Aquatica vs. Disney waterparks?

[conniehar90]

We have been to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach and the kids loved it. How does Aquatica compare? We will be staying near Disney - is it worth the trip or should I just stick with TL and BB? It will just be me and my DD10.

Thanks!

 

[DOOM1001]

I've been to all of three of them and they each have different things I like with one or two things I might not like,I'm a big waterpark guy, been to 15-20 different ones and for the most part like them all.If I had to give some pros and cons to each park I would say both Disney parks are bigger,TL has the most shade of either three but has the worst selection of slides,I love Crush n Gusher but the rest are very mediocre.BB has good slides but I don't like the way the park is laid out that you continuously have to climb the same stairs since all the slides are on the mountain,the chairlift is great but only gives you access to 2 slides.Both Disney parks have good lazy rivers.Aquatica is laid out more like a traditional waterpark,has good slides probably better than TL but not quite as good as BB,Aquatica has a fast lazy river that's probably the coolest thing at all three parks as well as a smaller traditional lazy river with windows that show the pool with the dolphins and another one with tropical fish.As far as the wavepools I would put Aquatica at the top with TL just below and BB third,Aquatica has two traditional pools,TL has a big one with the non traditional big wave and BB is smaller and the least impressive.TL has the shark reef which is very cool and Aquatica has the dolphin Plunge slide as well as some animal exhibits.Theming is great from all three parks but Aquatica probably has the least shade but a lot of palm trees.Aquatica wins food options by a long shot,they also win merchandise and clothing by a bigger longshot,it's amazing how much more Aquatica clothing they have than at the Disney parks which mostly just carries regular name brands,even things in carts throughout the parks like carts with books which I don't remember seeing anywhere at TL or BB.In the end they're all very good parks so I would suggest that you do visit Aquatica.

 

[momtoccc]

I've been to all of three of them and they each have different things I like with one or two things I might not like,I'm a big waterpark guy, been to 15-20 different ones and for the most part like them all.If I had to give some pros and cons to each park I would say both Disney parks are bigger,TL has the most shade of either three but has the worst selection of slides,I love Crush n Gusher but the rest are very mediocre.BB has good slides but I don't like the way the park is laid out that you continuously have to climb the same stairs since all the slides are on the mountain,the chairlift is great but only gives you access to 2 slides.Both Disney parks have good lazy rivers.Aquatica is laid out more like a traditional waterpark,has good slides probably better than TL but not quite as good as BB,Aquatica has a fast lazy river that's probably the coolest thing at all three parks as well as a smaller traditional lazy river with windows that show the pool with the dolphins and another one with tropical fish.As far as the wavepools I would put Aquatica at the top with TL just below and BB third,Aquatica has two traditional pools,TL has a big one with the non traditional big wave and BB is smaller and the least impressive.TL has the shark reef which is very cool and Aquatica has the dolphin Plunge slide as well as some animal exhibits.Theming is great from all three parks but Aquatica probably has the least shade but a lot of palm trees.Aquatica wins food options by a long shot,they also win merchandise and clothing by a bigger longshot,it's amazing how much more Aquatica clothing they have than at the Disney parks which mostly just carries regular name brands,even things in carts throughout the parks like carts with books which I don't remember seeing anywhere at TL or BB.In the end they're all very good parks so I would suggest that you do visit Aquatica.

Sounds like you have great advice... what about someone who hasn't been to ANY of these waterparks and will be traveling by herself with 7yo dd? DD loves to swim in a regular pool - hasn't done too many water slides yet. I'm sure she would love a lazy river (as do I).. We will be staying closer to Sea World so Aquatica would be closer. Also - we are coming in March - is the water warm enough then?

 

[conniehar90]

DOOM1001 - thank you so much for the very detailed opinion. VERY helpful! I think we will take your advice and visit Aquatica. We have 2 waterpark days set aside so I will have my DD choose TL or BB for the other day.

 

[DOOM1001]

Aquatica also has two areas that are great for kids,the bigger one is even fun for adults.

