By: Patti Jewel, Orlando Local & Professional Splash Enthusiast
Blizzard Beach, Disney’s “ski resort gone tropical” water park where the slides are icy-themed, but the sun is definitely Florida-level brutal. As someone who’s spent more summer days here than I’d like to admit (blame my kids, and my own inner child), I’ve got the ultimate survival guide for making the most of your day, from which slides to hit first to where to find the best frozen drinks.
And bonus, as a single mom who often went to the water parks as a single adult with my 4 kids, I am sharing my tips for solo adults with multiple children.
First Rule of Blizzard Beach: Get There EARLY
Doors open at 10 AM, but locals know the real move is arriving by 9:30 AM. Why? Because Summit Plummet, the park’s infamous 120-foot, near-vertical drop slide, gets a 45+ minute wait by lunchtime. When the doors open, you will see all the teens and young adults sprinting there first (okay, speed-walked—no running, Disney lifeguards are serious), to ride it (often twice) before the line gets crazy.
Local Tip: Slush Gusher (a slightly tamer but still wild speed slide) is right next door. Hit that next, or first, if you are not into the plummet. You can also hit the nearby Storm slides if you want to warm up before hitting the bigger ones.
Local Hack: Claim some shaded beach chairs as soon as you get in the gate. You can do this along the way to the summit rather than spend money on a patio or umbrella. The spots in the tree shaded areas go fast and I can assure you, you will regret not having shade later.
Solo Mom Tip: My 2 older kids would rush off to the thrill rides while I took the other 2 and grabbed a shady spot and headed to the kids splash zone. This let the older kids explore the thrills while the younger ones got some active play time. And because the toddler spot in Blizzard Beach doesn’t allow taller kids, it was a win-win.
Slide Strategy: From Thrills to Chills
For those who like the fastest and biggest thrillers, start with Summit Plummet, the OMG “I-regret-this-immediately” slide—a 120-foot free-fall that’ll make your stomach tap out and yes, give you a wedgie! But super thrilling!
If that is a bit too intense but you still want the thrill of a wild ride, start with or go to next, Slush Gusher, a slightly less terrifying speed slide that lets you keep some dignity. You actually get to breathe during this 90-foot double-hump slide. Local tip: Cross your ankles to go faster!
Next hit nearby Toboggan Racers, an 8-lane mat slide where you can race your family. (Spoiler: Your kids will probably smoke you) and Snow Stormers, fun but less intense body slides. These Storm slides are also a great start in the day to warm up for the larger rides.
For my family, we personally love the family slides and the more mild ones. We’d hit Slush Gusher first, then Teamboat Springs (the longest family raft ride) which is my personal favorite! It was the one I could do with all 4 of my kids sharing the tube with me. My kids have always been big fans of Runoff Rapids. They could ride this all day (and sometimes did) in between going to the wave pool and playing in the splash zone. Downhill Double Dipper is another favorite that doubles the thrill with the challenge of a race.
Local Tip: Many of the slides have height restrictions, so check those before you go so your kids know which slides they can do. The chair lift also has a height requirement, so don’t plan on riding that if your child is under 32″.
Solo Mom Tip: After the morning thrills for the older 2 and the toddler play time for the younger ones, we’d meet up at Teamboat Springs, then head to Runoff Rapids where the older ones could take the younger ones up and I’d always be waiting for them at the bottom of the slide.
Slide Details
Summit Plummet
The Vibe: A 120-foot, near-vertical free-fall slide that feels like jumping off a skyscraper.
✔ Tallest & Fastest in Disney World (120 ft tall, 55 mph)
✔ Open-air drop—you see exactly how high you are (terrifying)
✔ Single-rider only (no moral support allowed)
✔ Smooth but BRUTAL landing (expect a big splash)
✔ Best For: True thrill-seekers who want pure, unfiltered terror.
