Updated: August 21, 2012 to add information about LEGOLAND Water Park.

The warm weather has “slid” into Orlando, and those water parks are looking more and more appealing! We put together a quick list of the Frog Family highlights on the Orlando water parks to help you plan a splashin’ good time. As always, we’d love to hear your opinions as well!

Typhoon Lagoon
Theme: Legend has it that Typhoon Lagoon was created during a huge storm that flung surfboards into the trees and tossed boats onto roofs. The storm’s force impaled Miss Tilly, the centerpiece of the park, on to the top of Mount Mayday.
Frog Family Opinion: One of Disney’s two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon is great for the whole family especially the little ones. There are 10 different activity areas with kid-sized slides and fun water features. Lily loves Ketchakiddee Creek! Not to be left out, pre-teens and teens will still have lots of fun on thrill slides like Crush ‘n’ Gusher and Humunga Kowabunga.
Bottom Line: This is our favorite of Disney’s two water parks. The play areas and kids’ slides are great and the landscaping and theming are amazing.

Blizzard Beach
Theme: As Disney tells it, there was a freak snow storm over Orlando which resulted in the construction of a ski resort complete with slalom courses and toboggan slides. When the snow melted, it made for a perfect water park with a ski theme…Blizzard Beach!
Frog Family Opinion: The second of Disney’s two water parks, this one is geared more toward the bigger kids in the family. Although there are PLENTY of activities for the little ones, Blizzard Beach has more slides with height restrictions than Typhoon Lagoon. Tad loves this water park and thinks the ski-resort theme is awesome. His favorite thrill slides are Summit Plummet and Downhill Double Dipper.
Bottom line: The lines at Blizzard Beach may be long, but the thrill slides and ski-resort theme make them worth it.

Aquatica by SeaWorld
Theme: This water park is inspired by the South Seas and the animals that live there. The wildlife and culture is woven into every aspect of the park.
Frog Family Opinion: Aquatica is one amazing water park! Where else can you zip down an enclosed slide with real dolphins swimming alongside you?  It is very clean and well-themed with slides and activities for all ages. Tad loves racing his dad, Leap, on body slides like Taumata Racer. The entire Frog Family loves the tube rides we can enjoy as a family like Roa’s Rapids and Walhalla Wave.
Bottom line: It’s in a tight race for the best water park in Orlando. The live animal interactions push it to the top of the list for us.

Wet ‘n Wild
Theme: Wet ‘n Wild is an Orlando classic that boasts a cutting edge theme and intense water slides.
Frog Family Opinion: Wet ‘n Wild is home to the Lazy River and the Wave Pool. If we have a FlexTicket or a 3-Park Unlimited Ticket, we stop by for an afternoon dip. Leap and Tad enjoy the intensity of the slides, but Mommy Frog wishes there was better landscaping, less concrete and more shade.
Bottom line: The prices are very reasonable and the slides are fast and fun.

LEGOLAND Water Park
Theme: This water park “within the park” opened in time for summer 2012 and continues the same primary color brick theming as its namesake.
Frog Family Opinion: For the family LEGO fanatics (every family has at least one, right?), LEGOLAND Water Park is on the must-do list in the warmer months (hours scale back during the school year and cooler months). Where else can you build a one-of-a-kind raft out of soft LEGO bricks and then float down a lazy river on it? There are also a number of family-friendly activities as well as the Splash Out speed slides and Twin Chasers tube slides for the older kids and adults.
Bottom line: This is an affordable add-on, especially if you are already planning a visit to LEGOLAND.

Which Orlando water park is your favorite? While you’re at it, tell us your favorite slide at that water park.

Happy Planning!
Mommy Frog