Blizzard Beach update?

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Are they still doing the FP test there, and if so, for how much longer? Any details on how that is going?

Is Runoff Rapids open yet?

Thanks!

 

[Klayfish]

We were at WDW from June 30 through July 16th and made several visits to BB. Last one was around July 13th. They had just started testing FP+ on the 5th or 6th. They told us it would be a 6 week test at the minimum, so it'll go through Labor Day. So we spent two different days testing it. It's being used on 3 rides, and frankly it's a waste for two of them.

Downhill Double Dipper - it's great that it has a FP+ now, but that only gets you to the front of the line to grab a tube. You still have to wait in the line to go up the stairs and onto the ride. So it's still a 30 minute wait during peak hours, even with the FP+.

Teamboat Springs - this ride almost never needs a FP+ anyway. The rafts hold up to 6 people and they move them pretty quick. So it doesn't really save you anything.

Summit Plummet - this is where it really helps. You get to the front of the line, which is now stopped before you start ascending the stairs. They let a handful of people go to the stairs at a time. If you have FP+, you're at the front of the line. So your wait may only be 10 minutes. However, they need to upgrade the queue. It's not designed for FP+, as it's just a sidewalk. That sidewalk is not only the queue for Summit Plummet, but also for Slush Gusher. So you have two groups of lines, Summit on the left, Slush on the right. There is a green line pained in the center of the sidewalk. For FP+, you're supposed to follow that line, splitting the middle of the two queues. However, guests tend to stand all around the sidewalk, so it's a lot of "Excuse me, pardon me" as you go. People who don't realize it's FP+ think you're cutting in line. It's a bit confusing. I'm sure they'll fix that, but for now, it's messy.

FP+ times are very shortly after you get your tag. For instance, if you get a FP+ at 1:30pm, your return time is probably going to be 1:45pm to 2:15pm, maybe sooner.

Runoff Rapids was still closed as of 3 weeks ago. From the looks of it, and from what CMs told me, it won't be reopened until next year. BB is closing for refurb this winter anyway, so I'm sure they'll address it then. For now, it's partly covered by overgrown trees and the slides are full of old pine needles.

 

[Chimaera]

I haven't done BB in years, but are there kiosks or do you need your phone to make FP+ reservations during the day? Seems like having to carry your phone with you (or retrieve it from your locker constantly) isn't a good thing at a water park.

 

[Klayfish]

I haven't done BB in years, but are there kiosks or do you need your phone to make FP+ reservations during the day? Seems like having to carry your phone with you (or retrieve it from your locker constantly) isn't a good thing at a water park.

They have tables set up. For DDD, it's right near the slide exit. Summit and Teamboat have a shared table, near the ski lift. You just walk up and tell them how many you need. They then hand you the bands. First come, first serve.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

They have tables set up. For DDD, it's right near the slide exit. Summit and Teamboat have a shared table, near the ski lift. You just walk up and tell them how many you need. They then hand you the bands. First come, first serve.

Is there a limit on how many you can get? Can you have more than 1 FP at a time?

 

[Klayfish]

Is there a limit on how many you can get? Can you have more than 1 FP at a time?

For different rides, yes. But you can't have multiple ones for the same ride (well, I guess you could if you removed your wrist band, hid it and went back for another...assuming the CM doesn't recognize you). So you could have 3 bands around your wrist at one time, one for each of the 3 FP+ rides. The challenge there is that you only have a 30 minute FP+ window, and they likely will overlap. For example, around 11am, we went to both tables to get FP+. Well, the window for all 3 rides was roughly 11:10am to 11:40am, so that meant we had to try to get to all 3 in that time frame. Because of the slow line at DDD, we wound up a little late for Summit. They let us in, but still something to be aware of.

