waterparks. The only restricted items are glass and alcohol.

Merchandise

• North Pearl: 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. ^ ^{a b} [1] Disney.com A History of the Walt Disney Company
2. ^ "TEA/ERA Theme Park Attendance Report 2009". www.themeit.com. 2010-04-26. http://teaconnect.org/etea/2009ThemeIndex.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 
3. ^ "Insano". Beach Park, Fortaleza, Brazil. http://www.beachpark.com.br/english/waterPark/extremeAttractions/atracaoInsano.asp. 

External links

• Blizzard Beach

Coordinates: 28°21′06″N 81°34′31″W / 28.351804°N 81.575415°W / 28.351804; -81.575415