Orlando Water Parks

Legoland Water Park Opens

2012-05-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

Press Release:

LEGOLAND^® FLORIDA DEBUTS ALL-NEW WATER PARK ATTRACTION

JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (May 26, 2012) – LEGOLAND^® Florida, Central Florida’s newest theme park, opened its all-new water park attraction today, greeting thousands of bathing suit-clad guests eager to splash, slide and soak up some sun.

“This is an important day for us as we continue to grow our presence in Central Florida,” said LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian Jones, who – clad in suit and tie – was unexpectedly soaked with three hundred gallons of water during opening ceremonies.

“With the debut of our new water park, LEGOLAND Florida is now easily a two-day experience,” he said, “which puts us well down the road toward our goal of becoming a multi-day resort destination.”

A “park within a park,” the attraction includes Build-A-Raft River, where guests can build their own LEGO inner tubes and float down a 1,000-foot lazy river. For the little ones, the DUPLO^® Splash Safari is a toddler haven with perfectly sized slides a zero-depth wading pool. Guests of all ages can play for hours at the Joker Soaker water playground, a riot of brightly colored ladders, levers, pumps and slides of every length and type. And a 583,000-gallon, crystal-clear wave pool and five slippery-fast water slides will thrill families all day long.

Admission to the water park requires a LEGOLAND Florida theme park ticket plus a $12 water park upgrade. Guests may also purchase a 12-month Premium Annual Pass, which offers unlimited access to both parks, for just $179 for adults and $149 for children ages 3-12 and seniors.

With the new attraction, LEGOLAND Florida has also added a new Beach-n-Brick Grille, an outdoor patio where hungry guests can dine on jerk chicken, mahi mahi and pulled pork sandwiches, as well as chicken fingers, hamburgers and hotdogs. Every menu item is priced below $10, before tax, including combos that come with fries, salad or slaw and a 22-ounce drink.

An on-site retail store sells swimsuits, towels, sunscreen and all manner of water gear. Guests can store their belongings in lockers for $5 (small), $7 (large) and $12 (family) and towels are available for a daily fee of $3.

LEGOLAND® Florida is a 150-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. Located midway between Orlando and Tampa, the park features more than 55 rides, shows, attractions and a water park. There are currently four other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 90 attractions, seven hotels/two holiday villages in 19 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 46 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 18,000 employees. Among Merlin’s attractions are - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Siam Ocean World and Busan Aquarium. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

Merlin currently has fourteen attractions in the USA including the stunning LEGOLAND Florida theme park which opened in October last year; LEGOLAND California theme park with its exciting Water Park, and SEA LIFE aquarium (a hotel will also open in 2013); Madame Tussauds attractions in New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas and Hollywood; LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth; Atlanta, Georgia and Kansas City; and SEA LIFE aquariums in Phoenix, Arizona; Dallas/Fort Worth; and the Mall of America in Minneapolis, underlining the company’s position as the world’s biggest global aquarium operator. A SEA LIFE aquarium is scheduled to open in Kansas City; Missouri in 2012.

Runoff Rapids POV (Blizzard Beach). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPBAUu_fvT8

2011-09-15T14:07:00.000-04:00

I've let time get away from me here, but I still have hundreds of pics to post. In the meantime, here's someone else's video of Runoff Rapids at Blizzard Beach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPBAUu_fvT8&feature=youtube_gdata

Ignoring Summit Plummet

2011-07-01T08:29:00.000-04:00

If you're scared of heights (or, say, dying) you might already be on board with the idea of "ignoring" the terrifying (but fun, if you ask me) Summit Plummet. This is the "drop out" ride at Blizzard Beach, and like everything else around here, it's heavily themed. In this case, the theme is the ski jump. You know, the kind of slope where the racer goes down for a while to build speed, then the ramp curves up and he's airborne for a long time until he re-meets the slope. Hopefully gracefully.

The slide is just the "down" part, though there's a fake upramp/jump (not pictured). What *is* pictured here is a family having a discussion in the viewing area. They must have been here a while. Why do I say that? Because only the one woman is watching this death-defying slide. It's hard to ignore in real life. Yet the other woman is having a conversation with the man, who is listening intently (and blowing his nose?) The family wasn't my target when taking the picture - I don't know them - but I found it an odd foreground once I saw the picture at home.

Snow makers?

2011-06-30T08:26:00.006-04:00

It seems to be Blizzard Beach week around here.

At real ski slopes, they use nozzles to spray water in a super-fine mist into the sub-freezing temperatures, and the result is artificial snow (technically ice, but the particles are so small it's almost the same as snow).

Blizzard Beach is themed as a freak snowstorm in Florida, turned into a ski resort, but now the sun is back and everything is melting (hence the flume rides with water). There are lots of authentic touches, but one of my favorites is the snowblower. There are a couple in the teen area Ski Patrol. Obviously there's no snow here, but the fine mist of water is welcome anyway in the summer heat.

