USA Travel Guide

Your town may not be straddled with snow yet, but you know it’s coming. What you may not know is that while you waste a gallon of gas every morning “warming up” the car, there’s a place in this country where the people still look forward to weekend trips to the water park. In fact, they do it all winter.

That place is Orlando, Florida, and the park is Wet ‘n Wild Orlando. Head across state, head across country – do what you must to get a taste of winter water park fun.

Wet ‘n Wild’s industry claim to fame is that it is the nation’s first water park, opened in 1977 by SeaWorld-founder George Millay. The park’s visitor claim to fame is that after 30 years it’s still one of the best. State-of-the-art thrill rides and low-tech excursions blend with no-nonsense décor that’s all about getting in the water and having your kind of fun.

Lounge or leap, you’ll find it at Wet ‘n Wild Orlando: 

• Brain Wash – on the extreme end of things, Brain Wash sends you and a friend shuttling down a 53-foot drop into massive funnel
• The Bomb Bay – nothing beats the suspense of waiting for the trap door beneath you to swing open, unleashing you on a 76-foot drop
• The Black Hole – the classic dark ride is dark no more, this redesigned tube ride wows you with color and sound
• Disco H20 – speaking of color and sound, the unusual tube ride is like a trip back 70s
• Lazy River – just wouldn’t be a water park without one
• Wave Pool – ditto (and this one is humongous)
• Kids’ Park – along with typical kid park antics, this section features miniature version of some of the larger rides, very cool

From September to March, certain rides may be closed for annual maintenance, call ahead to avoid disappointment

Wet ‘n Wild Orlando is one of the few water parks in the nation open year-round. There’s really nothing like enjoying a lazy cruise around the river on Christmas Day, and don’t worry, during the cooler months the water attractions are heated. At the moment, they’re offering a nice deal, “Buy One Get 2009 Free”, meaning each ticket grants unlimited access for the rest of 2009. Feel free to go nuts!

Wet ‘n Wild Orlando is part of the Universal family of parks which also includes Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Combo packs featuring all three parks are also available. Learn more about Wet ‘n Wild Orlando.

You could walk to Wet ‘n Wild from today’s hotel. The Holiday Inn Orlando International Drive Resort is located just a quarter-mile from the water park is currently running awesome off-season rates.

Have fun!

Note: The hardest part of writing about Wet ‘n Wild? Remembering where to put the apostrophe.