wet n wild – Orlando Attraction Tickets blog

March 22, 2017

Universal Confirm Wet N’ Wild Site To Become A Hotel

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Now you know me, I’m not one to say I told you so but…back in 2015 I totally told you!

Here’s the article I’m referring to scroll done to the bottom of the page and you’ll note my prediction in bold!

Yep its official Universal have filed documents with Orlando City confirming that they are looking to add 4000 rooms to the site formally known as Wet n’ Wild.

The Orlando Sentinel which makes a habit of breaking these types of stories has confirmed that within the filing Universal entered a master-plan framework for the area however Universal have revealed little else, no name, not theming. As reported widely a sketch was also provided with the filing which shows three parking structures and shows that Universal require a part of a street, Precision Drive, vacated.

Two things that immediately spring to mind upon looking at these plans, firstly are Universal actually building two hotels? Secondly, how will Universal get visitors from the new hotel(s) to the parks?

We’ll continue to update.

Smiles included…

Jamie

December 13, 2016

Wet ‘n Wild’s Top Attraction 2016

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Wet ‘n Wild is sadly closing permanently on the 31st December 2016 so this will be the last time the top attractions at this park will be voted for. 🙁

Thrill seekers have voted Aqua Drag Racer as the top attraction for 2016. This is the tallest and fastest ride of its kind in Florida! It is a four lane slide which really brings our your competitive side.

You will take this slide on head first over 360 feet of twisting and turning track and standing at 65 feet tall you can only imagine the kind of speeds you will pick up along the way!

Second Place: Brain Wash – “A mind-altering trip down a 53-foot vertical drop into a domed funnel.”

Third Place: Disco H2O – This is like a water slide inside a night club, a great, upbeat slide!

Fourth Place: The Storm – There is no raft or mat needed on this one.. you’ll spin around countless times before shooting into the pool below.

Fifth Place: Bomb Bay – This is a scary but absolute must do drop slide!!

Smiles Included,

Jess

November 4, 2016

Revised Wet ‘n Wild Opening Hours

Hey Thrill Seekers,

As we all know, sadly Universals Wet ‘N Wild is permanently closing on the 31st December 2016. Due to this closure there has been some changes to the operating calendar for the remainder of this year.

From November onward Wet ‘n Wild will be closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. There is however an exception to this as the park will remain open every day during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“Wet ‘n Wild will be open each day of the week except Wednesdays and Thursdays for the remainder of the year. As an exception, it will be open November 23-24 and December 28-29 during normal park operating hours of 11am-5pm. This partial, seasonal, adjust of hours is common in the water park industry.”

Wet ‘n Wild will be closed on the following dates:

November – 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 30th.

December – 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd.

The parks operating hours will be 11am – 5pm for all of the dates that it is open with the exception of the 26th December – 31st December where it will be open between the hours of 10am – 5pm.

Wet ’n Wild opened in 1977 (this was waaaaay before i was born!!) and has been owned by Universal since 1998. Upon announcing the closure Universal stated:

“Since its opening in 1977, Wet ‘n Wild Orlando has been a place where guests have created wonderful memories. As America’s first water park, Wet ‘n Wild has been the birthplace of numerous innovations that are now considered a common part of the water park experience.”

It will be very sad to see Wet ‘n Wild close at the end of the year and if you’re wanting to visit again one last time before it closes for good, or if you haven’t ever been to Wet ‘n Wild but want to be able to experience it before it’s gone forever then don’t forget to purchase one of our Universal 3 Park Bonus tickets.

Smiles Included,

Jess

July 24, 2015

Why The 18th December 2016 Is Going To Be Packed At Universal Orlando Resort

Hey Thrill Seekers,

I know by the title of this post you’re probably thinking I have some kind of power to see into the future… a mystic meg if you will! However I can report that this is not the case (to my knowledge) but I do stick to this prediction…

Why? you may ask. Well luckily for you I’m going to explain in this very post.

Back in May we posted about the exciting news that Universal were set to open up a new state of the art water park called Volcano Bay. We love water parks and we love new stuff, so this got us all very excited. We’ve discussed what the initial concept art told us about Volcano Bay, we’ve even had a stab at guessing some of the names of the new rides. However with Volcano Bay not due to open until 2017 we’ve not really been able to confirm much.

One thing we definitely could confirm though just a couple of weeks later was the news that Wet N’ Wild Orlando was closing. Universal confirmed Wet N’ Wild’s final day would be the 31/12/16…

It led us to speculate what Universal might do with the land.

