If you are planning your Disney World holiday, or if you're just interested in Disney, then check out my other Disney lenses.

Disney World Magic Kingdom Ride Guide
Disney World Animal Kingdom Ride Guide
Disney World Hollywod Studios Ride Guide
Disney World Epcot Ride Guide
Disney World Typhoon Lagoon Ride Guide

More to come!

Image by Flickr Member auntie rain

The Green Slope rides start at the very top of Mount Gushmore, to get to the top you can either take the chair lift (usually a longish queue but nice and easy) or the stairs (pretty tiring but avoids the queues). It is home to the flagship ride, Summit Plummet, as well as Teamboat Springs, which is a great family ride - it's definitely worth all those steps!

Summit Plummet

This is one of the world's tallest (120 feet) and fastest free-fall body slide and is definitely not for the faint-hearted. You basically step (or sort of scoot on you bottom if you're too afraid to step) off the edge and free-fall down the slide until the water stops you at the bottom. Some people have reached speeds of up to 55mph and there is a timer so you can see how long it took you.

This ride starts at the top of the "ski jump" and it looks as though it catapults you right off the edge of it! In reality though, it drops you straight through the middle of the jump so don't worry. This is definitely a ride for the thrill-seekers and is extremely scary! Also, once you get to the bottom your swimsuit will be so far up that you may need to do a little adjusting before standing up. I'd advise a one-piece for the ladies!

Height Requirement 122cm (48")

Teamboat Springs

This is the world's longest family raft ride (1400 feet) and it's a blast! You sit in big blue rafts that hold up to 6 people (with a minimum of 4 people) and you are sent twisting and turning down a series of waterfalls. It's similar to Gang Plank Falls at Typhoon Lagoon. It's pretty quick but fine for the kids - we took two little girls, one 2 yrs and one 4 yrs, on it and they both loved every second! Just make sure that they keep holding on to the handles or else they can get knocked around a bit. The water at the bottom is about mid-thigh depth for an adult so not too deep.

I recommend this ride highly but would advise doing it first thing in the morning because by mid-afternoon the queues are horrendous.

No infants

Slush Gusher

This is a great speed slide with some lumps and bumps that sometimes allow you to take off! It's good fun and if you lift your legs slightly as you go over the edge of a bump you can usually get a bit of 'air'. You can reach speeds of up to 35mph so it's pretty quick, it is probably too intense for the younger children but the height restriction mean that most of those who would be too scared are too short too. I would advise trying something like the Toboggan Racers first as it is a slightly milder version (although it's got more bumps).

Height requirement 122cm (48")

Chair Lift

This is a one-way transportation system which takes you to the top of Mount Gushmore to access the Green Slope rides. The queues can be quite long, but it does take a while to climb all the steps instead, and it is fun - try to make sure you take the chair lift at least once.

Each chair can fit up to 3 people and guests must be 122cm (48") or above to ride it unaccompanied. There is also a gondola to take disabled guests up.

No food, drinks, loose articles or bags
Height Requirement 81cm (32"), 122cm (48") to ride alone

Image by Flickr Member Anthonut

The Purple Slope rides are all designed for racing and it's great fun if you're visiting with friends. If you're alone though, just race against strangers! The way to access these rides is via a pathway next to the splash pool of Downhill Double Dippers - don't worry, it's well signposted.

Toboggan Racers

This is an 8-lane toboggan race in which guests lay on their stomach on a mat and go down head-first. It's great fun and there are a lot of dips on the way down - if you're lucky you might get a bit of a lift-off! The mats are collected at the top so you don't have to drag them up the steps - it's the same collection point as for Snow Stormers.

I think that this ride can be a little difficult for younger children as you do have to hold on to your mat quite tight. It's good fun though, and not too scary. Be careful right at the top, I got my mat stuck and had to wriggle around a bit to free it - needless to say I came last in the race!

Snow Stormers

Snow Stormers is also mat-based but it's not a straight race like the Toboggan Racers. Instead you race down a slalom-like course, with big hair-pin bends, and you can't see your competitors until you get to the bottom - hopefully in first place! It consists of three flumes and you can race to see who is fastest, the three routes are designed to be the same length. This is great fun and it's more suited to children, it's a little slower than the Toboggan Racers. I wouldn't advise taking really little children on it though as it is still pretty quick, and you do get sent round the bends pretty viciously!

