Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach simultaneous openings in 2025

[Bibbidi_Boo]

The only way you could rotate them during peak season is by closing resort pools and there are often separate trainings required at different locations to do something like that.

The staff for the water parks are trained to work at both...still only one open per day just which one is open where they report to.

But in the end they don't care that much because typhoon lagoon stays busy enough in the summer. If it starts to lose attendance then they might thing differently.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I honestly do believe that this is a staffing issue here with Disney. Sure, it benefits Disney in regards to money, and I am sure they are thrilled with that, but they must have qualified people to fill these many of the jobs here.

WDW’s unions won an impressive pay bump. Its workers now earn the highest wages in the Orlando area for menial and low skilled (lifeguards) jobs. Any staffing issue is manufactured by Disney.

 

[LAS2AMS]

The staff for the water parks are trained to work at both...still only one open per day just which one is open where they report to.

But in the end they don't care that much because typhoon lagoon stays busy enough in the summer. If it starts to lose attendance then they might thing differently.

Keeping both parks open on alternate days would add substantial cost. Typically, they drain the park when it’s not in use. Cleaning, testing and refreshing the water is by itself a major expense.

 

[SL6827]

WDW’s unions won an impressive pay bump. Its workers now earn the highest wages in the Orlando area for menial and low skilled (lifeguards) jobs. Any staffing issue is manufactured by Disney.

How much are they paying them, any idea?

 

[LAS2AMS]

How much are they paying them, any idea?

Entry level jobs start at $18/hour and will increase to $20 next year ($20.50 for employees hired prior to the date the contract expires). Skilled jobs, liike security and lifeguards, earn higher rates.

Last year, California began requiring employers to be transparent about a positions’ pay or pay range. Disney complied but included all its domestic positions, so you can now view every open job (on its website) and its corresponding pay rate.

 

[SL6827]

Entry level jobs start at $18/hour and will increase to $20 next year ($20.50 for employees hired prior to the date the contract expires). Skilled jobs, liike security and lifeguards, earn higher rates.

Last year, California began requiring employers to be transparent about a positions’ pay or pay range. Disney complied but included all its domestic positions, so you can now view every open job (on its website) and its corresponding pay rate.

Interesting. I'll look that up.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Keeping both parks open on alternate days would add substantial cost. Typically, they drain the park when it’s not in use. Cleaning, testing and refreshing the water is by itself a major expense.

By rotating I mean like open 2-3 days and then switch so people with multi day trips could actually go to both.

They aren't going to drain for 2 days, it is no different then in the winter when they don't open on the cold days. Volcano Bay closes two days a week in Jan and Feb and its fine.

 

[LAS2AMS]

By rotating I mean like open 2-3 days and then switch so people with multi day trips could actually go to both.

They aren't going to drain for 2 days, it is no different then in the winter when they don't open on the cold days. Volcano Bay closes two days a week in Jan and Feb and its fine.

I think you missed my point. Right now, only one part at a time is open. The other is mothballed - drained, utilities configured for light usage, etc. By mothballing the closed park, Disney saves a ton of money. Testing, treating and replenishing water - by itself - is an enormous expense.

You’re thinking that if WDW kept both parks open, but on different days, it’d be cost neutral. But as I discussed above; that’s simply not true.

As I wrote earlier in this thread, the water parks obviously aren’t big money makers for WDW. Admission is inexpensive and there’s been very few capital projects to the parks through the years. In fact; they shuttered a major, popular attraction at TL rather than spending the money to refurbish it.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I think you missed my point. Right now, only one part at a time is open. The other is mothballed - drained, utilities configured for light usage, etc. By mothballing the closed park, Disney saves a ton of money. Testing, treating and replenishing water - by itself - is an enormous expense.

You’re thinking that if WDW kept both parks open, but on different days, it’d be cost neutral. But as I discussed above; that’s simply not true.

As I wrote earlier in this thread, the water parks obviously aren’t big money makers for WDW. Admission is inexpensive and there’s been very few capital projects to the parks through the years. In fact; they shuttered a major, popular attraction at TL rather than spending the money to refurbish it.

That is true right now...but come March they will be re-opening Typhoon....so they don't have to drain blizzard beach at that time. Again it all comes down to there are ways they could make both stay open from Mid Match through October for the peak water park season IF they wanted to , even if there is a shortage of lifeguards or they don't feel both need to be open at the same time every day.

