8 Tips for Visiting Disney’s Water Parks on Your Check-In Day

Disney Resort guests arriving May 26 to September 8, 2026 receive FREE admission to either Disney Water Park on their check-in day! Here is what we’ll cover in this post to make sure your check-in water park day is as stress-free as possible:

1. Pick a park
2. Getting there
3. Luggage and storage
4. What to bring
5. Guest services at the water parks
6. Extras! Cabanas and umbrellas
7. Food!
8. Weather issues

Pick a Park

Disney has two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Typhoon Lagoon is based around a shipwreck that turns into a tropical paradise and Blizzard Beach is based on a mythical ski resort that “melted” in the water. We’ve got a post here that goes into more detail about the differences, but they’re both pretty great.

Transportation to the parks might make your decision easier.

Getting There

Check the My Disney Experience app just before your visit, but as of the date of this article, the following bus routes are in effect:

Typhoon Lagoon

• Take a bus from your Disney Resort to Disney Springs
• Once you arrive at Disney Springs, board a second bus to Typhoon Lagoon. This is a very short ride! It’s just down the street.
• Buses to Typhoon Lagoon begin running 30 minutes prior to opening. So if the park opens at 10:00am, buses will begin at 9:30 from Disney Springs.
• Buses from Typhoon Lagoon to Disney Springs stop running 60 minutes after the water park closes.

Blizzard Beach 

• Guests staying at Coronado Springs and All-Star Resorts (Sports, Music, Movies) will be able to catch a bus directly to Blizzard Beach from their Resorts. No transfers are necessary.
• All other Disney Resort guests must take a bus to Animal Kingdom from their Resort.
• Once you arrive at Animal Kingdom, board a second bus to Blizzard Beach.
• Buses to Blizzard Beach begin running 30 minutes prior to opening.
• Buses from Blizzard Beach to Animal Kingdom stop running 60 minutes after the water park closes.

Luggage and Storage

Luggage is not allowed on any Disney transportation, so you’ll need leave your bags at your resort before heading to a water park for your free check-in day fun. If your room is not ready when you arrive, you may leave your things with Bell Services.

Both water parks offer paid lockers. Lockers are free if you’re renting a Beachcomber Shack at Typhoon Lagoon or a Polar Patio at Blizzard Beach.

Standard Lockers: 12.5″ x 10″ x 17″ for $10 per day

Large Lockers: 15.5″ x 13″ x 17″ for $15 per day

What to Bring

You can purchase lots of water park essentials at the shops in either park, but here is a quick list of things to consider packing:

• Sunscreen
• Goggles
• Bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, and/or cover ups
• Dry clothes for the bus ride back to your resort
• Water shoes, flip flops, sandals
• Swim diapers
• Hats, sunglasses, swim shirts
• Waterproof phone case
• Small toiletry bag if you plan to shower at the water parks. They have soap and warm showers, but not much else.

Since you can’t bring a suitcase onto the bus or into the water parks, it may be easier to pack a separate bag before you leave home. This will prevent a few stressful moments in the lobby trying to find swimsuits and goggles in a rush. We’ve done it and regretted it.

Towels: Towels are free at both water parks so no need to pack them or worry about an extra expense.

Life Jackets: Complimentary life jackets in a wide variety of sizes are available around both water parks.

Guest Services at the Water Parks

Guest Services available at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach:

• First Aid
• Wheelchair and ECV Rentals
• ATM machines
• Fuel Rod Portable Battery Machines – free swaps all over Walt Disney World once you have purchased a battery
• Lost Child Locations
• Service Animal Relief Areas

Extras! Cabanas and Umbrellas

Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach offer a few guaranteed seating reservations for a fee. If your family is arriving during an especially busy time (all of June and July), you may want to spend a bit to ensure you have a prime spot set aside when you arrive for your water park day. Cabanas and umbrellas can be rented in advance (recommended) on the My Disney Experience app, or you can try your luck on the day of your arrival. There are signs at the front of both parks directing you to the rental areas. If you’re just looking for a place to drop your bag before you hit the water, you’re sure to find one or two open chairs so this wouldn’t be a good value for you.

Typhoon Lagoon 

• Standard Beachcomber Shacks:
  • $225 to $425, up to 10 guests
  • Attendant service, cushioned furniture, select soft drinks, bottled water, locker, towels
• Deluxe Beachcomber Shacks:
  • $300 to $500, up to 12 guests
  • Attendant service, cushioned furniture, select soft drinks, bottled water, locker, towels
• Premium Plus Beachcomber Shacks:
  • $375 to $550, up to 10 guests
  • Attendant service, cushioned furniture, select soft drinks, bottled water, locker, towels, dining table, mini refrigerator, flatscreen tv, oscillating fan, 4 electrical outlets
• Umbrellas
  • $49 to $109, up to 4 guests
  • 2 reserved lounge chairs, 2 beach chairs, drink table, towels

Blizzard Beach

• Standard Polar Patio
  • $225 to $425, up to 10 guests
  • Attendant service, seating for 6, towels, ice water, select soft drinks
• Premium Polar Patio
  • $350 to $525, up to 10 guests
  • Attendant service, seating for 6, towels, ice water, select soft drinks, a roof, mini refrigerator, an oscillating fan, and cell phone chargers.
• Umbrellas
  • $49 to $109, up to 4 guests
  • 2 reserved lounge chairs, 2 sand chairs, 4 towels

Your Beachcomber / Patio Attendant will provide you will a number to text when you’re ready to order food or beverages. Note that only the bottled beverages in your cooler or min fridge are included and there will be separate charges for anything else – like the tasty snacks in the picture above.

Food!

Maybe one of the most important parts of vacation, right?

 

There are lots of quick food options at both water parks, but we’re going to cover the basics.

Mobile Ordering: If you decide to keep your phone on you during your water park day, you’ll be able to mobile order using the My Disney Experience app. The following locations have Mobile Order:

• • Blizzard Beach
    • Avalunch, Currently closed for renovation.
    • Lottawatta Lodge, 11:00am to 4:30pm- Chicken and shrimp rice bowls, cheeseburger, salad, chicken strips, flatbreads. Pre-mixed cocktails, beer.
    • Warming Hut, 11:00am to 4:00pm- Salads, veggie wrap, nachos, bbq pork sandwich, hummus tray, two beer options
  • Typhoon Lagoon
    • Leaning Palms – Chicken and shrimp rice bowls, cheeseburger, nachos, salads, flatbreads, chicken strips. Frozen alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, canned adult beverages, wine by the glass, beer.
    • Typhoon Tilly’s – Fried fish, pulled pork sandwich, chicken strips, salad. A decent Cinnamon Whisky Punch ($15.50), canned adult beverages, beer, wine by the glass.

Paying for Your Food and Drinks: You may pay using your MagicBand or Magic Mobile if you’ve set up charging privileges. As mentioned above, you can also order food via Mobile Order, where available. If you don’t want to carry a phone, you may want to grab a gift card at one of the merch locations at the park entrances. They come with a rubber band to attach to your wrist and the cards won’t fall apart in the water. This is probably a safer option than trying to keep track of credit or debit cards in the water.

Dining Plan: If you’re using a Disney Dining Plan during your stay, your credits are active on your check-in day, so you can start using them as soon as you’re inside the water park- even if your room isn’t ready yet!

Weather Issues

Water Park Benefit admission is only good for your check-in day. If the water parks close for weather you will not be given an additional water park day. If the parks are open and the weather is gloomy and rainy, the same applies.

Are you taking advantage of the Water Park Benefit this year? If so, which water park are you planning to visit?