The end of summer is always a transition at Walt Disney World. As the high season winds down, crowds thin, operating hours shift, and seasonal schedules quietly begin to take shape. For regular visitors, it is the moment when the magic can feel a little different. This year, that seasonal shuffle is most obvious in its water parks.
For decades, Disney World’s two water parks – Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach – have given guests relief from Florida’s sweltering heat. With twisting slides, sprawling wave pools, and elaborate theming, they have been staples of the resort’s lineup, even if they often existed a little in the shadow of the four main theme parks. But the balance between them has shifted significantly in recent years.
The post-pandemic period has reshaped the “Disney Bubble” in multiple ways. Once-standard perks like free airport shuttles, FastPasses, and evening Extra Magic Hours for all Disney resort guests have disappeared. At the same time, operating schedules have grown shorter, leaving some guests frustrated by earlier closures, particularly at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The water parks, too, became part of this wider recalibration.
From Year-Round Fun to Rotating Closures
Before COVID-19, it was possible to spend the morning plunging down Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach, then hop to Typhoon Lagoon to tackle Crush ‘n’ Gusher later that afternoon. Disney kept both parks running simultaneously, offering guests a full menu of options. That freedom ended once the parks reopened from lockdown.
Instead, Disney adopted an alternating schedule: Typhoon Lagoon in the warmer months, Blizzard Beach in the cooler ones. It was a compromise that made sense on paper, but in practice, left many visitors disappointed. Blizzard Beach’s “winter-only” operations were plagued by unpredictable cold snaps and weather-related shutdowns, undermining the park’s appeal.
Earlier this year, Disney surprised fans by breaking from that model. On May 21, the company reopened both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach at the same time, creating a rare six-park summer season across Walt Disney World. The move was welcomed, easing crowds and offering families more ways to escape the record-setting Orlando heat (even if it’s been so hot that the ground actually burns at the water parks some days this summer).
Blizzard Beach Faces Another Closure
The dual-park era, however, is already ending. Disney confirmed that Blizzard Beach will close again after September 7, 2025. The park’s reopening date has not been announced, though in past years it has returned in early November for the winter season. Whether that timeline still applies remains uncertain.
Some Disney fans have argued that both water parks should remain closed in the coldest months, with refurbishments concentrated during that time.
Others have floated more radical ideas, including retheming Blizzard Beach entirely. A Frozen-inspired overhaul is often mentioned, fitting the snowy aesthetic of the park’s design. Yet with major projects already underway – including attractions tied to Encanto, Monsters, Inc., Cars, and Indiana Jones – few expect Disney to divert resources toward a complete water park reinvention in the near future.
For now, the return of a one-park rotation seems inevitable. Guests who managed to visit both water parks during the short-lived overlap may feel lucky. Everyone else is left waiting to see how Disney’s evolving water park strategy plays out.
Do you think Disney should close its water parks in the winter?
