For the first time since before the pandemic, Walt Disney World will open both its water parks this summer.
Disney is celebrating Blizzard Beach's 30th anniversary today. To mark the birthday, Disney announced that both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon will be open this summer, starting May 21.
Walt Disney World had been alternating operations at each park, leaving only one at a time open to resort visitors since Blizzard Beach reopened in 2021. Typhoon Lagoon followed the next year. This means that May 21 will mark the first day since 2019 that Walt Disney World has had all six of its gates - the four theme parks and two water parks - open at the same time.
Blizzard Beach is now open, but will close for refurbishment on May 1. Typhoon Lagoon, which is now closed, will open May 1, with Blizzard Beach coming back from its short refurb on May 21. Before the pandemic, Disney typically kept both parks open during the summer, with parks alternating closures during the fall and winter. With today's announcement, it appears that Disney is returning to that schedule.
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As a passholder, it’s really great to have the option of going to both water parks. I hope that both stay open past the summer, but I suspect that will be a matter of how the economy will hold up this year.
I love how the press release openly says "no this is not an April Fool's Day joke."
I really wonder why any business chooses to drop actual news on April 1 anymore. It's tough to break through the inherent skepticism that we all have been trained to bring to anything we see today.
This is incredible news!
Nowhere, not even in Florida - should a water park only be open during the fall/winter/spring - it’s too cold and the sun sets too early.
Being able to experience Blizzard Beach during a scorching hot July/August day again is going to be awesome!
"I really wonder why any business chooses to drop actual news on April 1 anymore."
The same goes for colleges in the process of hiring new basketball coaches, especially ones that recently announced they're having a literal Muppet as their spring commencement speaker. It's hard enough to tell what's real and what's fake on the internet as it is, and next to impossible on the first of April.
wait... april 21?! does that date sound familiar to anyone?
Well, if you mean May 21st, that's the day BEFORE Epic Universe officially opens on May 22nd. Coincidence? Maybe not.
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I wonder if this has to do more with the recent perk WDW has been offering to allow on-site guests visit the waterparks for free on their arrival day, which has subsequently increased overall demand for the waterparks as a whole. There have been rumors that Disney execs are starting to understand the value of the "Disney Bubble", particularly with Epic Universe opening. In addition to the waterpark perk for onsite guests and committing to open both waterparks through the summer months, WDW is relaunching a pseudo-Magical Express perk for some resorts that will allow guests to drop luggage at the front desk of their resort for delivery and check-in at MCO. Considering the recent comments from Disney executives, the belief is that DME may be returning in order to strengthen the allure of staying in the Disney bubble.;