Walt Disney World offers two outstanding water parks for guests who want something more than their resort’s pool. If you’re visiting in the off season, you may find only one of the two parks open, but if you’re at Disney during the peak or summer or spring break season, you can take your pick. How to choose? Check out this showdown.
Spots for tots
Splashing down the tot-friendly slides.
Image: Steven & Courtney Johnson & Horwitz , Flickr (license)
Blizzard Beach: Tike’s Peak is a polar playland where kids can splash through shallow pools with faux snow sculptures spraying water. Three side-by-side mini waterslides let you race along with your friends, while the tot-sized inner-tube offers plenty of excitement for independent littles who want to brave a ride alone.
Typhoon Lagoon: Ketchakiddee Creek is a laid-back play area featuring pint-size slides, mini inner-tube rapids, a cave concealed by a playful waterfall, giant faux sand sculptures to climb, and animal-shaped fountains. The warm, shallow pools are perfect for even the smallest visitors to relax.
Typhoon Lagoon also features the Bay Slides. This pair of mini-water slides is exclusively for children 60” or shorter. They splash into the shallows of the Surf Pool.
The Winner: For tots, Typhoon Lagoon edges ahead with slightly more to offer. The tot areas for both parks are exclusive to children 48” and under.
Kid-friendly experiences
The Ice Gator is where it’s at for pre-teens
Image: Michael Welsing, Flickr (license)
Blizzard Beach: Ski Patrol Training Camp is ideal for kids and preteens who want something active and challenging. This watery obstacle course will have you jumping across ice flows, zip lining over the pool, and taking on body slides and inner tube slides.
The Winner: Blizzard Beach wins by a landslide. Typhoon Lagoon doesn’t have anything comparable that’s exclusive for kids in this age range.
Thrilling water slides
The Downhill Double Dipper times your ride.
Image: Michael Welsing, Flickr (license)
Blizzard Beach:
- Runoff Rapids – This trio of inner-tube waterslides offers fun for anyone.
- Snow Stormers – Three curving slides let you career down 350 feet on your belly.
- Toboggan Racers – 8 contestants face off down a 250-foot slide with three quick dips. Lay on your belly on fun toboggan-like mats for this ride.
- Teamboat Springs – Go whitewater rafting with up to six people in your raft as you bounce down the mountain along 1,200 feet of wild river.
- Downhill Double Dipper – Side-by-side waterslides have you racing against your opponent down a 50-foot enclosed tube slide. *Must be 48” or taller
- Slush Gusher – Rush over two hills as you speed down a 90-foot slide. *Must be 48” or taller.
- Summit Plummet – True thrill seekers can take on this sheer 120-foot drop. You’ll fall 12 stories on this run that totals 360 feet. *Must be 48” or taller.
Typhoon Lagoon:
- Keehaul Falls – The mildest of three falls, these rapids send you spinning along in a one-person inner tube past waterfalls and through cavers.
- Gangplank Falls – Get the whole family on board in an inner-tube built for 4. This medium-intensity ride covers 300 feet of rapids.
- Mayday Falls – The most intense of the falls, this single-person inner tube ride begins beneath Mount Mayday and sends you thundering down the waterfalls.
- Miss Adventure Falls – Climb into a 4-person raft for this treasure-packed ride through the jungle. Keep your eyes open to see how many precious artifacts you can spot along the route.
- Storm Slides – Three side-by-side body slides send you careening downhill three stories.
- Crush ‘n’ Gusher – Three tube slides take you careening along on a 400-foot journey in a raft built for two. *Must be 48” or taller.
- Humunga Kowabunga – This trio or enclosed body slides sends you down a 5-story drop at a 60-degree angle. *Must be 48” or taller.
The Winner: It’s a tie! For thrills, the medal goes to Blizzard Beach for the breathtaking Summit Plummet. However, if you’re looking for family friendly fun, Typhoon Lagoon is a better pick. It has fewer slides with a height limit and two that feature 4-person rafts.
