A familiar but still significant change is about to take place at Walt Disney World Resort—and it all centers on one park finally making its return.
For months, guests visiting Disney World have had access to nearly the full lineup of parks—but not quite all of them. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park has been closed since February 14 and will remain that way for another 11 days, with reopening set for May 12, 2026.
This isn’t due to any unexpected issue. Instead, it’s part of Disney’s ongoing strategy to alternate operations between its two water parks. While Typhoon Lagoon has been offline, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park has been welcoming guests following its own refurbishment.
The approach allows Disney to maintain both parks without closing them simultaneously, but it has left some guests disappointed—especially those hoping to experience Typhoon Lagoon’s distinct atmosphere.
Known for its tropical setting and detailed backstory, the park features the iconic Miss Tilly shrimp boat atop Mount Mayday as its centerpiece. Its massive wave pool remains one of its biggest draws, producing waves that can reach up to six feet.
Disney has made it clear that the current work is routine. Permits indicate general maintenance and improvements behind the scenes, including updates to infrastructure and visual refreshes. There’s no indication of new attractions or major changes being added during this downtime.
Until Typhoon Lagoon reopens, Blizzard Beach continues as the only water park option at Walt Disney World. While it delivers thrills and a creative ski-resort theme, it doesn’t fully replicate the experience that Typhoon Lagoon fans look forward to—particularly when it comes to the wave pool.
The situation is about to shift in a big way. Starting May 12, both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach will operate at the same time throughout the summer. Disney is also offering an extra incentive for guests staying on property. From May 26 through September 8, 2026, resort guests will receive free water park entry on their check-in day.
This marks the second time Disney has implemented this dual water park schedule since the pandemic. In 2025, the company brought all six parks online together for the first time in years. “For the first time since 2019, Disney World will have all 6 of our parks—all 4 theme parks and 2 water parks—open at the same time,” Disney wrote in an official statement last April. “From May 21 through September 7, Disney World guests can enjoy the tropical shipwreck oasis of Typhoon Lagoon and the frosty fun of Blizzard Beach water park.”
That move followed years of adjusted operations after Disney World shut down in March 2020. When the parks reopened, several long-term changes were introduced, including limiting water park availability to just one at a time. The return of both water parks signals a temporary shift back to pre-2020 operations, though it may not last beyond the summer season. If 2025 is any indication, Blizzard Beach could once again close in early September.
For guests, planning remains key. Those visiting before May 12 will need to plan around Typhoon Lagoon’s absence, while summer travelers will get the chance to experience both water parks at once.
How do you feel about the flexible opening schedule for the Disney World parks? Let us know in the comments down below!
