Hi there Lindsay! Welcome to planDisney, and thank you for your lovely question. Let me first say, I love this wish for you... and will be wishing upon a star that your
Blizzard Beach dream comes true!
This year's Disney Resort benefit of
free admission to a water park on arrival day has been an incredible opportunity. I'm with you, I've not yet been able to experience Blizzard Beach and the creative theming has me melting! Let's talk about how to navigate there from Port Orleans Riverside Resort (a delightful choice of resort, by the way).
Transfer service to Blizzard Beach is actually located at Disney's
Animal Kingdom Theme Park. So what you'll want to do is pack that tote filled with essentials for your day-in-the-sun, and head to the bus stop located in front of the Colonel’s Cotton Mill building. Hop on the Disney bus transportation from Port Orleans heading to Animal Kingdom, and there you'll make a bus transfer to a bus heading for Blizzard Beach.
Lindsay, if you do plan to take advantage of the "arrival day" water park adventure... let's talk about a plan. If you arrive before your room is ready for check-in, you can leave your bags with bell services. Luggage is not allowed on the Disney buses. Keep the items handy that you'll want to take to the water park, perhaps even packing a separate tote with your swimsuit, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, change of clothes and a wet bag for your wet items afterwards. You can keep an eye on the
Parks Operating calendar as you get closer to your vacation dates to see each water park's availability and hours.
If you do end up at "Plan B" Typhoon Lagoon, well... that's not too shabby, either. Because did you know that they sell those delectable mini donuts at the Joffrey's Coffee cart in both water parks? Mini donuts fill the cracks of the heart, that's my motto. If the waves do take you here... to navigate, you'll take resort transportation to Disney Springs, and then catch the bus to Typhoon Lagoon.
Lindsay, I do hope this helps and that you get to experience a splashtastic day of fun at Blizzard Beach! Sending all my pixie-dust and good vibes your way to have a wonderful time at Walt Disney World. Please send me a
note at planDisney if I can assist with anything else for your fantastic trip.
Adventure is out there!
Tami