Guide to Walt Disney World's Free Water Park Day Benefit for 2025 Resort Hotel Stays

Jan 02, 2025 in "Typhoon Lagoon"

Posted: Thursday January 2, 2025 9:20am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney is offering a new complimentary water park admission benefit for guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels in 2025. Registered guests can visit a Disney water park on their check-in day. Here's a quick breakdown of how it works.

Guests can visit either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach, depending on which park is open

Who's Eligible?

Guests must have a reservation at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel.
The benefit applies to check-in dates between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.
Only registered guests listed on the hotel reservation are eligible.

How It Works

Admission is valid only on the check-in day and cannot be used on any other day.
Guests can visit either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach, depending on which park is open.
Access is subject to availability, and water park schedules, including refurbishments and weather-related closures, may affect your visit. Check park calendars before your trip.

Limitations and Considerations

The benefit has no cash value and cannot be exchanged if the water park is closed on your check-in day.
As Disney water parks undergo routine refurbishments annually, only one park may be available during your stay.

Participating Resorts

Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Disney's Beach Club Resort
Disney's Beach Club Villas
Disney's BoardWalk Inn
Disney's BoardWalk Villas
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort - A Disney Vacation Club Resort
The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Discuss on the Forums

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Tha Realest2 days ago

This, $99 rates at the All-Star resorts, Goofy Movie love, Justin Timberlake relationship drama… The 90’s are BACK baby!

Keladry842 days ago

I'm doing a 1-night stay at All Stars Music at the beginning of my Epic Universe trip end of May, and this perk was what ultimately made me elect for All Stars over a couple of the hotels nearby that have lazy rivers but were about 40-50 dollars more expensive. Factoring in the free water park, granted everything goes smoothly with flights, is what sold me. So for at least some people, it's adding a booking that wouldn't have otherwise been there.

Disone2 days ago

In the case on BB, yes. It's already happening. BB has reached capacity and sometimes they are parking cars across the street.

ToTBellHop2 days ago

They HAVE needed both water parks this month. They just couldn’t pull it off.

Comped2 days ago

I'm pretty sure it was the hanging out bit. At least from what I've seen.

Epcot82Guy2 days ago

If I were to bet, I think they are representative of the same things. I don't think Epic is getting the numbers hoped - though the feedback is pretty positive, so that will likely spell a longer-term upward trend. Disney, like Universal, is not seeing the bookings they need - so this is a fairly aggressive perk in an underutilized asset. I do agree they probably saw a bigger response than they expected, and that is driving this. The question is whether it is driving additional room inventory use (the likely goal) or just cannibalizing what would otherwise be bodies at Disney Springs, hotel restaurants or - a good chunk - just hanging out at the hotel/hotel pool. I think it's a good idea on Disney's part. I just wonder if it is driving additional numbers or just adding to potential guest satisfaction.

plutofan152 days ago

Staffing, qualified lifeguards especially, is a big issue in the spring and fall when colleges/schools are back in session.

DisneyFanatic122 days ago

Here’s the way that I see it… Free waterpark perk? Response to the low bookings from Epic Universe (and to get people to start going to the waterparks again) Two waterparks being open? Response to Blizzard Beach closing frequently to capacity (and finally being able to find enough cast, although staffing will still be a challenge) No, I don’t think Disney saw Epic Universe opening and said “You know what’ll get people over to WDW? Both waterparks being open!”. I think they’re opening both because the perk brought in too many people and made the experience at the waterparks worse. Is it indirectly a response to Epic Universe? Yes, but it’s not like it’s a direct response.

LSLS2 days ago

So you think despite them needing to discount rooms under $100 a night over the summer, they are anticipating crowds so large they will need both parks open? Something they didn't feel needed for Spring Break crowds?

Disone2 days ago

I don't. They're closing it in September. This is not part of their strategy against epic. It's just to get through the summer crowds for the water parks.

LSLS2 days ago

Eh, I think Epic is a large part of it, even in a round about way. They always expected Epic was going to be a net positive for them in that more people would come down and spend at least some time at Disney. I think they've seen their summer numbers are way worse than even in their nightmare scenarios, and they are throwing anything they can to get people to spend at least some time at the park.

Disone2 days ago

Not sure why you discount that. They already announced that Blizzard Beach was going to close and then changed their course on that. I guess you could assume they changed due to epic opening, something we've known about for years. OR they changed their mind because they realized they were leaving money on the table with how busy the water park was due to the new resort benefit being in play. I just don't think there's a world where opening both water parks is the official strategy to combating the opening of Universal Epic Universe. But that's just me. You do you.