Florida, renowned as the theme park capital of the world, is also home to a collection of extraordinary water parks that rival the best on the planet. Beyond the exhilarating roller coasters and enchanting themed experiences, the Sunshine State offers a refreshing escape into a world of aquatic adventures, making it a premier destination for water park enthusiasts.
Among the aquatic gems that sparkle in Florida’s crown are Aquatica at SeaWorld Orlando, Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando, and the two captivating water parks at Walt Disney World, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. What sets Florida apart even further is the fact that several of its water parks remain open throughout the year, providing a welcome respite from the heat and humidity, unlike many other seasonal water parks across the United States. While indoor water parks thrive in other regions, Florida’s outdoor havens offer year-round aquatic excitement.
Most of the major water parks cluster in Central Florida, conveniently located near the major theme park resorts. However, pockets of aquatic fun can be found scattered throughout the state, offering something for everyone seeking to make a splash.
Let’s dive into a selection of these exhilarating Florida Has Some of the World’s Best Water Parks, exploring their unique attractions and offerings:
Adventure Island in Tampa
Nestled near Busch Gardens Tampa, Adventure Island is a sprawling water park operated by SeaWorld Parks. This tropical-themed paradise offers a diverse range of attractions, catering to thrill-seekers and families alike. Plunge down exhilarating tube slides, brave the twists and turns of body slides, or experience the rush of toboggan slides. For adrenaline junkies, the speed slide promises a heart-pounding descent. Engage in friendly competition on the mat-racing slides, or embark on a family adventure aboard the raft rides. Relax and unwind in the wave pool, or let the little ones explore the interactive water play center complete with a giant splash bucket. Adventure Island also features an activity pool, a lazy river for tranquil floating, volleyball courts for some friendly competition, and dedicated play areas for younger children.
Adventure Island requires separate admission from Busch Gardens Tampa. To maximize value, the park offers discounted package deals that combine admission to Adventure Island with access to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and/or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
In 2022, Adventure Island introduced Rapids Racer, a thrilling dueling raft slide where two rafts compete side-by-side. The park also reimagined its Wahoo Run family raft ride with a new soundtrack and synchronized lights, renaming it Wahoo Remix. Expanding its operating calendar, Adventure Island now welcomes guests year-round.
Aquatica in Orlando
Aquatica, another impressive creation by SeaWorld Parks, lies in close proximity to SeaWorld Orlando. This expansive and beautifully themed water park features a wide array of attractions for all ages. Experience the exhilaration of tube slides, body slides, raft slides, and bowl rides. Race your friends on the mat-racing slides, or embark on a family adventure on the raft rides. Catch some waves in the wave pools, relax in the activity pool, or drift along the lazy river. For a more adventurous experience, take on the action river. Aquatica also provides the unique opportunity to observe live animals, offering an interactive water play center, and designated play areas for younger children.
Aquatica requires separate admission from SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove. To optimize your visit, explore discounted package deals that combine admission to Aquatica with access to SeaWorld Orlando, Adventure Island, and/or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Like Adventure Island, Aquatica remains open year-round.
In 2022, Aquatica remodeled its Dolphin Plunge water slide and renamed it Reef Plunge. Riders now glide through clear, acrylic tubes surrounded by sharks, dolphins, schools of sardines, and other fascinating marine life.
Blizzard Beach in Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World Resort
Blizzard Beach, one of two water parks at Walt Disney World Resort, offers a uniquely themed experience centered around a melting ski resort. This expansive park boasts an impressive collection of attractions, including Summit Plummet, an enormous speed slide that arguably stands as one of the most thrilling rides in all of Disney World. Guests can also enjoy a relaxing float along the lazy river, catch some waves in the wave pool, race down the mat racing slide, or experience the twists and turns of tube slides and body slides. Family raft rides provide shared thrills, while interactive water play areas cater to younger children.
Blizzard Beach requires separate admission from the Disney World theme parks. When both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are open, a Park Hopper option allows guests to visit both water parks on the same day. While Blizzard Beach operates year-round, it typically closes for a couple of weeks during the winter months for annual maintenance.
Buccaneer Bay in Weeki Wachee Springs
Located within Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Buccaneer Bay offers a charming and refreshing water park experience. The park features water slides, speed slides, a lazy river, and a large, spring-fed pool. Buccaneer Bay is open for most of the year, with a brief closure from early February through mid-March. Admission to Buccaneer Bay is included with entry to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, which is also famous for its captivating mermaid shows.
