From: Ed.Sterrett@animece.oau.org (Ed Sterrett) Date: 13 Oct 94 07:42:00 Subject: Blizzard Beach BLIZZARD BEACH--Bobsledding down the "snowy" slopes of Mt. Gushmore or plunging straight down Summit Plummet at 60 mph will give Walt Disney World, Guests the spine-chilling thrills of a northern ski resort. But the new Blizzard Beach water adventure park opening in mid-1995 is strictly tropical and the ice is limited to soft drink glasses. It's all part of a zany idea to build a new kind of water park with the atmosphere and excitement of a major ski resort in the midst of a tropical lagoon. "When Guests come to see Blizzard Beach for the first time, they will get a true sense of the off-beat humor that our Imagineers put into the park," said Eric Jacobson, Blizzard Beach Executive Designer. "The idea of taking snow and layering it on top of a tropical environment is so outrageous that it opens up the possibilities for many visual gags." As legend has it, Blizzard Beach was created by a freak winter storm which dropped snow over the western side of Walt Disney World Resort property and Florida's first snow-ski resort was planned immediately. However, the plan was short-lived when temperatures soared and, the ice and snow rapidly began to melt. Dismayed ski-resort operators, ready to close, spotted a playful alligator sliding down the "liquid ice" slopes and realized the melting snow created the tallest, fastest and most exhilarating water-filled ski and toboggan runs in the world. As a result, the ski resort/water adventure park was born. The most eye-catching attraction at Blizzard Beach can be found on the slopes of Mt. Gushmore. As Guests enter the park, they will be greeted by the busy view of "skiers" sliding down the face of the 90-foot Snow-capped mountain. Mt. Gushmore features moguls, slalom courses, toboggan and water sled runs and the awesome, 120-foot high Summit Plummet--the world'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 60-mph plunge straight down to a splash landing at the base of the mountain. Next to Summit Plummet is Slush Gusher, a speed slide that drops Guests through a snow-banked mountain gully. Although shorter and a bit less severe than its neighbor, Slush Gusher is taller than any other slide of its kind to date. Mount Gushmore's other attractions include the world's longest white-water raft ride, an eight-lane water slide, three flumes, an inner tube run, and wooden bench chair lifts that will carry Guests from the base of the mountain to its summit. The sandy beach below Mt. Gushmore offers a large wave pool, a lazy river and two snack bars. Some of its adventures include: a child-sized version of Blizzard Beach with a scaled down version of Mt. Gushmore, a one acre pool filled by "melting snow" waterfalls, a lazy creek circling the entire park, and the Blizzard Beach Ski Patrol Training Camp for pre-teens, including bungi cord slides, rope swing and T-bar drop. The Village is at the east end of the beach and houses Guest services such as tube and towel rental, lockers, first aid, merchandise and a restaurant. Nearby, Lottawatta Lodge, offering a view over Mt. Gushmore, stands ready to serve Guests with an appetite. --- GEcho 1.10+ * CmpQwk #UNREG * UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY -- |Fidonet: Ed Sterrett 1:363/137 |Internet: Ed.Sterrett@animece.oau.org | | Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.