What's New on the Mountains
Vail Resorts Announces 2023/24 Winter Opening Date Plans
From October to May, Epic Pass offers one of the longest seasons in North America. The season kicks off at Keystone Resort in October, contingent on Mother Nature and snowmaking. The rest of Vail Resorts’ resorts located in the Rocky Mountains and West plan to open by December 1, giving Pass Holders and guests an opportunity to maximize their time on the mountain all winter long. Whistler Blackcomb is scheduled to open on November 23 and will remain open into May. Lift tickets will be limited again this year to preserve the guest experience at each resort. Guests are encouraged to purchase their lift access in advance – whether that is a lift ticket, season pass or Epic Day Pass. If tickets are sold out online, guests will not be able to purchase them at ticket windows.
2023/24 Epic Lift Upgrades Will Enhance the Experience
Whistler Blackcomb’s Fitzsimmons Express will be replaced with a high-speed, 8-person chairlift – the first of its kind across Vail Resorts’ North American resorts. The upgrade will help reduce lift line wait times out of the base at Skier’s Plaza in Whistler Village, increasing uphill capacity and improving circulation in the mid-mountain area.
Know Before You Go: What to Expect in Whistler This Winter
Summer/Fall 2023 Lift Upgrade Project
Work continues for Whistler Blackcomb's upgrade to Fitzsimmons Express at the base of Whistler Mountain and operations are running smoothly. Fitzsimmons Express will go from a 4-person high speed chair to an 8-person high speed chair and is not be available for access to biking in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for the 2023 season. Please be mindful of the construction zone, look out for signage, and respect any closures. Access to the Bike Park is available via Creekside Gondola. View seasonal dates and hours and follow Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Ops on Twitter for timely operational updates.
Vail Resorts to Launch Hands-Free Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket
With Mobile Pass & Mobile Lift Ticket on the new My Epic app coming to guests this fall, your phone is your ticket to the slopes. The new tech will be available for the 2023/24 winter season at all Vail Resorts’ US resorts, with availability at Whistler Blackcomb to follow in future seasons. It will allow guests to buy their pass or lift ticket online, activate and store it on their phone in the new My Epic app, put their phone in their pocket, and get scanned, hands free, via Bluetooth® technology designed for low energy usage. This reduces the need to visit the ticket window or wait to receive a pass or lift ticket in the mail. In support of the company’s Commitment to Zero sustainability commitment, this change over time will also reduce the waste created by plastic cards and RFID chips. Read more at vailresorts.com.
What's New in the Village and Valley
Rainbow Park Closure for Rejuvenation
After 30 years as one of Whistler’s most popular destination parks, a refresh of Rainbow Park is underway for 2023. The park will be closed from June 5, 2023 until June 2024. The Province of British Columbia is investing Resort Municipality Initiative funds to upgrade the space for a wider variety of needs, activities and people. The park will be closed to the public for safety while it is an active construction zone, including the main beach, lawn, parking lots and the Valley Trail section running through the park. Learn more at whistler.ca.
Self-Guided Tours in Whistler
Go Whistler Tours, brought to you by Tourism Whistler and the Resort Municipality of Whistler, are curated tours that guide you to unique experiences and locations throughout our resort, from art galleries to nature walks, and help you to adventure more deeply in Whistler.
Epic Pass Expands its European Access
This winter’s Epic Pass provides even more access in Europe. Almost a year after Vail Resorts announced it acquired a majority stake in leading Swiss resort Andermatt-Sedrun, the company is now proud to share that neighbouring Disentis Ski Area joins the Epic Pass as a partner resort, starting with the 2023/24 winter season. Further, the company shared it has extended its long-term partnerships with three destination resorts throughout Europe: Les 3 Vallées in France, Ski Arlberg in Austria and Skirama Dolomiti in Italy. Read full media release at vailresorts.com.
Epic Coverage is back for the 2023/24 Season and is included free for all pass and EDGE Card holders, providing refunds associated with certain personal events including illness, job loss and injury.
Back for 2023/24: Epic SchoolKids Whistler Blackcomb Pack provides five days of free skiing for Canadian and Washington kindergartners through to grade five students. No purchase necessary!
Other passes available: Whistler Blackcomb Day Pass, Unlimited Season Pass, 10-day, 5-day and 2-day Whistler Blackcomb EDGE Cards.
Call Whistler Blackcomb Guest Services at 1.800.766.0449 for more information.
Skiing at Whistler Blackcomb
Winter in Whistler, Canada
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