Sea World's Aquatica Reviewed by Local Travel Agents

Yesterday, we went to the Grand Opening for Sea World Orlando’s new water park named Aquatica. It was around 40 degrees when we left the office and barely above 50 when we arrived at the park. Even still, we were really there for business more than pleasure, so we started taking pictures and video to pass the time.

In the process, we got so excited by all the cool-looking rides that we just had to try some of them out! The temperature had moved up to 67 degrees and the water was heated, but when you came out of the water into the cold air, it was still cold, but you warmed up quickly in the sun. We even got sunburned!

The park has a water slide that goes through an aquarium that includes tropical fish and dolphins! There are also two “lazy” rivers, although the Roa Rapids speeds along at 6 feet per minute! The more casual river, Loggerhead Lane, also takes you through the aquarium in two spots, one to view the fish and the other to view the underwater slide and dolphins. There are two kids play areas — Kata’s Kookaburra Cove and Walkabout Waters — that are among the coolest I’ve ever seen at a water park. Walkabout Waters has two gigantic buckets at the top of the structure that fill with water and dump every time they get full, blasting swimmers with a torrential downpour, all with a loud, clanging bell to give you a head’s up notice before you get “drowned” in water. There are two wave pools with lots of beach space and six different slides, each with several slides to accommodate the maximum number of people.

Although this is the best water park we have visited in Orlando, there were a couple of critiques we have for this park. Both are easily remedied and should be to accommodate their guests. The first and most important is that they do not have infant swim diapers at any of the on property shops. Now, if you have kids, you know how short-sighted this is on Sea World’s part. You have a water park with TWO kids areas and no infant swim diapers? The second critique involves the lockers and while minor, deserves mentioning. The sign says that $3 of the cost of a locker rental is a refundable deposit. What they do not mention is that the $3 is returned in the form of a “gift card” that you can only spend in the park. FYI, this will not even buy you a soda in the park. Either charge me the full amount for the locker or give me cash back. I do not need a $3 gift card, just to give it back to you in the park somewhere else. This is not a refundable deposit.

Besides these two items, the park was amazing. The size is much bigger than we expected and the rides were very fun. We look forward to going back when the temperature is just a little warmer.