Walt Disney World has introduced that Storm Lagoon Water Park will reopen later in Spring 2024 following its routine winter closure for refurbishment. This submit covers what to anticipate from the return, together with the probability of Blizzard Seashore additionally being open this summer time and return of H2O Glow After Hours.
With this announcement, Walt Disney World has revealed that Storm Lagoon will reopen to friends on March 17, 2024. That’s inside a pair days of when it reopened final yr. Notably, it’s additionally the beginning of spring break at Walt Disney World, which suggests one factor: crowds.
Each Osceola and Orange County, Florida are scheduled to have their Spring Breaks March 15-24, 2024. That alone will make that week-plus fairly busy–there’s a cause this made the worst facet of our Record of the ten Finest & 10 Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2024 & 2025.
The dangerous information is that each water parks is not going to function concurrently for Spring Break 2024. Walt Disney World is constant its post-pandemic follow of solely working one of many two water parks at a time. Consequently, Blizzard Seashore will stay open now via March 16, 2024–and can shut for refurbishment starting March 17, 2024.
Disappointing as that is perhaps, it’s not an enormous shock. Final fall, Walt Disney World launched the brand new Disney Water Park Seasonal Cross. This not-annual go permits friends to go to Disney Water Parks time and again now via Might 24, 2024 for $79 plus tax. The seasonal go has no block out dates and no reservations are required. The verbiage of that go indicated it’s legitimate at whichever of the 2 water parks is working.
The large query is whether or not each Blizzard Seashore and Storm Lagoon will function concurrently in 2024 for the primary time in 5 years. It’s secure to imagine this gained’t occur earlier than Summer season 2024 on the earliest. For one factor, there isn’t sufficient demand till round Memorial Day. For an additional, the above-mentioned ticket deal implies that just one water park or the opposite will function till Might 24, 2024.
Staffing each parks is pricey and Walt Disney World did advantageous with just one water park even throughout the interval of pent-up demand and excessive warmth over the past couple of summers. It’s potential that Volcano Bay at Common Orlando plus an assortment of lodges with bona fide mini water parks have minimize into Walt Disney World’s water park enterprise, and so they not want each. (I’m skeptical of this and doubt it’s the case.) One other chance is that the price of lifeguards and different labor has elevated to the purpose that it doesn’t make sense to run each. It could possibly be a mixture of the above issues.
Conversely, it’s potential that each Blizzard Seashore and Storm Lagoon are viable, particularly with a full assortment of Annual Passes and particular ticket promotions (just like the above!) for Florida residents. That Walt Disney World was working to scale up operations throughout the board, and allocating assets and Forged Members to each water parks simply didn’t make sense given ongoing staffing shortages the previous few years, however will sooner or later with the School Program and extra again to regular.
My cash is on this, however that also doesn’t imply each Storm Lagoon and Blizzard Seashore shall be open on the identical time in Summer season 2024. Personally, I feel it might be the good transfer, particularly after how brutally sizzling final summer time was. Walt Disney World having the capability to push extra individuals in direction of the water parks could be a welcome reprieve from the excessive warmth and humidity–and doubtless assist with visitor satisfaction.
So keep tuned! If we haven’t heard something throughout the subsequent couple of months, it’s secure to imagine it gained’t occur–June via August are actually the months the place it’s wanted.
In the previous few years, Walt Disney World has introduced the reopening of Storm Lagoon simultaneous with dates and particulars in regards to the specially-ticketed occasion, H2O Glow After Hours. Final yr, tickets for H2O Glow After Hours at Storm Lagoon went on sale beginning the day after the information broke (granted, the information got here nearly a month later final yr) and the occasion itself began on Might 20.
Walt Disney World has not but introduced something in regards to the 2024 H2O Glow After Hours, or whether or not they’ll occur in any respect. (Watch a press launch drop ~10 minutes after this submit goes dwell.) Nonetheless, our expectation is that they occur, and pretty in step with final yr’s schedule. After Hours is increasing, not contracting, so it’d be a shock to see fewer choices.