✔ Fear Factor: 10/10 – that feeling of OMG “I-regret-this-immediately” slide
Local Tip: Wear secure swimwear (trust me) and keep limbs crossed
Slush Gusher
✔ Height: 90ft double-hump slide
✔ Speed: Hits 35mph on second drop
✔ Experience: Weightless airtime on both hills
✔ Wait Time: Moderate (usually 20-40 mins)
✔ Best For: Adrenaline junkies who love airtime
✔ Fear Factor: 8/10 – That second drop surprises everyone
Local Tip: Sit upright for maximum air
Snow Stormers
✔ Height: 3 different twisting slides
✔ Speed: Moderate (about 25mph)
✔ Experience: Banked turns like a bobsled course
✔ Wait Time: Short (often walk-on)
✔ Best For: Thrill-seekers who hate lines
✔ Fear Factor: 5/10 – More fun than scary
Local Tip: Middle slide (Runoff Rapids) is wildest
Downhill Double Dipper
✔ Type: Side-by-side inner tube racer ride with 50ft drops
✔ Vibe: Water drag race with timer bragging rights
✔ Thrill Level: 7/10 (that first drop gets everyone)
✔ Best For: Competitive duos
✔ Wait Time: 20-40 mins (shorter early/late)
✔ Unique Feature: Only Disney slide with finish line timers
✔ Fear Factor: 5/10 (visual drop amps the nerves)
✔ Splash Zone: Heavy (prepare for a wall of water)
✔ Body Position: Sitting upright in single tubes
Local Tip: Left lane historically runs 0.3 sec faster (shhhh, don’t tell your friends!)
Teamboat Springs
The Vibe: A “melting ski resort” themed raft ride where your tube zips down a snowy mountain (in theory… this is Florida, so it’s really just chlorinated fun).
✔ Fits up to 6 people (best for big groups!)
✔ Longest family raft ride in Disney World (over 1,400 feet!)
✔ Gentler drops—more “woohoo!” than “OH NO”
✔ Shorter wait times than Miss Adventure Falls (thanks to high capacity)
✔ Best For: Mixed-age families, groups who want to chill together, or anyone who loves long, winding slides.
Local Tip: The front of the raft gets the best view (and least spinning).
Toboggan Racers
✔ Type: 8-lane headfirst mat racing where elbows get competitive as you go head first on your belly
✔ Vibe: Olympic bobsled course meets water slide
✔ Thrill Level: 6/10 (speed + competition = adrenaline)
✔ Best For: Groups of 2-8 wanting to race
✔ Wait Time: 15-30 mins (moves fast with multiple lanes)
✔ Unique Feature: Only head first on your belly slide
✔ Fear Factor: 4/10 (more fun than scary)
✔ Splash Zone: Moderate (face splashes guaranteed)
✔ Body Position: Belly-down, headfirst (like a superhero)
Local Tip: Use the red mats – they seem fastest!
Runoff Rapids
✔ Type: Triple-path inner tube ride
✔ Vibe: “Melting ski resort” with icy waterfalls
✔ Thrill Level: 5/10 (gentle but fun twists)
✔ Best For: Groups wanting to race each other, kids and adults of all ages, and those seeking more simple fun
✔ Wait Time: 15-30 mins (purple slide is fastest)
✔ Unique Feature: Three different slide experiences
✔ Fear Factor: 3/10 (great for nervous riders)
✔ Splash Zone: Moderate (you’ll get sprayed)
Local Tip: The purple slide has the best drops!
Thrill Seekers Must-Do Slides
✔ Summit Plummet (obviously)
✔ Slush Gusher (super exciting)
✔ Downhill Double Dipper (side-by-side racing with timers—trash talk encouraged)
✔ Snow Stormers (twisty body slides with zero wait time mid-day)
Best Slides for Everyone Else
✔ Runoff Rapids (three different inner tube paths, great for kids, but I love this too!)
✔ Teamboat Springs (the longest family raft ride, my personal #1)
✔ Toboggan Racers (the only head first on your belly slide- Love it!)
Beyond the Slides
Cross Country Creek, the lazy river that loops the entire park, features shady spots and even a sneaky ice cave waterfall (refreshing at first, freezing if you’re not ready). I could spend my whole day here.
Solo Mom Tip: with multiple kids, it can be difficult to keep track of all of them in the lazy river. I never worried because my kids are great swimmers and there are lifeguards all around the river. But if you are traveling to the water park alone with multiple kids who are not great swimmers, pick up a free life jacket for them. Disney does specify that children under 7 must be accompanied at all times by someone 14 or older, so if you have teens and younger kids, be sure to partner them up!
Melt-Away Bay, the 1 acre heated wave pool where you can float on an inner tube or just play on the shore and catch some waves. This is a favorite spot for almost everyone (except me!) I personally enjoy the lazy river more, and the waves are so mellow that it is really just like a crowded swimming pool. I guess being a Floridian with a pool, this just wasn’t very exciting for my family. But so many people love just hanging out in it, and honestly, in the summer heat, hanging out in the water anywhere is lovely.
