Water Worlds
Water Worlds
Orlando’s Water Theme Parks
SeaWorld
SeaWorld’s Aquatica features the Dolphin Plunge, in which riders zoom through an underwater tube through the home of a pod of Commerson’s dolphins. Ihu’s Breakaway Falls is Orlando’s tallest, steepest, multi-drop tower slide, and Riptide Race will be the first dueling racing raft ride in Florida when it opens in 2020. This tropical paradise also has adjacent wave pools with varying surf heights (the only ones in the United States), and a Sunny Day Guarantee in case rides are closed due to a change in the weather. Aquatica Orlando features 47 slides, rivers and lagoons and 84,000 square feet of white sand beaches.
Walt Disney World
The most magical place on earth offers two options for cooling off at water parks (with separate admission for each). At the center of Blizzard Beach is Mt. Gushmore, with slalom courses, toboggan runs and the 120-foot-high Summit Plummet, which plunges riders from the top of a “ski jump” tower at 55 mph. The other park, Typhoon Lagoon, recently debuted the white-water rafting ride Miss Adventure Falls, and Crush ‘n’ Gusher is the first water coaster thrill ride in the Orlando area.
Universal Orlando
In 2017, Universal Orlando opened Volcano Bay, billed as the resort’s third theme park. At its heart is Krakatau Aqua Coaster, which whisks families through a 200-foot-tall volcano that gushes water by day and fiery “lava” on the nights the park is open. Tapu Tapu wearables, one of the park’s coolest innovations, allow visitors to explore the island while waiting in line virtually.
Water, Water, Water
Pennslyvania
An easy drive from Western and Central New York, a cluster of water parks has surged in the Pocono Mountains. The first in the area was a member of the Great Wolf Lodge chain. Kalahari Resort, meanwhile, is America’s largest indoor water park. In addition, Camelback Resort has its Aquatopia indoor water park as well as Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark for outdoor summertime fun.
Texas
The Lone Star State is dominated by Schlitterbahn, with locations in Galveston Island and New Braunfels. It was named the “Best Waterpark in the World” for 22 consecutive years by the theme park industry’s Golden Ticket Award. In addition,
Schlitterbahn’s The Falls in New Braunfels and Infinity Racers in Galveston have been honored as a Top 5 Best Waterpark ride and a Top 5 Best New Waterpark ride, respectively.
Wisconsin
The small town of Wisconsin Dells launched the indoor water park concept in 1989 with the Polynesian Water Park Resort. Over 30 years later, the area is flooded with places for watery pursuits, including the outdoor Noah’s Ark and the indoor outdoor Wilderness Resort.
California
Raging Waters (San Dimas) Raging Waters is a 60-acre water park in the Los Angeles area that boasts Southern California’s only water coaster: the 1,000-foot Aqua Rocket and its three lightning-fast drops. South Bay Shores (Santa Clara) Northern California’s Great America will open a redesigned and expanded South Bay Shores water park in 2020, increasing from 10 to 15 acres and increasing the attractions from 10 to 18. New attractions include Shark Reef Plunge six-story drop slides, Feeding Frenzy and The Barracuda five-story tube slides and a Tide Pool family lagoon.
Florida
Adventure Island (Tampa Bay) Adventure Island’s 30 acres of water-drenched fun in the sun are located across the street from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. In 2020, the park adds Solar Vortex, America’s first dual-tailspin water
slide, which combines the highbanking rotations of a bowl with the rapid descent of a flume.
Illinois
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (Chicago) Tsunami Surge will be the world’s tallest water coaster at 86 feet high when it opens at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in 2020. The new coaster will propel riders through 950 feet of slides and tunnels at 42 feet per second for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Keep Riding the Wave across the USA.
Idaho
Roaring Springs Waterpark (Meridian) The 360-degree looping Corkscrew Cavern and Cliffhanger’s six-story vertical-drop water slides are among the highlights of Roaring Springs, which is near Boise.
Indiana
Splashin’ Safari (Santa Claus) Holiday World’s Splashin’ Safari water park adds the world’s first launched water coaster when Cheetah Chase opens in 2020. Cheetah Chase will be the park’s third water coaster overall, joining Wildebeest and Mammoth. Wildebeest consistently wins “Best Water Park Ride” from theme park industry awards, and Mammoth is certified as the longest water coaster in the world.
Nevada
Wet’n’Wild (Las Vegas) This 20-plus-acre Wet’n’Wild is no gamble when it comes to drenching fun. There are more than 25 rides, including the Hoover Half Pipe, which whooshes riders into a giant half pipe, and the Colorado
Cooler, a super-long lazy river.
North Carolina
Carolina Harbor (Charlotte) Carowinds water park Carolina Harbor was expanded and re-themed in 2016, and Boogie Board Racer is the first new slide since the redesign. Guests ascend 60 feet, grab a mat, choose a lane and wait for the green light to start. Racers zoom through tubes, chutes and even a 360-degree loop before a final drop brings them to a finish lane splashdown. H2OBX (Powells Point) This state-of-the-art water park opened in the Outer Banks in 2017 with 30 different water slides, wave pools and attractions such as the inflatable obstacle courses of the Deep Six Adventure Lagoon. Calico Jack’s Cove is a multi-level, piratethemed play structure with water slides and interactive water effects.
Ohio
Cedar Point Shores (Sandusky) Cedar Point Shores is the water park for Ohio’s Cedar Point amusement park resort, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2020. At Cedar Point Shores, families will find Lemmy the mythical Lake Erie Monster and Point Plummet, a sixstory, four-capsule water slide.
Pennsylvania
Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown) Dorney Park’s Wildwater Kingdom water park will add Seaside Splashworks in 2020. This new beach-themed, multi-level play structure will have over 75 play elements and six water slides. Seaside Splashworks joins Wildwater Kingdom’s 26 other water slides and wave pools.
Tennessee
Dollywood’s Splash Country (Pigeon Forge) Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Adventure Park sits on 35 acres in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Its newest attraction is TailSpin Racer, a six-lane mat-style slide. Splash Country also features River Rush, the only water coaster in Tennessee, and Fire Tower Falls, the state’s tallest twin speed slides.
Virginia
Soak City (Doswell)
Kings Dominion’s Soak City water park is renovating its Coconut Shores area with features designed specifically for younger children. Lighthouse Landing will include a play structure, water slides and interactive features, all set in an oversized wading pool. Sand Dunes Lagoon is a mini wave pool with a maximum depth of 24 inches.
Water Country USA (Williamsburg)
Virginia’s largest family water park, Water Country USA, features state-of-the-art rides and attractions with a retro surf theme. Cutback Water Coaster is the park’s latest thrill, combining a water jet
propulsion system with a saucer feature to create a steep, smooth ride over 800 feet long.