|
Whether it's bobsledding down the "snowy" slopes
of Mt. Gushmore or plunging straight down Summit Plummet at up
to 55 mph, Walt Disney World guests get all the spine-chilling
thrills of a northern ski resort!
Aronda's Note: Though it may look
frightening--okay, it is frightening!--Summit Plummet
at least gets you to the bottom in a hurry. I've ridden SP
twice, and it's great. Just be sure to cross one ankle over
the other to keep the force of the water from making you
uncomfortable in places you'd rather not be uncomfortable--if
you know what I mean!
But the 66-acre Blizzard Beach water adventure park is
strictly tropical and the ice is limited to the soft drinks.
It's all part of a "zany" combination -- a water
park with the atmosphere and excitement of a major ski resort
in the midst of a tropical lagoon.
The most eye-catching attractions at Blizzard Beach can be
found on the slopes of Mt. Gushmore. As guests enter the park,
they are greeted by the busy view of "skiers"
sliding down the face of the 90-foot snow-capped mountain. It
is home to Downhill Double Dipper, the only side-by-side
racing water slides that stand 50 feet high and 200 feet long.
Guests will travel up to 25 mph, twisting and turning before
shooting out through a curtain of water. Mt. Gushmore also
features slalom courses, toboggan and water sled runs and the
awesome, 120-foot-high Summit Plummet -- the nation's tallest,
fastest free-fall speed slide, visible from almost anywhere in
the park.
From Summit Plummet's "ski jump" tower, it's a
breathtaking high-speed 55 mph plunge straight down to a
splash landing at the base of the mountain.
Next to Summit Plummet is the tall but less steep Slush
Gusher, a speed slide that drops guests through a snow-banked
mountain gully.
Mt. Gushmore's other attractions include:
- Teamboat Springs -- the world's longest family
white-water raft ride takes six-passenger rafts down a
twisting 1,200-foot series of rushing water falls.
- Toboggan Racer -- an 8-lane water slide that
sends guests racing over exhilarating dips as they descend
the "snowy" slope.
- Snow Stormers -- three flumes descending from the
top of the mountain and following a switchback course
through ski-type slalom gates.
- Runoff Rapids -- an inner tube run, where guests
can careen down three different twisting, turning flumes.
- Chair Lift -- wooden-bench chair lifts sporting
colorful overhead umbrellas and snow skis on their
underside, converted from ski-resort to beach-resort use.
These functional chairs carry guests over the craggy face
of Mt. Gushmore, from its base at the beach, to its
summit.
As legend has it, Blizzard Beach was created by a freak
winter storm which dropped snow over the western side of Walt
Disney World property and Florida's first snow-ski resort was
planned immediately. It is located just north of Disney's
All-Star Resorts.
However, the plan was short-lived. Temperatures soared and
the ice and snow rapidly began to melt. Dismayed ski-resort
operators, ready to close, spotted a playful alligator sliding
down the "liquid ice" slopes and realized the
melting snow created the tallest, fastest and most
exhilarating water-filled ski and toboggan runs in the world.
As a result, the ski resort/water adventure park was born.
It was a natural. Former ski slalom courses and bobsled and
sledding runs became downhill water slides. The chair lift
could still carry swimmers to the top of the slides. The ski
jump became the nation's tallest and fastest water slide. The
melting snow revealed welcoming beaches, a pre-teen play area
and many other activities.
The sandy beach below Mt. Gushmore offers a large wave
pool, a lazy river, two snack bars, a polar pub lodge and a
pre-teen and children's play area. Among its adventures:
- Tike's Peak -- a kid-size version of Blizzard
Beach, including scaled-down elements of Mt. Gushmore. In
addition, this area features a snow-castle fountain play
area.
- Melt-Away Bay -- a 1-acre pool, nestled against
the base of Mt. Gushmore, that is constantly fed by
"melting snow" waterfalls.
- Cross Country Creek -- a lazy creek circling the
entire park, carrying floating guests through a
bone-chilling ice cave. Once inside the mysterious cave,
guests will be splashed with the "melting" ice
from overhead.
- Blizzard Beach Ski Patrol Training Camp --
designed for pre-teens with a T-bar drop, culvert slides
and a challenging ice-flow walk along slippery, floating
icebergs. Cool Runners is the camp's twin inner tube
slide.
- Avalunch and The Warming Hut -- snack bars.
The Village at the Blizzard Beach entrance houses guest
services such as a tube pick-up area, towel rentals, lockers,
first aid, merchandise and a restaurant.
Within the Village is the Beach Haus, a specialty shop
offering souvenirs, towels, bathing suits, sunglasses and
other essentials for a day on the slopes, err, in the water.
Ski equipment and cold weather furnishings such as pot-belly
stoves are used to display merchandise.
Nearby, Lottawatta Lodge, a North American ski lodge with
Caribbean accents, stands ready to serve guests with an
appetite. The counter-service restaurant even affords diners
with a scenic view of Mt. Gushmore.
Source: Walt Disney World
Public Relations
Be sure to visit our sponsor, Mousin'
About--the only Walt Disney World Vacation Planning
System available! With six components, Mousin' About
is the only way to plan a WDW vacation! If you haven't gotten
yours yet, we'd like to invite you to take advantage of the special
discount offer for this incredible vacation planner. Click
here to find out more
about Mousin' About--and about the discount
offer!
FAST
FLUME WITH SNOW SLOPE THEME IN FLORIDA - Plunging straight
down the side of Mt. Gushmore at Disney's Blizzard Beach gives
Walt Disney World guests the spine-tingling thrills of skiing
up north.
TAKING
THE PLUNGE -- Swimmers head almost straight down Summit
Plummet at 55 mph at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park. Walt
Disney World guests can experience the spine-chilling thrills
of a northern ski resort in the middle of sunny Florida!
Blizzard Beach also offers raft rides, a wave pool and a
kiddie play area.
MELT
AWAY -- Melt-Away-Bay wave pool at Disney's Blizzard Beach
water theme park offers a relaxing chance to chill out for the
whole family. Mt. Gushmore, the 12-story-tall park icon,
and the Summit Plummet thrill slide can be seen in the
background.
'SKI
JUMP' TOWER, WATER-PARK STYLE -- Two body slides on the top of
Mt. Gushmore offer thrilling, "chilling" excitement
at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park at Walt Disney World
Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The top slide, at 120
feet high, offers a spectacular view of the Disney property
and is the world's tallest, fastest free-fall speed
slide.
TAKING
THE PLUNGE -- Swimmers head almost straight down Summit
Plummet at 55 mph at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park.
Walt Disney World guests can experience the spine-chilling
thrills of a northern ski resort in the middle of sunny
Florida! Blizzard Beach also offers raft rides, a wave
pool and a kiddie play area.
|
