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Vintage Walt Disney World: Early Days of Disney Water Parks

Nate Rasmussen

by , Librarian, Walt Disney Archives

It’s summertime. It’s warm. I need to cool off. Should I hang ten at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park or hit the slopes at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park? Decisions, decisions. While I deliberate, here’s a look at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park under construction from March 1989 and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park in December 1994.

Vintage Walt Disney World: Early Days of Disney Water Parks Vintage Walt Disney World: Early Days of Disney Water Parks

I still can’t decide. If I go to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon I can take a ride on Crush ‘n’ Gusher, while over at Disney’s Blizzard Beach I can slide down the Toboggan Racers.

Vintage Walt Disney World: Early Days of Disney Water Parks Vintage Walt Disney World: Early Days of Disney Water Parks

This is the toughest decision of the summer for me at Walt Disney World Resort.

Destinations: Walt Disney World Resort

Topics: Disney History

Comments

  • I was hoping to see something about River Country. I loved that place! It took me a few visits to build up courage to go on slippery slide falls, but I’m so glad I did it; those slides were awesome. The entire open water area was incredible, too! If WDW brought something like that back (obviously it would have to be up to code so it wouldn’t be shut down like RC) I would book a trip to go there in an instant. The barrel bridge, kiddie cove, white water rapids, and cyprus point nature trail were awesome! I miss it 🙁

  • It was 2000. We were going on our first trip in over ten years. We were 20(twins). We both wanted to go to Typhoon Lagoon. She wanted to go to River Country. I wanted to go to Blizzard Beach. We decided to pick two. I picked Blizzard Beach, forcing her to pick Typhoon Lagoon. As a result, we never got to visit River Country, as it closed shortly after. I will live with this regret forever. That is my tale.

  • I agree, it’s so hard to choose! I too have such fond memories of lazy days at River Country.

  • I miss River Country!! We are laid back people and River Country was the best 🙂

  • Typhoon Lagoon! Blizzard Beach is nice, with some fun theming, but Typhoon Lagoon’s wave pool, better lazy river and Crush ‘n’ Gusher help win out.

  • Hey Nate,
    I remember when there was only River Country! That was a fun time. Now there are so many decisions to make you kind of have to be there a month to partake in everything that is offered. Decisions, Decisions.

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