Blizzard Beach reopened today after a lengthy refurbishment. While there were some updates to the water park that grabbed our attention like the new Frozen-themed toddler area and a new tube lift, Disney World also promised some holiday enhancements for the holiday season. Here’s what Disney said would be available:
This year there will be limited-time holiday offerings through Dec. 31 that include holiday-themed treats, snowfall and festive inner tubes. Guests can even meet a tropical-dressed Santa for the ultimate Florida holiday experience.
Tropical Vacation Santa Meet & Greet
Right at the front of the park, guests can meet Santa as he soaks up the Florida sun ahead of the big night! Santa was happy to kick up his feet a bit and relax this morning while meeting with guests at Blizzard Beach.
Festive Inner Tubes
In addition to normal blue inner tubes, guests can find a few holiday wreath inner tubes.
More “Snoap”
In talking with managers, they said that additional “snoap” machines would be added to common areas, but that they were having some technical difficulties during the late morning hours.
Holiday Treats
Disney also said that there would be some holiday-themed treats, but we didn’t find any in our initial lap around the park. It’s possible that more will be added later.
Blizzard Beach Backstory
As legend goes, it was a meteorological phenomenon of the strangest order. One balmy day, a freak winter storm developed over the western end of the Walt Disney World Resort and covered the area with a thick blanket of powdery white snow. Before you could say “hot cocoa,” plans were underway for Florida’s first ski resort.
Ski lifts were put up, toboggan runs were laid down and an entire resort area blossomed around the mountain of snow. Yet before the first skier could strap on a pair of boots and stick their poles into the snow, the temperatures returned to their normal Florida levels and the powdery snow quickly turned into slippery slush.
The ski resort operators saw their dream melting down the hillside. Yet, that’s not all they saw. As the slush began cascading down and pools of water began to form, an echoing “yahoo” was heard from the summit of the mountain. Everyone looked up to see a playful alligator careening down the melting hillside. He slid to the base of the mountain and landed in a pool of water with a thunderous splash. They knew at once that they were back in business.
Slalom courses, bobsled, and toboggan runs became downhill waterslides. The creek of melted snow that formed at the base of the mountain became a relaxing tube ride. The chairlift carried swimmers instead of skiers. The ski jump became the tallest and fastest water slide in the world.
The ski resort became known as Disney’s Blizzard Beach, the most slushy, slippery, exhilarating water park anywhere!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!