SCOTT POWERS, ORLANDO SENTINELOrange County Mayor Rich Crotty declares "Permission to Play" day at the grand opening of SeaWorld's Aquatica water park on Friday.
DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINELThe Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. Out in the sun is Parrot's Perch, an all-wet play island with slides, water cannons and a 400-gallon bucket that dumps every 30 minutes.
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELCommerson's dolphins at SeaWorld's Aquatica can spot guests shooting through the tube of Dolphin Plunge, one of the many rides in the park.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELJennifer Hernandez, an aviculturist, laughs with a kookaburra as they welcome members of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau at the Aquatica water park at SeaWorld Orlando, during a preview breakfast, Friday, February 8, 2008.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELThe Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELGuests ride the Over The Falls Slide (foreground), at the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
STEPHEN M. DOWELL, ORLANDO SENTINELCustomers enjoy the facilities at Aquatica water park on Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELLoggerhead Lane floats guests down a lazy river past exotic birds and exotic fish.
DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINELThe Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. Adjacent to Minnow Lagoon is a hot spot for parents: The Wet Rooster Tiki Bar (with a full bar).
DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINELThe Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. This shot shows Coral Reef Cove, more of a tween/teen area featuring water volleyball and the Cyclone slide (48-inch height requirement). Behind those windows is a large arcade/gaming area.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELA lifeguard stationed atop one of the slides, Interstate 4 in the background, at the water slides area of the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort is seen, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
LARRY L. LOPEZ / ORLANDO SENTINELSpiral around The Storm at Wet 'n Wild.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
JULIE FLETCHER, ORLANDO SENTINELRobin Morland shows off a rosette spoonbill to Tayli, 4, and Anthony, 7, Martinez. SeaWorld's new water park, Aquatica, had a soft opening to the public, March, 1, 2008.
RED HUBER, ORLANDO SENTINELA guest takes on a new water ride -- the Omaka Rocka -- now open at Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park. The ride is a funnel / half-pipe combo.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELGuests ride the Boomerango Double Rider Slide, at the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
RED HUBER, ORLANDO SENTINELA guest takes on the new water ride -- the Omaka Rocka -- now open at Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park. The ride is a funnel / half-pipe combo.
STEPHEN M. DOWELL, ORLANDO SENTINELCustomers enjoy the facilities at Aquatica water park on Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
Sara A. Fajardo, Orlando SentinelRide goers walk up the stairwell of the newly revamped Black Hole.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELGuests play in the Parrot's Perch area of the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELChristian Martin, Orlando, races down Taumata Racer is for those who like the fast lane. A 300 foot slide in and out of tunnels and around a 360 degree turn.
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELBlue tubes are used to go down Whanau Way a 340 foot slide and spalsh into the crystal blue pool.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELWater from a giant bucket rains down in the Parrot's Perch area of the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELJoe Couceiro, corporate vice president of marketing for Busch Entertainment, welcomes members of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau to the Aquatica water park at SeaWorld Orlando, during a preview breakfast, Friday, February 8, 2008.
SCOTT POWERS, ORLANDO SENTINELThe newly-installed sign in front of the soon-to-open Aquatica on International Drive declares it to be "SeaWorld's Waterpark."
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELAn African Spur Tortoise walks through the park as members of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau arrive at the Aquatica water park at SeaWorld Orlando, during a preview breakfast, Friday, February 8, 2008.
DENNIS WALL, ORLANDO SENTINELView of Aquatica water park under construction from the Sea World skytower on Wednesday, December 19, 2007. The park is across International Drive from Sea World.
JIM CARCHIDI, ORLANDO SENTINELRiders emerge through a waterfall to run a gauntlet of water jets. The ride sends guests along a series of "pipes" and slides as they are propelled by constant streams of water.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINELThe Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. Minnow Lagoon is for the littlest ones with a zero-depth entry, mushroomy water features, soaker cannons and milder slides (not in this frame). It?s under a canopy, which is a great break from the sun.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
RED HUBER, ORLANDO SENTINELA new water ride -- the Omaka Rocka -- now open at Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park. The ride is a funnel / half-pipe combo.
