The Legend of Blizzard Beach

According to Disney legend, Blizzard Beach water park was created by a meteorological phenomenon:

"One balmy day, a freak winter storm developed over the western end of the Walt Disney World Resort and covered the area with a thick blanket of powdery white snow. Before you could say 'hot cocoa,' plans were underway for Florida's first ski resort."

The ski resort was designed in a Swiss chalet style to fit with the new, snowy surroundings. From the ticket booths to the main lodge building, all the architecture has that charming look about it.

Continuing with the story: "Ski lifts were put up, toboggan runs were laid down and an entire resort area blossomed around the mountain of snow. Yet before the first skier could strap on a pair of boots and stick his poles into the snow, the temperatures returned to their normal Florida levels and the powdery snow quickly turned into slippery slush. The ski resort operators saw their dream melting down the hillside."

That's about the time someone had a brilliant idea to make the best of the whole situation: "Slalom courses, bobsled and toboggan runs became downhill waterslides. The creek of melted snow that formed at the base of the mountain became a relaxing tube ride. The chairlift carried swimmers instead of skiers. The ski jump on Mt. Gushmore became the tallest and fastest water slide in the world. The whole ski resort became known as Blizzard Beach, the most slushy, slippery, exhilarating water park anywhere!"

The real story of how Blizzard Beach came to be is just as unique.

After the opening of Typhoon Lagoon in 1989, the park became such a hit, it was filling to capacity on a daily basis and turning away hundreds of Guests. Walt Disney Imagineering was tasked with developing a concept for another Walt Disney World water park. Several different ideas were proposed, but the team kept coming back to one that many thought was a joke.

Imagineer Eric Jacobson's office was filled with a collection of little snow domes from his travels. One day, as they worked to think about new ways for Guests to beat the Florida heat, he picked up and shook one of those snow domes. "Too bad we can't make a park out of one of these," he quipped.

The seed was planted. The idea grew, and since its opening in 1996, Blizzard Beach has been one of the most popular water parks in the world.