What perhaps we should of been speculating on though, is what it would do to their tickets… and this is what has lead me to state that I believe the 18th December 2016 will be packed at Studios and Islands.

For 2016 all Universal tickets – 2 park Universal, 3 park Universal, Flex Ticket and Flex Ticket Plus and if featured in combo/bundle tickets will expire on the 31/12/16. All of Universal’s tickets will state “First use must occur by 18/12/16”. and that’s the reason I see the 18th as being rammed!

In my mind I see 1000’s of mad Brits quickly activating their Universal tickets… Although we’ve asked for clarification, Universal have yet to confirm if tickets will be accepted after this date with the knowledge that the ticket will stop working on the 31/12/16. When we get an update we’ll let you know but for now this is the official line.

To receive the full fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days of admission, the ticket must be used by the first use date printed on the ticket. The ticket will expire in full on the expiration date printed on ticket. Unused days shall be forfeited.

So for those heading to the parks on the 18/12/16…. good luck 🙂

Smiles included…

Jamie

June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

What Does Universal’s Volcano Bay Mean For Wet N’ Wild

Hey Thrill Seekers,

When Universal announced they were building a new water park the internet and our blog exploded. There’s no coincidence that our busiest ever day on attraction-tickets.info happened to be the same day we wrote about Volcano Bay. Rightly so, people are very excited about the park and its promised opening in 2017.

On that day myself and a few colleagues sat down to absorb the official press release. Here’s what the very first paragraph said;

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 28, 2015) – Universal Orlando Resort today announced a project of remarkable vision: to bring to life an entirely new water theme park experience. Called Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando Resort, it will join Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure and become the resort’s third incredibly immersive park.

Sounds awesome we all agreed… but hang on! Third incredibly immersive park?… Third!? Hang on let me just count… 1 – Universal Studios… 2 – Islands of Adventure… 3 – Wet N’ Wild …. 4 – Volcano Bay. Now I’m no Carol Vorderman but I make that 4 immersive parks not 3!? Unless… Dear God no….

Volcano Bay was announced just before the start of IPW, an international event held this year in Orlando where the cream of the theme park industry (among others) get together to chat about commercial, marketing and future projects. Universal were part of this event. Dennis Quinn, Vice President of Destination Sales for Universal (and a lovely man) was actually asked directly about what Volcano Bay meant for Wet N’ Wild. Dennis refused to be drawn into comment.

What was confirmed is that tickets for Wet N’ Wild would continue to be available to the UK market during 2016. Not normally something that would be commented on, it’s been pretty standard for years now, it gives this writer the impression that perhaps 2016 is a deadline!?

So… this is what we think might happen, I stress, this what we think might happen. It’s pure speculation.

Any reference to Wet N Wild will be replaced by Volcano Bay, so for example the Universal 3 park bonus ticket which usually includes Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Wet N Wild, will still exist but the Wet N Wild part will become Volcano Bay. It makes a certain kind of sense, Wet N’ Wild has always felt a tiny bit separate from the Universal Resort.

What will happen to Wet N’ Wild? Well they might sell it on… but I don’t think that will be the case.

Recently I visited Universal and took part in what is called a Hotel Inspection, it’s not what you think, I wasn’t there to judge I was there for a guided tour of the facilities. There were quite a few head honchos who joined us and one of the main topics was demand for rooms outweighing the supply and this was literally while I was stood in Cabana Bay and a week after Universal had confirmed they were building Sapphire Falls Hotel. One of the Universal staff told me that with the rise of the UK and Brazilian market they could easily sell their inventory twice over.

Now I maybe jumping the shark a little early here (Happy Days reference), but could Universal be planning to use that prime location area to build a new hotel. The land is large enough to perhaps cater for a 600 room hotel bang in the middle of International Drive right near their other hotels and parks… The more people you can house the more people visit your parks etc!

So this is my guess; in 2017 Wet N Wild will close and make way for a new hotel. I could be totally wrong, but that of course is the nature of a guess but what I would suggest is if they look to build a new hotel, would only 3 gates (Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure & Wet N Wild) be enough… would Universal require a 3rd theme park?

One things for sure, Universal are the most exciting company in Florida at the moment.

