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Wet ‘n Wild
Rating: Fair For toddlers and younger children
Rating: Fun + For older kids (over 8 or so) and adults
6200 International Drive, Orlando
Phone: 407-351-9453 and 800-992-9453
Web site: www.wetnwildorlando.com
Hours: Open daily all year round, though hours vary seasonally, opening anywhere from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and closing anywhere from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Admission: Adults $34.95, kids 3-9 $28.95; Weekday Annual Pass $47.00; Annual Pass $89.95 Keep in mind as well that the Orlando Flexticket includes unlimited admission to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Wet ‘n Wild, and, in some cases, Busch Gardens, for 14 consecutive days from the date of purchase at a price of $189.95 for adults and $155.95 for children 3-9 (the 4-park ticket, not including Busch Gardens) and $234.95 for adults and $199.95 for children 3-9 (the 5-park ticket, including Busch Gardens) with free transportation between all 5 parks.
For the most up-to-date operation hours and pricing information, check out their Web site just prior to your trip. Also be aware that, although the park is open year round (don’t worry, the water is heated during the cooler months), most of the refurbishments take place from October until March so some rides may not be operational.
Average touring time: A half day with younger children. If you have older kids or if your family is full of water park junkies, you could easily spend the entire day.
 Parking: $7 for cars and minivans, $8 for larger group vans Showers and changing facilities are available.
First things first - grab a park map as soon as you enter because it, like the theme park maps, contains valuable information that will be most helpful during your visit.
This park is fairly large, and knowing where you’re headed will be useful, as will all of the information pertaining to the rides, eateries, restrooms and other guest services available there. Also, Wet ‘n Wild does a great job of color coding and signing their rides by age appropriateness. Checking the map as soon as you enter will prove most helpful in determining which rides and slides are appropriate and for which kids. There are some appropriate ones for supervised toddlers and younger children that have shallower waters and lower speeds while others are for more experienced riders, beginner swimmers, and younger children (though not toddlers). Still others - more aggressive and requiring stronger swimming skills--are more appropriate for older children. And last but not least are those for the completely nuts--have you seen some of these slides? You get the idea anyway. The symbols are also posted at the rides so if you’re unsure or don’t have the map handy you’ll know what’s what.
Toddlers will appreciate the Kid’s Park, where the height restrictions have a maximum but not a minimum so they can play without worrying about kids that are really too old to be there. There are tubes, tables, and beach chairs all sized for those under the 48” limit. The centerpiece is a huge sand castle with a 5-foot-tall bucket dangling above it, hinged so that every so often as the bucket fills it gushes out, creating a waterfall in the front of the castle that soaks anyone waiting below. On either side are 2 separate entrances leading to the 2 pint-sized waterslides.
Brightly colored blowfish spouting and squirting water line the children’s wave pool leading back to the sand castle, and kids can turn wheels on the fish to spray the water with more or less pressure. This is really the only true toddler-appropriate area in the park, and while the remainder of the park is really quite fun and rather unique, it is dedicated to far more proficient and most certainly older swimmers and sliders.
There are 3 additional areas that fall into the category of child-friendly, though they’re not for not toddlers. Those who are at least beginning swimmers can enjoy swimming or floating along the lazy river (which everybody can really take part in if supervised properly) landscaped with orange trees, palms, and greenery, and with rope bridges to pass under and waterfalls running off the rocky edges. Bubble Up is a huge balloon where kids can climb up with the help of a rope, to bounce and slide down as the water falls over them thanks to the mushroom fountain above. Awaiting below in the 3- foot-deep landing pool (which means that they would have to be able to handle landing in that depth of water) are water guns that can be aimed at the riders as they bounce and slide their way to the water below. The Flyer is also considered appropriate for the same age group, but in my opinion this 4-rider toboggan waterslide is more appropriate for older, more proficient swimmers than even the Bubble Up ride. The Surge, another ride I would consider most appropriate for more proficient riders and swimmers, is also a multipassenger ride, this time in a tube that twists and turns through some rather wild turns.
Now for the really wild rides.
The remainder of the park is reserved for those with strong swimming skills and good rider control, with some reserved for thrill seekers only. The following are aggressive, fast rides that will plunge you to the waters below from high above on some rather steep, some rather swirling slides. The Storm, Bomb Bay, Der Stuka, Blue Niagara, and Mach 5 top the list of slides, while the Bubba l Tub and Black Hole are the top tubing rides with plenty of other high-speed thrills to be had as well.
For a different experience, Surf Lagoon serves up 4-foot waves as the huge waterfall wall splashes into the 17,000-square-foot wave pool. There is even a water ski ride called the Knee Ski, where riders can kneeboard around the lake (located just at the back of the park) pulled along by a cable.
In 2005, the park opened its newest experience, Disco H-2-0, where you can fly down an enclosed flume ride (with 3 other passengers in the raft built for 4) and experience a flashback through the 1970s, with mirrored lights and disco music setting the tone.
Overall, the park is geared far more for older kids and adults, but remember, if you do have younger kids, that it doesn’t take nearly as many rides to keep them happy, and the Kid’s Park offers plenty of unique features for those younger visitors. My biggest disappointment with the park is its lack of landscaping and cover from the sun. There are few trees and bushes to shade you from the streaming sunshine and heat that tends to pound the park continuously. While there are umbrellas scattered about here and there, they are often reserved (so to speak) within minutes of the park’s opening, leaving those who come later with far fewer options.
Guests can rent various items such as tubes ($4 with a $2 deposit), towels ($2 with a $2 deposit), lockers ($5 with a $2 deposit), and a tube-locker-towel combination ($9 with a $4 deposit), with all deposits refundable upon the items’ return. Life vests are also available at no charge.
Breakers Beach Shop, which is located near the entrance, (or exit, depending on your point of view), is the place to find the latest in sportswear, swimwear, sunglasses, and hats, as well as sunscreen, disposable cameras, and film.
Airbrushing and tattooing are available, which the kids all love, though I suggest doing this on the way out after everyone’s done in the water or you could very well end up with a disaster on your hands (or face or arms).
There are restrooms as well as a first aid station, which is located to the left of Surf Lagoon (in the center of the park) and manned by certified personnel.
With 6 eateries to choose from in addition to a handful of snack spots located throughout the park, it is highly unlikely that anyone would go hungry here. All the favorites can be found here, from hamburgers and hot dogs, pizza and pasta, to barbecue (with even more choices not even listed). There is definitely something to please every palate at this park. You’re welcome to bring along your own food and drinks as well, but just be aware that, though there are plenty of places to sit down and eat throughout the park, there are no specific areas dedicated to picnicking.
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