Amusement Parks: Aquatica - a Potted History Blooloop

Aquatica is a water amusement park located close to Orlando, Florida.

As a companion park to SeaWorld, the amusement park, that was built by the Busch Entertainment Corporation, opened to the public in 2008 and has a South Seas theme featuring mascots related to both Australia and New Zealand. In its first year, the amusement park was visited by 950, 000 people who instantly catapulted it to becoming the 4th most visited water amusement park in the USA in its first year.

The amusement park has a total of 36 water slides, six winding rivers and several lagoons containing a rich array of tropical fish. Popular thrill rides at the amusement park include Taumata Racer, Hoo Roo Run and Walhalla Wave. In total, there are a dozen main attractions including 8 lane racing slides, triple drop raft slides, racing tunnels and inner tube adventures.

Two very contrasting large wave pools are situated side by side at the amusement park. One of them features five foot swells and gigantic waves whilst the other consists of a gentle surf.

The six winding rivers at the amusement park give you a range of interesting experiences along their individual journeys. You can take a trip and see exotic parrots on one river or, perhaps, visit an underwater grotto of tropical fish on another whilst another river journey features racing waters, gushing geysers and rolling rapids.

Younger children and toddlers are well catered for at the amusement park having a gigantic water play area with smaller slides that are more suited to families as well as a 60 foot high fortress to play in.

One of the most unique water slides at the amusement park, Dolphin Plunge, slides you down into a pool inhabited by Commerson’s dolphins which, though you won’t be able to touch them, will enable you to get up very close to them where they will often jump out of the water.

All of the attractions at this amusement park blend in to form a magnificent representation of the South Sea Islands with native plants and fauna from New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the islands themselves as well as featuring brightly coloured and intricately carved totem poles which are representative of the Maori culture.