Blizzard Beach is closing once again. Walt Disney World Resort has confirmed that its snow-covered water park will shut its gates on April 30, with Typhoon Lagoon set to reopen the following day.
For Disney’s water park fans, this seasonal shuffle has become the norm. Once a two-park operation, Disney’s water park lineup has functioned on a rotating schedule since 2020, leaving one park closed for extended periods while the other remains open.
With Blizzard Beach marking its 30th anniversary this year, Disney extended its operations later than usual. The park, which typically shutters in March for the season, will instead remain open through April, giving guests an extra month to take on Summit Plummet, Teamboat Springs, and the family-friendly Cross Country Creek before the resort makes its annual switch.
A Water Park Strategy That’s Here to Stay
Before 2020, Disney’s two water parks—Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon—operated simultaneously for most of the year, offering guests two dramatically different themed aquatic experiences. Blizzard Beach, with its whimsical “melting ski resort” aesthetic, brought high-speed thrills, while Typhoon Lagoon offered a tropical oasis complete with a massive wave pool.
That changed after the parks reopened post-COVID. Instead of keeping both locations open, Disney opted for a rotating schedule, closing one park while the other operated.
The decision, largely seen as a move to reduce maintenance costs and staffing needs, has frustrated some fans who had once enjoyed the flexibility of park-hopping between water parks. The staggered openings mean guests visiting in certain months will only have access to one location at a time, limiting their options—especially in peak summer months when demand is at its highest.
With Blizzard Beach now set to close, questions linger about whether Disney will ever return to simultaneous water park operations. Given that the alternating schedule has been in place for five years and shows no signs of changing, it seems unlikely.
A Milestone Anniversary Before the Final Splash
Blizzard Beach isn’t going quietly. Before closing at the end of April, the park is rolling out 30th-anniversary celebrations, with seasonal offerings designed to highlight its unique theme.
Guests visiting in April will find a DJ dance party near the Polar Pub, appearances from Mickey and Minnie in their winter attire, and even snowman bowling—a nod to the park’s one-of-a-kind frosty aesthetic in the heart of Central Florida.
The extended spring operations come as a welcome surprise, particularly after a winter that saw Blizzard Beach close numerous times due to cold snaps across Florida. With extra weeks now tacked onto the season, visitors who missed out earlier this year will have another chance to experience the park before it goes into hibernation.
When Will Blizzard Beach Reopen?
If Disney follows its usual schedule, Blizzard Beach will likely remain closed through the summer and reopen in November, when the seasonal switch happens once again.
However, with this year’s extended timeline, it remains unclear whether the later closure will impact that return date. Disney has yet to confirm a specific reopening timeframe.
For now, guests have two more months to soak up Blizzard Beach’s wintry charm before the park hands the reins back to Typhoon Lagoon.
Would you rather see both Disney World water parks open at the same time, or are you fine with the rotating schedule?
We are arriving November 4th and would really like to go Typhoon Lagoon. I understand only operating 1 water park at a time is great but fir me Typhoon Lagoon is the better water park
Gutted we arrive 27th March for 14 days and were hoping to experience both water parks. Typhoon lagoon is our favourite. I hope blizzard beach won’t be over crowded. Tickets are expensive and not open both is disappointing. Surely they are making enough money on lightening lanes to justify running both parks.
We go around august time each year from the uk as have to go in holiday times and where we can go for 3 weeks so it’s very disappointing that we cannot go to blizzard Beach I wish they would would maybe open up the water parks at different times a year so for instance just swop the opening times each year for the water parks so we can experience once again blizzard beach in august
I don’t mind it only being one water park a time but just swop around the opening times so if you go in the summer months we can see a different water park every time
We’re flying from the Uk in April and I’m gutted both water parks won’t be open, as it’s probably the last time I’ll be able to afford to go to Disney with my son. Surely it’s not about money as it’s a billion dollar franchise. OPEN BOTH!! It’s like 10K for myself my son and mother to go so we should be able to experience the whole of what Disney has to offer.