Aquatica Questions

[Disney Debbie]

I'm taking my nieces 6/7/08 - UGH - a Saturday - but there's just no other day that will work for them, me & my DD. So - how crowded??

Definitely need a shady place - where to sit? Are you allowed to bring your own umbrella?

The all you can eat place - worth it? Do they have decent snack type items or is it just the actual food? Any chips, fries, ice cream? It seems like a good deal - but not if it doesn't have any of the treats we like!

 

[DixieDolphin]

Arrive early, that's your best bet. On weekends, they usually end up hitting capacity quite early so far. So aim for getting there at park opening time!

Going along with that, getting there early will make it much easier to find a good spot & chairs. There is some tree-shade and some umbrella shade, but those spots are quickly claimed.. so make sure to get there first!

As far as I know, you are not allowed to bring your own beach umbrellas.

The all you can eat place, Banana Beach Cookout, is not high on my list of places there. The food is just so-so and limited in both selection and quantity. No french fries, no potato chips, no ice cream. It was just burgers (without slices of cheese, just shredded cheese that was impossible to get on the burger), hot dogs, chicken wings (which were already gone when I got there), mac & cheese (also gone when I went for lunch), chocolate pudding, and a few other things. I was seriously disappointed... and shocked that there were no starchy potato products. (Who eats burgers and hot dogs without chips or french fries?!)

I'd skip it and eat at the Waterstone Grill or the Mango Market instead. They were pretty good!

=)

 

[Jason71]

Buy your tickets in advance, to take advantage of the "extra magic hour." Then, honestly, plan on being there even earlier. Two Saturdays ago, the line at 9:00 am (the early opening time) already stretched back to the parking lot.

Not sure how old your kids are, but if they're old enough, let them ride the dolphin slide as soon as you enter. Certainly first thing once you have chairs secured. Then move on to the toilet bowl slides (to your right as you enter the park, thoguh the lazy river entrance).

Also, if you can live without a locker, I recommend doing so--that quickly becomes the worst line in the park (actually two lines, one to rent, the other to actually access the lockers). In any case, claim your chairs before trying to get a locker.

I agree with Ms Dolphin, I'm pretty sure your own umbrella is a no-no. Get there early enough tho and you should be able to claim one of AQ's.

 

[Disney Debbie]

Thanks for the advice. I worried that all you can eat all day probably was too good to be true!!

The girls are 11, 13 & my dd is 22 - so we'll definitely hit the biggies first and be there an hour early!! We'll skip the locker as well - I quit getting them at WDW a long time ago because they were never convenient to where I wanted to be! So I just bring a credit card in a waterproof Blizzard Beach thing I wear around my neck.

Is it worth it? Or should we just go to BB or TL this year?

 

[Jason71]

Is it worth it? Or should we just go to BB or TL this year?

If the girls are at all into animals, yes, probably worth it. Otherwise, tougher call. BB probably has the edge in thrils, and I would give TL the edge in theming. AQ feels like it has more rides, tho, including a couple unique ones. And if you've done the other two parks, it's a new experience.

Then again, AQ has roughly the capacity of Animal Kingdom, and has shut down almost every day school's been out for two and a half months now. Clearly a lot of people are loving the park despite the hassles.

If possible, keep checking the boards for crowd reports from TL and BB--I haven't heard much in that regard. If crowds are down at either, it might sway my decision.

 

[mbpilsner]

We just got back from FL yesterday and went to Aquatica- just a few comments! Had heard about how crowded park was and we arrived about 9:15 (scheduled opening 10:00) and park was already open (and not just to the ropes- all slides and pools up and running). Didn't have any problem finding chairs/lounges but didn't utilize an umbrella. They seemed to be pretty scarce on paved lounge areas, but plentiful on "beach" by wave pool. We did do the Beach Cookout thing- not really "snack" foods, but we went back plenty of times for the fruit and drinks. (Food the day we were there- watermelon, cantalope, choc & banana pudding, cold salads- potato, carrot/raisin, 3bean, etc, mac & cheese, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, bbq drumsticks, corn on cob, baked beans). Oh- a heads up- don't leave your food unattended on a table while getting drinks- we saw plenty of people have to get new plates since birds were feasting on their food when they returned. We were lucky and rode everything 2 times by about 10:45 but after that point lines really started stacking up. Had a fun day, but seems like they need a few more "real" attractions- plenty of pools and rivers, but needed a few more slides. (Probably would also help with the lines).

 

[Tillikumtrainer]

I was there last friday it was a blast, lots of things to see and do, definetly do the biggies if you up for a rush, the fist slide I hit was dolphin plunge since everyone was traveling to the lazy river (loggerhead lane) you have lots a places for shade and food, they have snacks as well as food options. However the lockers price wow $8. so try to bring as you need because its 8 for a small locker 10 for a big one. Make sure you bring a towel. and wear lots of sun screen. They also have ird some beautiful macaws a kukaburra and a rae bird to be in the park a bald eagle. it was nice that they had educators where the animals were it was amazin

there are some fun places to go, including the commersons dolphin habitat which is shaded so its nice place to it and watch the phin play. here are some pictures:

 

[123Disney]

The pics are great!! Sounds like fun.

 

[Coach81]

We're headed there next week! So we have Monday and Tuesday of next week planned for Seaworld/Aquatica.. which is better as far as crowds? Would it be better to hit aquatica on the monday or the tuesday?

 

[Jason71]

We're headed there next week! So we have Monday and Tuesday of next week planned for Seaworld/Aquatica.. which is better as far as crowds? Would it be better to hit aquatica on the monday or the tuesday?

Given Monday is a holiday, definitely save AQ for Tuesday. The main park can handle the crowds better.

 

[jerseygal]

How have weekday crowd levels been now compared with April levels during spring breaks?

I guess I'll keep watching late May/June...Will probably be picking up?

Thx.

 

[turning40withMickey]

I like the photo of the tube slide~cool!