You'll have to forgive any typos that you find in this month's OFT column. You see, I've been to Aquatica 2 1/2 times over the past month. And -- to be honest -- my fingers are still kind of pruney.
But after a month of soft openings, SeaWorld Orlando's waterpark has its official grand opening this past Friday. And -- to date -- the only real complaint that I've heard about Aquatica has to do with that park's capacity.
Now I know that this is going to sound kind of strange. Particularly given that Aquatica is a 59-acre waterpark with more than 80,000 square feet of beach. But this waterpark really can't handle more than 7,000 guests at any one time.
Aquatica's entrance sets the tone for the entire park. Which entertains but doesn't overwhelm. Photo courtesy of Denise Preskitt of MouseSteps.com
Mind you, that was a deliberate choice on the Busch Entertainment Group's part. They wanted Aquatica to be a much more intimate & luxurious experience for SeaWorld Orlando visitors. Which (they hoped) would help set their waterpark apart from all the others in the Orlando area.
The downside of this is that -- according to what SeaWorld insiders have told me -- Aquatica typically fills to capacity by 11:30 a.m. Which is why -- if you really want to experience Orlando's newest waterpark during your next Central Florida vacation -- you need to be entering Aquatica no later than 11 a.m.
The upside of arriving by 11 is that you'll be just in time for lunch. Which would be an excellent time to sample Aquatica's three restaurants: the Beach Coconut Cookout, Mango Market and the WaterStone Grill. These onsite eateries offer a much wider variety of foods & beverages then you'll typically find at a waterpark.
But that was the Busch Entertainment Group's goal all along. To create a different sort of waterpark. Which explains the bigger chair-to-guest ratio that you'll find at this new SeaWorld Orlando facility. Not to mention those 18 private cabanas that are available for rental inside the park. You can really live the lush life when you spend the day at Aquatica ... If you'd like.
Okay. This isn't to say that SeaWorld Orlando's new waterpark is completely flawless. Take -- for example -- Aquatica's highly touted Dolphin Plunge. Where you're supposed to get this great view of some Commerson's dolphins as you slide through a clear acrylic tube. Well, it took me three separate trips down Dolphin Plunge before I finally learned which angle I needed to keep my head at (More importantly, when to keep my eyes open) before I finally got to see those dolphins.
You see? There really are some Commerson's dolphins in that pool. Photo courtesy of Denise Preskitt of MouseSteps.com
But that quibble aside, I have to admit that I've really enjoyed the days that I've spent at Aquatica so far. And after chatting with other friends who work in the hospitality industry down here, I'd have to say that SeaWorld Orlando's latest addition is quickly becoming the preferred waterpark of young professionals in the Orlando area.
"But where does that put Central Florida's other waterparks?," you ask. Well, Wet 'n' Wild ... I'd have to say that that's the waterpark in town that has true teen appeal. This International Drive mainstay -- with its assortment of speed tubes as well as its cable-operated knee-boarding & wake-boarding WakeZone area -- goes over big with the high school crowd.
Whereas Blizzard Beach over at Walt Disney World ... That's the waterpark that (I think, anyway) appeals most to tweens. I don't know if it's BB's silly backstory (i.e. The place is supposed to be Central Florida's first ski resort) or the park's goofy mascot (i.e. Ice Gator) or just the fact that there's a miniature golf course right next door (i.e. Disney's Winter Summerland). But 9 to 14 year-olds just can't seem to get enough of Blizzard Beach.
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As for Typhoon Lagoon ... I think that this WDW favorite (Which celebrates its 20th anniversary next June) is the area's best waterpark for families. With that huge wave pool at the very heart of the park (Which -- FYI -- is still the largest one in the U.S.) as well as its elaborate theming, Typhoon Lagoon is still a great place for you, the wife and kids to go cool off. Particularly since that they've added those Crush 'n' Gusher water coasters to TL's Hideaway Bay section.
But if you're looking for a more intimate & upscale waterpark experience while you're vacationing in Orlando ... I'm thinking that Aquatica is the way you ought to goo ... gop ... go ...
