Menu

We Admit It: We’re Sick of Disney World’s Water Park Fiasco

Mickey Mouse looking sad in front of a "closed" sign on an image of Blizzard Beach
Credit: Disney Tips

Disney World’s water parks have long been a unique offering in the theme park industry, but their post-pandemic operation has left many fans (us included) feeling frustrated.

Once a year-round escape from the Florida heat, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon now function on a rotational schedule that limits guest access and raises questions about the long-term viability of this approach.

Blizzard Beach Teamboat Springs

Credit: Disney

Before COVID-19, Disney’s water park strategy was relatively straightforward. Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon operated simultaneously for most of the year, with only one closing for refurbishment at a time. This allowed guests a near-constant water park experience, giving Walt Disney World an impressive total of six parks—four theme parks and two water parks—at almost all times.

However, since the pandemic, Disney has shifted to an alternating schedule, where only one water park operates at a time. Blizzard Beach typically opens from November to March, while Typhoon Lagoon takes over from March to November. This means that for half the year, guests have access to only one of Disney’s two water parks, limiting their options and affecting overall attendance patterns.

A family on a raft ride at Disney's Blizzard Beach

Credit: Disney

The biggest flaw in this system is evident during Florida’s colder months. Despite its nickname as the Sunshine State, Florida can experience chilly weather, particularly in January and February. Blizzard Beach, which is themed around a ski resort, often finds itself closed due to low temperatures.

Historically, Disney and Universal tend to shut their water parks when temperatures dip below around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In January 2025, for instance, a rare winter storm even brought snow to parts of Florida, with Orlando hitting a low of 39 degrees. This left Blizzard Beach closed for stretches of time.

This raises an obvious question: Why does Disney continue to pour resources into refurbishing Blizzard Beach each year when it only operates for a few months—much of which see frequent weather-related closures?

Frozen decorations at Blizzard Beach

Credit: Disney

The park’s limited season means fewer guests get to experience it, and the cost of annual maintenance and updates may not be justified by its shortened operational window.

Speculation about Blizzard Beach’s future has been growing in recent years. Some fans have even theorized that Disney could retire the park altogether, possibly replacing it with a new water-based attraction or reallocating resources elsewhere. However, there has been no official word from Disney regarding such a drastic change.

Given Blizzard Beach’s iconic status—home to slides like Summit Plummet, Teamboat Springs, and Slush Gusher—it seems unlikely that Disney would eliminate the park entirely. But we wouldn’t rule it out completely. After all, Disney has a track record for permanently shuttering water parks; Disney’s River Country previously closed for good in November 2001 after 25 years of operation.

Slides at Disney's Blizzard Beach

Credit: Disney

Realistically, a more practical solution might be to rethink the water park system as a whole. Returning to a model where both water parks operate simultaneously for most of the year, rather than on a strict rotation, could provide guests with greater flexibility and improve attendance. It would also prevent Blizzard Beach from being relegated to an ill-suited winter-only schedule, which increasingly seems to do more harm than good.

With Disney World constantly evolving, it remains to be seen whether changes will come to its water park strategy. For now, guests are left hoping for a return to the pre-pandemic approach—one that provided more choice, better access, and a more consistent experience for visitors looking to cool off at Disney’s water parks.

How do you think Disney could improve its water park system?

About Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

2 comments

  1. Just to let Disney know the PANDEMIC IS OVER NO NEED FOR T

  2. We have always preferred Blizzard Beach to Typhoon Lagoon. Agreed that they need to do better with having both.open for the majority of the year so that guests have a choice. Otherwise there are.plenty of other watermarks in the area to give our money to.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.