water park

NEW Florida Resident Staycation Offer at SeaWorld Orlando

12 March 2020 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

EDITED TO ADD: SeaWorld and all area theme parks are closed for the remainder of March due to Coronavirus concerns, so this ticket offer is no longer available. Stay tuned for further updates about local area theme parks.

SeaWorld Orlando announced today that their Florida residents can take advantage of a very special offer this weekend!

Starting today, March 12, SeaWorld Orlando Parks are offering Florida Residents a staycation promotion! Florida Residents can save up to 60% on SeaWorld tickets as low as $49.99, Aquatica tickets as low as $34.99, and a SeaWorld/Aquatica 2 park ticket for only $59.99.

The promotion starts today, March 12th, and ends March 16th – better act fast to score those deals! The promotion comes just in time for the Seven Seas Food Festival, ongoing at the park through March and April.

The nearby Discovery Cove will be participating in the offer as well, offering Florida Residents a 40% discount if they book their reservation by March 16 and visit by May 20, 2020.

For more info and to take advantage of this deal, click here. Or to score even more, and visit Discovery Cove too, click here for more information on that deal.

SeaWorld’s Aquatica Water Park’s 5th Birthday Celebration

13 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Aquatica Orlando celebrated its fifth birthday last weekend, which included a celebration for guests who were in attendance.

In light of the theme, $5 merchandise specials were offered all day that included clothing, Aquatica-themed glasses, and more. There was a special birthday party held in the afternoon with amazing animal ambassador meet and greets and special treats, plus a live DJ raffled off prizes for future visits with Cabanas and all-day-dining. What a great present that was from Aquatica!

Aquatica Vice President Bryan Nadeau addressed the crowd thanking them for making Aquatica a hit over the past five years; he also lead the group in the Happy Birthday song.

Rā whānau is the Maori way to say “Happy Birthday” — Rā whānau, Aquatica!

From high-speed water slides and exhilarating wave pools, to tranquil beaches and the remarkable animal habitats that are the hallmark of SeaWorld, Aquatica delights all ages and interests. This waterpark is home to some of the world’s most thrilling water rides, featuring 38 slides, rivers and lagoons and 84,000 square feet of sparkling white, sandy beaches. Aquatica’s exclusive attractions promise unlimited fun, sending guests on amazing undersea adventures and through breathtaking animal exhibits.

My family visited Aquatica for the first time last weekend and had a blast. It’s definitely a water park for the adventurous type with most all of the slides being very high speed and having at least some portion in total darkness. (I’m a scaredy cat and those weren’t my favorite, but there are a few that aren’t in the dark too.) I think the favorite for everyone in our group was Roa Rapids, which is a fast-current not-so-lazy river, where you don’t even need an inner tube to be propelled along the stream and enjoy the scenery.

We also checked out the Waterstone Grill for lunch, which had really great food, and made time to just relax and enjoy the sandy beach and catch some rays. All in all, it was a great day of fun. If you are able to do the add-on from your day at SeaWorld, or visit with the package from Discovery Cove, I’d definitely say head over for some splashy fun. For more info, head to Aquatica’s site.

Gaylord Palms Purrrrrrfect Pajama Party with Puss in Boots and Friends

6 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Pack your favorite pajamas to party with the most darling swashbuckler and all around coolest cat in Central Florida! Gaylord Palms invites guests and their families to a brand new DreamWorks Experience, the Puss in Boots & Friends’ Purrrrrrfect Pajama Party. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 16 because this exclusive event will take place one night only!

Guests have one chance to participate in this purrrrrrfect family friendly adventure. Clad in your party pjs enjoy an exclusive meet & greet with your most admired feline hero, Puss in Boots. Package guests will want to bring their DreamWorks autograph book amenity for this one – and don’t forget a camera! Tap into your creative genius by decorating and customizing your very own Puss in Boots pillowcase while snacking on cookies and leche (milk). The party continues outside at Gaylord Palms’ Cypress Springs Family Fun Water Park as you settle in for a Splash ‘N’ Screen viewing of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s Academy Award® nominated film, Puss in Boots.

Upon check-in, children will get their paws on some special gifts including their very own magic beans and a memento from DreamWorks’ most recent film, Rise of the Guardians. Additionally, package guests will embark on an adventure like no other in the Rise of the Guardians Adventure Scavenger Hunt. Join forces with Jack Frost and the legendary Guardians to solve exciting puzzles, crack codes and find the clues needed to defeat the evil spirit, Pitch, and his devious plan to engulf the world in darkness and fear. Are you brave enough to take the challenge?

Why let the fun stop there? For an additional charge, guests can start the next day with a ShrekFeast Interactive Character Breakfast. Kids will love becoming an honorary Ogre and joining Shrek and friends for a fairytale feast fit for a king. Tableside hugs included! This experience features a Magic Fountain bubbling over with intoxicating chocolate potions and Shrek-shaped waffles with syrup.