(Sorry about that. Dang pruney fingers.)
Orlando Fun Tickets is located less than 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.And if you've like to see even more great shots of Aquatica (like the one below), go check out Denise Preskitt's photos of SeaWorld Orlando's new waterpark at MouseSteps.com (L to R) Heather, Eric and Aaron doing their "High School Musical" poster impression. Photo courtesy of Denise Preskitt of MouseSteps.com
Orlando Fun Tickets is located less than 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.And if you've like to see even more great shots of Aquatica (like the one below), go check out Denise Preskitt's photos of SeaWorld Orlando's new waterpark at MouseSteps.com
(L to R) Heather, Eric and Aaron doing their "High School Musical" poster impression. Photo courtesy of Denise Preskitt of MouseSteps.com
We(myself, GF and her 6 yr old daughter and 11 yr old son) went to Aquatica the first monday in April and it was packed. I am pretty sure it reached capacity. I thought it was great. Is it as heavily themed as TL or BB, no but it has more of a theme than most waterparks. I think the big complaint among locals is that the animal exhibits weren't as impressive as they made them sound and does not look as lush as the concept art and the model they built. The other complaint is the whoever designed the lazy river/slide area was an idiot. You have to cut across the lazy river, get a tube from it to get to the 2 slides on an island in the river. Yes, it is cool that the slides end in the river but it just creates a giant bottleneck on top of the fact that the lazy river is a joke. It is way to short and the views into the dolphin tank and fish tank are def not as impressive as they were made out to be.
However, the water play structure and the fast river I thought were the best part of the parks. Why more parks have not put in one of these rapids river is beyond me. You put on a life vest and float down the river at a high speed with sections that have rapids and various other water effects. We probably stayed in it for almost an hour.
The water play structure was a blast. I can remember when water parks only had a section for little kids to play in now you have one that everyone can play in. We had a blast with that. It was awesome and I felt like a kid again. Dumping water on people and turning on and off all the different spray effects. Even the slides were cool.
Also, one thing they def have that is better than any waterpark I have ever been to is the food. We did the Banana Beach Cookout which is an all you can eat buffet that you can either pay for one time or all day. We did the one time thing and the food was excellent. Fresh fruit, bbq chicken, burgers(including veggie), all kinds of salads and some of the best chocolate pudding I have ever had at a park. And it was reasonably priced. esp since it included your drinks.
I think Busch has a hit on there hands but it def. needs some tweaks(a few more animal exhibits to play up the selling point of the park) and does need another slide tower or a real lazy river to help with capacity. I don't know why more parks don't follow Disney's lead and put in a long lazy river. It has a large capacity and it is a nice way to relax for a little while.
What exactly is the capacity issue? Is it too crowded, or do they stop admittance to the park? Also, what are the average wait times? Just curious...
So what's the best park for childless 30-somethings? =)
Of course, money-wise it's always going to be TL or BB for us, since admission is included in our Disney passes. =)
That was (without question) the single best review I have ever read about a waterpark. We (my family) are waterpark veterans. We've held annual passes to the Walt Disney World waterparks for better than five consecutive years.
We were delighted with our visit to Aquatica. Like any waterpark you absolutely MUST arrive early. You do the "line-up" attractions first (slides) early. And then you do your "No-line-up-just-plunge-in" rides when crowds build (wave pools, lazy river, kids areas).
HUGE KUDOS for noting the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon. Not only is is PERFECT in EVERY SINGLE WAY, but I would contend it is the most UNDER-RATED attraction in Central Florida.
A great, great report!
My family and I spent the day at Aquatica on April 11th. I thought the fast river was an innovative and fun experience. We also rented a cabana for the day. The cabana was a must have because shade is a hard thing to come by in this park. Overall I perfer either of the Disney water parks over Aquatica. It had long lines and like others have said, the lazy river/toiletbowl ride area was an absolute clusterf***. I would rate it better than Wet-n-Wild, but I even perfer some of the Wisconsin Dells parks over Aquatica. I give it a C+.