Smiles included…

Jamie

June 24, 2014

Wet N’ Wilds Aqua Drag Racer Opens Today

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Diagon Alley isn’t the only new addition to the Universal family opening in Orlando. Today Wet N’ Wild officially opened Aqua Drag Racer, billed as the fastest mat racer attraction in Florida, riders start at a whooping 65ft up before racing each other through 4 individual lanes to determine who’s the quickest.

The opening comes a month after SeaWorld’s Aquatica opened Ihu’s Breakaway Falls its multi person drop ride.

Michael Black, senior vice president and general manager of Wet ‘n Wild Orlando told the Orlando Sentinel

Drag Racer features “single riders going down four individual lanes, but it’s very competitive. You’ll have families that are racing against one another and have friends racing against one another.

We dispatch them all at the same time, and it’s a race to see who makes it to the bottom first. It really is a multi-passenger ride.

Black is said to have agreed to build the new attraction when he spoke to a GM of a different park he was visiting who stated that the ride got a great customer response. Manufacturer’s stated that the riders travel at up to 15 feet per second.

I can wait to challenge my friends on this one. You can purchase tickets for Wet N’ Wild at Orlando Attraction Tickets for as little as £28 per person.

May 27, 2014May 28, 2014

Wet n’ Wild’s Aqua Drag Racer To Open On The 12th June 2014

Hey Thrill Seeker,

Today one of the major rides due to open in 2014 got an official opening date, Wet N’ Wild’s Aqua Drag Racer will open on the 12th June!

Standing six stories tall and featuring four parallel racing lanes, the Aqua Drag Racer is Florida’s tallest and fastest water-based racing attraction of its kind. Guests will take their place at a starting line that is 65 feet high and prepare for a turbo-charged adrenaline rush the whole family can share. Get ready for a full throttle plunge at screaming speeds while powering through enclosed braided, twisting tunnels at fifteen feet per second. It is full throttle acceleration with no brakes allowed and the newest way families share the rush in a head-to- head racing competition at Wet N’ Wild!

“The Aqua Drag Racer adds to our already exciting lineup of one-of-a-kind attractions,” said Michael Black, Sr. Vice President & GM of Wet ‘n Wild. “We have more rides and more multi-person thrill rides than any other waterpark in Central Florida and this new attraction offers yet another way for you and your family to share the rush together.”

Wet N’ Wild have offered the first 500 through the gate on launch day a free fast pass. Height Requirement: Rider must be at least 42” tall.

Smiles included…

Jamie

February 11, 2014February 11, 2014

Universal’s Wet N’ Wild New Aqua Drag Racer To Open Summer 2014

Hi Thrill Seekers,

Wet N’ Wild Orlando have today announced they will be opening a new four lane water slide called Aqua Drag Racer. Stated to stand over six stories high Wet N’ Wild are billing it as the fastest, tallest ride of its kind in Orlando.

The new mat slide attraction scheduled to open this summer will replace Bubba Tub (which was closed the last time I visited) and will allow riders to travel at 15 feet per-second.

Based on a racing theme riders are encouraged to try and beat each other as confirmed by Michael Black, Sr. Vice President & GM of Wet ‘n Wild.

The new Aqua Drag Racer will pull guests into a high-speed thrill ride unlike any other around, This ride combines friendly competition along with the excitement of sharing the rush with family and friends.

Aqua Drag Racer will be the second multi-person attraction to open at an Orlando water park this summer, as Aquatica revealed late last year their intention to open Ihu’s Breakaway Falls.

I can’t wait to ride both, you can purchase Wet N’ Wild Length of stay ticket for as little as £26.00 from Orlando Attraction Tickets.

Smiles included…

Jamie

November 23, 2012

Which Water Park Should I Visit?

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

January 25, 2012

Universal Orlando The Year To Be Here?

As we mentioned on the 19th, today Universal Orlando hosted a webcast detailing why 2012 was “the year to be here”, here being Universal.

Universal didn’t reveal anything we didn’t already know, how they did provide more information on specifics. Here’s the break down

February 2012 – Will see the Blue Man Group launch its new show at Universal, we will also see the mini golf areas open up to the public.

March 2012 – Will see the Amazing Spider-Man ride release its enhanced look and feel, see this video for a glimpse.

Spring 2012 – Will see two new parades at universal called Universal Studios Superstars this parade will feature Spongebob, Dora, Despicable Me and Hop themes plus Lagoon Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories.

Summer 2012 – Will see the launch of the 3D stimulator, Despicable Me! Minion Mayhem…

and Wet & wild’s new play area rumoured to have 15 slides & 100 “soakers”.