Blizzard Beach- would love to hear the "insiders" tips.

[BigDave]

We went once before, but was a little crazy. When is the best time to go, where is the best place to sit/ lay out, any other secrets. Sorry if this has been posted before, this is my first time posting. Thanks ahead of time...

 

[OswaldTheRabbit]

I would love to hear the answer to this! We are taking a surprise trip in June for my DS birthday especially so he can go to BB! (We go in winter normally)

We were thinking of going on a weekday and getting there early. Maybe by 10 am?

 

[disneysince71]

We love Blizzard Beach. The way our family does it is we go about 3 hours before closing when everyone else is leaving. You can hit all the rides and grab a chair with no problem...We also love Typhoon!

 

[ParentsOf4]

Blizzard Beach is best first thing in the morning, for about an hour or two after opening, and then during the last 2-to-3 hours before closing. By about an hour before closing, we often don't see any other guests while we are in the lazy river.

1. Get there at least 30 minutes before opening. Once they let you in, find a spot that will be shaded throughout most of the day. We have our favorites (there actually are a number of good spots) but I don't want to tell anyone else about them.
2. Once you put your things down head immediately to Summit Plummet. Every minute you delay is another 3 or 4 minutes you'll stand in line. If the line is too long for you, just go on Slush Gusher instead. Although nowhere near as dramatic, Slush Gusher is a lot of fun and almost always has a short line for the first 15-30 minutes as most flock to Summit Plummet.
3. After that, try to get in as many water slides as possible before lines grow. I never think Downhill Double Dipper is worth the wait because it's one of the slowest loading attractions at BB. If you are going to do it at all, now is the time.
4. Then you have a decision. Either Toboggan Racers & Snow Stormers or, alternatively, the 3 water slides at Runoff Rapids. Because Runoff Rapids is tucked away, its lines tend to grow the slowest. If possible, do the double tubes on Runoff Rapids. The lines for these are quicker.
5. Now take it easy. You might be coming up to 10:30-11 AM (on 9 AM opening days). Relax for an hour or so before having lunch at Lottawatta Lodge. Go early if possible (say 11:30) to avoid the crowds but watch out for the bees (have they fixed that problem yet?) and the birds.
6. Head back and relax some more. Once you're ready, spend some time in the Cross Country Creek (i.e. the lazy river), Melt Away Bay (i.e. the main pool), or Ski Patrol Training Camp. This is the most crowded time of the day so go to those areas that handle crowds best.
7. Relax some more. Once you're ready, head up again to the summit but this time to Teamboat Springs. The line will be long but, hey, what else are you doing?
8. After that, jump back into the lazy river for a bit. (Teamboat Springs finishes near one of the lazy river entrances.)
9. Go back to your stuff and relax some more. Now's the time to get a Sand Pail (Chocolate & Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream, Waffle Pieces, Sprinkles, Cookie Pieces, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, Nuts, and a Cherry) from I.C. Expeditions. Trust me, you want this. Get one spoon for each person in your party.
10. By now, crowds will be starting to diminish. Consider going back and either ride attractions you missed earlier or really liked.
11. Now crowds for everything except Summit Plummet should really start to taper off. Are you going to be one of those leaving or do you want to milk Blizzard Beach for everything it's got?

Yeah, we've been to Blizzard Beach a few times.

 

[disneysince71]

@ParentsOf4 YOU ARE AMAZING!

 

[BigDave]

The Garbage Pail alone sounds perfect..hahah.

 

[OswaldTheRabbit]

@ParentsOf4

thank you! Love it! I can't wait to try the slides..... And the garbage pail!

 

[Uncle Remus]

Blizzard Beach is best first thing in the morning, for about an hour or two after opening, and then during the last 2-to-3 hours before closing. By about an hour before closing, we often don't see any other guests while we are in the lazy river.