Tike’s Peak, the kiddie zone with mini slides that is built for toddlers. Note: if you have children of various ages, the older kids, if they are taller than 48″, are not allowed to play in this area, even if they are playing with their younger sibling. My kids have always been very tall for their ages, so they could get on the bigger rides at a younger age, but couldn’t get into the younger zones.
Chair Lift is a super cool add-on to this water park’s theme, afterall, you can’t have a ski resort without chair lifts! It takes you to the summit of Mount Gushmore which is where you will find Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher, and Teamboat Springs. Remember, small children are not permitted.
Food & Drinks: What To Eat (And What’s Worth It)
Hitting these slopes in Florida’s hot sun works up an appetite. Try Avalunch (get it?) for loaded nachos and chicken tenders (yep, classic Disney park food), but solid. Lottawatta Lodge is the main spot for actual meals (think BBQ sandwiches and salads). Here’s a couple fun suggestions to try:
Mini Donuts (from I.C. Expeditions) – Warm, sugary, and dangerously addictive.
Frozen Piña Colada (from Polar Pub) – The adult version comes spiked with rum, and yes, it’s worth every sip.
Local Hack: Mobile order your food before you’re hungry, lines get long at peak lunchtime (12-2 PM).
Solo Mom Tip: If you have children who are old enough to go off in pairs, send 2 of them to get a table while you wait in line unless you plan to take it back to your lounge chair.
Cabanas & Chill Time
If you’re going with a group (or just want VIP treatment), renting a Polar Patio is a game-changer. I recommend one near Melt-Away Bay (the wave pool), which comes with:
✔ Private seating & shade (a lifesaver in Florida heat)
✔ A cooler with waters (free refills!)
✔ Dedicated server for food/drinks (no leaving your lounge chair—win!)
Is it worth it? 100% if you have the extra money, especially if you have young kids who need nap breaks, or just want a nice spot for the gang. It is expensive, but if you have a group, you can split it. If you have kids, it will make your day much more enjoyable and relaxing.
Local Tip: If you’d rather spend your money on good food, drinks and merchandise, or just on a budget and can’t fathom spending that much on a cabana, you can find really great lounge chairs in the shady spots if you get there early and put your stuff down to claim them. Make sure you put enough stuff on the chairs, I had just a pair of shoes on a chair once and when I came back, my shoes were in the sand and the chair was moved (somewhere).
So put down your towels and extra clothes, maybe leave your beach bag with sunscreen and extra towels, but don’t leave anything valuable. I have never had anything taken or stolen (other than the chair I claimed!), but then I have never left anything that was too appealing.
Solo Mom Tip: Most of us solo parents do not have the money to spend on a patio cabana or umbrella, particularly us locals who go often, so it’s important to grab your chairs early when you get to the park. It’s a great way to have a meet up spot for the older kids where they can grab a towel, re-sunscreen, and relax.
Best of the Day
Hands down, Teamboat Springs is a local favorite. It’s the longest family raft ride in the park, the drops are fun but not scary, and since it fits up to 6 people, it is the perfect way to start and end the day together.
Close second? Drinking a Frozen Rum Runner while floating in Melt-Away Bay.
Final Tips from a Local in the Know
✅ Bring water shoes—the concrete gets burning HOT and if you don’t have shoes, you will wish you did.
✅ Make sure everyone in your group has a waterproof phone case and secure strap—most important if you are splitting up to keep in touch on line times and meetup times and spots.
✅ Hit Summit Plummet (and other slides in that area) FIRST (or you’ll regret it later).
✅ Mobile order food to skip lines.
✅ Stay until closing—crowds thin out, and slides have no waits!
✅ Don’t forget the sunscreen—trust me, you don’t want to learn the hard way!
✅ Stay Hydrated—water park does not mean your body doesn’t need water internally!
Solo Mom Tip: If you are not an early bird like me, or you have younger kids, consider going to the park later after lunch around 1 or 2pm. This is when everyone who got there at opening are getting tired and taking breaks from the slides and getting food or heading to the lazy river or wave pool. And many people leave an hour or two before closing so the crowds start to dissipate and the lines get shorter. Not always true in the summer months, though storms can send people packing leaving the park less crowded for those who weather the storm.
