Disney Water Park Family Guide
Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon With Kids
Everything families need for a Disney World water park day: how the two parks rotate, the best rides by age, height requirements, and the snacks you can only get there.
If you are looking to go to the Disney World water parks with your kids, then you’re in luck. Disney World has two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, and they rotate seasons so one is open all year-around. Both are great for families.
This family guide covers both parks, so whichever one is open, you’ll know the best rides by age, the height requirements, the snacks worth trying, and what to pack.
Only one park is open at a time. Disney rotates the two parks by season, so check which one is open for your dates before you plan the day.
Most family rides have no height requirement. The big speed slides need 48 inches, but family raft rides, mat slides, and lazy rivers are open to everyone.
Both parks have a toddler area. Tike’s Peak at Blizzard Beach and Ketchakiddee Creek at Typhoon Lagoon are for kids 48 inches and under.
Life vests and parking are free. Lockers and towels cost extra.
Which Disney Water Park Is Open?
Disney rotates its two water parks, so one is open while the other closes for its yearly refurbishment. That means you won’t have to choose between them: the park that’s open on your dates is your Disney water park day.
- Check before you plan: The water park hours on Disney World’s website and in the My Disney Experience app show which park is open for your dates.
- Expect long closures: Each park’s refurbishment usually lasts several months, so plan your day around the park that’s open.
- Both parks have the basics: Whichever one is open, you’ll find a toddler area, family raft rides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and big slides for older kids.
Water parks can also close on chilly days, and Disney sometimes decides the same day. Disney heats the water, but if the forecast is in the 50s or low 60s, have a backup plan. Our best time to visit Disney World guide shows typical temperatures by month.
What Each Disney Water Park Is Like
A melting ski resort theme built around Mount Gushmore, with lots of slides, including three big 48-inch thrill slides. Teamboat Springs, a long family raft ride with no height requirement, is the ride most families do more than once. There are plenty of stairs, but a chairlift carries you to the top of the mountain.
A tropical, shipwrecked-island theme with one of the biggest wave pools in the country, where waves can reach about six feet. Castaway Creek is a long, easy lazy river, and Crush ‘n’ Gusher is a water coaster for bigger kids. There’s less climbing than at Blizzard Beach, so it’s an easy, relaxing day with little kids.
Best Blizzard Beach Rides for Kids
A Frozen-themed toddler area with small slides, fountains, and a shallow pool, just for kids 48 inches and under. It’s a natural home base for families with little ones.
- Tike’s Peak (toddler splash area and mini slides)48″ and under
The in-between area for kids who have outgrown the toddler zone but aren’t ready for the big slides. Kids can try the Fahrenheit Drop T-bar, which drops them into the water, and walk across floating icebergs.
- Fahrenheit Drop T-bar60″ and under
These are the rides the whole family can do together. Teamboat Springs is a 1,400-foot raft ride for four to six people, and it’s the one most families ride more than once.
- Teamboat Springs (family raft ride)No req
- Cross Country Creek (lazy river through an ice cave)No req
- Melt-Away Bay (gentle wave pool)No req
- Toboggan Racers (8-lane mat racing slide)No req
- Snow Stormers (slalom mat slides)No req
- Runoff Rapids (tube slides)No req
Toboggan Racers is a great first “big” slide. Kids ride headfirst on a mat and race each other, so it feels exciting without the steep drops.
The big slides all need 48 inches. Summit Plummet is a 120-foot near-free-fall body slide and the most intense ride at a Disney water park. Slush Gusher is a little gentler, with two big dips that give you air time.
- Summit Plummet (speed slide)48″
- Slush Gusher (speed slide with dips)48″
- Downhill Double Dipper (side-by-side tube racing)48″
- Chairlift to the top of Mount Gushmore32″
Best Typhoon Lagoon Rides for Kids
A toddler play area with a squirting tugboat, sprays, and small slides for kids 48 inches and under. The Bay Slides, two gentle beginner slides into the edge of the surf pool, are a good next step for kids 60 inches and under.
