| Author |  Topic  |
roger
USA
4703 Posts
Joined: 21 Jan 2002
Status: online |  Posted - 25 Feb 2008 : 21:35:44  
| We spent a day at Aquatica yesterday. The park opened at 10:00am although we arrived at around 10:45. The queue at the gate was huge, going almost round the whole park, and barely moving, with many frustrated looking people standing around. We decided to go and have an early lunch / late breakfast at Sizzlers then come back later.
By the time we returned at around 12:00 the queue had gone and we went straight in. Mr Busch was there, greeting guests at the gate (no free beer though).
The weather was cloudy, but in the high 70's and cleared by the middle of the afternoon.
We all thought the park was as good, if not better than the other water parks in the area. Not as lush or green as the Disney parks (but a lot of young trees and shrubs), large beach areas, and although busy, plenty of sun loungers. The sun loungers had adjustable backs (unlike Disney) although no arms, so hard to relax without your arms falling on the floor (maybe I'm just too wide  )
Charlotte and Josh have both written a brief review (below), followed by a selection of photos.
Charlotte
I thought that Aquatica was very fun. I enjoyed my time there and the slides were a lot of fun and much different from other places. The staff were really friendly and helpful. It was very beachy and the atmosphere was nice.
There was an amazing park area where there is water all around you that falls out of nowhere when you walk around. Although I didn't eat at any of the restaurants, the menus looked good and the food smelt delicious!!
It was nice as I walked around because it was all so colorful. There were lots of slides where you could go down together and race against each other and the queues moved down really fast.
The sun beds and chairs were pretty comfy and there was a lot of choice of where to sit. If anyone has been to the water park, Wild Wadi, in Dubai it kind of reminded me of that.
It was good because there were 2 lazy rivers and one of them you could float round in rings and relax and the other shoots you around really fast and there was a lot of squirters around which were really fun.
Overall I really enjoyed my time at Aquatica and I would recommend others to go there!
Josh
Aquatica is one of my favourite water parks. It includes 6 waterslides, 2 water play areas, and various other attractions, such as Wave-Pools / Mini Water Slides / 2 lazy rivers.
Firstly, Aquatica, kinda has that nice beach feeling, whereas it does not have that nice tropical feeling as the Disney theme parks do, example, most of the plants/ trees are brown/ dead. It has nice, soft, fluffy, bouncy sand which makes it feel a lot like a beech. Now, to the fun part… RIDES!
The rides main theme is like colourful and fast. My three most favourite rides were the toboggan racers, dolphin, and the twister. (Of course they had much better/ expanded names but I cannot remember them)
The park's theme is Australian so as you are walking up the steps to the ride, the speakers have an Australian guy talking about safety and such, (My favourite quote would be: “Due to safety concerns our lifeguards are not allowed to make direct eye contact with you, Nothing Personal on ya mate” That’s A classic, but why?? ).
All rides are fast and fun, but I don’t want to get into detail and spoil the fun for you, the height restrictions for each ride are 42in unaccompanied, and 48 Alone. 2 lazy rivers include, one slow, and one fast. (Ohhh Trust me, its FAST!) for these attractions, life jackets are provided and required for people under 51in, and can be used by anyone who would want one.
Restaurants are here too, and smell great (I obviously didn’t eat here). people of all ages will enjoy this park, whether you feel extreme and want to tear it up on the attractions, or just laze around on a lounger for the day. Hope this review was helpful for you! Josh parry.
Amelia wasn't too sure how to use the life vests
Got it sussed
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Roger & Carolyn
www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-830.aspx
www.park-tickets.com
www.uscarhire.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.ciirus.com
www.videoscape.tv |
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CERICROWLEY
 United Kingdom
5032 Posts
Joined: 14 May 2004
Status: online | |
roger
USA
4703 Posts
Joined: 21 Jan 2002
Status: online | |
Lesley S
United Kingdom
1470 Posts
Joined: 19 Apr 2002
Status: offline | |
roger
USA
4703 Posts
Joined: 21 Jan 2002
Status: online | Posted - 25 Feb 2008 : 22:17:00
| The dolphin slide had mixed reviews. The kids loved it. Not too fast, but in the dark most of the way, then about 2 seconds of light as you go through the transparent tube through the dolphin pool, and lucky if you happen to get a glimpse of a dolphin (as the flash of sunlight after the dark leaves you blind for about as long as it takes to go through the tranparent part).
