Watermania or WetnWild for young kids?

[26555]

I'm sure TL or BB would be great but I don't want to spend alot of money when they will tire out in 2 or 3 hours. Watermania and WetnWild both have decent FL resident discounts. Anyone know which has more stuff for kids age 4 & 5? Thanks.

Also --- anyone know the parking fee at WetnWild (website says "nominal")? Would I be able to leave and then return w/o paying parking again? (breaking up the day might be good to get naps in). Thanks.

 

[26555]

bump?

 

[inloveindisney]

From what I saw, wet and wild is a better place to go. Watermania seemed kinda run down and there weren't that many people there. We went by once at around 3 and there didn't seem to be anyone there. i don't know what the deal was, but when we went by wet and wild it seemed to be busy and the slides and things looked pretty neat

 

[GoldenOldie]

Watermania isn't run down but it's a very tame water park by Central Florida standards. It has a nice kid's area with a pirate ship they can climb on and slide down as well as a kid sized water slide, water cannons, mushroom fountains, etc. There is a lazy river here but the high pressure stream of water used for the boogie board surfing empties into the river and the current is stronger that most others of its kind.

Watermania usually gets very crowded every day. Perhaps the day inloveindisney saw it was a day that the pools were cleared due to lightning or was a day when their large number of local day camps had already left. One advantage to Watermania is the price. It's half what you'll pay at Wet N Wild.

I don't generally go to Wet N Wild anymore due to crowds (you really have to get there early or you're out of luck) and the traffic in the area can get pretty bad.

I would personally choose a Disney water park over either one of these but I wouldn't have any problem going to either if I had to.

 

[ejj234]

I can't speak for either b/c we're going in 10 days, but did want to let you know that the deciding factor for us (seeing as how we had no ideas on either) was that watermania tickets were $40 for a family of 6 at www.ticketmania.com. I have 2 very fair skinned children and so also called the park and reserved a Cabana, which is new this year.

 

[djm99]

I like watermania much better, because when I went to both last summer Wet N Wild was just that!! Too wet and way too wild for me!!! Watermania was really laid back. We actually relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. We've decided to make watermania our first stop every trip. This way after 2 days travel from STL to Orlando a nice relaxing day is needed. And the childrens area is small and to the point. There is a slide and pool thats maybe 2 feet and a long "snake" the children can play on. And there is a play area with slides like a play ground that shoots out water. Again my daughter loved it!!! Although the area is not very big after a few hours of playing I had to drag my DD3 then out of the pool.

There are only a few "rides" and the Lazy Pool or whatever the name of the water things that kinda moves for you around in a circle is absolutely wonderful. The wave pool is pretty big. I think you will enjoy either one, but if you are really going to kind of relax stay away from Wet N Wild Teenagers are everywhere - running and being Teenagers!!!!

 

[26555]

Were the teens really wild in the kiddie section? Watermania looks a little too much like our local waterpark, my kids are a little older 4 & 5 so I think they would like to do some slides. I was hoping the teens might not have interest in some of the tamer slides.