If there’s one thing that Orlando is synonymous with, it’s water parks. This city in Florida, a hub for tourists, partygoers and fun-seekers, simply can’t get enough of them. Not that you can cast blame – as the mercury rises in the summer, water parks are a great way to stay cool and invigorated. They’re also one of the best ways to have fun, whether you’re with your family or friends, and the combination of water and themed attractions is the perfect recipe for summer time success.
Water parks are not just for summer of course. One of the beautiful things about Orlando is that it is a year round destination. Temperatures in the winter months are a little cooler, but they’re still pleasant, and the winter tends to have less rain too. Orlando’s water parks have a great series of fun-packed events throughout the year, especially at key times like Christmas, so what are you waiting for?
Wet’n Wild, opened in 1977, is Orlando’s original water park and it continues to be voted the best, appealing to all age groups from young kids to adults and open year-round with seasonally heated pools. With a fantastic range of tube rides, flumes, rafts, cascading waterfalls and kids’ rides, Wet’n Wild has a crazy mix of themed adventures. Top rides for thrill-seekers include Brain Wash, an extreme tube ride with a 16 metre vertical drop; The Blast, an exhilarating ride down a ruptured pipeline; The Storm, which spins you in dizzying circles; and speed slide Der Stuka, with its heart-stopping 76 metre free fall. Then there are the amazing flumes of Mach 5, the twisting multi-passenger tube ride The Surge, disco-themed Disco H2O and space-themed Black Hole. Kids will love the Kids’ Park and the bouncy Bubble Up. For more sedate rides, head to the Lazy River, with its nostalgic Florida docks and fading billboards.
SeaWorld, of course, is a major attraction for its fantastic animal shows, experiences and exhibits. Visitors can get up close to penguins, marvel at sea lions, dolphins, beluga whales and manatees, learn about animal care and conservation issues, and be enthralled by sharks in one of the largest underwater tunnels in the world. SeaWorld has ten aquariums and more than 3000 marine animals. Shows include A’Lure, with incredible siren aerialists, and One Show, featuring majestic killer whales. There are plenty of rides at SeaWorld, from the spinning and gliding Manta and monstrous Kraken to the Journey to Atlantis, where you can explore the watery depths of this sunken mythical city. Shamu’s Happy Harbor has some great rides for kids, including jellyfish-themed Jazzy Jellies, the Sea Carousel and teacup ride Swishy Fishies.
At Walt Disney World there are thrills and spills galore. Blizzard Beach is a frosty ski resort, formed –so the story goes – after a freak snowstorm in Orlando. Slalom, toboggan or sled down the face of Mt. Gushmore and experience the dizzying rush of free-falling 36 metres down the Summit Plummet slide. Other rides include the white water raft ride Teamboat Springs, the flume ride Snow Stormers and the Chair Lift, ferrying visitors to the top of Mt. Gushmore. There’s also a wave pool and kids’ play area.
Also at Walt Disney World is Typhoon Lagoon, a ship-wrecked island with a saltwater pool, lazy river and plenty of tropical rides, such as the slides of Humunga Kowabunga and Storm Slides and the meandering Castaway Creek. At Shark Reef you can snorkel amongst exotic sea life including nurse sharks.
Aquatica, a SeaWorld park, has a South Seas theme, with colourful birds and fish, together with lagoons, waterfalls and wave pools. Rides include the fantastic Dolphin Plunge, leisurely Loggerhead Lane, thrilling Omaka Rocka and racing Roa’s Rapids.
With car hire Orlando, all the region’s water parks are easily accessible and you can plan your own itinerary to ensure you make the most of your holiday.