The photo above is the under water view of the same dolphin pool with black and white dolphins. You can see the slide in the background - that's about as much as there is passing through the water, then you come to the end of the slide. I'll have to check with the kids, but from memory you land in a splash pool rather than deep water. |
Roger & Carolyn
www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-830.aspx
www.park-tickets.com
www.uscarhire.co.uk
www.orlandovillas.com
www.ciirus.com
www.videoscape.tv |
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KarenScott
United Kingdom
2667 Posts
Joined: 26 Jan 2004
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mfairhurst
 United Kingdom
3206 Posts
Joined: 07 May 2005
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rosie
 4407 Posts
Joined: 14 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 25 Feb 2008 : 22:20:08 
| | Looks like the kids had a great time, can't wait to try it out ourselves |
Rosie
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Edited by - rosie on 25 Feb 2008 22:21:00 |
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mizzy
 United Kingdom
4426 Posts
Joined: 19 Oct 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 25 Feb 2008 : 22:32:14
| it looks great and not the kinda place i'd lose the kids in which has always been my biggest worry, after two trips we have yet to try a water park 
can i ask did you notice at all how accessible the park was? was there any sand wheelchairs, hoists, lifts and such?
also if you are not so brave and chicken out at the top of a slide is there enough room to get back down safely 
thanks |
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blott
 United Kingdom
23840 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: online | Posted - 25 Feb 2008 : 22:38:39
| Great descriptions Roger. Loved Charlotte's descriptive 'water all around you that falls out of nowhere when you walk around' and made me really want to go and experience Josh's 'nice, soft, fluffy, bouncy sand' although normally I can't stand the stuff! 
Tell me that can't be Leon and Amelia looking so grown up when it was only five minutes ago they were babies? |
blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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owen3
United Kingdom
2128 Posts
Joined: 11 May 2005
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walden64
United Kingdom
1008 Posts
Joined: 31 Jan 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Feb 2008 : 02:44:01
| I took Matthew today and he really loved it.
He went on most rides two or three times each and he was raving about it to both Mike and his sisters who are back in the UK at the moment.
Aquaticas version of the lazy river is no where near as long as either of the Disney parks but they also have a swim along rapids which is great and something that Disney parks don't have.
We will certainly be going again next week once it officially opens
Michelle |
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-1020.aspx
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Edited by - walden64 on 26 Feb 2008 02:52:31 |
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Nina A
 United Kingdom
1691 Posts
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
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caroline
 United Kingdom
7359 Posts
Joined: 29 Apr 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Feb 2008 : 08:49:03
| Great reviews Roger - I see Charlotte has already settled into American spellings!!! I can't believe how much your two 'babies' have grown.
I must admit I wasn't going to bother with Aquatica but now I think we'll have to give it a go! |
Caroline & Dave
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-236.aspx
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dawn
 United Kingdom
3538 Posts
Joined: 08 Nov 2004
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Kazzie
United Kingdom
4519 Posts
Joined: 26 Feb 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Feb 2008 : 09:32:04
| Thanks for the review and the photos Roger. I agree with Charlotte, it does look very colourful. Have ordered my tickets (from here of course ) and am really looking forward to trying it out on our trip in 31 days. |
Karen
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2185.aspx |
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another
 United Kingdom
2415 Posts
Joined: 03 Apr 2004
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athurstance
 United Kingdom
1816 Posts
Joined: 13 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Feb 2008 : 10:23:20
| Great reviews - thanks. I can't wait to go to Aquatica when we're over in October and the boys and me have loved seeing the photos and reading about it. Looks like a great park and we hope to go several times when we're over there.
I love the slides - not too sure about the dark one but I will give it a go. The boys will go on anything so I will send them down first. |
Angela
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/111.aspx |
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Mrs Brizzle
United Kingdom
188 Posts
Joined: 26 Aug 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Feb 2008 : 11:18:47
| | Thanks Roger, can't wait to try it out - 10 days until we go now! |
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thistle1314
 United Kingdom
133 Posts
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Feb 2008 : 11:33:56
| | Great reports there and loads of good details. Photos capture the size of the place too. Thanks Roger and Co. |
Helen |
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ccarcher
United Kingdom
282 Posts
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Status: offline | Posted - 26 Feb 2008 : 11:55:01
| Good stuff Roger
Although I would like to see a photo of you laying on a lounger with your arms falling off (the lounger not your body) so that we can be the judge of whether your too wide or not  |
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Aquatica Review
