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.
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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
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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 up to 65 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.
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