9 Best Water Parks In Orlando, Florida (2023)

Orlando, Florida, is a city synonymous with thrilling theme parks. However, given that this is the sunshine state, it’s no surprise that there are also several incredible water parks here too. Having had the pleasure of visiting Orlando more than 10 times in the past 8 years (predominantly during the summer months), it’s no surprise that we’ve had our fair share of water park experiences.

However, not all water parks are created equal. Instead, some water parks are better suited to families, while some water parks are better suited to budget travellers. As a result, we’ve put together this guide to help you decide which Orlando water park is right for you.

1. Volcano Bay

Our favourite water park in Orlando is Volcano Bay. This incredible water park is part of the Universal Orlando Resort and opened back in 2017. Situated across a staggering 28 acres, Volcano Bay boasts more than 19 diverse rides and attractions for you to choose from, creating an exciting mix that caters to all ages.

The centrepiece of this incredible water park is the Krakatau volcano which holds the flagship thrill ride, the Ko’okiri Body Plunge. This is an enclosed waterslide that sees the floor drop out from beneath you, leaving you to fall 125ft down a near-vertical 70-degree drop in a matter of seconds, reaching speeds of up to 60 mph.

However, now we travel to Orlando with our little boy Oliver, we sadly don’t get to go on many thrilling slides and instead spend time as a family in the baby and toddler-friendly areas of the park.

We have visited Universal’s Volcano Bay with our son twice in the past two years; once when he was 6 months old, and again, during our most recent visit when he was 18 months old. During these trips, we like to head to Tot Tiki Reef which is a specially designed play area complete with small water slides, splash pads, fountains and whimsical tiki characters.

Being part of the Universal Orlando Resort, it’s no surprise that Volcano Bay has a comprehensive range of facilities and amenities for guests. These include; fully-trained lifeguards, locker rentals, towel rentals, cabana rentals and of course several dining options.

2. Aquatica

Aquatica is an award-winning water park, spread across 59 acres. Owned and operated by the SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment company, this water park combines up-close animal experiences and world-class water rides to create the perfect day out.

One of the water park’s most thrilling rides is the Dolphin Plunge which allows visitors to shoot down clear tubes that pass through a lively dolphin-filled aquarium. Meanwhile, Kata’s Kookaburra Cove is perfect for families with little ones and features miniature slides and several splash pad areas.

Aquatica boasts excellent facilities including lockers and changing rooms, as well as a wide range of dining options. Meanwhile, lifeguards are situated across the park to ensure visitor safety.

3. CoCo Key Water Park

At just 14 acres, CoCo Key water park is one of the smallest water parks on this list. Having opened in 2010 as part of the CoCo Key Hotel, this water park is ideal for families travelling on a budget and popular with Orange County locals.

Thanks to the water park’s indoor facilities, CoCo Key is a year-round attraction with water slides operating during bad weather and cold temperatures. One of the most popular water slides at CoCo Key is Over The Falls. This enclosed body slide ensures a speedy, curving descent that ends with a refreshing plunge into the pool below.

Meanwhile, for those with younger children, the park offers the Parrot’s Perch interactive play area. Complete with water cannons, small slides, and a bucket that periodically dumps 400 gallons of water, the latter of which was a huge hit with our son Oliver during our most recent visit.

4. Typhoon Lagoon

Typhoon Lagoon is one of the most popular water parks in Orlando, and one of two water parks on-site at the Walt Disney World Resort (the second of which is Blizzard Beach). Dating back to 1989 and covering a whopping 56 acres, Typhoon Lagoon has undergone many refurbishments, the latest of which took 4 months over the winter of 2022 and 2023.

Being a Disney water park it’s no surprise that Typhoon Lagoon is home to an exciting variety of water-based attractions that perfectly cater to a broad range of ages and thrill levels.

Typhoon Lagoon benefits from one of the largest outdoor wave pools in the world, a lazy river, several thrilling water slides and even a baby / toddler-friendly splash zone known as Ketchakiddee Creek. Unsurprisingly, the park facilities and safety measures here are fantastic, with vigilant lifeguards, lockers, changing rooms and a diverse selection of dining options.

5. Island H2O Water Park

Island H2O Water Park is part of the Margaritaville Resort and opened in 2019 making it Orlando’s newest water park. Spanning 14 acres, this park combines water park entertainment with cutting-edge technology, giving it a distinctively modern twist.

