[skwak]

Has anyone gone to any of the non-Disney Water Parks in the Orlando Area? Would you recommend any of them?

[timsha]

We went to Wet N Wild a few years ago and had a real fun time. It lacks the theming of TL or BB, but it was fun and worth the money that we paid. Would do it again.

[Cincy]

It has been years, but we have done wet and wild as well. It was a lot of fun.

[Campbell87]

Wet n Wild was a blast, we spent a fair few days here two weeks ago. It has some awsome slides, including Brain Wash (Hold on tight!) and The Bomb (I might have the name wrong here but just look for a slide with a rocket at the top!) The wave pool is pretty cool but it can get crowded. I did find that the staff here were realy helpful too, especially when we needed a first aider (Bf got a little carried away in the wave pool!) Oh and it has some pretty tasty ice creme - make sure you get sprinkes!

We did Aquatica a few times aswell which was fun - but if theres a queue for the Dolphin Plunge don't bother waiting, we waited for over 45 minsand didnt see a thing - considering we were practically at alwaking speed going down the slide too! You would have more fun viewing the dolphins in the underwater viewing area which is pretty neat! The two beaches and wave pools are really nice, the waves are pretty decent. BUT the best thing about Aquatica? Its not so lazy, lazy river! Even if your a great swimmer, get yourself into a life jacket - its so much more fun to float about it, getting spurred on by the jets and carried by the current, I think one day we spent over half the day just going around!

A word of advice for both parks - Get water shoes!! They dont spray the footpaths hat much and when its hot your feet will sizzle! You have to take them off on a few slides but you can easily hold on - if not they wil float back down to you!

[skwak]

Originally Posted by Campbell87

Wet n Wild was a blast, we spent a fair few days here two weeks ago. It has some awsome slides, including Brain Wash (Hold on tight!) and The Bomb (I might have the name wrong here but just look for a slide with a rocket at the top!) The wave pool is pretty cool but it can get crowded. I did find that the staff here were realy helpful too, especially when we needed a first aider (Bf got a little carried away in the wave pool!) Oh and it has some pretty tasty ice creme - make sure you get sprinkes!

We did Aquatica a few times aswell which was fun - but if theres a queue for the Dolphin Plunge don't bother waiting, we waited for over 45 minsand didnt see a thing - considering we were practically at alwaking speed going down the slide too! You would have more fun viewing the dolphins in the underwater viewing area which is pretty neat! The two beaches and wave pools are really nice, the waves are pretty decent. BUT the best thing about Aquatica? Its not so lazy, lazy river! Even if your a great swimmer, get yourself into a life jacket - its so much more fun to float about it, getting spurred on by the jets and carried by the current, I think one day we spent over half the day just going around!

A word of advice for both parks - Get water shoes!! They dont spray the footpaths hat much and when its hot your feet will sizzle! You have to take them off on a few slides but you can easily hold on - if not they wil float back down to you!

Do you think either of these parks would work for a 6 year old?

[mairinmaureen]

I went to Wet N Wild as well. Wow! 15 years ago this August. It was A LOT of fun though. My cousins and I were there for hours and had a blast!

[Jennatrz]

Originally Posted by skwak

Has anyone gone to any of the non-Disney Water Parks in the Orlando Area? Would you recommend any of them?

Aquatica is wonderful. We went last weekend.

[skwak]

Originally Posted by Jennatrz

Aquatica is wonderful. We went last weekend.

I see that you have younger kids. Would you recommend for younger kids?

Thanks!

[Jennatrz]

A 6 year old will have so much fun.

[RowdyRAider]

Originally Posted by skwak

I see that you have younger kids. Would you recommend for younger kids?

Thanks!

Definitely. It's not a very big park at all, so it's very difficult to get lost. There's also an amazing "water works" building for kids and grown-ups. Definitely worth visiting for little kids. Still, nothing can top Blizzard Beach or Typhoon as far as fun goes. I really wouldn't waste time at Wet N' Wild. It seems quite "ghetto" now by Aquatica standards as far as looks and entertainment goes. But that's my personal opinion.

[skwak]

Thanks everyone!

Our friends who we are vacationing with have Premium Annual Passes (we have basic ones) so I think we will be doing TL. No reason to pay extra for them.

This is all fine, we love TL. I was just looking to try something new.

[Campbell87]

Originally Posted by skwak

Do you think either of these parks would work for a 6 year old?

Id definatly think so! If your little one loves messing around in the water then they will have a great time! Both parks have 'kiddie zones' set up if they dont fancy the slides, but a fair few of the slides at both parks arn't too daunting, I saw tons of lil ones running about up and down the same slides I was going on! As long as they like water they wil love both parks!

[E&B's Mom]

Wet'n'Wild was fun but absolutely no theming at all. And it was all very open - no shade at all either.

Haven't been to Aquatica yet - but would love to.

[Campbell87]

Originally Posted by E&B's Mom

Wet'n'Wild was fun but absolutely no theming at all. And it was all very open - no shade at all either.

That was the only thing that dissapointed me, their lack of theming, though I do compare everything to the Disney-style of things! I did find there were a few shady-er spots but unless you got there early enough you wouldnt get close to them, another reason why we tended to go later on in the day, around 5pm-ish! But those water shoes you can buy really are a blessing in this place, your feet wil thank-you for it!
Another tip: Don't buy those inflatable rings they charge you $5 to rent, as the day goes on you will find them abandoned and floating about in the wave pool (the only place with any use for them really), all the rides provide you with inflatables and you can usualy pick one up floating about the lazy river!