Aquatica blends thrills, relaxation, and family-friendly fun with live animals! It’s the best waterpark we’ve ever visited.
About Aquatica
Aquatica is a south Pacific-themed waterpark in Orlando, Florida. Its a very balanced park with attractions to suit the needs of thrill-seekers, animal-lovers, families, and beach bums. There are several attractions, including open and tube slides, pools, sandy “beaches” with lounge chairs, and sand volleyball courts. There are several on-site eateries and gift shops that sell beach necessities as well as souvenirs.
Attractions
Aquatica has several raft slides for rafts, mats, and bodies, plus 2 wave pools, a lazy river, a not-so-lazy river, a sprayground, and a massive playground! We were busy from open until close, trying all of them out.
Raft Slides
Reef Plunge
This was one of our favorites, not for the thrills but for the pool it goes through. These clear, enclosed body slides travel through a giant tank filled with Commerson’s dolphins!
Ihu’s Breakaway Falls
These giant body slides are 80 feet tall and riders plunge at an 80° angle! My children loved them, but they were too aggressive for me.
Whanau Way
This tower slide has four options for riders who ride in pairs on double rafts. It was a medium thrill and one of our first rides. It helped the kids get acquainted.
Tassie’s Underwater Twist
We rode this one in pairs, though singletons are also permitted. This raft slide has a few twists and turns before riders circle a giant funnel. While inside, a projection show decorates the walls while soothing music plays. It was truly a unique water slide experience. We all enjoyed it!
One unusual twist about this ride is that it can only be accessed by walking through the lazy river first.
Omaka Rocka
This attraction features two mirror-image slides for double rafts and each has a tornado-style funnel. It was a medium-high thrill and my family loved it! They went back multiple times for this one.
Walhalla Wave
A higher-thrill raft ride, the Walhalla Wave features several spirals and a steep drop. I was not a fan of this one because several sections were completely blacked out! My family enjoyed it, though.
Ray Rush
This raft slide had a lot going on. There was a flat section where riders were propelled, a portion where rafts spun a bit, and a halfpipe! Overall, a fun and exciting ride.
Riptide Race
This double tube slide is another racer, though with only two lanes (tubes). My kids preferred the Taumata Racer.
KareKare Curl
The “curl” is, of course, a wave! This raft slide featured a giant, curved wall (much like a wave) and the ride includes the feeling of air time!
Mat Slides
Taumata Racer
This attraction is an 8-lane raceway that times your slide! Each lane is a different color and racers ride on mats.
Wave Pools
Big Surf Shores
One of two wave pools, this one is a bit wider and shallower. The waves run on a timer and the countdown is posted for visitors.
Cutback Cove
The deeper wave pool, this one tops out at 6.5 feet. It’s narrower, which makes for larger waves!
Kids’ Zones
Turi’s Kid Cove
A giant splash pad with a bit of standing water, Turi’s Kid Cove is full of spraying jets and tipping buckets. It was not enticing for my kids, but I could see them loving it just a few years ago.
Walkabout Waters
This giant fortress has slides, ladders, and dumping water buckets and stands over 60 feet tall! In particular, my son loved this attraction and it’s where he chose to spend his final hour before park close.
Lazy Rivers
Loggerhead Lane
A classic lazy river, Loggerhead Lane moves slowly around and through a few other attractions, offering a break from the squeals of delight and rushes of water in the rest of the park. It also passes through two habitats, one with assorted fish and the other with Commerson’s dolphins.
Roa’s Rapids
The only attraction that was closed during our visit, Roa’s Rapids is an aggressive lazy river with geysers, speed zones, and islands.
Overall Impression
This was our first visit to Aquatica and we loved it. Though we’ve been to many waterparks, we’ve never been to one that attempted to be innovative with its family experiences as much as its thrills.
When we entered the park, we passed a pool with Commerson’s dolphins in it. The kids started screaming with excitement and ran down the steps to the viewing area. They were so tickled to see that the Reef Plunge ran through the water the dolphins were in! I knew then that we were going to have a wonderful day.
We visited on a day that was mild by Florida’s standards. The weather topped out at 80°, but the sun and water kept us warm most of the day. While it was a holiday weekend and we expected large crowds, the park was nearly empty!
Because of the low crowds, we had minimal waits. We were able to circle the park and experience all of them in about 4 hours, then go back to our favorites for a second (or third) run. After a short break, we returned to Walkabout Waters and watched our youngest play there until the park closed. Our legs were sore from walking up the stairs to all the slides, but our 9-year-old still had energy to burn!
We left hungry and tired, yet very happy. My children are already asking when we can go back to Orlando and if we can go back to Aquatica.
The one tip we’d share is to wear shoes! Hot pavement wasn’t an issue during our visit, but we did encounter several stray acorns. (Ouch!) There are “sneaker stashers” outside of each attraction, so you can drop your shoes in a cubby and retrieve them when you’re done. Despite the name, I’d recommend flops or Crocs.
Plan Your Visit
Aquatica Orlando
5800 Water Play Way
Orlando, Florida 32821
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