Credit: DisneyThere’s less than one month left for Walt Disney World Resort guests to take advantage of every single park on property.
Like Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, and every other Disney resort worldwide, it’s the magic that makes Walt Disney World Resort such a popular destination. It is, however, its size that makes it Disney’s most in-demand destination worldwide.
With four amazing theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom), two water parks, and an abundance of dining options and hotels – ranging from value resorts like Disney’s All-Star Movies to deluxe resorts, such as Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – the amount of sheer variety on offer at Disney World plays a huge part in creating the famous “Disney Bubble.”
In the years since COVID-19, however, this “Disney Bubble” has taken a real hit. Several perks that once enhanced the experience, such as the free Magical Express from Orlando International Airport (MCO), free FastPasses, and Extra Magic Hours in the evenings for all Disney hotel guests, are now long gone.
Disney has also made massive operational changes. Regular parkgoers have complained that Disney parks don’t stay open quite as late as they once did. Animal Kingdom, for example, often closes long before sundown, making it impossible to experience the likes of Pandora – World of Avatar at nighttime.
Disney’s Disappointing Water Parks Schedule
For years, it also only operated its water parks on alternating operational schedules. While there was a time when guests could ride slides such as Crush ‘n’ Gusher and Humunga Kowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon in the morning, then hop across to Disney’s Blizzard Beach to experience Downhill Double Dipper, Summit Plummet, and Teamboat Springs in the afternoon, those days died in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown.
When Disney reopened its water parks, it chose to only open Typhoon Lagoon when Blizzard Beach was under refurbishment and vice versa. Blizzard Beach typically operated through the winter while Typhoon Lagoon opened in the warmer months.
Guests have found this operational schedule frustrating – especially considering the fact that Blizzard Beach was restricted to a short window in the colder months, when it also faced recurrent closures due to (surprise, surprise) cold or rainy weather.
Earlier this year, however, Disney shocked guests by announcing that both water parks would open simultaneously as of May 21.
That meant the family fun could spread across six parks for the summer, theoretically reducing crowding and offering more opportunities to get away from the heat (which, as is evident by the number of heat advisories and extreme heat warnings to hit Orlando this summer, has been even more intense than usual).
But after nearly two months of enjoying the attractions at both parks, Disney is set to close Blizzard Beach again in a matter of weeks.
Disney Closing Blizzard Beach Water Park
As was previously announced, Blizzard Beach will have its last operating day on September 7, 2025. It will then close for an as-yet-unconfirmed amount of time from September 8.
Ordinarily, Blizzard Beach opens for the winter season from early November. It’s not clear whether the park’s operational schedule will shift after its surprise summer stint.
Some Disney fans have argued that it would be better to close both water parks for the coldest months. Blizzard Beach’s operations have been extremely inconsistent in the past few winters (because, let’s be real, who wants to float down lazy rivers in January?), and we can only assume that attendance has been light even when it was open.
If Disney did close both parks and undertake maintenance during the winter, this would then open the window for Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach to stay open through the spring, summer, and early fall.
Some guests have even suggested Disney could eventually overhaul one of its water parks, with Blizzard Beach often floated as a candidate and a Frozen theme topping the wish lists. Still, with major projects already underway – from new attractions based on Monsters, Inc., Cars, and Encanto to a reimagined Indiana Jones experience – a full park transformation seems unlikely anytime soon. Then again, Disney has surprised before.
Did you manage to visit both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach this summer?