Hey Thrill Seekers,
Orlando boasts some of the most impressive water parks in the World and visiting one of them should be high on your list of things to do; but if you could only visit one which one would it be?
In today’s post we will look at four of Florida’s most impressive water parks and see what they have to offer.
SeaWorld’s Aquatica
Aquatica is SeaWorld’s Orlando water park and is relatively new, opening its doors to the public in 2008. In its first year it hosted 950,000 guests, making it the fourth-most visited water park in the United States and eighth-most visited in the world.
It offers something for the whole family including a designated children’s area for the young ones but also boasts 36 water slides for the more adventurous.
Top Attraction – Dolphin Plunge – the park’s signature attraction, these two enclosed tube slides pass through a pool containing a pod of Commerson’s dolphins.
What People Say –
Top choice for water parks in the Orlando area. Had greater expectations for the dolphin slide but the transparent length is too short to really see anything. Plan to arrive early to enjoy shorter lines. The bathroom facilities were very good and functional. Nice to get a hot shower right after your water slides.
Great water park. Arrive early for short wait times. River rapids were awesome
If you go in the off-season (e.g. in the fall or winter) this place is great because all the rides have very short lines for most of the day, and no lines at all for the last hour of the day. Aquatica is open year round as long as the weather is decent (today it was great – high of 82 F in late December). The food isn’t very good – it’s fast food quality but it’s not always fast and sometimes you can be stuck waiting in line 20 minutes for a cheeseburger. But you don’t go to Aquatica for the food. You go there to ride some waterslides, and they have lots of good ones. My favorite is HooRoo Run. My seven year old likes Taumata Racer and wants to ride it over and over again. My three year old is into Kata’s Cove and wants to keep riding the slides there over and over until you drag her away kicking and screaming after she’s ridden them about a hundred times.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach
Opened in 1995 Disney’s Blizzard Beach is based on the “legend” of a freak snow storm hitting Orlando. According to the Legend once the snow had melted the Ski resort that had been built was redundant, just as the resort was about to be bulldozed an Alligator slid down a flume and splached in to the water, so much fun was had that the resort became Disney’s 3rd water park!
In 2009, the park hosted approximately 1.89 million guests, ranking it the second-most visited water park in the world.
The park boasts some of the best scenery of any water park including Mount Gushmore where most of the rides begin.
Top Attraction – Summit Plummet is the flagship attraction at 120 feet (36.6 m) tall, and speeds 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). It’s the second tallest and fastest free fall slide in the world.
What people say –
Leave it to Disney to perfect water fun” say fans of this “relaxing” aquatic playground, where the “well-executed” “blizzard-hits-Florida” theme brings together “the look of ice with the warmth of summer activities”; it’s “spread out enough to not seem too crowded”, so even if it’s a “bit expensive”, it’s still “one of the best ways to stay cool.
Great family day out in the water.
a really fun water park. just don’t try slusher gusher or summit plummet unless you enjoy having your bathing suit wrapped around your neck, having water up your nose, or feeling like you aren’t gonna live to tell about this!
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
Typhoon Lagoon has been on many occasions the most visited water park in the World boasting annual visits of over 2 million people. The “legend” surrounding this water park is based on a Typhoon hitting a tropical Lagoon.
Top Attraction – Crush ‘n’ Gusher the only Water coaster I can think of. One to two person rafts are propelled by water jets through hairpin turns and drop-offs. This attraction includes a choice of the water coaster slide “Banana Blaster”, “Coconut Crusher”, or “Pineapple Plunger”.
What people say –
You’ll “feel like you’re in the islands” at this “family-friendly” water park where visitors can “stay cool and wet” by snorkeling with sharks, braving “roller-coaster type slides” or taking a dip in the “best wave pool on the planet”; “beautifully landscaped”, “lush” grounds lend a “tropical vibe” and further make it a “relaxing break from the parks
I had the time of my life with one of my best friends there. I’ll never forget that place!
The wave pool is AWESOME! Disney waterparks are fantastic. I also enjoy Blizzard Beach very much. I live in Florida and never get tired of Disney waterparks! BEST IN TOWN!
Universal’s Wet N’ Wild
Funnily enough Wet N’ Wild was founded by SeaWorld creator George Millay in 1977 and is considered the first major water park in the USA.
Although a new kids area is currently being built the park has the reputation of being more suited to the thrill rider and boasts the most amount of dual person rides at any water park.
Top Attraction – Bomb Bay – The ride for all dare devils is right here. Go inside the rocket awaiting unknowingly for the trap door to open that sends you down a 76-foot (23 m), nearly vertical slide to the depths below.
What people say –
A “perfect escape on a hot day”, this “classic” International Drive water park is “packed full” of “rides for kids of all ages”, plus “killer slides” and “relaxing” “hangout spots” like a wave pool and lazy river; it costs “less than other” nearby places, and a new addition, the sandcastle-themed Blastaway Beach, adds about an acre of additional tot-friendly fun and may help alleviate “crowded” conditionsThis place is awesome! I’ve went in summer 2005-2006. Had a blast! Especially that day was the Puerto Rican Festival. Great live music and food was delicious. I greatly recommend it! Great to enjoy with family. This time I’m going with my young one
We’ve been to all the water parks in the Disney-Universal area and W&W is one of the best! We love the “vintage” feel, enjoy the older and newer attractions, and most of all, some of the food vendors are now offering vegetarian options (the other parks don’t). Just one suggestion – please add more lounging areas…we make sure to come in early enough to get nice seating, but lounge chairs are gone shortly after opening time and you see people fishing for any open space…Keep up the good work.
So there we have it four of the top water parks in Orlando. For me I personally enjoyed Wet N’ Wild the most as I’m a bit of an adrenaline junky.
Which is your favourite?
regards,
Jamie
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