Orlando Water Parks

[gnorth16]

Disney's Blizzard Beach
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
Aquatica
Wet n Wild
Universal ???

There are probably others as well.

We are looking at spending a day at one of the water parks and don't know which to pick. We have not bought Disney or Sea World tickets and figured it would make sense to decide a water park before buying passes to the parks.
FWIW, the kids are 10 and 7, not the best swimmers, but still love the water. A wave pool is nice, a few slides, maybe a river rafting ride...

Input is appreciated.

 

[disneymom1]

The only water park I have been on your list is Aquatica. LOVE AQUATICA! The water park has the black and white dolphins with an underwater water slide. The park is amazingly clean. 2 large wave pools. Huge kiddie splash area with water slides. Very fun fast lazy river. Numerous water slides. There is literally something for all ages. LOVE IT!!!

This trip we have discounted Disney tickets that include the Disney water parks, so we are going to try them.

 

[timeos2]

Of all those you listed Wet N' Wild is the best "true" waterpark experience (note: we haven't been to Aquatica but it's likely another small park with heavy theme like the other "name" ones). The names can be very nice as far as look goes but the actual slides / rides tend to be few meaning long & boring lines waiting for 2 minutes of thrill and, if the weather isn't perfect, getting cold while you stand shivering & waiting. It's made worse as the theming often heavily shades the area.

We like the pure, ride based not theme based water places. We liked seeing the themed places but they literally left us cold for the actual water park experience.

 

[gnorth16]

Thanks.

Some of the Disney tickets include a waterpark/disneyquest day as well. Universal and Sea World also have passes that include a day at their water park.

The water park we choose will decide what park passes we will buy.

 

[phoward336]

Disney Waterparks

We've been to both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach and LOVED both. There was plenty to do for both kids (includes ages 3 and 5 one year, 4 and 7 last year). I like Typhoon Lagoon a bit more, but we enjoyed both. Go early because the lines for the major slides do get long.

 

[natasha5687]

The only water park I have been on your list is Aquatica. LOVE AQUATICA! The water park has the black and white dolphins with an underwater water slide. The park is amazingly clean. 2 large wave pools. Huge kiddie splash area with water slides. Very fun fast lazy river. Numerous water slides. There is literally something for all ages. LOVE IT!!!

This trip we have discounted Disney tickets that include the Disney water parks, so we are going to try them.

Where/how did you get discount tickets?

 

[Detailor]

Where/how did you get discount tickets?

Try ticketmania.com or undercovertourist.com. We've used both for various discounted Disney tickets over the years and have been very happy with both. The last time that we were searching for discounted Disney water park tickets ticketmania had the best pricing.

Dick Taylor

 

[Detailor]

Disney's Blizzard Beach
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
Aquatica
Wet n Wild
Universal ???

There are probably others as well.

We are looking at spending a day at one of the water parks and don't know which to pick. We have not bought Disney or Sea World tickets and figured it would make sense to decide a water park before buying passes to the parks.
FWIW, the kids are 10 and 7, not the best swimmers, but still love the water. A wave pool is nice, a few slides, maybe a river rafting ride...

Input is appreciated.

Though it has tame rides, too, Wet 'n Wild is the water park version of a thrill ride theme park. They have a wave pool and a lazy river there, too. You'll find an interesting mix of people at Wet 'n Wild - lots of families but lots of teens too, particularly on weekends and during the summer.

The Disney parks have a greater mix of rides and attractions for all ages/sizes. Typhoon Lagoon has a surf pool and Blizzard Beach has a wave pool. I'm not positive but it seems to me that the waves at Typhoon Lagoon are bigger. Both of the Disney parks also have wave pool. Typhoon Lagoon also has a pretty cool shark area in which you can snorkel across the pool with the sharks. If you children aren't very good swimmers they might have trouble with that one. The nice thing about the Disney parks, beyond the obvious theming, is that there are several rides for families with children in the age range of your's and some rides that are just for younger children.

You should note that there are height requirements for the water attractions at all of these parks. I'd suggest that you check out the parks' websites to get an idea of what atmosphere your family might like best.

Dick Taylor

 

[gnorth16]

Thanks for the input.

I just bought (4) 3 day park hopper passes on eBay (no water parks), so it will be between Wet n Wild and Aquatica. There is an unlimited visit pass to Aquatica and Sea World (with a 20% discount coupon on eBay $99 for adults, $93 for kids), so dollar wise it would make sense to go to Aquatica.

Disney - 3 days
Sea wold - 2 days
Aquatica - 1 day



Looks like the second half of our trip is all booked up!