1. Get there at least 15 minutes before opening. Once they let you in, find a spot that will be shaded throughout most of the day. We have our favorites (there actually are a number of good spots) but I don't want to tell anyone else about them.
2. Once you put your things down head immediately to Summit Plummet. Every minute you delay is another 3 or 4 minutes you'll stand in line. If the line is too long for you, just go on Slush Gusher instead. Although nowhere near as dramatic, Slush Gusher is a lot of fun and almost always has a short line for the first 15-30 minutes as most flock to Summit Plummet.
3. After that, try to get in as many water slides as possible before lines grow. I never think Downhill Double Dipper is worth the wait because it's one of the slowest loading attractions at BB. If you are going to do it at all, now is the time.
4. Then you have a decision. Either Toboggan Racers & Snow Stormers or, alternatively, the 3 water slides at Runoff Rapids. Because Runoff Rapids is tucked away, its lines tend to grow the slowest. If possible, do the double tubes. The lines for these are quicker.
5. Now take it easy. You might be coming up to 10:30-11 AM (on 9 AM opening days). Relax for an hour or so before having lunch at the Cooling Hut. Go early if possible (say 11:30) to avoid the crowds but watch out for the bees (have they fixed that problem yet?) and the birds.
6. Head back and relax some more. Once you're ready, spend some time in the Cross Country Creek (i.e. the lazy river), Melt Away Bay (i.e. the main pool), or Ski Patrol Training Camp. This is the most crowded time of the day so go to those areas that handle crowds best.
7. Relax some more. Once you're ready head up again to the summit but this time to Teamboat Springs. The line will be long but, hey, what else are you doing?
8. After that, jump back into the lazy river for a bit.
9. Go back to your stuff and relax some more. Now's the time to get a Garbage Pail (Chocolate & Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream, Waffle Pieces, Sprinkles, Cookie Pieces, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, Nuts, and a Cherry) from I.C. Expeditions. Trust me, you want this. Get one spoon for each person in your party.
10. By now, crowds will be starting to diminish. Consider going back and either ride attractions you missed early or really liked.
11. Now crowds for everything except Summit Plummet should really start to taper off. Are you going to be one of those leaving or do you want to milk Blizzard Beach for everything it's got?

Yeah, we've been to Blizzard Beach a few times.

People like you are what makes these boards great

 

[RedDad]

Nice @ParentsOf4 ! Now, along a similar line, for someone who's never been to either of the wdw water parks, which one would you recommend for me and my DD14 on a Thursday morning, first week of June? Is Blizzard Beach the better of the two, and which would be more crowded?

 

[ParentsOf4]

Nice @ParentsOf4 ! Now, along a similar line, for someone who's never been to either of the wdw water parks, which one would you recommend for me and my DD14 on a Thursday morning, first week of June? Is Blizzard Beach the better of the two, and which would be more crowded?

Crowds at BB & TL are hit or miss. There are trends but, IMHO, it's impossible to be sure on any particular day since I've seen exceptions to the rules.

Which is best for you depends on what your DD14 is like. If you want thrill rides, it's BB. If you want relaxing, it's TL.

My twin DD15 currently prefer TL but they like to sun tan more than anything. My DS17 prefers BB.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I posted the following a few days ago but am reposting it again since it should help those who are debating between BB & TL.

Both water parks are great. If you want more water slides and action, pick Blizzard Beach (BB). If you want more relaxing, pick Typhoon Lagoon (TL). Either way, you won't regret it.

We absolutely love both Disney water parks. They are the best in the world and just as enjoyable as the 4 major theme parks. What distinguishes them is theming. Most water parks feel like cement with a bunch of water rides stuck in the middle. WDW avoids this with extensive theming, lots of greenery plus sand, careful maintenance, and incredible attention to detail. If you enjoy the "little" things Disney gets right at the major theme parks, you'll enjoy the water parks.

Our favorite water park has evolved as our children have matured. When they were very young (under age 6), Tikes Peak (TP) in BB was the way to go. Lots of water rides targeted for the very young. TL has a little kid's area, Ketchakiddee Creek (KC), but our children did not enjoy this as much. First, there were fewer water attractions so there was not as much for them to do. Second, the water cannons in the center of KC were used by groups of 8 year-olds and their parents, even though KC was supposed to be for the under 6 crowd. (Our 3-to-5 year olds could not even reach some of the water cannons so I understand why the 8-year-olds used them.) Disney clearly learned a lesson from TL when they built TP, increasing the number of water attractions and gearing the entire area for the very young.

As our children outgrew TP, our focus shifted to TL. They enjoyed the main wave pool and the lazy river ride (Castaway Creek). BB has a similar lazy river ride but their wave pool is not as much fun. The main pool at TL produces one large wave every couple of minutes while the pool at BB produces continuous swells that can make you sea-sick.

As our children grew more (think pre teen), our attention shifted back to BB, this time to the Ski Patrol Training area. As they reached the magical height of 48", our attention remained focused on BB, but this time on BB's big thrill rides such as Summit Plummet.

