Blizzard Beach was full today (4/6/25) - hotel guests turned away

[FireflyTrance]

Basically what the title says. Today was our check in day at a Disney resort so we had free entry to Blizzard Beach. We went there at noon and were told it was at capacity and no one would be admitted again until 3pm at the earliest. It didn’t matter that it was our check in day and it was the only day we could go, no one else was being let in. It’s unfair because I planned the trip around going to Blizzard Beach today. I think if Disney is going to offer free water park access they should have anticipated the higher demand and had both water parks open in time for spring break. Alternatively they could have a reservation system so at least you would know ahead of time if you could go or not. Does this happen often? We ended up going to the hotel pool instead which was fine, but not as fun as the water park.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Curious, were a you driving or on a Disney bus? I wonder if that would make any difference? Parking reaching capacity has been a challenge. Not sure if new guests are being allowed to enter at those times if arriving by bus?

 

[Sandi]

That's a bummer. Certainly not a perk if it's not available. Did you talk with anyone at your resort? It seems like they would have some way of making good on this offer. Weather is not something they have control over, but they should know that resort guests are going to want to take advantage of this offer.

 

[FireflyTrance]

Curious, were a you driving or on a Disney bus? I wonder if that would make any difference? Parking reaching capacity has been a challenge. Not sure if new guests are being allowed to enter at those times if arriving by bus?

We drove, and the parking lot was full. My husband asked if he could just drop me and the kids off but we were told the park was full. It was over 90 degrees today so I understand why demand was so high today, but it’s still frustrating.

 

[FireflyTrance]

That's a bummer. Certainly not a perk if it's not available. Did you talk with anyone at your resort? It seems like they would have some way of making good on this offer. Weather is not something they have control over, but they should know that resort guests are going to want to take advantage of this offer.

Yeah I was thinking if I talked to them they might let us go to the water park a different day, but there isn’t a different day we can go.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Yeah I was thinking if I talked to them they might let us go to the water park a different day, but there isn’t a different day we can go.

I would not count on being allowed to go a different day. It is like any park, when it reaches capacity, guests are turned away for a period of time.

This is not the first time the water park has reached capacity at certain times during the day and to date nobody has reported being allowed to go a different day.

I don’t believe that’s a part of the offer nor would it be fair to guests arriving that day.

 

[FireflyTrance]

I would not count on being allowed to go a different day. It is like any park, when it reaches capacity, guests are turned away for a period of time.

This is not the first time the water park has reached capacity at certain times during the day and to date nobody has reported being allowed to go a different day.

I don’t believe that’s a part of the offer nor would it be fair to guests arriving that day.

There isn’t another day I can go so I’m not planning to ask about it. I think it was full today because it was the weekend and over 90 degrees.

But the offer isn’t a fair offer if there is a possibility the park is full and you can’t use it.

 

[scrappinginontario]

There isn’t another day I can go so I’m not planning to ask about it. I think it was full today because it was the weekend and over 90 degrees.

But the offer isn’t a fair offer if there is a possibility the park is full and you can’t use it.

Disney never guarantees entry to any park. Even people who pay for tickets are not guaranteed
entry to a park, similar to how guests historically can be turned away from MK on Christmas day as the park often reaches capacity.

More than once in the announcement it says it is subject to availability. Disney has covered themselves for such circumstances where guests may not enter either due to capacity or, weather.

 

[HopperFan]

It does not help that the Water Park Season Passes expire May 23rd and they are blocked out next Saturday through Easter.

We were going to try to go to the waterpark our May trip check in but I think we'll just skip it. Not interested in a full park, or worse getting there and it be at capacity ~ DS would not understand.

 

[PetePanMan]

Too bad they aren’t opening both water parks earlier. Now through May sounds like it will be very difficult to get in with just one park and increasing temperatures.

 

[gottalovepluto]

But the offer isn’t a fair offer if there is a possibility the park is full and you can’t use it.

Gotta agree there no matter what the T&C say. After all “fair” is not “legal”, it’s seemingly appropriate. If you’re going to show up to go to the park, everyone who shows up should be given 1 day passes good for any day of your stay. While for you this didn’t help, for others it might and it seems pretty fair since they can’t cap demand.

This is also an excellent reminder to anyone looking to use this perk- you better be there at park open if it’s a warm day!

 

[DisneyMom93]

Disney never guarantees entry to any park. Even people who pay for tickets are not guaranteed
entry to a park, similar to how guests historically can be turned away from MK on Christmas day as the park often reaches capacity.

View attachment 954986

Off topic… you may already know and just choose not to do it… but if you’re using an iPhone and use “Mark up” feature to circle something like you did, if you don’t lift your finger off the screen after you make the circle or oval (square or heart or even a straight line) it will perfect the shape for you.

 

[FireflyTrance]

It does not help that the Water Park Season Passes expire May 23rd and they are blocked out next Saturday through Easter.

We were going to try to go to the waterpark our May trip check in but I think we'll just skip it. Not interested in a full park, or worse getting there and it be at capacity ~ DS would not understand.

How many people are there will depend a lot on the weather. There has been a heat wave here this past week so demand is high. The heat wave is supposed to end after today so I’m guessing the blizzard beach will stop hitting capacity once the weather is in the 70s.

 

[Sandi]

This is also an excellent reminder to anyone looking to use this perk- you better be there at park open if it’s a warm day!

Best guess is that most people aren’t able to get there at park opening on their check in day, but you are absolutely right.

 

[HopperFan]

How many people are there will depend a lot on the weather. There has been a heat wave here this past week so demand is high. The heat wave is supposed to end after today so I’m guessing the blizzard beach will stop hitting capacity once the weather is in the 70s.

And all the locals with the Season Pass kids would be back in school and/or going to work weekdays. But weekends they can easily get there at opening (and fill parking lot). It is very popular with local guests, the pass is a bargain at about $80. I will be arriving on a Sunday in May so I'll likely skip.

 

[Mle8308]

You don't want to be there when it's filled to capacity. Skeeves me out!

 

[Disneylover99]

Too bad they aren’t opening both water parks earlier. Now through May sounds like it will be very difficult to get in with just one park and increasing temperatures.

Yep. Heard it’s at capacity again today. And I don’t even think it’s super warm there at the moment. Disney didn’t really think this through.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We have Blizzard Beach planned for our 1st day, April 16. Honestly didn't really think about it being at capacity. Thanks for posting! I will not lollygag around and get there as early as we can.

Edit: just want to be sure it didn't come across like I was saying you lollygagged around. We are taking the red eye so we will be there early, I just tend to stop in the shops, grab food, see the sights etc, I will be more mindful in order to get there early

 

[gottalovepluto]

We have Blizzard Beach planned for our 1st day, April 16. Honestly didn't really think about it being at capacity. Thanks for posting! I will not lollygag around and get there as early as we can.

Edit: just want to be sure it didn't come across like I was saying you lollygagged around. We are taking the red eye so we will be there early, I just tend to stop in the shops, grab food, see the sights etc, I will be more mindful in order to get there early

That should be a very busy day, can you report back on what the crowd level is like in the park?

 

[disneydreamer1980]

That really sucks. Just bad luck I guess. When we were there in January BB was closed for several days of our trip due to cold.