Wet 'n Wild Orlando
Universal's Wet 'n Wild - Orlando is one of the parks within the Wet 'n Wild chain. It was founded by Sea World creator George Millay in Orlando, Florida on March 13, 1977. It is considered the first major water park in the United States, and Millay was given the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Waterpark Association[1] who named him the official "Father of the Waterpark." The park was featured on Travel Channel's Extreme Waterparks. The park was also used for a music video by the Pet Shop Boys.
Rides
Thrill rides
Wet 'n Wild Orlando is consistently rated as one of the top waterparks in America and is honored by Aquatic's International[2] as the first true waterpark. Having an area of around 60 acres (240,000 m2), there are a large variety of attractions at Wet 'n Wild Orlando - ranging from a relaxing lazy river to wild, high-speed body slides. These include:
- The Storm - Push yourself down into a steep tunnel that sends you flying down incredibly fast into a giant bowl where you'll find yourself spinning around with mist surrounding in the air as you drop into the pool below. This slide was created by Proslide company, labeled as a 'ProBowl' slide.[1]
- Mach 5 - Grab a mat and walk your way up a long winding tower to the top where you have three slides to choose from. When told by the lifeguard at top, push yourself down the ride of a twisting, turning, head-first flumes that fall 1,700 feet (520 m) over three different courses.(Picture right of page)
- Der Stuka - Push yourself down a six-story speed slide that sends you flying down a 76-foot (23 m), nearly vertical drop that transitions to a 115-foot (35 m) water runway.
- Bomb Bay - The ride for all dare devils is right here. Go inside the rocket awaiting unknowingly for the trap door to open that sends you down a 76-foot (23 m), nearly vertical slide to the depths below.
- Knee Ski - A cable-operated ski lets you kneeboard like a pro around a 1/4 mile long lake.
- Wake Boarding - Everyone from beginner to expert can show their stuff on the WakeZone Cableway.
- The Wild One - Two people are pulled by a Jet Ski around the lake on big, bouncy tubes that make for a wild ride.
- Brain Wash - Lose your grip on reality in Wet N Wild's newest thrill ride.This mind blowing hypnotic thrill ride sends you down a steep 53-foot drop on a 65-foot (20 m), funnel.
Multi-person rides
- 'Disco H2O - Start off in a tube traveling through a dark tunnel that sends you down a huge drop, and before you know it you find yourself traveling around a room filled with disco music and lights. This slide was too made from Proslide company as a "BehemothBowl". It replaces the Fountain Pool. [2]
- The Surge - A 5-story tube ride that carries a 4-passenger tube down 600 feet (180 m) of banked turns, radical twists and diabolical dips. This ride was made by Proslide as a "Mammoth" slide. [3]
- Bubba Tub - Grab the family and climb aboard one of the four-passenger tubes for a six-story, triple dip drop ride.
- The Black Hole The Next Generation - 1000 gallons a minute sends a two-person tube rocketing through 500 feet (150 m) of twisting, turning darkness on this space-age thrill ride. The Black Hole currently reopened under the moniker "The Black Hole: The Next Generation" and now features more light effects, fog, and an updated ride boarding area.
- The Flyer - Travel around in a 4-person raft that sends you on on an exciting, family-fun ride that covers 450 feet (140 m) of hairpin turns and banked curves. It is formally called Fuji Flyer.
- The Blast - Take a raging ride along a raptured pipeline that will thrill you to the core and soak you to the bone. It is formally called Raging Rapids.
Kids rides
- Kid's Park - You'll find miniature versions of a lot of the rides and a gigantic bucket that periodically fills with water and splashes into the pool below.
Other activities
- Lazy River - Surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers with old boat docks, rustic billboards, and waterfalls, The Lazy River is a stream in which patrons can rent tubes or swim freestyle.
- Surf Lagoon (aka The Wave Pool) - The Surf Lagoon contains four-foot waves that roll across the 17,000-square-foot (1,600 m2) pool, surrounded by comfortable seating and punctuated by a dramatic waterfall. Like the Lazy River, you may rent a tube if you wish.
- Volleyball - There are two volleyball nets open to anyone that wants to start a game on regulation-size volleyball courts on beach sand.
References
External links