Aquatica: The Hidden Costs

[UKPhil]

Just back from 3 weeks in Orlando. Had a great time as always, but just wanted to post this and let others know that Aquatica can be quite an expensive place to visit.

First surprise was they charge $12 a day for car parking. I was not expecting this because even Disney don't charge off site guests to park at their water parks.

The second surprise came at bag check when they wouldn't let us in because we had a packed lunch with us. They said we could bring in only small snacks and one drink. The car park ticket does in fact state "Outside food, beverages and coolers are not permitted. Please leave these items in your vehicle as they will not be allowed inside the park". Clearly this is not applied evenly because once in the park we saw many people with coolers.

The final surpise was the prices. I thought Disney prices were steep at £2.50 for a bottle of water, but Aquatica charge £2.79.

All in all, for a family day out this adds up to quite a bit so I thought it worth letting people know so that you can make an informed judgement about whether it is worth going.

 

[wilma-bride]

And are they still giving the deposit for lockers back in credit vouchers?

I must admit, I was not impressed with Aquatica last April - and even less so when we couldn't bring in the bottles of water we had. Because of FIL's illness, he has to drink LOADS of water so we always took our own wherever we went - the only place it was a problem was Aquatica.

 

[Claire L]

I guess the parking fee is there so people don't park for free at Aquatica and nip across to SeaWorld, which I would be peed off about if the lot was full and I couldn't park.

Claire

 

[DanMartin]

Just back from 3 weeks in Orlando. Had a great time as always, but just wanted to post this and let others know that Aquatica can be quite an expensive place to visit.

First surprise was they charge $12 a day for car parking. I was not expecting this because even Disney don't charge off site guests to park at their water parks.

The second surprise came at bag check when they wouldn't let us in because we had a packed lunch with us. They said we could bring in only small snacks and one drink. The car park ticket does in fact state "Outside food, beverages and coolers are not permitted. Please leave these items in your vehicle as they will not be allowed inside the park". Clearly this is not applied evenly because once in the park we saw many people with coolers.

The final surpise was the prices. I thought Disney prices were steep at £2.50 for a bottle of water, but Aquatica charge £2.79.

All in all, for a family day out this adds up to quite a bit so I thought it worth letting people know so that you can make an informed judgement about whether it is worth going.

We went in May, and the kids voted it the best water park - tried Typhoon and Blizzard - so happy kids, happy day out! I thought it was superb too - great rides, lazy river, beach etc and the most modern one. I am sure we paid to park everywhere else, so no big deal, and if water is 29 cents more would it really stop you going when you have crossed the Atlantic?

I think we have to be realistic - its great to warn people but at the same time lest hear some of its plus points!

If you do Seaworld for most of the day and then go there for a few hours after eating maybe then its a great place to unwind after a busy day with Shamu!

We have just booked our Virgin flights for next Easter - good value at the moment for this time of year!

 

[jayduk]

I am guessing that if you go to both Seaworld and Aquatica in the same day you will only have to pay parking once? Is it also $12 at Seaworld?

 

[Pegasus928]

I think we have to be realistic - its great to warn people but at the same time lest hear some of its plus points!

I agree that it is always good to get a balanced view and hear the good points based on peoples experiences.
However yours is the first good review I have seen regarding Aquatica - and that is on this and other forums. People go out of their way to start a new thread to let others know what problems they have encountered, and also a fair few trip reports have had it down as a 'wont do again'
Personally we have already made up our minds to give it a miss this trip based on these independant reviews - but if we start to see good reports we will reconsider for next year.

 

[DanMartin]

I am guessing that if you go to both Seaworld and Aquatica in the same day you will only have to pay parking once? Is it also $12 at Seaworld?

Yes, thats how it worked, so you dont pay twice - it was a lovely time to go (late afternoon) after a hectic Seaworld.

 

[Claire L]

I agree that it is always good to get a balanced view and hear the good points based on peoples experiences.
However yours is the first good review I have seen regarding Aqautica - and that is on this and other forums. People go out of their way to start a new thread to let others know what problems they have encountered, and also a fair few trip reports have had it down as a 'wont do again'
Personally we have already made up our minds to give it a miss this trip based on these independant reviews - but if we start to see good reports we will reconsider for next year.

We did enjoy our day at Aquatica in May 2008, we would go back again if included as part of a Seaworld multi day ticket.

Claire

 

[DanMartin]

I agree that it is always good to get a balanced view and hear the good points based on peoples experiences.
However yours is the first good review I have seen regarding Aqautica - and that is on this and other forums. People go out of their way to start a new thread to let others know what problems they have encountered, and also a fair few trip reports have had it down as a 'wont do again'
Personally we have already made up our minds to give it a miss this trip based on these independant reviews - but if we start to see good reports we will reconsider for next year.

