Typhoon Lagoon vs. Blizzard Beach: The ultimate guide to Disney World's water parks
With four theme parks, dozens of hotels, more than 100 attractions and hundreds of dining options, it's impossible to see and do everything at Walt Disney World in one visit. But there are certain activities that you should definitely factor into your itinerary, such as fishing, minigolfing, horseback riding and slip-sliding the day away at one of Disney World's two water parks.
Related: The best pools at Walt Disney World
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park are as well themed as Disney's land-based parks; they have wet and wild attractions for every member of the family. Given Florida's perpetually sunny weather, you can cool off at a Disney World water park 365 days a year.
Let's dive right into everything you need to know before visiting a Disney World water park.
Disney World water park tickets
Disney World's water parks require a separate ticket purchase. A one-day water park ticket with no blackout dates costs $74 plus tax for adults and $68 for kids ages 3 to 9. Kids under 3 don't need tickets to enter Disney's theme parks or water parks.
You can save $10 per ticket by selecting the ticket option with blackout dates, which bars you from visiting during the summer season (currently May 25 to Sept. 29, 2024, and May 24 to Sept. 28, 2025). Disney Vacation Club members and Disney annual passholders receive a discounted price of $49 plus tax for adults and $43 for kids.
Disney also has two theme park ticket types that include water park access. If you purchase a regular park ticket, you can add the "Water Park and Sports Option" during the purchase process. This gives you access to Disney's theme parks, plus admission to various activities like Disney's minigolf courses, golf courses and a Disney World water park.
Disney water park tickets are not date-based, so you can use them at whichever of the two parks is open during your visit (except on blackout dates if you purchase that ticket type).
Related: More rides and fewer crowds: What to expect at Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom
Disney's water parks also hold special events throughout the year that require a separate ticket. For example, Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon is a three-hour nighttime event that costs $75 plus tax for adults and $70 for children ages 3 to 9. A $15 discount is available for Disney Vacation Club members and Disney annual passholders.
How to visit Disney World's water parks for free
If you plan to visit Disney World in 2025, you can get a free ticket to one of Disney's water parks by staying at a Disney Resort hotel.
Guests arriving between Jan.1 and Dec. 31, 2025, can catch a wave at one of Disney's water parks — Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park or Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park — for free on their check-in day. Instead of waiting until the second day of your trip to start the fun, you can start as soon as you arrive at Disney.
Related: How to get free water park tickets on your next Disney World vacation
Disney will release more details later this year, and guests with a 2025 stay will receive more information on utilizing this benefit via email before arrival. You can view the details currently available on Disney's website.
When are Disney World's water parks open?
No matter when you visit, one of Disney's two water parks is always open. Disney keeps one park open at a time while they close the other for a monthslong refurbishment.
The water parks typically open at 10 a.m. and close between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Though there is always a water park in operation, it could close due to storms, cold weather or special events. You can check Disney's calendar to see which water park will be open during your visit and the hours of operation.
Typhoon Lagoon vs. Blizzard Beach
Both of Disney's water parks have a wave pool and lazy river, along with slides designed for thrill seekers, splash areas for the little ones and several dining locations. Both parks provide complimentary parking and bus service from Disney Resort hotels.
You can pay an additional fee for towels and locker rentals, cabanas, and reserved seating with an umbrella, though there is ample complimentary seating, as well. Disney's water parks also provide complimentary life jackets for guests who need one.
Though the offerings are comparable, these two water parks have distinctive themes and attractions. Let's dive into the differences.
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
No matter where you are in Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, you can see a large ship called the Miss Tilly marooned atop the volcanic Mount Mayday. The story behind how it got there also explains the park's theme. As legend has it, a rogue storm blew through the area, tossing ships and debris across the lagoon and transforming the tropical paradise into the water park we know today.