- Ketchakiddee Creek (toddler play area)48″ and under
- Bay Slides (beginner slides)60″ and under
Miss Adventure Falls is the standout family raft ride, and it has a conveyor lift, so nobody has to carry a raft up the stairs. Castaway Creek circles the whole park and is easy to hop in and out of.
- Miss Adventure Falls (family raft ride)No req
- Castaway Creek (lazy river)No req
- Gangplank Falls (family raft ride)No req
- Keelhaul Falls and Mayday Falls (tube slides)No req
- Storm Slides (body slides)No req
The surf pool is the star of Typhoon Lagoon, with big waves every couple of minutes. Little kids usually prefer the shallow edge, since the waves knock people over farther out. Crush ‘n’ Gusher is a water coaster that pushes rafts uphill, and Humunga Kowabunga is an enclosed speed slide.
- Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool (large wave pool)No req
- Crush ‘n’ Gusher (water coaster)48″
- Humunga Kowabunga (speed slides)48″
Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon Height Requirements
Only a handful of rides at either park have a minimum height, and all of them are 48 inches. The kids’ areas have height maximums instead. Free life vests are on racks around both parks. Requirements can change, so check posted signs on the day.
| Attraction | Park | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Tike’s Peak | Blizzard Beach | 48″ and under only |
| Fahrenheit Drop T-bar | Blizzard Beach | 60″ and under only |
| Teamboat Springs | Blizzard Beach | None |
| Toboggan Racers | Blizzard Beach | None |
| Snow Stormers | Blizzard Beach | None |
| Runoff Rapids | Blizzard Beach | None |
| Chairlift | Blizzard Beach | 32″ (48″ and under ride with an adult) |
| Summit Plummet | Blizzard Beach | 48″ |
| Slush Gusher | Blizzard Beach | 48″ |
| Downhill Double Dipper | Blizzard Beach | 48″ |
| Ketchakiddee Creek | Typhoon Lagoon | 48″ and under only |
| Bay Slides | Typhoon Lagoon | 60″ and under only |
| Miss Adventure Falls | Typhoon Lagoon | None |
| Gangplank, Keelhaul, and Mayday Falls | Typhoon Lagoon | None |
| Storm Slides | Typhoon Lagoon | None |
| Crush ‘n’ Gusher | Typhoon Lagoon | 48″ |
| Humunga Kowabunga | Typhoon Lagoon | 48″ |
For a full list of ride heights across the theme parks too, see our Disney and Universal height requirements guide.
Snacks You Can Only Get at the Water Parks
Water park food is mostly burgers, flatbreads, and nachos, but each park has a few fun treats worth a stop.
- Ice Gator Cookie (Blizzard Beach): A cookie shaped like the park’s alligator mascot at Lottawatta Lodge, about $4.99. It’s cheap and kids love it.
- Mini donuts (Blizzard Beach): Joffrey’s sells warm mini donuts by the half dozen, about $5.99, which is easy to share.
- Orange Dole Whip (Blizzard Beach): The Warming Hut has sold an orange version of Dole Whip and an orange-vanilla swirl, a twist you won’t find in the theme parks.
- Bath Tub Sundae (Typhoon Lagoon): A Dole Whip sundae at the Snack Shack, served in a tub-shaped dish.
- Sand Pail Sundae (both parks): Ice cream and toppings served in a souvenir sand pail, about $18.29. It’s big enough for the whole family, and kids keep the pail.
Both parks allow you to bring your own snacks and drinks, which is the easiest way to save. Our best snacks for theme park days guide covers what travels well.
Tickets, Lockers, and Getting There
- Tickets: A one-day water park ticket usually runs about $64 to $74 for adults and $58 to $68 for kids 3 to 9, depending on the date, so check Disney’s site for your dates. If you’re buying a multi-day theme park ticket, the Water Park and Sports option adds water park visits for a flat price.
