Aquatica Quick Queue experience

[bonoriffic]

Aquatica's new quick queue was a deal when it was first offered at $15. It quickly went to $20 as the minimum price. We took advantage of it on the second day it was available last month. The description is slightly misleading. It gives you 6 front of the line passes for any of the available slides, not one use at each of the 6 featured slides. So if you want to go on the same slide 6 times, you can.

You get a wristband that has detachable coupons that get pulled off by the line attendant. Also included, and oddly never mentioned on the website, is a free dessert with any entree purchase. So pick up the bands before you eat. There are also pull tabs for photo discounts and 10% off merchandise.

If you pre-bought the pass you have to bring everyone who is getting the pass with you to the customer service location either steps inside the park or the one by the locker rental. We went to the two slides that aren't quick queue enabled first, and then rode slides until the lines got bad. It was 94 on a Sunday when we went, so it got crowded, but not until lunch time. Those first 2 hours everything was a wait of just a few people.

The quick queue line itself is usually the main line, people are just supposed to move aside for you. Later in the day when the waits are 45 minutes, you will have to be assertive to get people to move. Many think you are trying to cut the line and get defensive. There are signs which point to which side you should stand for quick queue or main queue, but with few people using the quick queue most people naturally just fill in all the space. Every so often someone notices there appears to be two lines, and the other line is non-existent. They get out of line and go to the top, to be told they don't have quick queue and go to the end of the line.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We purchased it on May 1st, and it was an absolute lifesaver. The park was busier than we had personally ever seen it (and we've been MANY times now, during various months of the year) and slide lines were extremely long by noon and thereafter. My guys found the same as the OP....some people got pretty testy when they were able to walk past them and get to the front of the line. I think its because its so new, many guests aren't familiar yet with that particular add-on.

Here's a picture of the band, in case you are wondering what it looks like:

On a busy day, we'd purchase it again in a heartbeat.

 

[georgina]

Thanks for the information!

 

[wolf29]

How long before the Park closes do the lines begin to shorten. We plan on going directly from MCO, arriving at Aquatica around 3pm, mid-August. What kind of crowd should we expect?

 

[FLOIR]

If the afternoon thunderstorms have rolled through it won't be too bad. Once the storms roll in probably at least half the crowd leaves, especially if they have been there since park open. If there are no storms that day then it could be busier.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

How long before the Park closes do the lines begin to shorten. We plan on going directly from MCO, arriving at Aquatica around 3pm, mid-August. What kind of crowd should we expect?

I can't speak specifically for mid-August, but on the perfect water park weather day that we had on May 1st, the lines did not change virtually at all until closing. The park was super busy right up to 5 pm, at which point the staff cut off the lines for all slides. As mentioned by FLOIR, if storms happen to hit that day then they may help in thinning out the crowds.....but if the weather is favourable, you may still find the park quite busy when you arrive.

 

[Melanie415]

Piggy backing on this: We are going October 11th and I was wondering if we should get quick que or not. Any guesses on how busy a Tuesday will be (with Columbus Day the Monday before)? We bought tickets for Discovery Cove and get Aquatica and Seaworld admittance included. We bought the quick que for Seaworld since we are going there on a Saturday.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Piggy backing on this: We are going October 11th and I was wondering if we should get quick que or not. Any guesses on how busy a Tuesday will be (with Columbus Day the Monday before)? We bought tickets for Discovery Cove and get Aquatica and Seaworld admittance included. We bought the quick que for Seaworld since we are going there on a Saturday.

It is currently not even being offered on that date (Saturday/Sunday only during the first part of October). So, for now....its an easy decision!