STEPHEN M. DOWELL, ORLANDO SENTINELCustomers enjoy the facilities at Aquatica water park on Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELA guest at SeaWorld's new waterpark, Aquatica, takes a ride down one of its many slides during the soft opening on Saturday.
RED HUBER, ORLANDO SENTINELA guest takes on the new water ride -- the Omaka Rocka -- now open at Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park. The ride is a funnel / half-pipe combo.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELA guest splashes in the lagoon at the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELThe Taumata Racer is for those who like the fast lane. A 300 foot slide in and out of tunnels and around a 360 degree turn.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINELThe Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. Out in the sun is Parrot?s Perch, an all-wet play island with slides, water cannons and a 400-gallon bucket that dumps every 30 minutes.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELThe entrance sign at the Aquatica water park at SeaWorld Orlando -- during a breakfast preview for the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Friday, Feb. 8, 2008.
DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINELThe Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. This shot shows the big slides. The curvy one on the right is called Over the Falls, a body slide with a 40-inch height minimum. The yellow tube is Surfer Splash (42-inch minimum) with 1- and 2-person tubes, and the red slide is Boomerango, on which two-person tubes leave the tower, go up a ramp, experience a sense of weightlessness before sliding back down.
JULIE FLETCHER, ORLANDO SENTINELSeaWorld's new water park, Aquatica, had a soft opening to the public, March, 1, 2008.
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELDon't count on TV ads to play up the slides at SeaWorld's Aquatica. Take a ride, and judge for yourself.
JULIE FLETCHER, ORLANDO SENTINELSeaWorld's new water park, Aquatica, had a soft opening to the public, March, 1, 2008.
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELRuthann, Lonnie, Lexie, 12, and Nicholas, 8, Stefekos, New Hampshire, touch a Sulcata Tortoise on the beach area at SeaWord's new wwaterpark, Aquatica.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELGuests ride the Boomerango Double Rider Slide, at the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELGuests get wet as water from a giant bucket rains down in the Parrot's Perch area of the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINEL
JULIE FLETCHER, ORLANDO SENTINELLoggerhead Lane floats guests down a lazy river past exotic birds and exotic fish. SeaWorld's new water park, Aquatica, had a soft opening to the public, March, 1, 2008.
Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELWith Interstate 4 in the background, the water slides area of the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort is seen, located on International Drive in Orlando, Friday, May 7, 2010. The national chain renovated the former Legacy Orlando Grand Resort condo-hotel into the water-park themed hotel.
JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINELAustin Brown, Clermont watches the Commerson's dolphins in the Dolphin Lookout, a viewing area of the Dolphin Plunge, which takes riders down 250 feet of clear tubes underwater.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELA directional sign at the Aquatica water park at SeaWorld Orlando -- during a breakfast preview for the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Friday, February 8, 2008.
Not only does Florida have spectacular coasts on the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico but the state also has plenty of other opportunities for relaxing, refreshing, renewing H2O fun — at many water parks around the state.
Here’s a selection of water parks at a variety of Florida destinations where you can cool off during your next trip. Tickets to most of the parks include just admission; others, like Discovery Cove, include food and beverages as well. Always check with the park to see if there are packages and specials, such as Florida Residents discounts, available when you plan to visit. Some parks are open year-round, others just for spring and summer, so check hours of operation at each park’s Web site before plunging into trip plans.
Check out photos of Daytona Lagoon
Check out photos of Adventure Landing Shipwreck Island
Check out photos of Disney’s Blizzard Beach
Check out photos of Discovery Cove
Check out photos of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
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Check out photos of Wet ‘n’ Wild
Check out photos of Coco Key Resort
Check out photos of Wild Waters
Check out photos of Rapids Water Park
Check out photos of Shipwreck Island