Why Blizzard Beach’s Ski Patrol Training Camp is Perfect For Kids and Tweens

Disney’s Blizzard Beach is a water park that caters to children of various ages more than any we’ve visited. When my son was younger, he always wanted to go to Blizzard Beach over Typhoon Lagoon because there was just more stuff to do for his age. If we were to have a contest, I think most children would vote for Blizzard Beach, and parents would pick Typhoon Lagoon.

One of the reasons children would pick Disney’s Blizzard Beach is because of Ski Patrol Training Camp. It’s the perfect water park attraction for children considered tweens or preteens. If I were to guess, I would say most children in this area range from 8-13 years old. Below, we’ll discuss the various activities available at Ski Patrol Training Camp and preview photos of what to expect.

The entrance of Ski Patrol Training Camp is to the right of Melt-Away Bay, just past the chairlift’s entrance.

A sign at the entrance reads:

Geared for pre-teens, this “training camp” includes inner tube slides, a T-bar cable, body slides, and a challenging ice-flow walk. Food and drink are not permitted in the pools or on the pool decks. Shower before enterting the pools. For safety, diaper age children must wear plastic pants or swim diapers. No diving.

Blizzard Beach Sign

Here’s an overview of the pool area. We’ll get to it in more detail, but the area on the right side where the tunnel slide exits is about 8.5′ deep. (Complimentary lifejackets are available at Blizzard Beach.)

Perhaps the most popular part of the area is the Thin Ice Training Course. Children can test their balance as they walk across floating pieces of ice while hanging on to an overhead rope net.

Signage for the Thin Ice Training Course reads:

For Your Safety: Only one guest at a time. Hold onto rope and wait until area below is clear before crossing icebergs. Please proceed immediately to the other side. Water depth is 3’and 6″ (1.1 meters).

It’s hard to tell from the photo, but several courses make up a triangle. You can continue to the next when you reach the end of one.

Toward the front of the training course, you’ll find a pool area with a zero-depth entry.

Next, we’ll look at the Fahrenheit Drops. This T-Bar zip line attraction drops into the 8’6″ water we discussed above.

Here is the entrance to the zip line. All the slides and zip lines are staggered at the back of Ski Patrol Training Camp, also Mount Gushmore’s base.

This attraction has a height limit. The attraction sign reads:

Fahrenheit Drop

This attraction is for the enjoyment of of person 60″ and under. One rider at a time. Wait until the area is clear before swinging. No flipping, enter the water feet first. Once in the pool swim to the nearest exit. Water depth is 8 feet and 6 inches (152 cm.)

Blizzard Beach signage

An additional banner across the attraction’s entrance warns guests that they must be shorter than it to ride.

Here’s where the zip line extends to the pool. After each person goes, the T-Bar automatically returns to the jump point.

Right above Fahrenheit Drop, you’ll see Frozen Pipe Springs. This enclosed body slide lets out in the same area where the water is 8’6″ deep. The sign reads:

Frozenpipe Springs

For your safety: Onely one guests at a time on the slide. Wait until area below is clear before sliding. Slide feet first only. As soon as you have landed in the pool, please swim immediately to the nearest exit.

Here are a few photos.

Ski Patrol Training Camp has two additional sets of slides. The first is Cool Runners, which sits on the left side of the attraction. This inner tube slide travels down curvy embankments flanked by snow. Per the signage:

Slide Rules: For your safey, one rider per tube. Remain seated with feet forward in the tube and use handles at all times. Once you have landed in the pool, swim with your tube immediately to the nearest exit. Caution: Shallow water at the end of the slide. Do not flip the tube.

Here is the walkway up to all of the slides. On your way, you’ll get a close-up view of Summit Plummet, the park’s scariest slide. I don’t know about you, but I’ll stick to the lazy river.

A lifeguard or cast member will be at the top of Cool Runners to provide instruction. You’ll sit in your inner tube, face forward, and they’ll give you a slight push if needed to get you going.

A couple of “snow machines” mist water over the slides on the way down.

The misting water is fun and contributes to the abandoned ski resort’s look and feel.

Lastly, we have Snow Falls, which sits between Cool Runners and Fahrenheit Drop. This attraction is a downhill body slide.

Per the posted rules:

Snow Falls: For your safety, wait until area below is clear before sliding. Slide feet first only. As soon as you have completed your ride please exit immediately. Water depth is 3 feet 6 inches (1.1 meters)

This is a fast but pretty straightforward water slide.

You can likely see why we think Ski Patrol Training Camp is perfect for children in this age group. The attractions offer the right amount of thrill without being too intimidating. Well, except for the zip line. Some might have to work their way up to that one!

For more on Disney’s Blizzard Beach, you might enjoy the following:

• Tike’s Peak: The Frozen-Themed Play Area at Blizzard Beach
• List of Attractions with Height Requirements at Blizzard Beach
• Refillable Mugs Guide for Blizzard Beach
• Disney’s Blizzard Beach Dining Guide (Menus and More)

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.

In the Comments

What do you think of the Ski Patrol Training Camp? Did you find this overview helpful? Let us know below in the comments.