Hotels in Disney's Blizzard Beach
Disney's Blizzard Beach is a ski-lodge-themed water park inside Walt Disney World Resort, built around the steep drop of Summit Plummet and the raft run of Teamboat Springs. Families base themselves either on Disney property near Disney's Animal Kingdom or in the independent hotel corridor around Kissimmee and Celebration, most running free shuttles to the parks.
Snow-dusted rooftops and a melting chairlift sign set the scene at Disney's Blizzard Beach, the smaller and steeper of Walt Disney World Resort's two water parks, just off Interstate 4 near Lake Buena Vista and a few minutes from Disney's Animal Kingdom. Summit Plummet, a near-vertical slide visible from the parking lot, anchors the park alongside the family-friendly wave pool Melt-Away Bay and the slow loop of Cross Country Creek for a break between runs. Because Walt Disney World rotates seasonal closures between Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon for maintenance, it is worth checking the park calendar before booking a trip built around one specific water park. On-property families lean toward villas near Animal Kingdom Lodge, next to the Winter Summerland mini-golf course, while budget-minded groups fill the Kissimmee and Celebration hotel corridor along Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, many running scheduled shuttles to the gates.
Disney's Blizzard Beach in numbers
Water Slides3 Bedroom Condo with Water Park & Fantastic Pool only Minutes To Walt Disney World's Front Gate!!!
Orlando
Water SlidesMagical Adventure Condo w Waterpark near Disney No Resort Fees
Orlando
Family SuitesPet friendly in Orlando area near Disney and ESPN Center
Celebration
Family Suitesette luxury hotel & spa - Near Disney Theme Parks
Orlando
Family Suites1Bed/1Bath Pet Friendly Condo at the Melia
Celebration
Heated PoolsDisney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
Bay Lake
Family SuitesPet Friendly in Orlando area near Disney
Celebration
Family SuitesGrand Lake Resort
Lake Wilson, Kissimmee
Family SuitesJW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
Bonnet Creek
Park Access IncludedMeliá Orlando Celebration
Celebration
Family SuitesGalleria Palms Orlando - Free Theme Park Shuttles
Kissimmee
LuxuryQuality Inn & Suites By the Parks
Lake Buena Vista
Family SuitesRamada by Wyndham Kissimmee Gateway - Free Theme Park Shuttle
Kissimmee
Spa & WellnessNobile Hotel Parkway at Celebration Orlando Very Close to Disney Theme Parks
Celebration
Kids' Splash Zonevoco Kissimmee Orlando by IHG
Kissimmee
Family SuitesQuality Inn & Suites Kissimmee near Main Gate
Kissimmee
Kids' Splash ZoneThe Adventure Hotel by the Parks
Lake Buena Vista
What to expect
- The near-vertical Summit Plummet slide
- The Melt-Away Bay wave pool for younger kids
- The Cross Country Creek lazy river loop
- A few minutes from Disney's Animal Kingdom off Lake Buena Vista
- The Winter Summerland mini-golf course next door
- The shuttle hotel corridor of Kissimmee on Irlo Bronson Highway
Local tips
- ✓Book a hotel with a heated or indoor pool if you are visiting outside peak summer, since Central Florida can turn cool and grey for a water park day.
- ✓Pick a Kissimmee or Celebration hotel with a scheduled park shuttle if you would rather not drive Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway traffic every morning.
- ✓Basing near Disney's Animal Kingdom cuts the drive to both the water park and the safari park to a few minutes.
- ✓Reserve well ahead of Florida's spring break and summer school-holiday weeks, when the Kissimmee hotel corridor fills fast and rates climb.
- ✓Rent a car if you are staying off Disney property in Kissimmee or Celebration and your hotel does not run a scheduled shuttle, since Disney's internal bus and monorail network does not extend to independent hotels along Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway.
- ✓Check Walt Disney World's park calendar before booking a trip built solely around Blizzard Beach, since Disney's two water parks close in rotation for scheduled maintenance and either one can be shut for part of a given season.
FAQ
Which hotels are closest to Disney's Blizzard Beach?
Disney-owned villas near Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge sit only a few kilometres away, while independent hotels along Kissimmee's Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway are a short shuttle or drive from the gates.
Do hotels near Disney's Blizzard Beach include park shuttles?
Several Kissimmee and Celebration properties run free scheduled shuttles to Walt Disney World and other area parks, so check each hotel's shuttle schedule before booking a rental car.
Is it worth staying near Disney's Animal Kingdom for a Blizzard Beach trip?
Basing near Disney's Animal Kingdom shortens the drive to both that park and the water park, which suits families splitting a stay between safari mornings and slide afternoons.
What is Disney's Blizzard Beach's theme?
The park is built around a ski-lodge storyline with a melting-snow theme, anchored by the Summit Plummet speed slide and the Cross Country Creek lazy river.
Do I need a rental car to visit Disney's Blizzard Beach?
Not if you stay on Disney property or at a Kissimmee hotel with a scheduled shuttle, but independent hotels without shuttle service need a car or rideshare, since Disney's internal transport network only covers Disney-owned resorts.
Is Disney's Blizzard Beach open year-round?
It operates most of the year, but Walt Disney World's two water parks close in rotation for maintenance, so it is worth checking the park calendar before locking in dates around a specific water park.