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LAKE BUENA
VISTA, Fla. -- It's summer in Florida. Daytime temperatures
are regularly pushing into the 90s. What's a vacationer to
do to cool off?
At Walt Disney World Resort, guests can choose between a
mountain ski retreat and a tropical getaway to take the
proverbial plunge into water fun at two of the most popular
water parks in North America: |
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Like a surfside
playground left behind by a "great storm" for modern-day
Swiss Family Robinsons, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon features
breaking waves, saltwater snorkeling pool and gushing water
surges; and
Disney's Blizzard Beach offers all the spine-chilling
thrills of a northern ski resort, whether it's bobsledding
down the "snowy" slopes of Mt. Gushmore or plunging straight
down Summit Plummet at up to 55 mph. |
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During the spring, summer and fall
vacation periods, both parks are open daily, offering a cool break
from theme park fun. Admission tickets can be purchased at each park
or folded into Disney's Magic Your Way ticket with the Water Park
Fun & More add-on option.
 Located
near Downtown Disney West Side, the 61-acre Typhoon Lagoon includes
several major features, including Crush 'n' Gusher, the first-ever
water coaster thrill ride attraction in Central Florida; a man-made
watershed mountain with eight twisting-and-turning water slides and
roaring streams; a two-and-one-half-acre wave-making lagoon with
surfing-size waves, and a 362,000-gallon saltwater pool, Shark Reef,
where snorkelers swim fin-to-fin with exotic marine life including
butterfly fish, French angels, tangs, groupers and even nurse
sharks.
HANG ON TIGHT -- Walt Disney World
guests are propelled to speeds reaching 30 feet per second on Crush
'n' Gusher, a new water coaster thrill ride at Disney's Typhoon
Lagoon in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Three distinct water-coaster ride
systems will send guests up and down twisting slopes and turns of
chutes filled with gushing water. The attraction is themed to be the
towering remains of a washed-out fruit exporting plant.
The park also features a water playground for children, sunny
beaches and lazy streams surrounding a 95-foot mountain, a shop that
provides necessary underwater equipment for Shark Reef (including
wet suits, masks and snorkels), changing areas, lockers, showers, a
picnic area and two restaurants which serve up everything from
specialty sandwiches and salads to cookies and ice cream in waffle
cones.
Meantime, while the 66-acre Blizzard Beach has all the look of a
northern ski resort, it is in fact strictly tropical -- and the ice
is limited to the soft drinks. The most eye-catching attractions can
be found on the slopes of Mt. Gushmore, the 90-foot snow-capped
mountain that is home to Downhill Double Dipper, the only
side-by-side racing water slides that stand 50 feet high and 200
feet long. Guests will travel up to 25 mph, twisting and turning
before shooting out through a curtain of water.
 Mt.
Gushmore also features slalom courses, toboggan and water sled runs
and the awesome, 120-foot-high Summit Plummet -- the nation's
tallest, fastest free-fall speed slide, visible from almost anywhere
in the park. From Summit Plummet's "ski jump" tower, it's a
breathtaking high-speed 55 mph plunge straight down to a splash
landing at the base of the mountain.
Next to Summit Plummet is the tall but less steep Slush Gusher, a
speed slide that drops guests through a snow-banked mountain gully.
Mt. Gushmore's other attractions include Teamboat Springs, the
world's longest family white-water raft ride takes six-passenger
rafts down a twisting 1,200-foot series of rushing water falls;
Toboggan Racer, an 8-lane water slide that sends guests racing over
exhilarating dips as they descend the "snowy" slope, and more.
The sandy beach below Mt. Gushmore offers a large wave pool, a lazy
river, two snack bars, a polar pub lodge, and a pre-teen and
children's play area.
The Village at the Blizzard Beach entrance houses guest services
such as a tube pick-up area, towel rentals, lockers, first aid,
merchandise and a restaurant.
 MELT AWAY -- Melt-Away-Bay wave pool
at Disney's Blizzard Beach water theme park offers a relaxing chance
to chill out for the whole family. Mt. Gushmore, the 12-story-tall
park icon, and the Summit Plummet thrill slide can be seen in the
background. Blizzard Beach water park is at Walt Disney World Resort
in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
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