Walt Disney World has introduced that Blizzard Beach will reopen subsequent month, simply in time for winter! On prime of that, the water park will add new Frozen (uppercase f…and possibly lowercase one, too!) enjoyable with new options from the Walt Disney Animation Studios movie.
While Disney hasn’t formally introduced this, it’s additionally doubtless that Typhoon Lagoon will shut for its annual refurbishment on the identical day that Blizzard Beach reopens. Walt Disney World sometimes alternates opening water parks throughout the colder months attributable to a mix of decrease demand and a have to conduct upkeep on the water parks.
In the final year-plus, there was the added wrinkle of staffing shortages. Both water parks haven’t operated concurrently since pre-closure, and that’s attributable to a scarcity of lifeguards and different Cast Members wanted to function each. Here’s hoping that modifications by Spring 2023, however we haven’t the slightest concept of whether or not it’s going to.
For now, Typhoon Lagoon’s final operational day of this yr will likely be November 12, 2022. Blizzard Beach will reopen on November 13, 2022. When it does, as famous above, the winter wonderland water park will function new Frozen-inspired particulars.
The new Frozen options will likely be a part of the kid-sized thrills of Tike’s Peak that’s fashionable amongst younger friends who will play among the many statuettes of Olaf and his Snowgie buddies within the heat wading pool. (Above is the brand new look, beneath is the outdated look of the wading pool.)
Tike’s Peak will even function Anna and Elsa’s igloo fort.
It’s unclear how it will look–it’s potential Imagineering isn’t carried out with it but as no photographs had been offered. Tike’s Peak beforehand had an igloo, so our expectation is that it’ll be a modified model of that.
Blizzard Beach water park, which options heated water all through the park, will even have an enhanced vacation ambiance.
For Christmas 2022, there will likely be limited-time vacation choices from reopening day (November 13) by December 31 that embrace holiday-themed treats, snowfall, and festive internal tubes. Guests may even meet a tropical-dressed Santa for the last word Florida vacation expertise.
Popular points of interest and options as soon as once more await friends, every little thing from slushy and slippery ski jumps to bobsled and toboggan runs to polar play areas for each member of the household. Among the favorites are:
Summit Plummet is without doubt one of the tallest, quickest freefall physique slides round. The heart-pumping attraction plunges friends down Mount Gushmore in a close to vertical drop and rockets them right into a darkened tunnel. It’s an attraction made particularly for thrill-seekers!
Teamboat Springs is without doubt one of the world’s longest group whitewater raft adventures, the place as much as six riders can take an epic and unpredictable whitewater journey down a mountain.
Toboggan Racers is a novel attraction the place friends use a mat to compete in an exciting race downhill on an eight-lane slalom-style waterslide.
Cross Country Creek is a scenic lazy river that takes friends on arctic journey gliding by mysterious caves, illuminated grottoes and take pleasure in Mount Gushmore’s refreshing spring water all through polar paradise.
Runoff Rapids affords a alternative of three distinctly totally different inner-tube waterslides, the place friends twist and switch down an adrenaline-filled journey down Mount Gushmore.
The meals and beverage choices at Blizzard Beach will even be a draw for friends as soon as once more.
The water park affords a number of spots the place friends can sit back and take a look at mouth-watering culinary creations, corresponding to new Frozen-themed menu gadgets. Returning fashionable candy and savory snacks just like the EARridescent Ice Dream Cone, 50th Ice Dream Sand Pail Sundae and Walt’s Chili Nachos can be discovered at numerous eating places all through the water park.
Adults can complement their flavorful bites with chilling new beverage choices like Orange Slope DOLE Whip Swirl at Warming Hut. There’s additionally a Red Slope Bloody Mary at Frostbite Freddy’s and a Melt-A-Way Margarita at Polar Pub.
With the fundamentals out of the way in which, let’s flip to commentary…
We actually love the backstory at each Walt Disney World water parks, and suppose they’re exemplars of (unspoilt) Imagineering. As we’ve written repeatedly–and can reiterate as soon as extra right here–followers of themed design owe it to themselves to go to each Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. That’s true even if you happen to by no means placed on a swimsuit and get within the water.