The feline fiesta is part of The DreamWorks Experience and takes place at Gaylord Palms on Saturday, March 16. Visit www.gaylordpalms.com today to book your Puss in Boots & Friends’ Purrrrrrfect Pajama Party package. Package rates start at $189 per night for a family of four (exclusive of tax, resort fees and parking).

Gaylord Palms Resort is located five minutes from the gates of Walt Disney World at 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746. For more information, visit www.gaylordpalms.com or call 407-586-2000.

Be sure to “Like” Gaylord Palms on Facebook to get the most up-to-date information and promotions!

Move It Move It to Gaylord Palms this Winter for ICE! Featuring Merry Madagascar

18 July 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Madagascar characters at Gaylord Palms — King Julien, Gio – my 3 year-old, me, and Mort!

This morning we learned that the 2012 season of Gaylord Palms Resort’s ICE! will feature Alex, Marty, Gloria and the whole gang with a Merry Madagascar theme. Alex the Lion and King Julien were on hand last year with the Kung Fu Panda themed ICE!, for character greetings. Now in addition to Alex and Julien, there is a Mort and Gloria and penguins characters as well. Mort is simply adorable and my favorite, so I was excited to see him there.

ICE! is an amazing display of sculpted ice along with some play areas as well. Gaylord Palms will present ICE! from November 10, 2012 – January 1, 2013 and will be themed after the Dreamworks Animation holiday special Merry Madagascar. An interactive world of colorful ice sculptures and four two-story ice slides carved entirely from two million pounds of ice. It is truly breath-taking (and don’t worry, winter parkas are provided!).

Gingy’s Gingerbread Decorating will be back this year as well, where you can choose from two different options to create a gingerbread cookie family or a complete gingerbread house – don’t forget the gumdrop buttons! Gingy will be on-hand for photos after you finish your edible creations.

Gaylord Palms also offers amazing holiday decor throughout the sprawling Florida-themed resort. Holiday lights, trees and entertainment as well as scavenger hunts offer plenty to keep you in the Christmas spirit.

ICE! tickets start at $22.99 for adults and $13.99 for children – you can call 407-586-2000 or head to ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com for more information. There are also special packages starting at $189 per night, where you can enjoy the beautifully renovated rooms and Cypress Springs Water Park within the resort grounds.

I can’t wait to Move It, Move It! in November!

Oh, and as a special treat – Gaylord Palms brought in Vanilla Ice to sing his hit “Ice Ice Baby” for this fun announcement. Vanilla Ice is back and better than ever! Check out the video of his performance below:

LEGOLAND Florida Hosts LEGO Club Weekend for Father’s Day

8 June 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

LEGOLAND Florida has been growing brick by brick since opening last Fall. With the recent addition of LEGOLAND’s Water Park now there is even more fun for all down in nearby Winter Haven. Just in time for Father’s Day weekend, LEGOLAND is now hosting a fun LEGO Club Weekend with lots of fun activities and prizes. Check out the news from LEGOLAND below:

Holy LEGOLAND Batman! LEGOLAND® Florida, Central Florida’s newest theme park with over 50 rides, shows and attractions, offers a chance to play like your favorite super hero during LEGO® Club Weekend Jun. 16 and 17. Celebrate with Dad this Father’s Day during this special weekend and let him show off the super hero we already know he is.

LEGO® Club Weekend will be action-packed with fun for the whole family:

Whether you’re young or just young-in-spirit, come dressed in your favorite super hero costume to have a chance to win cool prizes. Prizes include a LEGO® prize pack filled with Super Hero product and LEGOLAND® Florida tickets and the ultimate Warner Brothers® grand prize of an XBOX 360 Console.

Be among the first to preview the all-new LEGO® Batman 2: DC Super Heroes video game at the all-new Warner Bros.™ Games Zone. Compliments of our partner, Warner Bros.™ Interactive Entertainment, the first 200 guests to come and play will get a free LEGO® Batman 2 poster. Warner Bros.™ Games Zone, an all-new attraction in the Imagination Zone at LEGOLAND® Florida, is every gamers dream and a great way to take a break from the heat. This interactive game zone is where kids can test and play the latest LEGO® video games and interact with high-tech technology such as, iPads and playable video kiosks.

Become an official certified super hero by defeating the villains at Super Hero Training Camp. The Gardens have been transformed into the ultimate training facility so you can practice your super powers.

Challenge your family to a Super Hero Scavenger Hunt. Your favorite heroes and villains have invaded Miniland USA and it’s up to you to save it. And for your hard work, the winner will take home a LEGO® prize pack filled with Super Hero product and LEGOLAND® Florida tickets.

Meet Max, the LEGO® Club mascot, and get your picture with him.

Enjoy special discounts on food and beverage.

All events are included with park admission and subject to change without notice. The best way to experience LEGOLAND® Florida for the best value is with the Premium Pass, which offers 12 months admission to LEGOLAND® Florida and seasonal access to the all-new LEGOLAND® Water Park for just $179 for adults and $149 for child/senior. Single-day LEGOLAND Florida guests may upgrade to a water park attraction ticket for an additional $12 per person (children under 3 are $3). The Premium Pass is now available for purchase at www.LEGOLAND.com or AAA Auto Group branches.

