Best water park in area?

[nifferearly]

My friend is renting a house near Disney in March. They have twin 10 year old boys and have never been to the Orlando area. She's asked about the best water park to go to. My initial response would be the Disney parks. But the boys have never been to a "real" water park (only small ones in a hotel) so they'll be happy at any of them. What do you think is the best park for the money paid? Thanks!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We have been to Aquatica, Typhoon and Blizzard Beach, and would rank them in that order.

Aquatica gets the overall nod for their awesome tubeless rapids (soooo much fun) and the fact that you can rent a cabana for a very reasonable price in comparison to the Disney waterparks (standard cabanas range from $49 to $149 per day in March, depending on when their visit falls, and include rental towels, an in-cabana large locker, a fridge stocked with 12 bottles of Dasani water, and 20% off purchases at the gift shop). Disney's fee is well over $300 regardless of the season . Their interactive kids area is HUGE and totally blows away those at the Disney waterparks as well. We love seeing the wildlife (Commerson dolphins, turtles, birds, fish), we love the big sand beach (which spans both wave pools), and they offer a very reasonably priced all day buffet (not the most gourmet food available, but certainly wallet-frierndly). The park is bright and cheery, the music is fun, the slides are great, and its just overall a fabulous park to visit.

Aquatica often has some really, really good ticket deals in the off-season. Its worth checking there before purchasing. Disney will run you $50+ for a one-day visit, but I have seen Aquatica tix for $19.

Typhoon Lagoon is our runner up. Its lush and tropical. The wave pool is the gem of the park, and so very fun (but beware....the waves are powerful enough to toss my 300 pound, 6' 4" DH around like a guppy). You can swim with the sharks. Its very well themed, and you can often meet Lilo and Stitch. Their mini donuts are da bomb , as are the waffle sandwiches. Parking is free where its a small charge at Aquatica.

Blizzard Beach was our least favourite. The snow theme definitely was not for us (but we are from the north....and snow is not what we're after when we travel to Florida). Their bobbing wave pool was a disappointment, but the theming again was excellently executed (even if it made us cringe, lol).

 

[nifferearly]

Thanks! Very helpful! It makes me want to try Aquatica the next time we go

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks! Very helpful! It makes me want to try Aquatica the next time we go

This might be a good thread for you to check out as well:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3127667

 

[Brook1099]

We have been to Aquatica, Typhoon and Blizzard Beach, and would rank them in that order.

Aquatica gets the overall nod for their awesome tubeless rapids (soooo much fun) and the fact that you can rent a cabana for a very reasonable price in comparison to the Disney waterparks (standard cabanas range from $49 to $149 per day in March, depending on when their visit falls, and include rental towels, an in-cabana large locker, a fridge stocked with 12 bottles of Dasani water, and 20% off purchases at the gift shop). Disney's fee is well over $300 regardless of the season . Their interactive kids area is HUGE and totally blows away those at the Disney waterparks as well. We love seeing the wildlife (Commerson dolphins, turtles, birds, fish), we love the big sand beach (which spans both wave pools), and they offer a very reasonably priced all day buffet (not the most gourmet food available, but certainly wallet-frierndly). The park is bright and cheery, the music is fun, the slides are great, and its just overall a fabulous park to visit.

Aquatica often has some really, really good ticket deals in the off-season. Its worth checking there before purchasing. Disney will run you $50+ for a one-day visit, but I have seen Aquatica tix for $19.

Typhoon Lagoon is our runner up. Its lush and tropical. The wave pool is the gem of the park, and so very fun (but beware....the waves are powerful enough to toss my 300 pound, 6' 4" DH around like a guppy). You can swim with the sharks. Its very well themed, and you can often meet Lilo and Stitch. Their mini donuts are da bomb , as are the waffle sandwiches. Parking is free where its a small charge at Aquatica.

Blizzard Beach was our least favourite. The snow theme definitely was not for us (but we are from the north....and snow is not what we're after when we travel to Florida). Their bobbing wave pool was a disappointment, but the theming again was excellently executed (even if it made us cringe, lol).

I ditto this to a tee

 

[mikehn]

From my perspective, they are all great. But from my 10 year old's perpective, typhoon lagoon rules.

 

[DOOM1001]

Aquatica: Good amount of slides,some are pretty thrilling,two twin wave pools,two kids areas with one being big enough for adults to enjoy.The Roa's Rapids fast lazy river is what puts this park in my number one ranking,it's super fun to float along at a good clip around the park.Not too much shade ,more palm trees with a colorful South Pacific theme.Some of the attractions incorporate Commerson's dolphins and tropical fish.Best Food and shopping of the Orlando waterparks.Rating 8.7/10

Typhoon Lagoon: Super lush with tons of trees,good slides with none being extreme,maybe the Humonga Kuwabunga.The Crush n Gusher water coaster is the only water coaster in the Orlando parks.Wave Pool has a soft bobbing wave mode and a big surf wave mode with a huge wave that comes and knocks everyone down,watch your knees as the wave pool floor is very rough and will scrape your knees.They have the shark reef snorkeling attraction where you snorkel with small shark and fish but I heard they may be removing this attraction if it hasn't already been removed.Good long lazy river,overall a good solid park but Aquatica tops it in my rankings.Rating 8.3/10

Blizzard Beach: Used to be my favorite but it got old because all the slides are up the mountain so you have to continuously go up the same couple of stairs which gets old.Some attractions can be reached by the chairlift which may have a wait.Has the most thrilling slide in summit Plummet but it also can have a long wait.The wave pool is a little underwhelming compared to the other parks,the lazy river is good but beware the freezing water in the caves.Absolutely positively both Disney waterparks have way below average food,I ate the worst burger in my life at Blizzard beach,it was literally a burnt up hockey puck and on my last visit to Typhoon lagoon they gave me a sandwich with frozen bread,it must have been in the freezer 10 minutes before.Rating 8.0/10

Wet n Wild:the oldest waterpark in Orlando and is also considered America's first waterpark.The least themed waterpark in Orlando but it has low ticket prices and a good amount of slides with many of them being multi person slides as well as some that have unique gimmicks like the Disco H2O with disco music and disco balls inside the slide.Not the nicest waterpark but if you're into the attractions and slides it's more than worth it.Rating 7.8/10

Universal owns Wet n Wild and it's pretty much guaranteed they will be building a new waterpark right onsite next to their theme parks,nobody is too sure what will happen to Wet n Wild,if it will stay or be removed with Universal possibly using the space for a third theme park.I'll be doing Wet n Wild this year just in case it might be my last visit.