 

[kathy884]

I like all the Orlando waterparks and pick my park based on what will be most economical for what I am doing. If I am doing a multiday Disney ticket, the waterparks and more option is great. If I am doing Sea World, there is very attractive pricing for the Sea World/Aquatica combo ticket -- And boy do we love Sea World. If I'm staying on I-drive in the summer -- I just get a Wet and Wild week long pass for $50 or so and can visit as many times as I want in the week (It's great, as I can go for a few hours and not feel like I'm wasting money). It's older, good looking, but not as attractive as the others, but has great attractions and variety -- It's also a very fun day, and my teens love it.

 

[cvjw]

We have done BB and TL numerous times, but just visited Aquatica for the first time in Sept. My boys, 14 and 10, love waterparks. For them, BB is still their favorite. They weren't all that impressed with Aquatica, and they had been really excited about going there. It just seemed like the park was so tiny, without many rides. I think we might have spent 3 hours there before they were ready to go back to Disney. They rode everything twice, and were done. I just asked them if they wanted to go back to Aquatica in May, and both said no!

 

[T16GEM]

I have also been to all 3 parks, I would rate them 1st Aquatica, 2nd Blizzard Beach and 3rd Typhoon Lagoon. We visited Aquatica for the first time last year and we loved it, after our visit we went to TL and were really dissapointed with the park compared to Aquatica. Our kids enjoyed Walkabout Waters and we all loved Roa's Rapids.
The only things I would say is there wasn't very much shade, I think this is to encourage people to rent a Cabana at extra cost. Also there is no outside food allowed in the park, we had a big bag of Lays chips and they made us split it down in to little ziplock bags (luckily I had them for the kids snacks and stuff) other wise they would have been confiscated.

I think that the Disney parks look a little tired, I know AQ is new, but there seems to be a lot of maintenance that is required at the Disney waterparks.

DS and I were the only people in the shower block at one point in our day at AQ and literally there was someone following us with a mop cleaning up our water drips!

 

[Tramp68]

Aquatica -

Has a current river which is faster than a lazy river. You CANNOT have tubes, but you can wear a life preserver (provided) for floatation. This is a refreshing change to bumping into families locked together with tubes and the faster current is fun. You can actually "slide" along on your knees very nicely. The floor is smooth and not gritty like many lazy rivers.

The Dolphin slide is a HUGE WASTE. You are in the clear tube for all of 1 second and it is usually cloudy with condensation. It is a nice concept but you will see nothing.

Rides are good. The fun area/bucket brigade has some of the best pressure and water dumping on you than any other place I have been.

Overall this is a great park, just do not waste time on the dolphin slide.

Blizzard beach-

Best for water slides. Summit Plummit is amazing (mandatory wedgie aside) There are plenty of water slodes to keep you active.

Typhoon Lagoon-

Best for the wave pool. The 6 foot waves are amazing. My son loves to ride them in as far and as fast as he can. There is no where in the east that can touch these waves.



Overall-

We go to all 3 and always have annual passes. We chose which to do based on which we want to do more A. Current River B. Slides C. Wave Pool

 

[pinkhart]

Our family, particularly DD9 and DD10, think Aquatica is the best for two reasons. First Roa's Rapids rocks! And secondly the floor of the wave pool is smooth and not like sandpaper as it is in the Disney parks.

 

[eagle29]

I did Aquatica last February with my 10 year old and 5 year old. Weather was iffy all week. The day we went it was breezy, in the low to mid 70's. I would recommend a water-shirt for March! My rankings would be 1. Blizzard Beach, 2. Typhoon Lagoon, 3. Aquatica. However, I would go back to Aquatica in a heartbeat if the opportunity came up! Great beach and some different slides that the other two parks don't really offer. The sealife is also a great plus. Everyone has their personal preferences so my advice is to give all a try at some point and see which suits you best! I believe that which ever you choose you will have a great time!

Enjoy

 

[mh1973]

Really enjoyed reading this thread. We have only been to TL and loved it. But since we will more than likely do a US trip this summer we will try aquatica. Does aquatica play the island music like TL?? That's one of the the things I love about TL!!!