It’s almost summer here in Florida and the kids are ready to jump in the water and cool down! Lucky for us Florida residents – and Florida vacationers – Orlando is ready for the season with Aquatica: SeaWorld’s Waterpark.

We just returned from an awesome adventure-filled day, where my kids were wishing they never had to leave. Here are some tips to get you the most out of your time at Aquatica.

• Get there early; the park closes when it hits capacity. We were happy we got in and beat the lines. Word is that business is so good the park has been closing shortly after noon. (They do re-open later in the day as people start to leave.)

• Buy  wristbands for the all-you-can-eat cookout at Banana Beach. This way, for around $8.00 each, the kids get all-you-can eat burgers, hot dogs, chicken, etc. and drink Pepsi products throughout the day. With the bands, they can grab food without running back to the locker for your wallets. If you are going to need re-fueling too, they have adult wristbands for sale too!

• Lock-up your stuff in convenient rental lockers. No need to worry about soggy wallets or lost sunglasses. Get in line to get a key as soon as you get to the park to save time.

• Apply sunscreen BEFORE you get to the park so the kids don’t get antsy when they want to hit the slides. Trust me, you will not want to put sunscreen on a wiggling, wet kid. Re-apply throughout the day with a waterproof sunscreen stick; the Florida sun is STRONG!

• Forget something? Sunnies n’ Such entry-plaza kiosk has everything you need, including sunscreen, sunglasses, visors, waterproof-cameras, etc.

• Bring your own towels to save money. If you do rent them, return them and you get same-as-cash credits to use for souvenirs on site.

• Protect your feet. Wear water shoes and make sure the kids have them too.

Some safety tips: Guests under the 48-inch height requirement are required to wear life vests, which the park provides. Children in diapers must wear swim diapers.  And, the “buddy system” is strongly encouraged when going on rides. My kids are 7 and 9 and I let them go together while I watched them from below. I dress them in bright colors so I can spot them in lines and they wear waterproof identification bracelets to give me peace of mind.

Since we beat the lines, my boys headed straight up the stairs for the Dolphin Plunge, one of 36 slides at the park. This one is special because as you head down the pipe-like slide, you are immersed beneath the water and can see live black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins (the only ones in the Southeastern United States)  jetting through the habitat.  Note: Riders need to be 42 inches tall. You can also view the dolphins from the sidelines as they play with balls and water rings on the surface.

After three exhilarating rides down the 250-foot plunge, the boys talked me into heading into the Wave Pool with them. As the crowd in the pool did a loud 10-second count-down until wave time, we geared up for some big ones.

My kids were cracking up watching me get submerged beneath the giant waves. I don’t think there is a way out of it. Definitely do not worry about putting on any make-up the day you go to Aquatica. It’s a total waste of time. Plus, you should be in the wave pool with your kids, as they may need to grab on to you in the deep end! I did notice moms with their younger children in the shallow end and the babies were hysterically laughing every time the waves crashed on them.

Next, they convinced me to ride the Whanau Way, a water slide that allows you to ride together in a double inner-tube. My 9-year-old got an earful of screams as we surged down the twisting slide into the splash pool. I decided as we got off that I should have had kids in my 20s! While I am not the most adventurous parent, I am trying to be a good sport! Ha!

The boys and daddy enjoyed Taumata Racer (for those who like life in the "fast lane") while I stayed behind to “take pictures” That’s always a good excuse! Riders go tummy down, face-first on a slick raft down a slide to see who finishes first.

We did all the wild stuff prior to lunch.  After eating, we took it easy and floated on a family ride through the calmer waters of Loggerhead Lane to check out the fish and dolphins in an underwater grotto, providing a peek into the world of the exotic fish behind glass windows.

There is fun for younger tots too. Walkabout Waters is one of the world’s largest interactive water playgrounds, boasting 15,000 square-feet for toddlers and little ones to explore and shoot water cannons.

We stopped by a Conservation Tent, where an Aquatica staff member played a mini game show with the boys. When a spinning wheel landed on an animal, she asked them a question about Florida’s endangered species. They actually won FREE Aquatica charms to put on their Crocs.  

As we packed up to leave, I happened to notice a few women sitting on the beach reading a good book. You may want to pack a book or magazine to relax on the sandy beach (This tip, of course, only applies if you are traveling without kids or yours are old enough to navigate the park with friends or another adult who is willing to take turns.)

Aquatica certainly offers something for everyone. From plunging adventures to lazy rivers, the whole family will have a blast!