All who attend the LEGO® Club Weekend event can register to become a LEGO® Club member for free.

LEGOLAND Florida Water Park Opens As a Park Within a Park

24 May 2012 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Today we were invited to experience the newly finished LEGOLAND Florida Water Park, just steps away from the LEGOLAND Florida park in Winter Haven, Florida. The day was kicked off with a Guinness World Record being set for the most people bouncing beach balls. The final total reached 1,355 volunteers which smashed the previous record of 401 beach balls. Guinness auditors will evaluate the attempt for authentication over the next several weeks. The colorful event celebrated the addition of the water park, which opens to the public Saturday, May 26.

After the setting the record, crowds and media were allowed to enjoy the LEGOLAND Water Park with their families. Unlike traditional all-day water parks, the LEGOLAND version is a “Park within a Park,” which means that it’s much less vast and time-consuming than most water parks. This new water park is a $12 add-on option for day visitors to LEGOLAND Florida, and guests may also purchase a premium annual passes, which includes 12-months of LEGOLAND Florida admission as well as Water Park access. With the heat of the Florida sun, it’s perfect to have a place to cool down and splash around either before heading home or back into LEGOLAND before the end of the day.

It is important to note that the LEGOLAND Water Park is definitely in keeping with the theme of the park next-door. Everything is geared toward families with children, especially younger ones, and LEGO lovers. There are two steep speed slides and some regular twisting water slides, but everything else in the park is made with a child in mind. The wave pool has small waves, no whitecaps, which run 5 minutes on and 10 minutes off. There are two kids splash zones, one made to look like Duplo blocks for the younger set. The main kids area is full of mini-slides, splash areas and a very low-depth pool area, all of which gets a soaked from a giant bucket of water above.

The 1000 foot Build-A-Raft lazy river circles the park, with various inner tubes to float in the 3 feet of water. Foam versions of familiar LEGO bricks float throughout the river, allowing guests to build creations on the edge of their tubes. A note of caution: I’m not sure if it was opening day policies or the way things will be daily, but there were quite a few (unwritten) rules about the lazy river. Be sure you find out before entering how you are expected to float around with your group.

Overall, the LEGOLAND Water Park was a fun experience. As with the LEGOLAND park, there are lots of fun little details which remind you of the reason you’ve made the trip – you’re a LEGO fan! A LEGO seagull perches atop the fence surrounding the Lazy River, LEGO jellyfish hang from the ceiling in the counter service dining location, and a fun LEGO water feature sits near the wave pool, where kids can build with real LEGO bricks after floating them down a chute full of water. The water park is small and easily navigable by young and old alike. If you are looking for big thrills, big waves, or big views, this won’t be your spot, but if you’re in LEGOLAND and would love to cool off in a pool or on the river, you’ll have a great time here.

For more information about the LEGOLAND Water Park and ticket options, head to LEGOLANDFlorida.com.

LEGOLAND Water Park Gets Water-Real H2O, not bricks!

3 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Less than two months until the LEGOLAND^® Water Park opens on May 26, and the attraction is getting its middle name – water! More than a half a million gallons of H2O were pumped into the LEGO^® Wave Pool by a friend of the LEGO City Volunteer Fire Department. The first wave pool in any LEGOLAND Water Park will be home to gently rolling waves sure to please splashers young and old. Meanwhile, the rest of the water park attraction is currently under construction from DUPLO^®Splash Safari to Joker Soaker.

Key areas of LEGOLAND Water Park attraction include:

LEGO Wave Pool – Families can catch a gentle wave or simply cool off in this perfectly sized wave pool where the waves are just big enough for all ages to enjoy
Build-A-Raft River – Families can imagine, design and build a unique LEGO vessel and set afloat on a maiden voyage around the 1000-foot-long lazy river, set amongst playful LEGO Friends, flowering vegetation and palm trees
Twin Chasers – Friends ride tubes 375 feet down an intertwining pair of enclosed water slides before plunging into a refreshing pool below
Splash Out – The thrill seekers of the family can ascend to the tallest point of the water park attraction and choose from one of three unique slides, then speed down a 60-foot drop and “splash out” into the water below
Joker Soaker – A fun, interactive playground with various lengths, heights and types of slides that offer something different for every member of the family. Guests can wade in the surrounding pool and be surprised with a torrential spill from a 300-gallon bucket
DUPLO Splash Safari – Toddlers will rule at this water play area with shorter slides and interactive, larger-than-life DUPLO creatures

Admission to the water park attraction is included with an all-new LEGOLAND Premium Pass, which offers 12 months admission to LEGOLAND Florida and seasonal access to the LEGOLAND Water Park for just $179 for adults and $149 for child/senior. Single-day LEGOLAND Florida guests may upgrade to a water park attraction ticket for an additional $12 per person (children under 3 are $3). The Premium Pass is now available for purchase at www.LEGOLAND.com or AAA Auto Group branches.