There’s a new post over on WDWMagic alleging that Blizzard Beach—currently the only of the two water parks open at Disney World—has been reaching capacity recently. While it’s unclear to me whether the water park is actually turning guests away or whether it’s just the lower-capacity parking lot that’s full, I think this is a good time to acknowledge that I may be underrating one of Disney’s newest hotel perks.
Disney Hotel Guests get Water Park Access on Check-In Day
For 2025, Disney hotel guests get complimentary access to the water parks on the day they check into their hotel. My initial reaction was that this was…not a very good perk.
My reasoning was threefold. First, going to a water park is a hassle already—you need special supplies and outfits, so if you haven’t packed perfectly before arriving you’re going to have to sort through all your stuff to avail yourself of this perk. Second, it takes time to get to the water parks, and most guests aren’t checking in so early as to make the trip worth it. Third, I don’t think the water parks offer a significant advantage over your Disney hotel pool if you’re just talking about a few hours.
Am I Wrong? Or Am I Right Because I Was Wrong?
But the high demand at Blizzard Beach suggests maybe I was wrong. Overall I suspect I underrated the novelty of the water parks for most guests. They don’t typically make it into a standard 4-day itinerary, and if you get a chance to see something new-to-you at Disney World for free, why wouldn’t you take it?
Other factors are at play here, too. Temperatures are warming up. And Blizzard Beach is in the midst of a 30th Anniversary Celebration. Guests want to get the most out of their costly Disney vacation, and I don’t blame them. Maybe this really is a great way to spend arrival day.
Today, Blizzard Beach is open until 6PM. Typically, with a morning, but not too early, flight, I’d expect to be in a park by about 1PM or 2PM. That would mean 4 to 5 hours at Blizzard Beach.
If you’re going to take advantage of this perk, I’d recommend you pack your personal item or a daypack that fits in your checked luggage with the supplies you’ll need for the water park. If you’ve got a car, drive straight to the water park after you land. If not, drop your bags off at the hotel and take Disney transportation to the water park.
What’s ironic is that if you asked me last year what you could get done in 4 to 5 hours at Blizzard Beach, I’d have said “probably everything”. But if the water park is facing increased crowds, you’ll probably have some 30-minute waits sprinkled in there, at least. So while this news seems to suggest the new perk is a hit, it also suggests it’s somewhat less valuable than I expected.
That said, it’s complimentary! I’m not particularly into water parks, so I find the joys of both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon to be in taking in the theming, or just hanging out in the large pools. If you can wait in one or two long lines, you’ll check the “must do” items off your list.
Things Are About to Get a Lot Better
I’d guess the demand for Blizzard Beach played some role in the decision to open both water parks at the same time this summer—something that has happened since 2019. Blizzard Beach will remain open through April, closing on May 1. On May 1, 2025, Typhoon Lagoon will reopen. Then on May 21, 2025, Blizzard Beach will reopen. Typhoon Lagoon will remain open—the first day since 2019 that both water parks are open. Both water parks will be open from May 21 through September 7.
If it seems I was wrong about the convenience factors, then having increased capacity for the summer means taking advantage of this perk is probably worth your consideration.
One Last Thought
If you’re looking at your schedule and thinking “yea, maybe I should go to the water park on arrival day”, I’d encourage you to alternatively consider lengthening your theme park ticket. That’s not complimentary, but it might be cheaper than you think. Looking at Undercover Tourist, adding a 4th day to a 3-day ticket costs a steep $130 per person, but the marginal costs of days 5 and 6 are only about $60 and $30, respectively. These aren’t pennies, but if you’ve already got a 4 or 5-day trip planned, adding a half-day on arrival might cut down on your need for Lightning Lanes, helping to justify the cost of that extra day.
Are you visiting the water parks on arrival day?
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Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
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