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Blizzard Beach
| Review: | Blizzard Beach is a fantastic water park that combines some clever theming with some fun slides and attractions. The concept of the park is that one day a freak snowstorm dumped a large amount of snow in the middle of Central Florida. The smart entrepreneurs of the area quickly seized on the idea of a ski resort, but before they could finish construction the snow quickly melted under the Floridian sun. Faced with the entire infrastructure already placed, the ski resort became a water park. The storyline is very cute, but it does lead to some problems. For one, the large amount of "snow" around reflects the sunlight quite brutally and can make the park quite hot. Another is that there is not the same amount of landscaping found at Typhoon Lagoon, which also can be problematic when looking for shade. Overall though, the theming creates a clever cold/hot paradox that is very unique. It is nice to see a water park that does not recreate a tropical paradise yet again. The entrance of the park has a Swiss chalet feel about it, and there even is background polka music to set the mood. Upon entering the first thing many guests notice is just how large the park is in comparison to other water parks. At over 66 acres, Blizzard Beach is one of the biggest water parks in the country. Visiting a Walt Disney World water park is quite different than the theme parks. Water parks in general are a more active experience as you'll find yourself swimming or walking constantly throughout the day. You'll want to consider wearing surf shoes as many of the walkways can become very hot making it uncomfortable for bare feet. Obviously you'll want to douse on the sunblock, with careful attention to reapply as chlorine only worsens your skin against UV radiation. The layout of the park is quite simple as most of the big attractions start from Mount Gushmore, the centerpiece of the park. Be prepared for a lot of steps as nearly all of the slides require walking up five flights of steps or more. In a move that makes touring the park easier for the guests, Disney cleverly uses the lazy river as a transportation device. Along the lazy river (named Cross Country Creek) guests can exit and enter at different points which enable you to float your way across the park. It's a great feature that all guests should take advantage. The collection of slides offered at Blizzard Beach is quite extensive and covers various levels of intensity. Run-off Rapids is a trio of tubular slides where guests ride on inner tubes down a twisting and turning course. The most popular of the three is the middle slide which is completely enclosed creating near pitch black conditions. Downhill Double Dipper is a pair of racing 50ft tall double humped slides. There is even a clock that registers your time once you've reached the bottom. On Snow Stormers, guests slide down on mats through a slalom like course through ski gates and past pine trees. Guests also use mats on the eight lane Toboggan Racers, which is great for competitive races between family members. Three of the slides on Mount Gushmore are also accessible through a ski-lift: Summit Plummet, Teamboat Springs and Slush Gusher. While this is a great way to avoid the stairs, the lines for the ski-lift can get quite long so it's rarely the fastest option. Summit Plummet is the centerpiece of the park and is reportedly the tallest water slide in America at 120 feet tall. Depending on your body type and weight distribution, sliders can reach speeds of over 68 m.p.h. Certainly the trip isn't for everyone and many guests look down the slide and decide to "chicken out." Unfortunately, this also means the line can move slowly as guests wait for a slider to decide whether or not to take the plunge. If you're not sure about Summit Plummet, you might want to try the Slush Gusher first. The Slush Gusher (not to be confused with Crush 'n Gusher found at Typhoon Lagoon) is one of the tallest double humped body slides in the world. The humped aspect of the slide creates a thrilling effect as the slider lifts up off the slide for a brief moment when reaching the second drop and experiences "air time." Teamboat Springs is a family friendly slide that uses giant rafts that seat up to six people. The ride is fairly gentle and suitable for most ages. Beyond the big slides there is also the large Melt Away Bay wave pool, and the Cross Country Creek lazy river. Melt Away Bay's wave actions are the small waves very similar to what you would find at local water parks. Those looking for huge ocean surf waves like those found at Typhoon Lagoon might be disappointed. The children's areas at Blizzard Beach are top notch and feature loads of activities for youngsters. Tike's Peak is designed for children under 48 inches tall and features miniaturized versions of many of the Blizzard Beach attractions. The Ski Patrol Training Camp is designed for preteens and includes slides and obstacle courses. There is also a T-bar rope drop that launches kids into the water. On a safety note, the water used for the plunge is over eight feet deep so you may want to consider obtaining a life jacket. Life jackets are free, but Cast Members will ask for a driver's license to insure you will return them. Unfortunately, much like most water parks the food at Blizzard Beach is overpriced and mediocre. I would strongly recommend to eat a big breakfast before arriving and snack my through the park, saving a full meal until after you leave. The Disney difference is not as apparent in the water parks as in the theme parks, as many of the basic design flaws found in local water parks are still found here: too many steps, not enough shade, mediocre food etc. However, the park still contains some great themes including the beautiful Mount Gushmore centerpiece. It's especially nice for those afraid of heights as you don't have to stand open steel staircases 100 feet of the ground like other parks. The price difference is also much less extreme than the usual Disney premium. At $39 dollars an adult, it's only about $7 dollars more than what many water parks charge. I think that for that difference in price, Blizzard Beach is a huge improvement. This review is provided by OrlandoVacation.com
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