Aquatica (water parks)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Water parks |
| Founded | March 1, 2008 |
| Founder | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment |
| Headquarters | Orlando, Florida , United States |
Area served | United States (Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas) |
| Owner | United Parks & Resorts |
Aquatica is a water park chain managed and owned by United Parks & Resorts, with sites located in Orlando, Florida and San Antonio, Texas.
History
On July 15, 2005, SeaWorld Orlando revealed intentions to develop a "natural" themed water park, highlighting the signature Dolphin Plunge (now known as Reef Plunge) slides. The official announcement of Aquatica came on March 5, 2007, introducing a project valued at around US$50 million. Construction advanced throughout 2007 and into early 2008, with preview events taking place in February. The park welcomed visitors on March 1, 2008, followed by its formal grand opening on April 4, 2008. During its inaugural year, Aquatica Orlando attracted nearly 950,000 guests, positioning it as the fourth most frequented water park in the United States and eighth globally. It achieved its projected attendance within just six months.
In early 2011, SeaWorld San Antonio disclosed plans to expand into a multi-day destination that would include an Aquatica water park. This development was officially announced on May 24, 2011, replacing Lost Lagoon—a facility that had operated since the early 1990s and closed after Labor Day weekend in 2011. Construction started in October of the same year and featured additions such as sandy beaches and the Wahalla Wave slide. Aquatica San Antonio officially opened its doors on May 19, 2012.
On November 20, 2012, Cedar Fair transferred ownership of its San Diego water park, known as Soak City, to SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Originally launched on May 31, 1997 as White Water Canyon with sixteen slides and a wave pool, Cedar Fair acquired it for $11.5 million in December 1999 and rebranded it as Knott's Soak City U.S.A. in May 2000 featuring a beach theme. Under SeaWorld’s management, the park was revamped into Aquatica San Diego and reopened on June 1, 2013.
All Aquatica locations were temporarily closed in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they fully resumed operations by June 2021.
Following the conclusion of the 2021 season, Aquatica San Diego ceased operations for retheming and reopened as Sesame Place San Diego in March 2022.
Aquatica Orlando
Aquatica Orlando, which began operations on March 1, 2008, serves as a counterpart to SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove. The park’s design draws inspiration from the southern Pacific region and features mascots representing Australian and New Zealand wildlife. It offers a wide array of attractions suitable for all ages and swimming skills, including two wave pools that share an expansive white-sand beach equipped with deck chairs and umbrellas.
- Body/matt slides
- Reef Plunge – previously called Dolphin Plunge, this pair of enclosed WhiteWater slides travel through an aquarium containing a pod of Commerson's dolphins. In 2022, enhancements included translucent effects and additional marine creatures within the tank.
- Ihu's Breakaway Falls – consists of three drop slides plus one speed slide approximately 80 feet tall with an 80-degree descent featuring multiple spirals. Manufactured by ProSlide, it debuted in 2014.
- Taumata Racer – an eight-lane mat racing slide designed by WhiteWater West called "Whizzard", which opened alongside the park in 2008.
- Tube slides
- Whanau Way – four double-raft slides from WhiteWater West accommodating one or two riders.
- Tassie's Underwater Twist – twin Super Bowl slides by WhiteWater West, accessible via Loggerhead Lane. Originally named Tassie Twisters at the park’s opening in 2008; renovated in 2024.
- Riptide Race – a tall dueling tube slide featuring two racing lanes utilizing ProSlide’s Dueling Pipeline technology; its opening was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Omaka Rocka – single-rider tube slides flowing into tornado funnel-style sections; launched late in 2011.
- Multi-person family raft slides
- Walhalla Wave (2017) – an enclosed raft slide designed for groups of two to four riders featuring darkened segments.
- Ray Rush – a vibrant raft slide by WhiteWater West incorporating a master blaster uphill section, an Aquasphere oscillation chamber, and a Manta halfpipe element; opened in spring 2018.
- KareKare Curl (2019) – a Proslide Technology TornadoWAVE 60 slide that propels riders up a curved wall; requires pairs of riders.
- Lazy rivers
- Roa's Rapids – an intense lazy river incorporating geysers, speed zones, and islands.
- Loggerhead Lane – traditional lazy river flowing through a cichlid fish grotto and alongside a dolphin exhibit.
- Wave pools
- Cutback Cove – narrower but deeper (6.5 ft) wave pool generating larger waves.
- Big Surf Shores – wider wave pool often partially or fully closed during off-peak seasons.
- Children's areas
- Turi's Kid Cove – transformed in 2022 from the original Kata’s Kookaburra Cove, relaunched in spring 2023 featuring water play elements including the Tamariki Twirl slide.
- Walkabout Waters – a Giant Rainfortress structure by WhiteWater West with slides and dumping buckets; opened with the park in 2008.
Former Attractions
- HooRoo Run – family raft slide discontinued in 2017 and replaced by Ray Rush in 2018.
- Kata's Kookaburra Cove – kids’ area closed in 2022 to make way for Turi's Kid Cove which opened in 2023.
Aquatica San Antonio
Situated in San Antonio, Texas, Aquatica San Antonio commenced operations on May 19, 2012, serving as a complementary venue to SeaWorld San Antonio. The park features a wide range of attractions designed to accommodate guests of varying ages and swimming abilities, including a unique ride that travels beneath an aquatic animal exhibit.
Current Attractions
- Stingray Falls – A pioneering family raft ride that navigates through an underwater cavern inhabited by stingrays and tropical fish; this is a ProSlide "MAMMOTH" model.
- Walhalla Wave – A ProSlide TornadoWAVE attraction.
- HooRoo Run – Named after the Australian expression for goodbye.
- Taumata Racer
- Kiwi Curl
- Tonga Twister – Added in 2020, this features body slides manufactured by WhiteWater West.
- Cutback Cove Slides
- Walkabout Waters – A Giant Rainfortress structure by WhiteWater West.
- Ke-Re Reef
- Zippity Zappity
- Whanau Way
- Loggerhead Lane
- Big Surf Shores
- Ihu's Breakaway Falls – Introduced in 2019, these ProSlide drop pod slides are promoted as the tallest in Texas.
- Riptide Race – Launched in 2022 as the world’s highest “dueling racer” slide, part of ProSlide’s Dueling Pipeline series.
Former Attractions
- Roa’s Aviary – A 34,000-square-foot aviary established in 2014 within Loggerhead Lane, which featured various bird species and a waterfall entry; birds were removed post-2018 and the space repurposed into private cabanas.
- Woohoo Falls – Originating from the Lost Lagoon period (1993), this attraction closed after 2019 to allow for the installation of Tonga Twister.
Aquatica San Diego
In November 2012, Cedar Fair transferred ownership of Knott's Soak City San Diego in Chula Vista, California, to SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. The facility was subsequently rebranded and reopened as Aquatica San Diego on June 1, 2013.
Although initially scheduled for rebranding in 2021, the park transitioned to Sesame Place San Diego in 2022. This family-oriented park themed around Sesame Street includes roller coasters, carousels, live entertainment, parades, character meet-and-greets, and retains numerous water attractions suitable for younger guests. Aquatica San Diego concluded its final operating season on September 12, 2021.