It's hard to decide which water park is our current favorite. In general, TL feels more relaxing (our teenagers like to sunbath as much as anything else) but we enjoy the big thrill rides of BB as well. If the weather is warm, we plan one entire day at each water park during longer trips. They serve as nice mid-week breaks from the constant "go" of the 4 major theme parks. You don't have to get up as early, stay out as late, or walk as much. The water parks offer more entertainment than the resort pools and the water is a great way to beat the Florida heat!

The water parks are tougher to enjoy during shorter vacations; they need an entire day to be really appreciated. Many people squeeze them in during the afternoon, sandwiched between morning and evening trips to the major theme parks, and don't get to enjoy the water parks to their fullest. Also, this makes the water parks the most crowded in the mid afternoon and so a lot of people see them only when they are packed. Morning crowds usually aren't too bad and the water parks tend to empty out for their last hour or two. We have photos of us being the only ones in the lazy rivers; these were taken during the park's last hour.

My favorite WDW ride (including the 4 major theme parks) is Teamboat Springs at BB. Your sit with your family in a large circular rubber raft as you descend down a long, twisting slide. My absolute fondest WDW memory is seeing the faces of our young children the first few times we road Teamboat Springs together. Pure joy!

If you have to choose between the two water parks, Shark's Reef at TL should be mentioned. You get to swim with sharks and other sea creatures! BB has nothing like it.

Both water parks offer one of WDW's few bargains, a bucket of ice cream (called a "Sand Pail") with all the fixings at I.C. Expeditions (BB) or Happy Landings (TL). The bucket is not to be missed if you like soft serve ice cream; it is large enough to feed the six of us. Last time I checked it was $9.99.

A comparison of TL and BB is not complete without mentioning the music. Both water parks pipe in background music that adds to the experience. At BB, it tends to be a combination of California beach (e.g. Beach Boys) mixed with Christmas music, with an occasional yodeling song thrown in! At TL, it tends to be more Caribbean and beach songs. As people who only go a couple of times a year, we love it. However, I suspect it drives people who work there crazy!

 

[littleroo]

The only other advice I was given, especially, if you are only going for a few hours and are not sun gods, is go while it is raining! The place is empty and you are already wet anyway.

 

[taz0162]

Best day to go...Christmas day. Everyone else is at the main parks. Very few go to Blizzard beach this day. Very short or no lines throughout the park.

 

[CheshireCat12]

Just a warning- if you do ride Summit Plummet, you will end up with a sore bottom (from the water and vibrations) like you've been whacked one really hard AND the biggest wedgie of your life!

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Are

Nice @ParentsOf4 ! Now, along a similar line, for someone who's never been to either of the wdw water parks, which one would you recommend for me and my DD14 on a Thursday morning, first week of June? Is Blizzard Beach the better of the two, and which would be more crowded?

We usually go to WDW at Christmas. Is the water cold ? Is anything heated ??

 

[cowanfamily]

Go to TL, there's no line for the wave pool!

 

[828tnt]

Blizzard Beach is best first thing in the morning, for about an hour or two after opening, and then during the last 2-to-3 hours before closing. By about an hour before closing, we often don't see any other guests while we are in the lazy river.

1. Get there at least 15 minutes before opening. Once they let you in, find a spot that will be shaded throughout most of the day. We have our favorites (there actually are a number of good spots) but I don't want to tell anyone else about them.
2. Once you put your things down head immediately to Summit Plummet. Every minute you delay is another 3 or 4 minutes you'll stand in line. If the line is too long for you, just go on Slush Gusher instead. Although nowhere near as dramatic, Slush Gusher is a lot of fun and almost always has a short line for the first 15-30 minutes as most flock to Summit Plummet.
3. After that, try to get in as many water slides as possible before lines grow. I never think Downhill Double Dipper is worth the wait because it's one of the slowest loading attractions at BB. If you are going to do it at all, now is the time.
4. Then you have a decision. Either Toboggan Racers & Snow Stormers or, alternatively, the 3 water slides at Runoff Rapids. Because Runoff Rapids is tucked away, its lines tend to grow the slowest. If possible, do the double tubes. The lines for these are quicker.
5. Now take it easy. You might be coming up to 10:30-11 AM (on 9 AM opening days). Relax for an hour or so before having lunch at Lottawatta Lodge. Go early if possible (say 11:30) to avoid the crowds but watch out for the bees (have they fixed that problem yet?) and the birds.
6. Head back and relax some more. Once you're ready, spend some time in the Cross Country Creek (i.e. the lazy river), Melt Away Bay (i.e. the main pool), or Ski Patrol Training Camp. This is the most crowded time of the day so go to those areas that handle crowds best.
7. Relax some more. Once you're ready, head up again to the summit but this time to Teamboat Springs. The line will be long but, hey, what else are you doing?
8. After that, jump back into the lazy river for a bit. (Teamboat Springs finishes near one of the lazy river entrances.)
9. Go back to your stuff and relax some more. Now's the time to get a Sand Pail (Chocolate & Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream, Waffle Pieces, Sprinkles, Cookie Pieces, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, Nuts, and a Cherry) from I.C. Expeditions. Trust me, you want this. Get one spoon for each person in your party.
10. By now, crowds will be starting to diminish. Consider going back and either ride attractions you missed earlier or really liked.
11. Now crowds for everything except Summit Plummet should really start to taper off. Are you going to be one of those leaving or do you want to milk Blizzard Beach for everything it's got?

