Blizzard Beach - 20 years old today

[ptaylor]

The Disney Parks Blog is celebrating 20 years of Blizzard Beach.

Two things shocked me -

1. That is has been 20 years already.
2. There have been no new additions to a park for 20 years!

How much longer can the park go without any updates? Hopefully the new Universal water park will bring some competition and force Disney to invest in their two water parks.

 

[Coaster Lover]

Typhoon Lagoon opened in 1989 and added it's only addition (Crush and Gusher) in 2005 (16 years later), so based off of that, Blizzard Beach is 4 years overdue for a new attraction... however, with Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard beach being the #2 and #3 most attended waterparks world wide (and the #1 and #2 in the US with the next closest in the US being Aquatica with almost 1/2 a million fewer guests). I'd say Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard beach are doing just fine for having more or less no significant amount of additions since their openings. I'd half expect to see them build a third waterpark before adding significantly to Blizzard Beach...

 

[Communicore]

We went to Blizzard when it first opened, maybe like the second or third week from opening day and I have never been back since.

 

[doctornick]

I've never really heard people say the waterparks are "stale" or that they need to add new attractions. I mean, I'm sure it would be popular if they did make some additions, but largely the water parks seem perfectly enjoyable to guests as is. Unlike the theme parks, the water parks are not "underbuild" and staved for things to do.

 

[wdwmagic]

I've never really heard people say the waterparks are "stale" or that they need to add new attractions. I mean, I'm sure it would be popular if they did make some additions, but largely the water parks seem perfectly enjoyable to guests as is. Unlike the theme parks, the water parks are not "underbuild" and staved for things to do.

I think that is because most guests go to the water parks as part of a multi-park, multi-day ticket, and don't see that they are specifically paying for the park - it is just included.

 

[Goofnut1980]

Well at the cost of the waterparks vs the cost of a theme park ticket - you get a better value at the theme parks. How many times can you ride the same 5 slides in one day or lay in a lazy river? In addition, there isn't too much new and exciting you can do with a water slide.

I really enjoy Typhoon but have not been in about 5 years. I get bored after about 3 hours. The pool at AKV is free for me to use...

Did they ever get rid of the Photopass Photographers at the water parks?

 

[Nmoody1]

Well at the cost of the waterparks vs the cost of a theme park ticket - you get a better value at the theme parks. How many times can you ride the same 5 slides in one day or lay in a lazy river? In addition, there isn't too much new and exciting you can do with a water slide.

I really enjoy Typhoon but have not been in about 5 years. I get bored after about 3 hours. The pool at AKV is free for me to use...

Did they ever get rid of the Photopass Photographers at the water parks?

have you been to the parks since MM+? getting 5 rides done in a day is almost unheard of!

at least you can enjoy the waterparks fastpass+ free!!! shhhh... dont tell Disney! its about the only place on propety you can be spontaneous!

 

[MissM]

Wow, 20 years? I've never been there. Heh. I went to Typhoon Lagoon when it first opened once with my family, but never went to Blizzard Beach. As residents, we don't bother driving 1.5 hours for a water park.

 

[MonorailMan]

I've never been to BB but I've been to TL probably a dozen times. I personally don't think the waterparks (or at least TL) need anything more. The attractions are wonderful, they have a great amount, as well as a great variety of slides and such.

 

[Goofnut1980]

have you been to the parks since MM+? getting 5 rides done in a day is almost unheard of!

at least you can enjoy the waterparks fastpass+ free!!! shhhh... dont tell Disney! its about the only place on propety you can be spontaneous!

Haha... good point... I totally did not think about that! Yea MM+ is MM-. It is not so magical.

 

[Bolt]

Haha... good point... I totally did not think about that! Yea MM+ is MM-. It is not so magical.

And what's the deal with Frozen and no trees on Main Street, right?!

 

[NearTheEars]

Well at the cost of the waterparks vs the cost of a theme park ticket - you get a better value at the theme parks. How many times can you ride the same 5 slides in one day or lay in a lazy river? In addition, there isn't too much new and exciting you can do with a water slide.

I really enjoy Typhoon but have not been in about 5 years. I get bored after about 3 hours. The pool at AKV is free for me to use...

Did they ever get rid of the Photopass Photographers at the water parks?

There were some at BB last year. We gotca few photos.

 

[surfsupdon]

I love the spontaneity that Typhoon now offers. It's so refreshing! It's a relaxing place.

It has quickly become my favorite WDW park for its atmosphere, vibe, crowd level, and Cast. I am OBSESSED with Shark Reef, bodysurfing in the wave pool, and the Storm Slides. I love this place.

The morning surfing was tons of fun too!

But yeah, haven't been to Blizzard since its opening year. Never thought why...but I don't go.

 

[71jason]

Both parks still look great after decades. I think that 3-month hiatus/refurb every year has a lot to do with it.

 

[gmajew]

I have to say I am amazed it has been 20 years already. I have been to both waterparks once.... I am not a waterpark guy but they do eat up hotel guest and help spread the crowds some.

 

[erasure fan1]

however, with Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard beach being the #2 and #3 most attended waterparks world wide (and the #1 and #2 in the US with the next closest in the US being Aquatica with almost 1/2 a million fewer guests).

Unfortunately this is the Disney way of thinking now for all the parks, as long as you are at the top, no need to invest. I wish they would add something to BB to give us a reason to spend the money to go back.

 

[COProgressFan]

Both parks still look great after decades. I think that 3-month hiatus/refurb every year has a lot to do with it.

In general, they do. In visits last year, I did notice some small upkeep issues, but nothing glaring. Certainly nothing like you often see in the 43-years-and-it-shows MK, for example.

For the most part, the water parks have not seen too much of the slash-and-burn cutbacks mentality the big 4 parks have. For that I am very grateful, because I honestly think they are some of the most lavishly themed, immersive locations on property. But I almost feel like I shouldn't say that; don't want to give them any ideas...

 

[Coaster Lover]

I guess we should REALLY be surprised that they haven't tried to do some sort of Frozen overlay to Blizzard Beach (though, would anyone complain if they added some Olaf themed waterslide where you started out in one of those drop capsules?... especially if right after you dropped you heard "watch out for my butt!")

 

[cheezbat]

I have long been an annual Waterpark passholder, and I enjoy both parks, but honestly it wouldn't hurt (or cost that much) to add a new attraction to both waterparks.
Blizzard is a bit more built out than Typhoon, but both could use a new attraction sometime soon. I too hope Universals new Waterpark knocks those two down. That's about the only way we'll ever get anything new at WDW.

 

[mergatroid]

To be honest there's not that much difference between one waterslide and another so as long as both parks have multiple 'slides' , I think most folk are happy. Of course there's a difference between a family raft ride and a single person speed slide etc, however both parks seem to have this variety already so unless you're going to invent a new type of slide there's probably little need to change things? We usually do 2-3 days a year at the waterparks, more so at TL than BB though. The main reason is we have a 'spot' at TL that we always get, we're there 1/2 hour before opening to make sure we get it. Mrs M doesn't swim but likes being in the shade with her kindle and tablet whilst I spend hours between shark reef, the wave pool, the lazy river and a few slides straight after the park opens. It's a pretty idyllic day for us both really, doing our own thing whilst also hanging out together through parts of the day