WDW adds Water Parks to special passes

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Disney pass makes splash

Christopher Boyd
Sentinel Staff Writer

February 21, 2007

Walt Disney World is adding a water-park pass to its growing roster of special admission deals, giving aquatic-ride lovers year-round access to its Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon attractions.

The new pass is available to Florida residents and is valid after 2 p.m. daily. It costs $59 plus tax for those 10 and older. Children ages 3 to 9 will pay $47.20 for the pass.

Disney also will offer a $99.95 option that includes unlimited use of both water attractions. The young child's version costs $80.50.

Disney spokesman Dave Herbst said the passes aim at increasing use of the parks.

"Resort guests typically go to the water parks early in the day, then go to the theme parks or back to their resorts," Herbst said. "That means there is capacity available later in the day. It's a matter of having the capacity available and using it."

Herbst said access will be available to at least one water attraction at all times. Each year, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon close for renovations, but at different times. Typhoon Lagoon is closed now, but will reopen March 18.

The discount is substantial for those who visit the water parks repeatedly. A full-fare one-day, one-water park ticket costs $39.

The attraction also will offer a variety of water-park-admissions discounts to those who buy Disney Magic Your Way tickets.

Disney isn't the region's first water attraction to offer an annual pass. Wet 'n Wild offers an annual weekday pass to Florida residents for $49.99 with no restrictions on hours. It also sells an $80 annual pass through its Web site that includes unlimited visits when the attraction is open.

David Wright, Wet 'n Wild's marketing director, said his attraction has sold passes for many years. He said Disney's introduction of a water pass probably won't have a major effect on his business.

"Our location is very convenient for most Central Floridians," he said. "It is a much longer drive for most people to go to Disney."

In recent years, Central Florida's theme parks increasingly have used passes to manage attendance and encourage tourists to return during their vacations.

Herbst said annual passes are aimed at people who live nearby.

"It's safe to say that the likely guest will be pretty local and will come in the summer," he said.

Christopher Boyd can be reached at 407-420-5723 or cboyd@orlandosentinel.com.

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