Yeah, we've been to Blizzard Beach a few times.

You are absolutely insane! In a really good way

 

[openendedsky]

Blizzard Beach is best first thing in the morning, for about an hour or two after opening, and then during the last 2-to-3 hours before closing. By about an hour before closing, we often don't see any other guests while we are in the lazy river.

1. Get there at least 15 minutes before opening. Once they let you in, find a spot that will be shaded throughout most of the day. We have our favorites (there actually are a number of good spots) but I don't want to tell anyone else about them.
2. Once you put your things down head immediately to Summit Plummet. Every minute you delay is another 3 or 4 minutes you'll stand in line. If the line is too long for you, just go on Slush Gusher instead. Although nowhere near as dramatic, Slush Gusher is a lot of fun and almost always has a short line for the first 15-30 minutes as most flock to Summit Plummet.
3. After that, try to get in as many water slides as possible before lines grow. I never think Downhill Double Dipper is worth the wait because it's one of the slowest loading attractions at BB. If you are going to do it at all, now is the time.
4. Then you have a decision. Either Toboggan Racers & Snow Stormers or, alternatively, the 3 water slides at Runoff Rapids. Because Runoff Rapids is tucked away, its lines tend to grow the slowest. If possible, do the double tubes. The lines for these are quicker.
5. Now take it easy. You might be coming up to 10:30-11 AM (on 9 AM opening days). Relax for an hour or so before having lunch at Lottawatta Lodge. Go early if possible (say 11:30) to avoid the crowds but watch out for the bees (have they fixed that problem yet?) and the birds.
6. Head back and relax some more. Once you're ready, spend some time in the Cross Country Creek (i.e. the lazy river), Melt Away Bay (i.e. the main pool), or Ski Patrol Training Camp. This is the most crowded time of the day so go to those areas that handle crowds best.
7. Relax some more. Once you're ready, head up again to the summit but this time to Teamboat Springs. The line will be long but, hey, what else are you doing?
8. After that, jump back into the lazy river for a bit. (Teamboat Springs finishes near one of the lazy river entrances.)
9. Go back to your stuff and relax some more. Now's the time to get a Sand Pail (Chocolate & Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream, Waffle Pieces, Sprinkles, Cookie Pieces, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Sauce, Whipped Cream, Nuts, and a Cherry) from I.C. Expeditions. Trust me, you want this. Get one spoon for each person in your party.
10. By now, crowds will be starting to diminish. Consider going back and either ride attractions you missed earlier or really liked.
11. Now crowds for everything except Summit Plummet should really start to taper off. Are you going to be one of those leaving or do you want to milk Blizzard Beach for everything it's got?

Yeah, we've been to Blizzard Beach a few times.

Beat me to it! All good tips, though. Though my boyfriend and I went ahead and knocked Teamboat out of the way before the mat rides the last time we went. Solid advice, though. Getting there before eleven really makes a difference.

 

[All Disney All The Time]

The earlier you get there the better. Goes for TL too. Then later in the day when it heats up and the crowds converge, you can relax while they all stand in line.

 

[RedDad]

Are

We usually go to WDW at Christmas. Is the water cold ? Is anything heated ??

We've never done the water parks (we've always gone to wdw during fall/winter too), but I know all the pools at the resorts are heated, so I would think that would be the case for the parks as well? The weather can be all over the place during that time, and I know there are times that the water parks close when it gets very cold.