Happy 15th birthday, or anniversary, to Aquatica, Sea World’s water park.
Later this summer, the park will show off new features, including an updated shallow splash and slide area for kids, and have special events leading into the summer and fall. Turi’s Kid Cove will replace Kookaburra Cove later this year, including new water features and a tube ride just for kids, the Tamariki Twirl.
Park president Brad Gilmore addressed a gathering of media and longtime annual passholders – one wore a shirt commemorating the 2008 opening day – to talk about this year’s changes, and those in the past that gave Aquatica the title of having the most water slides of any Central Florida water park.
“In 2023, we’ve also got the strongest lineup of events in park history,” he said. “These events will be part of our park admission and pass member program. Starting this spring, we start our ’15 Years of Fun,’ and pass members will have exclusive opportunities to come to the park after hours and have slide nights. We’ll be debuting ‘Aloha to Summer,’ (every Saturday and Sunday in May, with extended park hours until 8 p.m.) which is inspired by the islands and will energize the park, and set the tone for an exciting summer.”
The Noche de San Juan summer celebration will also be part of the anniversary program in 2023, and weekends in September will again feature Fiesta Aquatica (weekends from Sept. 16 to Oct. 15), bringing a Latin flavor with food and music. Saturdays in October through December will feature Movies on the Beach at the wave pool, with holiday movies in December.
Last year, the park updated one of its feature rides, Reef Plunge, which takes riders through a tube that passes directly through a fish habitat.
Opened in the spring of 2008, Aquatica has a south Pacific theme, with mascots and features from Australia and New Zealand, including Roa (a kiwi), Kata (kookaburra), Wai (dolphin), Ihu (gecko), Papa (royal spoonbill), Wae Wae (takahe), and Motu (turtle).