One of the most notable modern features of Island H2O is Live Streaming, a unique slide that lets visitors choose a theme, music, and lighting for their slide experience and even offers the option to film the journey.

Meanwhile, other popular attractions include the ‘Replay Racers’, a duelling mat slide for competitive fun, and ‘Drop Down’, a free-fall slide that’s sure to set your pulse racing. For those seeking a more relaxed experience, ‘Chat Creek’, a lazy river with a social media theme, provides a leisurely float around the park.

Finally, for toddlers and young children, Island H2O offers Candy Stripe Cove. This shallow splash zone is filled with small slides, climbing structures and water fountains that allow little ones to enjoy the water in a safe, interactive environment.

6. Blizard Beach

Blizzard Beach is the second water park on-site at the Walt Disney World Resort. This ski-resort-themed water park, which first opened its gates in 1995, brings a frosty twist to the Florida heat.

Spread over 66 acres, Blizzard Beach has undergone several refurbishments. The most recent of which included “Frozen-themed” areas which were added to the Tike’s Peak kids’ area of the park.

At the time of writing (July 2023) Blizard Beach is once again closed for refurbishment with the date for re-opening currently unknown.

At the heart of Blizzard Beach lies the Summit Plummet. This exhilarating free-fall body slide, one of the tallest and fastest in the world, offers thrill-seekers the unique opportunity to ‘ski’ down from the top of the ‘mountain’.

Being a Disney water park, Blizzard Beach excels in entertaining younger visitors. Tike’s Peak, for example, is a dedicated area for toddlers and young children featuring miniature snow-banked slides, a wading pool, and a variety of ‘ice sculptures’.

Ensuring a safe and enjoyable visit for everyone, Blizzard Beach has vigilant lifeguards stationed throughout the park. Additionally, it boasts well-maintained facilities such as lockers, changing rooms, and an array of dining options.

7. Treasure Cove Water Park

Treasure Cove water park is part of the Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa and is open for hotel guests and the general public. Spanning 20 acres, this pirate-themed park offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation in a family-friendly environment.

Despite being one of the smallest water parks in Orlando, Treasure Cove combines thrilling rides with interactive play areas perfectly. Blackbeard’s Revenge is one of the park’s most popular thrill rides, while Buccaneer Bay has been specifically designed specifically for toddlers and young children, and is filled with miniature slides, water cannons, and a large tipping bucket.

In terms of safety and facilities, Treasure Cove sails smoothly. Lifeguards are consistently on duty across the park, maintaining a safe environment for all visitors. Plus, the park’s amenities including locker rentals, changing areas, and a variety of food options ensure a comfortable experience.

8. Shipwreck Island Water Park

Much like Treasure Cove, Shipwreck Island water park is also part of a Westgate Resort, albeit this time it’s the Westgate Town Center Resort located in Kissimmee. Open to both hotel guests and the general public, this water park is the smallest in the region at just 10 acres.

However, don’t let the size of this water park put you off from visiting as the park is filled with fun, thrilling water-based attractions as well as charming pirate-themed decor, complete with a life-size pirate ship at its heart.

One of the park’s most popular attractions is the Pirate’s Plunge water slide which takes you down ‘the mast of the ship’ into the pool below. Meanwhile, families with young children will love Paradise Cove. This kiddie water play area features smaller slides and fountains, providing a safe and exciting space for toddlers and young children to make a splash.

Despite being a smaller water park, Shipwreck Island still has plenty of well-kept facilities and amenities including trained lifeguards on duty at all times, changing rooms, lockers and dining options.

9. Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove isn’t necessarily a water park as it doesn’t have any water slides. However, it’s still a water-based attraction that we believe every Orlando visitor should know about.

Part of the SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment company, Discovery Cove is a unique animal interaction location where you can swim with bottlenose dolphins, snorkel with an array of vibrant tropical fish and even hand-feed exotic birds.

Discovery Cove’s relaxed atmosphere sets it apart from other attractions in Orlando making it the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Entry into Discovery Cove is also unique in the fact that it not only includes your park ticket but also includes;

• Unlimited food, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages
• Select beers and wines (for guests 21 and older)
• Animal safe sunscreen
• Lockers
• Wetsuit rental
• Snorkel rental