Photo TR: Aquatica Preview!

Last edited by Erik Johnson on Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:15 pm

As many of you know, there was a passholder preview today for Sea World's brand new waterpark Aquatica. After spending a full day at the park I feel that it Aquatica is a waterpark made mostly for families rather than those who would be seeking to experience more extreme water thrills. Aquatica is set to a New Zealand theme.

Attractions include:

1. Dolphin Plunge: This is the duel slide that people have been talking about for a while now. It is the one that starts off as a normal enclosed speed slide but with an ending that most will never forget. Unless your tube happens to be covered in fog during your ride. We found it was better to ride this one in the afternoon once the water temperature of both the slide and the dolphin pool even out. We tried ridding these in the morning, and experience a serious bout of tube fogging. It is also recommended to try not to sail through these tubes at full speed, otherwise your encounter with the dolphins will be over too quick. My second ride was much better (slower and a crystal clear tube)

2. Whanau Way: A pretty standard 4 different (Two are mirror images) single rider tube slides. Fun, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

3. Cutback Grove and Big Surf Shores: Two small wave pools that run waves in 7 minute intervals. They sit right next to each other. Cutback Grove's waves are larger and more frequent.

4. Kata's Kookaburra Cove: A good toddler/young children water play area. This one also include 6 different slides (In groups of 3). As small children get older than can progress themselves through to the next group of slides.

5. Taumata Racer: 8 (!!) dueling racer slides. Again pretty much standard, but they do have a nice drop at the end of the run.

6. Walkabout Waters: This was a quite amazing water fort area for older kids, but we found that there were quite a few adults having as much fun. They had two small water dumping buckets instead of the normal large one. There are quite a few extra slides in this play area as well.

7. Walhalla Wave: This was an excellent family raft ride that was pretty insane. I think this was probably the most intense ride in the park. The family rafts are a bit smaller than the standard size as they only can fit 3 people into each one. While not as insane as the one at Mt Olympus (which actually was quite dangerous IMO), it still had a few moments that the rafts tip 90 degrees as you go along the slide. Also half the ride is enclosed which means there are a few surprises in the dark. Make sure you hold on tight during this one.

8. HooRoo Run: The other family raft ride which is a standard triple down one.

9. Tassie's Twisters: A double smaller sized toilet bowl ride. You can ride this as a single or double rider. Double riders have a tendency to end up having to push themselves around to the exit of the ride. Maybe it needs more pressurized water. Both of these dump themeselves into Loggerhead Lane.

10. Loggerhead Lane: The slower paced lazy river that does include a section with an aquairum as well as a section that goes right by the Dolphin Plunge pool area. (Tubes only)

11. Roa's Rapids: The faced paced lazy river. And I do mean fast. (No Tubes)

** A word of warning to those who may have fair skin. You MUST be protected from the sun in this park. There is very little shade and you will burn to a crisp, especially during the summer months.

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject:

Ok, a large section of pictures!

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject:

More photos.

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:49 pm Post subject:

Photos, photos, photos

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject:

You can see how fast the Roa's Rapids are.

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:18 pm Post subject:

No, that video was not sped up in any way....Ok, what is next?

The final set of photos (after these) can be found here:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42041&start=20

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:52 pm Post subject:

Great photos, Erik. Aquatica looks like it has some great rides.

Also looking forward to your presumed coverage of that dirt pile when things start to go vertical. Taiko Happy

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:36 am Post subject:

The only thing I notice that I kinda think is neat about the park is the aquariums along the river. I've never seen that before.

The slide through the dolphin tank is pretty lame. I wouldn't expect you to really be able to see the dolphins no matter how long that tank is, but they should have made it 50' at least.

Other than than it looks just like any other brightly colored cement covered water park. It does have a nice amount of plants though it seems.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:59 am Post subject:

Great Tr and pics too.

Judging by the pics and type of slides, this will probably become my favourite Orlando waterpark : I'm always afraid that I'll hurt myself one the more extreme waterslides. I see no slides in Aquatica which I would not dare to try out. Although I'm a bit claustrophobic, I even would not hesitate to ride the Dolphin slides.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:06 am Post subject:

Great pic's and thanks for the report, but I think that the park needs to fire their researchers over one small thing...

Kookaburra's are native to Australia....not New Zealand. Taiko Wink

Come to think of it, they seem to have themed the park to both NZ and Oz items. Hmm...

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