More ski lifts from Blizzard Beach

2011-06-29T08:23:00.006-04:00

Continuing the post from yesterday we have this photo of the chair lift, from underneath. Seems to be a cloudy day, but if the sun should break through, don't worry because there's an umbrella to shield you from all those rays. The umbrella isn't too authentic to actual ski lifts, but to re-inject some realism, they've helpfully planted some fake skis to go under your feet, so you can feel like you're on the real thing.

Hey, at least it's a ride! How many water parks can boast they have a ride?

Chairlifts and Gondola

2011-06-28T08:20:00.007-04:00

A water park uses gravity to provide propulsion down the slides. Pretty obvious statement, that. But it comes at a cost. First, you have to get UP there so you can slide down, and that pretty much means you have to walk up lots of stairs on a day at a water park. At Blizzard Beach, there's an alternative to walking up all those steps. You can wait in the line (usually 15 minutes) to take the chair lift, themed like a ski lift.

And anyone needed accommodations has an alternative, too. At the left side of this picture you'll see the sole gondola on the line.

It's neat to be on the chair lift without all your ski gear; feels weird to this ex-skier (I say "ex" because now that I'm in Florida, there's no skiing to be had!)

Sprinklers in Blizzard Beach

2011-06-27T08:20:00.000-04:00

Here's a photo from 2006, where you can see what is essentially a river down every walkway. The idea here is to provide a pathway for people with bare feet to not get their feet so burned by the hot sun on the concrete.

They still have sprinklers, but these days they are turned off (as we saw last weekend) or turned all the way down, so the effect is much more localizaed; say, just going over a bridge.

It's a subtle effect, but a good one, and when it's not present, everyone suffers a little bit.

Walk into Blizzard Beach

2011-06-24T08:23:00.000-04:00

It was a dark and stormy day... in 2006. What can I say? I sit on the images sometimes before I act on them. This set will take us in the walk into Blizzard Beach. Don't you wish you were there now?

We'll stop this tour at the changing room, though. We'll save the man-thongs and bikini shots for some other day!

Aquatica - Random Shots

2011-06-23T08:20:00.000-04:00

Continuing the "start of summer" and "welcome back" vibe, here are random shots of Aquatica. I promise to offer more narratives (or at least more FOCUS) in posts after this week. It's spring cleaning, and I have to get rid of shots that don't belong.

In the meantime, enjoy!

Typhoon Lagoon Food Prices 2011

2011-06-22T08:06:00.001-04:00

With the new season comes new prices. Here are most of them:

The refill mug now costs $10.75 per day

There's a hot dog stand near Crush 'n Gusher (it was there in previous years too).

Here are the prices for the hot dog stand:

Closer to the Sharks we have Typhoon Tilly's Snack Shack:

... and here's that menu:

Next to the Snack Stand is the similarly named Typhoon Tilly's Food and Spirits:

Where the menu is partly visual with pictures:

... and also partly just words, for the smaller items:

First Day of Summer!

2011-06-21T07:58:00.000-04:00

Sorry for that long, unanticipated hiatus. But we're back now that summer has returned officially today. We'll celebrate with a quick glance into Typhoon Lagoon.

Apparently, the surf is up!

Let's head on over to Crush 'n' Gusher. Which line should we join? There are three.

Looks like we're in for a bumpy ride. Hang on!!

Kiddie slides at Typhoon Lagoon

2010-11-14T07:34:00.001-05:00

If you're not too tall

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Aquatica Under Construction

2010-10-15T12:37:00.000-04:00

From March, 2007, we have these photos of the park as seen from the street.

Typhoon Lagoon's kid slide

2010-08-25T10:54:00.001-04:00

The big wave pool includes these small side by side slides for the kiddies. Maximum user height: 48 inches. They are short (one has a tiny, very brief tunnel), but they are fun for 45-48 inch tall kids (and possibly too much for kids under 35 inches, unless they swim well)

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Tike's Peak side by side slides

2010-08-21T22:26:00.001-04:00

They don't look like much, and aren't really much in practice, but the kids slides are fun enough for your littlest kids (especially under four). Since there are three tracks, you can go simultaneously with your kid (holding hands?) or you can arrange a race!

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Tike's Peak overview

2010-08-11T08:58:00.001-04:00

I'll have more on Tike's Peak soon. But here's an overview of this toddler area.

All that white "snow" could mean a ton of reflected sunlight, so you're best off if you hang out in the very shallow pool (adults will have to sit down to be in the water). But water means losing sunscreen. And remember all that reflected sunshine! This is the main place to remember to reapply.

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Tike's Peak

2010-07-29T09:20:00.000-04:00

There are two kids areas in Blizzard Beach (well, three, if you count the one for older youths). The one for the littlest members of your family is called Tikes Peak. I'm not sure if everyone gets the pun with Pike's Peak, let alone the association with coldness as a result, but this is one of those great Disney detail moments where the little things add up subconsciously.