- Early Entry doesn’t apply: Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry is for the four theme parks only, so arrive at opening to grab good chairs.
- Lockers and towels: Lockers run about $10 to $15 a day, and towels are available to rent. Cabanas and umbrellas can be reserved for an extra charge.
- Parking and buses: Parking is free at both parks. Disney buses run from every resort, though most routes need a transfer: at Animal Kingdom for Blizzard Beach, and at Disney Springs for Typhoon Lagoon. Blizzard Beach has direct buses from the All-Star resorts and Coronado Springs.
What to Pack for a Disney Water Park Day
The textured concrete and hot walkways are hard on bare feet, and you’ll be in and out of the sun all day. A few things make the day much easier:
- Water shoes: Kids’ water shoes protect feet on hot pavement and textured pool floors. Bigger kids may need to take them off for some slides.
- Rash guards: A long-sleeve boys’ rash guard or girls’ rash guard means less sunscreen reapplying on arms and shoulders.
- Swim diapers: Required for kids in diapers. Pack a few extra swim diapers.
- A waterproof phone pouch: A waterproof phone pouch keeps your phone with you on the lazy river and in the wave pool.
- Quick-dry towels: A quick-dry microfiber towel for each person saves on towel rentals and packs small.
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Our full water park essentials for kids list covers everything else, including sunscreen and a dry change of clothes for the ride home.
Water park days with our boys have taught us that every kid finds their own pace. At Universal’s Volcano Bay, our 8-year-old, who says no to most roller coasters, surprised me by tagging along on slide after slide, while our 4-year-old was perfectly happy spending most of the day in a kids’ play area. The wave pool was the one place everybody wanted to be. And after our youngest got a bad toe rash from a full day barefoot on textured concrete, water shoes became a must for little kids on every water park trip.
Is a Disney Water Park Day Right for Your Trip?
Plan a Water Park Day If…
- You’re visiting when it’s warm, usually spring through fall
- Your trip is long enough for a break from the theme parks
- Your kids love splash pads, pools, or slides
- You want a slower day the whole family can enjoy together
Skip It If…
- Your trip is short and every day is a theme park day
- The forecast is cool or rainy
- Your resort pool already keeps the kids happy
- You have a short winter trip, when the water park may close for cold
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Planning on a specific water park without checking the calendar. Only one is open at a time.
- ✕Booking a water park day on a cool, cloudy day. Parks can close in cold weather, and kids get chilly fast.
- ✕Going barefoot all day. Hot, textured walkways are rough on little feet.
- ✕Arriving midday. Chairs in the shade go early, and Early Entry doesn’t apply at the water parks.
- ✕Letting little kids head into the deep end of the Typhoon Lagoon surf pool. The waves are big, so keep younger swimmers near the shore.
Whichever Disney water park is open, it makes a great family day.
Blizzard Beach brings a toddler area, a long family raft ride, a lazy river, and big slides for older kids. Typhoon Lagoon brings a huge wave pool, a family raft ride, and an easy lazy river. Either one makes a fun break from the theme parks.
Check which park is open for your dates, go on a warm day, arrive at opening, and pack water shoes for the little ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Disney rotates the two parks, so one is open while the other closes for its yearly refurbishment.
Check the water park hours on Disney World’s website or in the My Disney Experience app for your travel dates. The calendar shows which park is open and which is closed for refurbishment.
Usually one is, weather permitting. Disney heats the water, but a park can close on cold days, sometimes with little notice. Check the park hours in the My Disney Experience app the morning of.
Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher, and Downhill Double Dipper need 48 inches. Teamboat Springs, Toboggan Racers, Snow Stormers, Runoff Rapids, and the lazy river have no height requirement. Tike’s Peak is for kids 48 inches and under.
Yes. You can bring snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, but no glass containers.
It depends on your kids. A water park makes a great rest day from the theme parks on a hot day, but on a short winter trip, a theme park day usually gives you more. Our how many days at Disney World guide can help you decide.
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