Aquatica: The Hidden Costs

[steve_rob]

Most of these costs don't apply to us as we would probably never take a packed lunch to a water park (in fact as we rarely eat at one at all as we typically have a big breakfast and then are only in the park for about four hours, so it makes more sense to get something at a restaurant once we've left). Plus the time we went to Aquatica last year, we had a SeaWorld annual pass so didn't have to pay for parking.

While the parking charges may seem a shock to those used to the Disney water parks (I'll admit I was shocked the first time I went to Typhoon Lagoon that there WASN'T a parking charge!), as someone has previously posted, with SeaWorld around the corner and a bus that runs between the two parks, they couldn't really not have a charge. In fact most of the hotels in that area charge for parking to put off people going to SeaWorld using them and you only get the money back if you're a guest staying there.

As for the park itself, I did enjoy it. I'm not a particularily confident swimmer and we don't have kids, so at the Disney parks (especially Blizzard Beach) where every ride or attraction seems geared to either the littlest children/families or extreme thrill seekers/strong swimmers, with little in between, I get bored very quickly. At Aquatica I found loads to do that was still in my comfort zone and had a great time - so much so that I forgot to keep going back to my lounger to top up my sun protection and ended up having a massive burn across my shoulders for the rest of the holiday!

The only things I didn't like were the huge queues for the Dolphin Plunge (which I would have accepted if the ride was any good - but it was almost impossible to see the dolphins in the three nanoseconds you are travelling through their habitat) and the fact that the theming was a bit lacking with too many hot concrete walkways to walk on (especially if you're in bare feet). But the fun I had on the slides, especially the toboggan style one and the super fast not-so-lazy river, more than made up for these. We will definately be going back there during our next holiday.

 

[Disney owl]

thank for posting the info

 

[tinysam]

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).

That must have been the same person who used the cubicle at TL before we did !!! classy lady indeed..I suppose it depends on who has been in before you , we have used Aquaticas facilities for a shower etc before flying home as they have free shower gel , shampoo etc so it meant less to carry about with us.

We love Aquatica , visited it twice on our last trip , once from opening and also from mid afternoon til closing , we visited Seaworld before our 2nd visit so we used the same parking ticket.Like a previous post , I suppose if Aquatica was free parking everyone would park up and walk to Seaworld..

Last time we got the meal deal as we planned to be there for lunch and dinner so we made out like bandits..if you drink lots of bottled water then you get your moneys worth as soft drinks are included..

The not so lazy river , (Roas Rapids) , is awesome , you just need to lift your feet up and you glide along , its incredible , we went round about 10 times , Tassie twister (like a toilet bowl) is also good fun , the mat slides are very cool too , except the trek upstairs!! , the raft rides are also good fun , as for the kids area..its the bees knees..when the bucket tips up ...look out !!

As for the lifeguards not making eye contact if they speak to you , isnt that just commonsense? , I mean if Fanny Mae from Buttsville is harrassing a guard about blah blah blah , then if he/she is looking directly at her then they will miss little Timmy going under..its not being rude..it makes sense..the staff we spoke to at Aquatica were very friendly and effiecent..

I would say go and make your own mind up !!!