We went this yera for the first time - we had been told it was designed more for younger children, and ours are aged 8 & 10 (boys). The family we went with have a 14 yr old son and a 9 yr old daughter. Its fair to say that we all loved it!
Both mums chilled on the sun beds on the beach, whilst Dads did all the slides with the kids. Then the kids entertained themselves on a huge water frame, full of fun things to do (rather like the "dry" version at Seaworld that they climb all over) - the highlight being the huge drum that slowly fills with water then tips its contents on the unsuspecting below.........

Lazy river was great, with life vests instead of rings - very relaxing and good fun for all.

We loved it - so do what we did and find out for yourself! I recommend it for the same day as Seaworld if you can do both.

Cheers!

 

[UKPhil]

I am sure we paid to park everywhere else, so no big deal, and if water is 29 cents more would it really stop you going when you have crossed the Atlantic?

I think you may have missed the point slightly. The entire day out for a family of four cost around $80 more than I expected, and $80 more than a similar day at one of Disney's water parks where parking is free and you can bring in your own food and drinks.

To some it may be worth paying that much. I just provided the information so that people can make an informed decision.

 

[loobylou44]

I for one really appreciate your information UKPhil. I always prefer to have an idea of what other costs will be included in a day out, it doesn't necessarily put me off somewhere I just prefer to able to make a judgement. Also some people seem to think that if you are going to the expense of going to florida for a holiday money should be no object and you shouldn't need to question the cost of anything, its not about that its about spending your money on the things you want to spend it on, not an extra $80 on nothing.

 

[Trouty]

Myself and my family visited Aquatica last Aug. TBH we were not impressed at all. Yeah the kids said they loved it but we could tell they did not. The scope of rides is very limited. Basically a lot of tube rides.
No doubt we will pop in again this year but for us it is not a patch on the Disney water parks. (Especially the roads/queues to get in )

 

[Trouty]

Opps... double post

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Along with Busch this also wasn't a "hit" for us afraid.
I didn't enjoy it,I thought it was pretty tame compared to the Disney water parks.

I should add I wasn't impressed in the changing area's we went into a cubicle (with shower) for the kids mainly to wash off only to find someone had been in prior and left some unhygenic lady things (to put it nicely).

 

[TheBlundells]

I think you may have missed the point slightly. The entire day out for a family of four cost around $80 more than I expected, and $80 more than a similar day at one of Disney's water parks where parking is free and you can bring in your own food and drinks.

To some it may be worth paying that much. I just provided the information so that people can make an informed decision.

Thanks UKPHIL thats really useful information. We usually take our own food and snacks to the water parks.

 

[Cyrano]

Thanks for this.
Took water in to Disney park, although even the frozen bottles were to warm to drink later on in the day. Never thought to take in our own food.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I found food picey at Aquatica - we just got a big bag of chips to put us on & then went to eat on I Drive afterwards.

 

[PudseyChancer]

We went in May, and the kids voted it the best water park - tried Typhoon and Blizzard - so happy kids, happy day out! I thought it was superb too - great rides, lazy river, beach etc and the most modern one. I am sure we paid to park everywhere else, so no big deal, and if water is 29 cents more would it really stop you going when you have crossed the Atlantic?

I think we have to be realistic - its great to warn people but at the same time lest hear some of its plus points!

If you do Seaworld for most of the day and then go there for a few hours after eating maybe then its a great place to unwind after a busy day with Shamu!

We have just booked our Virgin flights for next Easter - good value at the moment for this time of year!

A good review, I haven't been to Aquatica and not being a fan of Wet 'n Wild or Blizzard Beach, it would be good to have an alternative option to Typhoon Lagoon.

The 'extra' costs noted don't seem anything above the ordinary, (and I say that as a tight Yorkshireman! ), it would seem that the majority of the additional $80 incurred was because the packed lunch wasn't allowed, though that is not something that I would consider doing anyway (could you have come back out to the car to have your lunch if you weren't happy to pay for it?).

Did these extra expenses spoil your enjoyment of the day? What were the facilities like? How did the park compare to the other water parks?

 

[jayduk]

When we went to Aquatica they did an all day meal deal where basically you paid something like $20/30 and you could go back to the restaurant all day for drinks and food. Do they still do this? Or do they do a refillable souvenier mug like at the theme parks? Maybe you can use the same one as in Seaworld?

 

[john storey]

I was surprised when we went to be charged for parking, however we lived with it. Still not sure about this water park? We've been twice now once last year just after it opened & again in May this year, only stayed until early afternoon on both visits, just got bored with it. The one thing that really spooks me about the place is the 'no eye contact' with the lifeguards, (I hope that if I ever need their assistance, they will be able to tell, as I will be looking the other way whilst drowning)