CoCo Key Orlando Water Resort in Orlando
CoCo Key is a medium-sized water park offering a variety of attractions, including body slides, tube slides, an interactive water play center, a zero-entry toddler pool, and a teen pool. It welcomes both registered hotel guests and the general public, depending on availability. CoCo Key is open year-round.
Daytona Lagoon in Daytona Beach
Daytona Lagoon is a medium-sized park offering a mix of water park fun and family entertainment. The water park features an interactive kids’ water play area, a wave pool, tube slides, body slides, a speed slide, and a lazy river. The family entertainment center also includes go-karts, a rock wall, laser tag, and mini-golf. While the family entertainment center operates year-round, the water park is open seasonally.
Island H2O Live in Kissimmee
Opened in 2019, Island H2O Live is a modern water park featuring a unique blend of thrilling attractions and social media integration. Located at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Resort Orlando, this complex also offers a hotel, spa, and a shopping, dining, and entertainment district. The park’s attractions include a near-vertical drop speed slide, a half-pipe slide, a mat-racing slide, a lazy river, a bowl slide, a wave pool, and an area for younger children. Guests can enjoy DJs and live music, and take advantage of numerous photo opportunities.
Legoland Florida Water Park in Winter Haven
Legoland Florida Water Park is a medium-sized park with a distinct Lego theme. It offers tube slides, body slides, racing slides, a speed slide, a wave pool, a lazy river, an interactive water play center, and play areas for younger kids. Admission to the water park requires a separate ticket, which can only be purchased in combination with passes to the Legoland theme park. The water park operates seasonally.
Rapids Water Park in West Palm Beach
Rapids Water Park is a large park offering a diverse range of attractions, including a lazy river, wave pool, children’s play area, funnel ride, FlowRider surfing ride, launch capsule slides, family raft rides, multi-lane mat-racing slide, body slides, and tube slides. It operates seasonally.
Sam’s Fun City in Pensacola
Sam’s Fun City is a medium-sized family entertainment center with a water park known as "Surf City." The water park features tube slides, body slides, activity pools, and a lazy river. The entertainment center also includes go-karts, amusement rides, mini-golf, and bumper boats. The amusement park rides are open year-round, while the water park operates seasonally.
Shipwreck Island in Panama City Beach
Shipwreck Island is a medium-sized park offering a variety of attractions, including a wave pool, lazy river, family raft ride, speed slide, body slides, tube slides, and a play area for kids. It operates seasonally.
Shipwreck Island at Adventure Landing in Jacksonville Beach
Shipwreck Island at Adventure Landing is a medium-sized park featuring an uphill water coaster, halfpipe ride, bowl slide, wave pool, lazy river, tube and body slides, and a kiddie cove. The family entertainment center also includes mini-golf, laser tag, a kiddie roller coaster, and go-karts. The amusement park rides operate year-round, while the water park operates seasonally.
Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral
Sun Splash is a small park offering waterslides, activity and family pools, otter slides, speed slides, an inner tube river, and a children’s play area. It operates seasonally.
Typhoon Lagoon in Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World Resort
Typhoon Lagoon, one of the premier water parks at Walt Disney World Resort, is a sprawling and imaginatively themed park centered around a tropical storm. This impressive water park boasts a water coaster, a lazy river, body slides, tube slides, speed slides, a family raft ride, and an enormous wave pool.
Like Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon requires separate admission from the Disney World theme parks. With the Park Hopper option, visitors can enjoy both water parks on the same day when both are open. Typhoon Lagoon is open year-round, though it typically closes for a few weeks in the winter for annual maintenance.
Volcano Bay in Orlando at Universal Orlando
Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando is a highly themed water park anchored by a towering 200-foot volcano. Krakatau Aqua Coaster is the centerpiece of the park. Other attractions include some of the world’s most thrilling speed slides, family raft rides, a multi-directional wave pool, body slides, and tube slides. All guests receive a complimentary TapuTapu wearable device, which eliminates the need to wait in lines for attractions. Volcano Bay requires separate admission from the theme parks and operates year-round.
Florida Has Some of the World’s Best Water Parks offering a diverse range of aquatic experiences, from thrilling slides to relaxing lazy rivers, all set against the backdrop of the Sunshine State’s warm climate.