The best strategy for hitting the big stuff at BB is to show up at 9:55am. They open at 10am (usually...whatever opening time is just be 5 minutes early). Hit Summit without FP+, there is zero wait if you go right to it. If you want, go back up and hit Slush...also no wait. Then go hit DDD quickly, before it starts to get a line. You can accomplish all 3 of those with no FP+ and no wait within 20 minutes. If you want to hit one of them again without a FP+, go for it. Lines don't start to build until about 45 minutes after opening. Then is when you'll want FP+ for Summit.

EDIT: I didn't count, but on our last visit, I would estimate we did the following within a 3 hour period... Summit 3x, Slush 2x, DDD 3x, Teamboat 3x, wave pool for a long time, 2 laps in lazy river, plus the mat slides at least once each.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

For different rides, yes. But you can't have multiple ones for the same ride (well, I guess you could if you removed your wrist band, hid it and went back for another...assuming the CM doesn't recognize you). So you could have 3 bands around your wrist at one time, one for each of the 3 FP+ rides. The challenge there is that you only have a 30 minute FP+ window, and they likely will overlap. For example, around 11am, we went to both tables to get FP+. Well, the window for all 3 rides was roughly 11:10am to 11:40am, so that meant we had to try to get to all 3 in that time frame. Because of the slow line at DDD, we wound up a little late for Summit. They let us in, but still something to be aware of.

The best strategy for hitting the big stuff at BB is to show up at 9:55am. They open at 10am (usually...whatever opening time is just be 5 minutes early). Hit Summit without FP+, there is zero wait if you go right to it. If you want, go back up and hit Slush...also no wait. Then go hit DDD quickly, before it starts to get a line. You can accomplish all 3 of those with no FP+ and no wait within 20 minutes. If you want to hit one of them again without a FP+, go for it. Lines don't start to build until about 45 minutes after opening. Then is when you'll want FP+ for Summit.

EDIT: I didn't count, but on our last visit, I would estimate we did the following within a 3 hour period... Summit 3x, Slush 2x, DDD 3x, Teamboat 3x, wave pool for a long time, 2 laps in lazy river, plus the mat slides at least once each.

Thanks for the report.

I'm not sure how early we can get there. Wednesday and Saturday are our water park days (we plan on doing both). Tuesday is a late night at HS, so getting up early may be any issue. Friday is Pandora at night and maybe emh. Saturday morning is also midtrip laundry time.

We are also taking Disney busses.

Do the FPs run out early?

Why are people using standby if the return times are almost right away (for summit limit at least)?

 

[Klayfish]

Do the FPs run out early?

Why are people using standby if the return times are almost right away (for summit limit at least)?

In our experience, no the FP+ don't run out early...in fact they didn't run out at all. I don't remember the exact details, but one day we were there around 3pm and the FP+ return time was something like 3:25pm.

It's a great question as to why people are doing standby given that there are such short return times. It may have changed since we were there a few weeks ago...they had just started FP+ testing that week. However, I think it was mostly due to the fact that people just didn't know. There is a standing sign right past the entry tap point, but it's not "screaming obvious" that it's there and I think a lot of people just don't even notice. I can't tell you how many people looked puzzled and asked the CM questions as we were walking to the front of the FP+ line. Honestly, we may have initially missed it ourselves, but DS10 saw the sign and said "Hey mom, look!". The rest of us had walked right past it.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

In our experience, no the FP+ don't run out early...in fact they didn't run out at all. I don't remember the exact details, but one day we were there around 3pm and the FP+ return time was something like 3:25pm.

It's a great question as to why people are doing standby given that there are such short return times. It may have changed since we were there a few weeks ago...they had just started FP+ testing that week. However, I think it was mostly due to the fact that people just didn't know. There is a standing sign right past the entry tap point, but it's not "screaming obvious" that it's there and I think a lot of people just don't even notice. I can't tell you how many people looked puzzled and asked the CM questions as we were walking to the front of the FP+ line. Honestly, we may have initially missed it ourselves, but DS10 saw the sign and said "Hey mom, look!". The rest of us had walked right past it.

This reminds me; how many years did they have old FP and tons of people still couldn't figure it out and gave fp return people dirty looks.