See our Information to H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Storm Lagoon: Dates, Particulars, Suggestions & Overview for related particulars from final yr–anticipate ~90% of them to be correct for 2024. For these unfamiliar with it, H2O Glow After Hours permits households to spend time at Storm Lagoon for a number of hours after it closes, with brief waits at in style points of interest all through the illuminated park. This particular occasion additionally options an electrical DJ dance celebration, complimentary ice cream treats, popcorn and choose drinks, a ‘glow’-rious environment and past.
Storm Lagoon options household enjoyable, thrilling water rides and slides. However greater than something, this water park is beloved amongst followers of theme park design for its immersive storytelling, consideration to element, and thematic cohesion.
Storm Lagoon tells the story of a rogue storm and its ensuing tidal wave that wreaked havoc on a previously pristine waterside paradise. From topsy-turvy structure and storm-strewn nautical gear to the stranded shrimping ship, Miss Tilly, impaled upon the summit of Mount Mayday, every element brings the legend to life.
Standard points of interest and options together with the next fan favorites:
- Storm Lagoon Surf Pool, America’s largest out of doors wave pool the place friends can “grasp 10’’ whereas bodying browsing on the right wave each time.
- Miss Journey Falls, a fast-paced household raft attraction created, because the story goes, when Captain Mary Oceaneer — a seafaring treasure hunter — acquired her haul caught years in the past in a rogue storm, scattering her treasure throughout this tropical paradise.
- Crush ‘n’ Gusher, an exciting water coaster that includes three 400-foot-long tube slides named for the assorted fruits they as soon as transported.
- Castaway Creek, a scenic lazy river encircling the complete water park, providing light passage previous shady grottoes, gushing waterfalls, overhead rope bridges and luxurious rainforest landscapes.
- Humunga Kowabunga, providing a alternative of three adrenaline-filled physique slides set in opposition to the steep inclines of Mount Mayday.
Finally, we’re excited for the reopening of Storm Lagoon and extremely suggest that you simply go to this water park throughout a “down day” in your 2024 Walt Disney World trip. For extra causes to find it irresistible–and technique for profiting from your day–see our Final Information to Disney’s Storm Lagoon Water Park.
I’ve gushed about it over time, imploring Walt Disney World followers to provide Storm Lagoon an opportunity, because it’s criminally underrated. On the floor, Storm Lagoon looks as if a reasonably “secure” idea for a water park. It’s tropical, laid again and is conducive to sitting on the seaside, swimming, and different water actions. That’s true. However, there’s extra to it than that.
When you get past the seaside vibe, there may be wealthy theming all through Storm Lagoon, and the Imagineered tropical atmosphere has the added parts of a tropical resort and the massive storm that decimated it layered on high. That is all simply conveyed via the park’s particulars, and it coalesces very well. All the pieces about it’s distinctive, from the environment to the small print to its underutilized mascot, Lagoona Gator. In consequence, Storm Lagoon has an amazing sense of place, and it’s nice to only be there.
This is much and away the largest cause why I feel Storm Lagoon is a must-do for Walt Disney World followers. It’s a masterclass of cohesive design and one of many few parks at Walt Disney World that maintains full thematic integrity so lengthy after its opening. Storm Lagoon really is what so many followers needed World Celebration at EPCOT to be (or nonetheless faux that it’s). Don’t let the truth that it’s a water park discourage you—even should you don’t care about water slides or the rest, Storm Lagoon is a good place to waste a morning…or night…at Walt Disney World!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you happy with the March 17, 2024 reopening date for Storm Lagoon water park? Cautiously optimistic that Summer season 2024 will mark a turning level for Walt Disney World with each water parks open concurrently? Desirous to return to Storm Lagoon, or are you not a water park particular person? Will you be doing H2O Glow After Hours if provided at Storm Lagoon in 2024? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