Laid-back lazy rivers
Cross Country Creek adds chilly thrills to the lazy river
Image: Michael Welsing, Flickr (license)
Blizzard Beach: Cross Country Creek takes you on a full lap of the water park, covering 3,000 feet of gentle river. There are 7 landings where you can hop in, grab a tube, and start floating along. You’ll pass through polar caves, under trickling waterfalls, and by the home of the Ice Gator – watch out, he’s got quite the cold!
Typhoon Lagoon: Castaway Creek features 5 landings and a 2,000-foot route around the water park. Tunnels take you through Mount Mayday along this rainforest-inspired journey, complete with cool mists and crashing waterfalls.
The Winner: Blizzard Beach has a much longer lazy river if you’re looking for an extended trip floating peacefully around the park.
Whoosh goes the wave pool
The Surf Pool delivers 6-foot waves
Image: Ashley, Flickr (license)
Blizzard Beach: Melt-Away Bay features adventurous rock outcroppings, cascading waterfalls, and a great view of Mount Gushmore, which regularly spouts a fountain of water. Inner tubes area available so you can ride the waves comfortably if you want to make sure your head stays above water.
Typhoon Lagoon: The Surf Pool at Typhoon Lagoon is the biggest in North America, with dramatic 6-foot swells. Bordered by white sandy beaches, this pool lets you brave the waves in the deep end, or linger peacefully in the shallows.
The Winner: The record-setting Typhoon Lagoon is much more impressive wave pool.
Delicious dining
Blizzard Beach offers the famous Dole Whip
Image: Joel, Flickr (license)
Blizzard Beach: Six dining locations offer a diverse landscape of offerings. Grab gyros at Arctic Expeditions, specialty hot dogs at Avalunch, a tuna sandwich at the Cooling Hut, Empanadas at the Warming hut, shrimp rolls from Lottawatta Lodge, or your classic turkey leg at Frostbite Freddy’s.
This is also an outstanding spot for indulgent snacks. Frostbite Freddy’s offers the famous Dole Whip, I.C. Expeditions has a full menu of ice cream treats, and the piping hot offerings at the Mini Donut cart are to die for. If you’re getting thirsty, the Polar Pub has specialty cocktails.
Typhoon Lagoon: There are four options for a meal at Typhoon Lagoon. Leaning Palms and Typhoon Tilly’s offer barbecued pork or turkey pesto sandwiches. Leaning Palms also has burgers and pizza, while Typhoon Tilly’s offers fish or shrimp baskets. Lowtide Lou’s and the Snack Shack offer lighter fare like chicken wraps and tuna sandwiches.
For a sweet treat, hit Happy Landings Ice Cream. Let’s Go Slurpin’ features specialty cocktails in this park.
The Winner: The options at Blizzard Beach are far more abundant and diverse. And seriously, the donuts are a must.
Extra features
The chair lift is a unique feature at Blizzard Beach
Image: Michael Welsing, Flickr (license)
Blizzard Beach: Bright chairlifts take you to the top of Mount Gushmore, so you can enjoy the fun feel of a ski resort in the Floridian heat. Guests must be 32” for this ride.
Typhoon Lagoon: The massive wave pool is so powerful you can actually surf in it. Surf lessons are available for $165 per person. Experienced surfers can reserve a time slot before or after park hours to enjoy the ride on up to 100 waves.
The Winner: Blizzard Beach offers more accessible extras with its chair lift that anyone can hop on for stellar views. Though thrilling, the surfing experiences at Typhoon are more exclusive and come with a high price tag.
Final score
Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
Image: Jeff Kays, Flickr (license)
Blizzard Beach: 5 / Typhoon Lagoon: 3
Blizzard Beach is the overall winner for its thrill rides, pre-teen adventures, and tasty treats. If you’re looking for an action-packed water park adventure, this is it. However, Typhoon Lagoon is the better pick for smaller children or those who like a more laid-back day in the sun. It offers the same number of water slides with somewhat milder options, as well as an extra kid-friendly slide in the Surf Pool.
Whether you go for chilly waterpark fun at Blizzard Beach, or the warm tropical feel or Typhoon Lagoon, you’re sure to enjoy an unforgettable day of splashes and slides at Disney.