But its super annoying its only typhoon for the summer, some people actually prefer blizzard or get tired of the same choice when the weather is actually nice for water parks...but the only reason is because it has lights and can sell after hour parties .

 

[thanxfornoticin]

WDW’s unions won an impressive pay bump. Its workers now earn the highest wages in the Orlando area for menial and low skilled (lifeguards) jobs. Any staffing issue is manufactured by Disney.

Sorry, there might be some 'menial lower skilled jobs' at Disney, but waterpark lifeguards are absolutely not one of them. The training and retraining and skills and more retraining required for lifeguarding at one of those waterparks is quite extensive. Similar to the training required to be a lifeguard along the ocean. I don't know if it's a lack of those skilled individuals to have both parks open like they used to, or if it's a money decision by Disney. But if anything happens to anyone during the day at the waterpark, I'm glad those people are there, trained, and ready for most any emergency. They earn their pay.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Water parks are very expensive to operate.
Payroll, transportation cost, maintenance costs,.
Since both parks are big and need to be shut down to keep all everything running smoothly.
I also don't think there is the demand for two water parks. These parks really only for Disnry guest. SO many other options for Orlando.

 

[LAS2AMS]

That is true right now...but come March they will be re-opening Typhoon....so they don't have to drain blizzard beach at that time. Again it all comes down to there are ways they could make both stay open from Mid Match through October for the peak water park season IF they wanted to , even if there is a shortage of lifeguards or they don't feel both need to be open at the same time every day.

But its super annoying its only typhoon for the summer, some people actually prefer blizzard or get tired of the same choice when the weather is actually nice for water parks...but the only reason is because it has lights and can sell after hour parties .

You keep missing the point. Keeping two water parks open on alternating days costs significantly more than keeping one open and mothballing the other. The water parks probably don’t produce much of a profit for Disney. Keeping two parks open on alternating days would give up much or all of that profit.

TL has a higher capacity than BB. Coupled with the lights, it makes it the better choice to keep open.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Sorry, there might be some 'menial lower skilled jobs' at Disney, but waterpark lifeguards are absolutely not one of them. The training and retraining and skills and more retraining required for lifeguarding at one of those waterparks is quite extensive. Similar to the training required to be a lifeguard along the ocean. I don't know if it's a lack of those skilled individuals to have both parks open like they used to, or if it's a money decision by Disney. But if anything happens to anyone during the day at the waterpark, I'm glad those people are there, trained, and ready for most any emergency. They earn their pay.

There’s a reason high school students work as lifeguards and that they earn slightly above minimum wage. I respect the job they do but it’s not high skill level.

Note that water parks, public beaches, etc. typically hire a limited number of EMS that often double as lifeguards.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

There’s a reason high school students work as lifeguards and that they earn slightly above minimum wage. I respect the job they do but it’s not high skill level.

Note that water parks, public beaches, etc. typically hire a limited number of EMS that often double as lifeguards.

Have you been in the TL wave pool? DH is 6'4" and I'm 5'9". He's a strong swimmer; I'm adequate. We have been knocked on our a&*#@$ several times in there, in the shallower end. Being a lifeguard in there is no joke. Throw in the beating sun and constant surveillance, ugh. I'm grateful they're there and on it.

DH is also EMS and was a lifeguard in his youth. He never did double duty doing both. I will say there is a nationwide shortage of lifeguards. Google it. It's not as easy as snapping your fingers and having a horde of trained teenagers at the ready.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Have you been in the TL wave pool? DH is 6'4" and I'm 5'9". He's a strong swimmer; I'm adequate. We have been knocked on our a&*#@$ several times in there, in the shallower end. Being a lifeguard in there is no joke. Throw in the beating sun and constant surveillance, ugh. I'm grateful they're there and on it.

DH is also EMS and was a lifeguard in his youth. He never did double duty doing both. I will say there is a nationwide shortage of lifeguards. Google it. It's not as easy as snapping your fingers and having a horde of trained teenagers at the ready.

it isn’t meant to be a controversial point. Let’s stick with facts over emotions. WDW has several classifications of lifeguards. The lowest has a wage that’s a few coins above their min rate, the highest is like $2 and change. There are no current job openings at WDW nor Universal, so the wage must be sufficient.