A Drift Down Cross Country Creek: The Lazy River at Disney's Blizzard Beach

If you’re planning a little relaxation time during your Walt Disney World vacation, what better way to do so than by drifting down Cross Country Creek, the lazy river at Disney’s Blizzard Beach? This 3,000-foot-long inner tube voyage around the park allows the opportunity to take things slow. You’ll be in vacation mode in no time.

Below, we’ll take a photo tour of Cross Country Creek. Along the way, we’ll stop at each landing. When we’re not looping the lazy river for fun, we enjoy taking it as a means of getting around the park. So we’ll discuss what you’ll find near each landing. However, know if you miss a stop, you can always exit at the next one and walk back. Or, even better, you can loop back around and take it the next time. It takes approximately 20 minutes to circle the lazy river in its entirety.

Guests floating down the lazy river at Disney's Blizzard Beach.

How Disney Water Parks Operate

It’s important to note that Disney’s water parks operate differently and each one closes for a yearly refurbishment period. You’ll want to check exact hours and availability based on your travel dates. The water parks may close on days when colder temperatures are forecasted.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have lazy rivers that circle the park’s perimeter. However, the lazy rivers travel in opposite directions. Cross Country Creek circles the park counter-clockwise, while Castaway Creek circles the park clockwise.

Inner tubes are provided. Most guests wait at the landing for their desired float to come by. Options are typically single, double, and half-moon innertubes. Smaller tubes are available for toddlers and preschoolers. Complimentary lifejackets in various sizes are available for all guests and can be worn in the lazy river.

a sign that indicates the entrance of Cross Country Creek

Before you enter the lazy river, you’ll notice a few posted rules.

Swim or board a one person tube and let the waters carry you along this gently meandering river as it traverses Blizzard Beach.

Children under the age of 12 must have adult supervision. Weak swimmer’s should use Blizzard Beach personal flotation devices or a swimmer’s aid. No food drink or glass in pool or on the pool deck. Shower before entering. Enter and exit at stairway only. Current is strong at times. Swim with the current. For safety, diaper age children must wear plastic pants or swim diapers. Water depth is 2 ft. 6 in. (0.8 m.) No diving.

Blizzard Beach Signage

A sign that shows the entrance to Penguin Landing at Cross Country Creek.

Cross Country Creek has seven landings. They are:

Polar Bear Landing
Bunny Landing
Manatee Landing
Flamingo Landing
Reindeer Landing
Penguin Landing
Ice Gator Landing

A sign for Flamingo Landing at Cross Country Creek lazy river.

Polar Bear Landing is at the front of the park, near the gift shop, primary restrooms, changing areas, and lockers. You’ll also exit here for Melt-Away Bay and Lottawatta Lodge. Next, we have Ice Gator Landing, closest to Tike’s Peak, Ski Patrol Training, and the Chairlift. Penguin Landing is not far past Ice Gator Landing. You’ll encounter it right before you go through the waterfall and cave. You can exit here to take the stairs up to Mount Gushmore for Teamboat Springs, Summit Plummet, and Slush Gusher (Green Slopes). Beware, it’s a long set of stairs, and the chairlift drops off at the same place!

Reindeer Landing is on the opposite side of the cave. You can hop off here and climb the backside of the mountain for Runoff Rapids at the entrance to the Red Slopes. Next, we run into Flamingo Landing. Take this exit for the purple slope slides: Toboggan Racers, Snow Stormers, and the Downhill Double Dipper. You can also take Manatee Landing to access the purple slopes slides. Lastly, before coming full circle, you’ll see Bunny Landing near a private umbrella and cabana area.

The signage for Reindeer Landing at Blizzard Beach's lazy river.

Below, we have a picture of a landing. Each one has a wide staircase leading down to the lazy river. Most of the landings exit inside the lazy river. Each exit has a bridge nearby to cross to the opposite side.

Two floats sitting on the landing steps for the lazy river.

A view of the lazy river at Blizzard Beach as seen from a bridge over it.

Cross Country Creek is mostly shaded, so you won’t have to deal with too much direct sunlight. But please remember sun protection.

A lifeguard watches as guests float by in the lazy river.

You’ll notice a few fun-themed elements as you travel the lazy river, like this former snow machine that now serves as a water spray element.

A snow machine theming element that acts as a water sprayer to guests in the lazy river.

Ice Gator’s Shack is also along the route. He’s probably at home. The story goes that he’s sick with a cold. So don’t be surprised if you hear a sudden sneeze as water sprays out his chimney onto unsuspecting guests.

A glimpse of Ice Gator's shack in the lazy river with a clothesline hanging outside.

A closeup of Ice Gator's shack in the center of the lazy river which doubles as a water spray element.

An alternative view of the lazy river at Blizzard Beach.

You’ll enter an illuminated cave on the backside of the lazy river. Melted snow creates an icy waterfall near the entrance.

A waterfall runs over the entrance to the cave in the lazy river at Blizzard Beach.

The interior of the illuminated grotto at Disney's Blizzard Beach.

Here are a few photos. A walkway runs parallel to the lazy river and travels through the cave.

The exit of the cave in the lazy river with lush landscaping.

A view of a lifeguard at the lazy river's cave exit.

Steps at the landing where guests can exit Cross Country Creek.

If you’re looking for a private place to sit and read a book, you’ll find plenty of lounge chairs in this area. Here are a few more photos.

The lazy river with a parallel walkway at the back of Disney's Blizzard Beach.

A sidewalk that laps the park with landscaping on each side.

A walkway is available through the cave area at the lazy river.

A walkway through the cave next to Cross Country Creek at Blizzard Beach.

The Resorts Gal Spin on Cross Country Creek

Cross Country Creek gets the green light! It’s an attraction you can do anytime. We love the lazy river at Disney’s Blizzard Beach and think it’s the perfect way to relax. If you read our what to do on your arrival day guide, you might remember we mentioned visiting a water park and taking things slow. You could spend the entire afternoon looping the lazy river and have the best time!

Resorts Gal Traffic Signals

Green Light

We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.

Red Light

We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.

Shows a long section of Cross Country Creek from above it with inner tubes.

Final Thoughts

Cross Country Creek is a fun attraction. It’s also an ideal mode of transportation for getting around the park, as long as you’re not in a hurry! For more on the water park, you might enjoy the following:

You might also enjoy the Resorts Gal Guide to Blizzard Beach or our extensive coverage of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. For all of our coverage of the water parks, try the Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Water Parks.