Disney's Blizzard Beach, Water park in Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, United States.
Disney's Blizzard Beach is a water park at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. Its centerpiece is Mount Gushmore, an artificial hill of about 90 feet divided into Green, Red and Purple slopes, with a chairlift carrying swimmers to the summit. The setting pairs tropical landscaping with simulated melting snow, alpine lodges and Caribbean colors.
The park opened on April 1, 1995, as the third water park in Walt Disney World. The design was meant to recall a suddenly melted ski resort, where snow and ice vanished under Florida heat.
The park's mascot is Ice Gator, a blue alligator who, in Disney's legend, slid down the melting mountain and splashed into the pool at its base, convincing the ski operators to keep the site. Ski-style wooden signs and a chairlift with beach umbrellas carry the joke through the grounds.
Many slides and attractions sit at the highest point, and visitors use a chairlift or stairs to reach the top. Most facilities operate in warm weather, but some may close temporarily after heavy rain.
The fastest slide, Summit Plummet, drops visitors down a 120-foot (37-meter) nearly vertical ramp, reaching speeds around 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour). Some guests hesitate at the top for a long time before they dare to let go.
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