The ice gator is a big motif here, and there are slides for the little kids - more on those in a future post. For now, let's just head down the trail, letting the sprinklers wet our feet (that concrete gets HOT in summer!), and anticipating the slides to come....

Skull Island at Six Flags Over Georgia

2010-07-24T16:52:00.001-04:00

Side trip from Orlando today. Skull Island is a free attachment to SFOG. Many amusement parks have this kind of "water playground" (not really enough to call a water park).

Skull Island minimizes rain and waterfalls, and most interactive toys, in favor of more slides. If you're into slides this is a great thing. Very young kids, though, have little here for them.

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Crush 'n Gusher: the look

2010-07-21T11:38:00.000-04:00

Here's what you see if you gaze over the side of your raft just before starting your plunge down Crush 'n Gusher, at the very beginning of the ride. It looks forbidding, perhaps, but it's fun and not dangerous. The sensation in your stomach is not unlike "dropping in" onto a halfpipe, for those of you who have ever been skateboarders. The comparison is all the more apt because you bottom out and start climbing right away on this ride, courtesy of those jets which push you uphill (and get you 'inside' your swimsuit if you're sitting wrong, if you know what I mean).

Alpine Meadows

2010-07-15T08:26:00.000-04:00

Who pays attention to landscaping at a water park? Well, Disney does. The average visitor may not notice (consciously), but Disney rightly knows that the details add up.

One small contribution is the foliage. The Beach Haus is meant to look like an Alpine hut, so it helps things along if there are Alpine flowers nearby. It's amazing how much forethought goes into everything!

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The 411 on 911s at Disney

2010-07-13T13:38:00.000-04:00

When someone requests Central First Aid at a Disney park, the "Code-1" call goes out on the radio, letting everyone know that CFA has been dispatched. It's upgraded to a "Code-2" when the paramedics are called; obviously, things are more serious. Managers tend to come on the run when a Code-2 is put out. You don't want to see a Code-3. That's imminent danger of life, and paramedics come onstage.

I've seen all three in my time working for Disney, and launched a few Code-1's on behalf of someone at my restaurant. But this past weekend while at Blizzard Beach, my party initiated a Code-2. Someone in our party who is a little advanced in age had trouble after climbing up the main mountain, feeling both dizzy and nauseous. Just as the nurse was getting settled, she passed out completely, still sitting up (we propped her up).

The nurse moved her to lying down, while calling on the radio for upgrading the case (I didn't hear the exact wording, but four minutes later I heard the wail of the ambulance nearby). Meanwhile regular guest passers-by jumped in. They were obviously trained medical personnel of various kinds; they knew what to do and they didn't ask permission (nor did they apologize) for elbowing aside the family members. Good for them.

Water was used externally to cool her down, chemical ice packs were broken (some of them by the regular guests, who knew what to do). Good thing the nurse had a medical kit with her (pictured).

It turned out to be just dehydration and too much exertion. Color returned slowly to her skin. She was taken by wheelchair down the one gondola on the ski lift, and led to the ambulance (which was parked just backstage, near the Tyke's Peak kids area). There, she was given an EKG, vitals were checked, and so on.

She was fine. Disney, through it all, offered not just medical care but also drinks. While waiting for the ambulance tests, we were offered frozen lemonade too. Later, they kept handing drinks and Powerade to the affected member of our party. Needless to say, after the clean bill of health she just wanted to head home (she lives locally).

Disney did a tremendous job. I asked about payment - no payment is expected or due (or probably even possible). When Reedy Creek paramedics come out, Disney foots the bill apparently. Had she gone to the hospital, there would be costs, but otherwise everything was free. Presumably, they don't want lawsuits and thus err on the side of caution, which is wise.

While backstage near the ambulance, we saw the pumps for the water park, and giant nearby chlorine tanks. Not a sight you see every day!

Shark Reef fish

2010-07-11T09:18:00.001-04:00

When you exit the snorkel adventure is when you're most likely to see this sign, which is probably the most useful time anyway, since the fish types you just saw are so fresh in your mind.

See? Those WERE harmless leopard sharks!

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Welcome to Typhoon Lagoon

2010-07-10T12:42:00.001-04:00

The nautical flags at the entrance to TL spell out "Welcome to Typhoon Lagoon". There's a helpful key to decipher the flags nearby.

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Ketchakiddee Creek Cave

2010-07-09T08:07:00.000-04:00

The children's play area of Typhoon Lagoon, Ketchakiddee Creek, has water cannons for squirting each other, and fanciful, geyser-inspired landscape to crawl around on. What makes it most unusual among water parks, though, is the cave in the back.

Sporting a waterfall on one side, and simple passage through in the back, the cave lets visitors go from one side of the play area to the other without braving the water cannons. Most water parks would just offer a passageway, or minimal theming at best. Not Disney. This is a fully-rendered cave that must have taken many man-hours (man-months?) to carve and sculpt.

Crush 'n Gusher's Skeleton

2010-07-08T11:49:00.000-04:00

Here's a view from October, 2004, when Crush 'n Gusher was taking form.