Originally Posted By bayrr326 Will Aquatica finally turn Orlando into a three resort town ? Eric M. Davis of Orlando Fun Tickets looks at the impact that this state-of-the-art water park could possibly have on Central Florida tourism. Will a SeaWorld Orlando vacation package soon be seen as the more relaxing alternative to staying on property at Disney or Universal? <a href="http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/eric_m_davis/jhmcomments/14022.aspx" target="_blank">http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/ eric_m_davis/jhmcomments/14022.aspx</a>
Originally Posted By bayrr326 I find this interesting. Busch has stepped up with Aquatica and the eventual opening of the Marriott hotels. Orlando has not seen a waterpark like Aquatica. This is truly a a step above the Disney Waterparks and is an all day experience. I think this is great and can't wait to try it this spring.
Originally Posted By brotherdave It certainly raises the bar for Sea World and the A-B parks. I'm sure they will try to offer not only a combo ticket for their three facilities, but also one that would include Busch Gardens Africa and it's waterpark in Tampa. Given the quality that they offer at their parks, they are certainly on par with some of Disney's and Universal's offerings. Personally, I welcome the competition as it may only lead to more new attractions for all parks, which is a win-win for guests!
Originally Posted By dshyates I think there are a lot of people who already look at Disney as one of the cool things to do in Orlando.
Originally Posted By dshyates Well that didn't really make sense. What I mean is there are so many things to do, nice places to stay, shop and dine off Disney property. That Disney is now only one of the reasons to visit Orlando. Staying at the Peabody or the Ritz visiting Discovery Cove, Sea World, Aquatica, Universal/IOA (which will soon have Harry Potter) sounds just fine to me. Maybe throw in a couple of days at the Don in St. Pete with a day at BGA. What Marriot hotels will be opening? The Nickalodeon waterpark one?
Originally Posted By figment1986 << I'm sure they will try to offer not only a combo ticket for their three facilities, but also one that would include Busch Gardens Africa and it's waterpark in Tampa. Given the quality that they offer at their parks, they are certainly on par with some of Disney's and Universal's offerings. ...> Busch Gardens Tampa is certainly offered in a combo ticket... My Family Friends AP Covers Aquatica though the Team Member Comp Tickets black it out on weekends from memorial day through labor day... Just wait for Jungala to open at Busch Gardens at the same time in April, The Bar has and will be raised more. (Sea world is even adding more seats to Shamu in anticipation of the increase crowds)
Originally Posted By brotherdave Sea World is also strongly being rumored for a new coaster, too. Possibly a B&M flying coaster, from what I've been hearing.
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer Interesting topic since my family was just discussing that we may not renew our WDW AP's and are considerring getting AP's to Seaworld. I'm sure there are other Florida residents who, when seeing this, will feel the same way. WDW has eliminated the cheap weekend rates, and since all of our trips except the Christmas one are weekends, we simply cannot afford to go as often. Now, seeing the new water park going in at Seaworld, and my DD's latest interest in Seaworld (she's going to summer camp there) this sounds like a much better deal.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << This is truly a a step above the Disney Waterparks and is an all day experience. I think this is great and can't wait to try it this spring. >> I guess I don't understand what makes Aquatica a "step above." I've looked at the photos, and it seems like a standard Wet 'n Wild style park. The only unique feature seems to be the incorporation of some of the Sea World marine mammals with a small number of the park's overall water slides. Typhoon Lagoon offered a snorkeling experience with live fish over 20 years ago. Both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach offer a themed environment that can't be mistaken for any other water park on the planet. I'm sure Aquatica will be great fun, probably worth a vist, but I don't capture how it really raises the bar any here. It's pretty much the standard stock slides and attractions from nearly every other water park in the country.
Originally Posted By brotherdave If you notice in my post, I said it raises the bar for Sea World and the A-B parks. I never meant to imply that it would be better than either TL or BB. But it does seem better than most other water parks out there and helps to offer more competition for the area, which I feel is a good thing in general.
Originally Posted By dshyates Here is a lik to Aquatica's website: <a href="http://aquaticabyseaworld.com/" target="_blank">http://aquaticabyseaworld.com/</a> It looks like a unique and fun park on par wth TL and BB. And infinitely cooler than W&W. It does have some unique (stateside) elements like the clear tubes through the Dolphin exhibit (a la Atlantis Casino). And the one I like is the lazy river through the tropical fish "grotto" (glass and rockwork tunnel with colorful tropical fish above you). I also like the wide sandy beach in front of the 2 wave pools. With its lush landscaping and themeing it is certainly a top shelf waterpark. I am surprised they didn't open with a water coaster like crush n gusher. Or an extreme drop slide like Summit Plummet. My brain just can't keep from playing armchair imagineer, but I like the idea of a lazy river where you enter a show building by going down a small drop similar to PoTC into a darkish rockwork/glass tunnel with big toothy SHARKS all around you.
Originally Posted By Disneybrad They still have alot of work to do to get this place ready. The current construtions photos, dont make it look near as lusch as the Artwork appears. Plus the Slides so far look more like Wet and Wild, than it does, Typhoon Lagoon.
Originally Posted By dshyates The landscaping will come last, and will take some time to grow in. But these are the same guys that did Jungula and the rest of BGA so they know lush. BGE has the lushest landscaping in the industry. So on landscaping I'm not to worried. As far as the slides quality wise look fine to me. The color choices I am not sure work artistically like they wanted. They were inspired by the colorful flowers and birds of the south seas. But unless the flowers and birds in the south seas are 4 stories tall it seems an odd choice. I would have gone with earth tone colored slides and lots of colorful flowers and some bird exhibits. But thats just me. Its not gonna blow the Disney parks out of the water. But it will be another option in Otown. If it is less crowded than the others, thats where I'll go. My least favorite thing about waterparks is they are usually soooo crowded.
Originally Posted By dshyates Not at all. Bring your trunks and sunglasses. I'll bring the tanning oil.
Originally Posted By dennis-in-ct pass the tannig BUTTER ! ... here comes a sting-ray - there goes a manna ray - here comes a sea turtle - watch out for that igunna - here comes the the BIKINI WHALE!!!!!!!! *rock lobster* eeeeehhhh
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Dennis, you forgot "Here comes TDLFAN as we'll have an exclusive preview for those of us AAA members coming up soon. >>here comes the the BIKINI WHALE!!!!!!!! *rock lobster* eeeeehhhh << Tisk, tisk, not a nice way to refer to guests from the Midwest or the UK. Besides... I don't think it'll be any different that going to "The Club".
Originally Posted By bloona oooooooooooooooooh, I cant wait. Not missing BB or TL out whilst we're there either tho.
