5 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

The holiday celebrations this year at Walt Disney World extend to the recently reopened Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Learn more about the offerings, including the most unique Santa greeting available at Walt Disney World!

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Sarah Harris:

It’s time to deck the palms and celebrate the ski-son as holiday festivities make their way to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park! And today, we’re sharing a special look at some of the experiences you won’t want to miss, including meet and greets with Santa in his tropical best, festive floating in the sun, unique treats and more.

The recently reopened winter-themed water wonderland at Walt Disney World Resort has plenty of adventures to enjoy in the Florida sun with water attractions for guests of all ages – and there’s no better time than now to enjoy it all!

So, trade your ugly sweaters for swimsuits as we’re sharing some of the most popular ways to celebrate the holidays at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park:

1 – Meet & Greet with Santa at Blizzard Beach

Although it’s his busiest time of the year, Santa Claus is making special appearances at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, dressed in his tropical best, to send warm holiday wishes to all guests. To say hello, stop by Sonny’s Sleds (near the park’s main entrance) from park open – 12:30pm each day through Dec. 24, 2023.

2 – Delicious Seasonal Treats

Feel the holiday cheer with limited-time food & beverage offerings such as the Peppermint Milkshake, available at Lottawatta Lodge.

3 – Festive Floating Down Castaway Creek

What better way to take a break from the stress of the holidays than with a relaxing float down Castaway Creek in a festive tube? Venture down a scenic lazy river on a holiday-themed tube while passing through mysterious caves and illuminated grottos and dipping your toes into Mount Gushmore’s refreshing (and heated) spring water.

4 – Gingerbread Cookie Decorating

We’re “baking” spirits bright with both a fun activity and a tasty treat rolled into one. Guests can pick-up a Gingerbread Cookie Decorating kit, available at Lottawatta Lodge for $10.99, and it includes two cookies, icing sprinkles and decorations, perfect for making your own festive snack.

5 – Holiday Scavenger Hunt

For a little festive family fun, get to know Blizzard Beach together with a holiday-themed scavenger hunt. With two maps available, one through Tike’s Peak and one through the Ski Patrol Training Camp, stop by the Lost Children Hut to pick-up yours up. Scavenger hunt maps are available Friday-Sundays now through Dec. 21 and everyday Dec. 22-31, 2023.

For even more merriment, checkout the new Disney Water Park Seasonal Pass. This new pass allows guests to visit Disney Water Parks again and again now through May 24, 2024, for just $79 plus tax. A perfect holiday gift for waves of fun during the months to come!

Ready to enjoy the holidays with a tropical twist? Let us know what you’re most excited to enjoy over on our new Instagram channel, @DisneyWaterParks!

RELATED ARTICLE: 10 Reasons We Love Disney’s Blizzard Beach

by Lori

In addition to the four theme parks, Disney also has two waterparks. Blizzard Beach is the waterpark for you if you’re looking to cool off while spending time in the hot Florida sun. Here are ten reasons why we love Blizzard Beach.

10 – The Theming

The story goes that Blizzard Beach was once Florida’s first-ever ski resort, which quickly melted, leaving behind a water park! You’re surrounded by snow and ice everywhere you look, yet you’re in a sunny outdoor waterpark! Even though you’re standing in the park in your swimming suit, it’s difficult not to feel like you’re on a snowy mountain; that’s how immersive the theming is here!

9 – The Chairlift

A ski resort wouldn’t be a ski resort without a chairlift to take guests up the side of the mountain, and Blizzard Beach is no exception. This smooth, relaxing ride in the shade of a colorful umbrella is the perfect and most fun way to get to several attractions at Blizzard Beach, like Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher, and Teamboat Springs. Why walk upstairs when you can hop on a chairlift and take in the beautiful and expansive view of Blizzard Beach?

8 – Cross Country Creek

The Cross Country Creek is the lazy river of Blizzard Beach. This attraction is 3,000 feet long, flows around the entire park, and has seven spots to enter and exit the creek. If a little relaxation is what you need, grab an inner tube and just float along under waterfalls, drift through a grotto, and polar caves too. There are some fun things to see, like the home of the park’s mascot, Ice Gator, who seems to be home due to a cold. Watch out for his sneezes!

7 – Half Day or Full Day Park

Blizzard Beach is an easy place to spend the entire day or even just half of your day. If you only want to spend half your day here, arrive at opening and hit all the slides and attractions, and you should be able to experience most of what the park has to offer. If you plan on spending the whole day at the park with a group, you can rent a Polar Patio, which will give you a private deck complete with a locker, cooler, and towels. Shade Shack and Lodge Umbrella rentals are also available. These rentals give you a place to hang out with your group, and relax in the shade and take your time enjoying the waterpark.

6 – Mini Donuts

A little shack at Blizzard Beach sells a snack unique to this park, and that snack is mini donuts! The donuts can be purchased by the dozen or half dozen, and there are also options for dipping sauces (chocolate, raspberry and white chocolate). These delicious and cute mini donuts are the perfect snack to share or keep all to yourself!

5 – Snow Stormers

Snow Stormers has three slides for guests to zoom down.  Guests ride on their bellies on a toboggan-like mat down a snowy mountain. The theming of Snow Stormers is that of a downhill ski race, with colorful gates along the course and with three waterslides you can race your friends and see who makes it to the bottom first. So grab a toboggan mat and zip down the speedy and twisty slides of Snow Stormers.

4 – Runoff Rapids

Runoff Rapids are three thrilling and different inner tube waterslides propelled by the runoff water from Mount Gushmore. Make sure you try each slide to experience the different twists and turns of each. If you venture down the center slide, you’ll find yourself in a completely enclosed slide with only little bits of sunlight making their way through as you slide down the flume. Try all three slides of Runoff Rapids before picking your favorite!

3 – Slush Gusher

If you want speed in a waterslide, that is what you’ll get with the 90-foot-long, high-speed slide that is the Slush Gusher. The Slush Gusher is nestled right into the side of Mount Gushmore, creating what feels like a slide in the midst of a high snow bank. This slide features two hills that might even make you air born on the way down! Slush Gusher is definitely for thrill-seeking guests.

2 – For the Whole Family

Like most things Disney, Blizzard Beach is the perfect place for families. Teamboat Springs is a must-do attraction for families. The rafts are made for 4-6 people, so you can go whitewater rafting with the whole family. The Ski Patrol Training Camp is a water activity area for kids and preteens, featuring the Thin Ice Training Course, slides, and even a zip line. Whether you want to relax or find some thrills, Blizzard Beach has options for the whole family and many attractions you can experience together.

1 – Summit Plummet

Summit Plummet is hard to miss at Blizzard Beach. It’s the ski jump at the top of Mount Gushmore. It’s the waterslide that sends guests down a 120-foot slope (that’s 12 stories!) at extremely high speeds. Summit Plummet is one of the world’s fastest, tallest free-fall body waterslides. If you’re seeking thrills, this is the slide for you. And don’t forget to check out the beautiful view from the top of the slide before you plummet down the mountain, and then celebrate that you made it!