This theme carries on through the park's attractions. Mount Mayday "erupts" every half-hour, sending massive 6-foot swells through the park's wave pool — the largest in North America. After a few moments, the waves calm down to gently bobbing ones until Mount Mayday blows again.
On select mornings, experienced surfers can visit the park before opening for three-hour group or private surf sessions with up to 100 waves.
Typhoon Lagoon's most popular attractions are thrilling yet still family-friendly.
Miss Adventure Falls is a four-person raft ride that starts with a slow climb up a conveyor belt before weaving and winding through a whitewater adventure. Miss Adventure Falls has no minimum height requirement.
Crush 'n' Gusher is the park's set of three water coasters. Riders can choose Pineapple Plunger, Coconut Crusher or Banana Blaster, and they can ride a single or double raft through 400 feet of twists, turns and drops. Crush 'n' Gusher has a minimum height requirement of 48 inches.
Kids will love the Ketchakiddee Creek water playground with slides and interactive water features. Parents can splash along with them or relax on the nearby sandy beach.
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon is also home to Disney's "coolest" after-hours event. Disney H2O Glow After Hours is so cool because it takes place in the evening after the sun has gone down, the lines for slides are shorter than during daytime hours and the event has exclusive offerings.
Related: Are Disney World’s after-hours parties worth it?
This separately ticketed event takes place on select nights throughout the year from 8 to 11 p.m., but ticket holders can get into Typhoon Lagoon as early as 6 p.m. to begin enjoying attractions.
When the event officially kicks off, Typhoon Lagoon transforms into a glowing, music-filled party. There's a DJ-led dance party on the sand with Goofy, Chip and Dale, Captain Hook and other Disney characters joining the crowd on the dance floor.
During the event, guests get complimentary fountain beverages, ice cream bars and popcorn. Meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
Blizzard Beach has its own "chilly" lore revolving around a rare snowstorm that hit Central Florida. Disney got so much snow, in fact, that the locals built a ski resort. As often happens in Florida, the temperatures quickly warmed back up. The slopes and ski lifts left behind when the snow melted became known as Blizzard Beach.
Blizzard Beach is home to one of the fastest attractions at Walt Disney World: Summit Plummet. After riding a ski lift to the top of Mount Gushmore, this 120-foot-tall waterslide sends guests speeding down at over 60 miles per hour. That matches the top speed of Test Track at Epcot, which is often touted as the fastest ride at Disney.
If you are up for a little friendly competition, you can face off against your family on the eight-lane, slalom-style Toboggan Racers waterslide. Riders lie headfirst on mats and race down Mount Gushmore to find out who can reach the bottom first.
Blizzard Beach has two areas for kids: Ski Patrol Training Camp for older kids and Tike's Peak for the little ones. Ski Patrol Training Camp has waterslides and an obstacle course where kids can test their balance and careen down a zip line with a safe splash at the end.
Tike's Peak is designed with a playful "Frozen" theme for younger kids, with a shallow splash area, interactive water features and miniature slides. Attractions are designed for kids 48 inches and below.
The whole family can enjoy Blizzard Beach's Cross Country Creek lazy river. At 3,000 feet, it's one of the longest in the country, and it takes about 30 minutes to make your way around the entire thing. There are exit points along the way if you want to hop out and go on a waterslide or the Melt-Away Bay wave pool. The waves are gentle, and the water is heated for ultimate relaxation.
Bottom line
You can't go wrong with either of Disney's water parks.
No matter how wild or mild you like your waterslides, both parks have attractions the whole family will enjoy, along with the immersive theming you already love about Disney. It's definitely worth carving out some time in your next Disney World vacation to chill out at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon.
Related reading:
- The 17 best Disney World hotels for your 2024 stay
- A magical guide for how to plan a trip to Disney World this year
- Tips for visiting Disney World: 19 ways to save money and have more fun
- Save big bucks on Disney World tickets, hotel stays and dining with these discounts
- 30 best Disney World rides ranked
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.