Mats are collected at the top, as with the Toboggan Racers.

Downhill Double Dippers

This is an inner tube racing ride where two slides run side by side in a downhill race. Gates hold you back at the start so there's no cheating and a buzzer tells you when to go, it's timed too. It's pretty quick for an inner tube ride, at speeds of up to 25mph and it's pretty exhilarating. You disappear into a tunnel pretty much as soon as you start, only to reappear again right before the finish line - expect heavier people to do well time-wise on this ride!

It's not suitable for young children and there's a height restriction in place. It is quite scary and you do need to hold on to your inner tube pretty tight. Perhaps an adult should try it first and see if it's right for the kids?

Height requirement 122cm (48")

It's easy to get carried away at Disney and spend ridiculous amounts of money on your perfect holiday. However, with a few helpful hints you can save some serious cash so here's a few of mine:

• Take water in with you - the stuff in the park is pretty expensive


• Buy a cheap fan before you arrive - the heat will tempt you to buy one of those overpriced spray fans which aren't worth the money and you won't fit in your suitcase to take home!


• Check out the local Disney outlet stores and even Wal-Mart for merchandise as it's generally cheaper than in the parks - they're especially good for t-shirts.


• Hunt around for the best deals on park entrance tickets - you can even get them in Wal-Mart! If you're travelling form the UK then check out the new Ultimate tickets - they give you unlimited access for 2 or 3 weeks and are only available to UK guests.


• Don't link your credit card to your room key - you'll end up spending way more money!


• Think carefully about purchases, that huge plush toy of Buzz Lightyear may seem perfect for your youngest's bedroom but have you got the space (or the baggage allowance) to get it home?


• Generally, food in the parks is quite expensive so have a big breakfast, perhaps at one of the many all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets then you won't need so much for lunch.


• Take your own towels - you can hire them but they are pretty small and you'll end up buying one - at high park prices of course!

Also, one thing I would definitely recommend for hundreds of money-saving tips is Beth Haworth's Ultimate Disney world Savings Guide. She's a former cast member and she gives some great money saving advice. Just some of the things you can expect to find in her guide are:

• Get a 10 night stay at a 5* Disney Resort Hotel for $1,100 (RRP $3,100)


• Save up to $500 just on entrance tickets and tips on where and when to buy them


• Ideas for rainy days


• How to beat the queues


• Hidden entrances


• Comparing hotels to see which one suits you best


• Where to shop for souvenirs


• The best Downtown Disney attraction


• The best places to eat

There's much, much more than that (it's over 100 pages) and you also get a lifetime of updates - it's updated regularly and you are entitled to receive those updates forever. I would definitely recommend this guide - it makes that Disney dream a little more possible - especially if you're strapped for cash!

Click the image below for more information.

There are loads of great rides at Blizzard Beach but these are the three I'd recommend for all those seeking a bit of a scream!

1. Summit Plummet - a free-fall slide...the name says it all!

2. Slush Gusher - speed slide with "air time".

3. Downhill Double Dippers - one-on-one downhill race in a tube!

Definitely don't miss these three but try to get on all the rides!

Image by Flickr Member gnislew

This section is right at the back of the park and only has one attraction. Runoff Rapids is great fun though so it's definitely worth a go!

Runoff Rapids

This is an inner tube ride which has two outside and one enclosed routes - they are not designed for racing though, they are too different. You pick up an inner tube from the bottom, and can only get to the ride by the red slope stairs. There are many twists and turns so you should prepare to feel as though you're going to go over the top - rest assured that you won't though! I would suggest that this is a good ride for the more adventurous children for whom the Ski Patrol Training Camp is a little tame; it's a good introduction to the rest of the adult rides.

The fast rides are not for everyone, so here's my top 3 rides for the faint-hearted, try to get on all of them.

1. Teamboat Springs - great family raft ride.

2. Runoff Rapids - an excellent milder tube ride.

3. Toboggan Racers - a bit fast for a milder ride but great fun.

Check them out!

Water Park Single Day Tickets

This ticket gives you admission to a water park for one day. They're useful if you don't want to fork out for Water Park Fun and More on your Magic Your Way ticket but do want to go to a water park.