As the legend goes, Disney’s Blizzard Beach was as soon as Florida’s first ski-resort after a blizzarding winter storm hit Walt Disney World Resort. Before the skiers might strap on their boots, sunny Florida climate returned and powdery snow rapidly turned to slippery slush. Bobsled and toboggan runs turned downhill waterslides; a creek of melted mountain snow turned a soothing tube journey; and the chairlift now carries swimmers as an alternative of skiers. Full of loads of chalet structure and icy points of interest, the water park’s snowy ambiance amid the nice and cozy temperatures of Florida continues to carry friends again to the winter wonderland yr after yr.
I’m additionally an enormous fan of each Ice Gator, the mascot of Blizzard Beach, and Lagoona Gator, the mascot of Typhoon Lagoon. The Frozen additions take away one main Ice Gator determine, which is a minor private disappointment for me.
However, I additionally understand that Walt Disney World way back deserted the 2 gator mascots. It wasn’t for lack of effort–the corporate did quite a bit to advertise the characters, providing meet & greets, merchandise, and that includes each prominently within the parks within the Nineteen Nineties and early aughts. Yet, they by no means actually caught on with friends. While I really feel like that is likely to be totally different within the present period, I may perceive Disney not wanting to present it one other strive.
Beyond that, Frozen is an ideal match for Blizzard Beach. I do know many Walt Disney World followers complain about unnecessary mental property (IP) integration, yada yada yada. However, the sensible actuality is that synergy is, and at all times has been, essential for the corporate.
One method or one other, the parks are getting extra animated characters added to locations they weren’t beforehand. It’s good for the enterprise, and it comports with visitor expectations, who anticipate to see Disney characters. This is just not going to vary anytime quickly.
My view is that, if IP integration goes to occur, it ought to a minimum of happen in locations which are logical and seamless matches. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in France’s World Showcase pavilion is a good instance. While I feel the journey is barely so-so and the cloned model might’ve simply been improved, I additionally suppose Ratatouille is an efficient match for World Showcase. It’s a love letter to Paris, and the enlargement is respectful to the prevailing pavilion, whereas including a bit of caprice. That is an efficient IP addition, all issues thought of.
It’s an identical story right here with Frozen in Blizzard Beach. There have been rumors of precisely this taking place since (actually) the yr the film got here out, and it has at all times made sense. It can be a technique to enhance curiosity within the film, give children a technique to play in Frozen-inspired environments, and never materially disrupt the prevailing ambiance at Blizzard Beach.
Ultimately, I’m on board with Frozen options and enjoyable being added to Blizzard Beach. My solely hope is that Imagineering is dipping its toe into the water with these additions, beginning slowly to see how they’re obtained by friends–as a result of this doesn’t appear to be a complete lot. If Walt Disney World needs to show Blizzard Beach into “the Frozen water park,” then so be it. But go all-in on the idea. Even if it’s simply the Tike’s Peak play space–make it absolutely immersive, and a definite draw for Frozen followers.
What’s been introduced to this point feels very very like a half-measure (if that) designed to market the water park as having Frozen enjoyable and options, however with out the substance to essentially again that up. Which is fairly typical with how Frozen has been dealt with at Walt Disney World.
When Frozen frenzy was at its peak, there was lots of Anna and Elsa “stuff” across the parks, however most of it was fairly superficial. (The fort lighting ceremony at Christmas is an efficient instance–friends would camp out far prematurely for prime spots to see a present that was just a few minutes lengthy.)
Frozen Ever After is actually a strong attraction–higher than it has any proper to be as “only” a reimagining of Maelstrom–however even that looks as if it might’ve been so a lot better as a journey constructed from the bottom up. As a brand new traditional, it’s unlikely that the recognition of the Frozen franchise will recede anytime quickly, so it could make sense for Walt Disney World to guess huge on it…even when that simply means making Blizzard Beach the Frozen water park in an much more vital method.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you happy with the November 13, 2022 reopening date Blizzard Beach, or would you like that Typhoon Lagoon stay open for winter? Cautiously optimistic concerning the Frozen enjoyable and options being added to Blizzard Beach or do you want Disney had been going greater on the IP integrations? (Or, would you like if Blizzard Beach remained IP-free?) Eager to return to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, or are you not a water park particular person? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!