Ticket Type

Adult Price (10 yrs)

Child Price (3-9yrs)

Blizzard Beach Ticket

$39

$33

Typhoon Lagoon Ticket

$39

$33

Water Park Fun & More

You can also access Blizzard Beach as park of a general Disney World Ticket if you choose the Water Park Fun & More option.

This option gives admission to other Disney World attractions including the Water Parks, Disney Quest and Disney's Wide World of Sports. The number of admissions you get depends on the number of days you purchase. This is an essential if you want to make the most of the water parks and other attractions (although if you just want to go to one water park once, it may be better to just buy a day admission for that park).

No. of Days

Adult Price(10 yrs)

Child Price(3-9yrs)

1

$121

$110

2

$189

$167

3

$253

$221

4

$262

$228

5

$265

$229

6

$267

$231

7

$269

$232

8

$271

$235

9

$273

$236

10

$275

$237

Image by Flickr Member gnislew

Melt-Away Bay

This is a one-acre pool with small (bobbing) waves created by constant waterfalls from Mount Gushmore. It's a great place to chill out in the water for a while and cool off in between rides.

Cross Country Creek

This is a 3000 foot lazy river ride which you can use as a water taxi to get around the park. It is basically the same as Castaway Creek at Typhoon Lagoon. You can ride in inner tubes or just float along, and the route takes you through a dark and icy cave in which you'll be splashed with "melting ice". It's another nice way to relax and it's more fun than walking from one part of the park to another!

Ski Patrol Training Camp

This is an area for "inbetweenies", that is children (under 12s) for whom the adult rides are a little too intense but Tike's Peak is far too tame! It has a leisure pool with iceberg assault courses to try to navigate across. It also has a zip wire (T-bar) called Fahrenheit Drop which sends children into eight and a half feet of water. There are two slides, one called Freezin' Pipe springs which is a short body slide and the other called Cool Runners which is an inner tube ride which twists and turns around a set of moguls.

Cool runners is suitable for young children, we had a 2yr old and a 4yr old ride it and they both loved it. I would suggest that Freezin' Pipe Springs is for slightly older kids simply because it finishes in the same eight and a half feet of water that Fahrenheit Drop does. If your child is finding Tike's Peak a little boring then I would definitely suggest Cool Runners.

Fahrenheit Drop is restricted to BELOW 152cm (5')

Tike's Peak

This is an area for the youngest children (those under 122cm) and is basically a scaled down version of the rest of the park. It has gentle slides and water jets, as well as a zero-entry wading pool. There are also shady areas and picnic benches - if you've got small children it's a great place to set up camp first thing in the morning.

I would advise bringing some footwear though as the pavement can get pretty hot in the sun.

Height requirements BELOW 122cm (48")

Winter Summerland

This is a great crazy golf circuit, with 2 courses to play. One is winter themed and one summer and there are some great holes to play. Quite a few of the holes trigger actions if you send the ball the correct way so do go for the harder routes and see what happens! Prepare to get wet though, several of the figures do their best to get you wet.

There's something for everything at Blizzard Beach and that includes the kids. These are my top 3 rides for children.

1. Tike's Peak - great for the littlest ones.

2. Ski Patrol Training Camp - good for the "inbetweenies".

3. Runoff Rapids - a good introduction to the adult rides for the brave ones!

The big kids are probably braver than their parents so check out the top 3 thrill rides!

Image by Flickr Member athena1970

Lockers

Lockers can be found next to the main dressing rooms and near to the Downhill Double Dipper and Ski Patrol Training Camp. They cost:

Large Locker $8
Small Locker $6

You can get a $2 refund or a souvenir mug on returning your locker key.

Towels

You can rent towels for $2 but I would advise bringing your own. Bring more than one per person and stake out your place on some loungers when you first arrive.

Life Vests

You have to use Blizzard Beach life vests - you cannot bring your own. They are available for free, although you have to leave a deposit, and are available from Snowless Joe's near to the main dressing room.

Other Info

• You can bring food and drinks in coolers but there is not alcohol allowed and you can't have glass containers for obvious reasons - OUCH!
  
• Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult
  
• Swim wear with buckles or exposed metal is not allowed on the attractions.

Polaroid Image by Flickr Member anthonut