Visiting Orlando in June, July, or August?  Like most of our 25 million  summertime visitors, you may spend a day cooling off at an Orlando Water Park. Here's the inside scoop on the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly....

Though most Orlando Theme Parks include a few water-flumes and water-rides, for the purposes of this guide we are going to focus on the four "Exclusive" water parks in the area.  These parks' only purpose is to provide your family with a day of sandy, sunny, soaking fun.  Read onward for our candid reviews of Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Wet'n'Wild, and Adventure Island. (All ratings are out of 5 stars)

Wet'n'Wild - Orlando:
Opened in 1977, Wet'n'Wild was Orlando's first water park - but don't let that scare you.  Although smaller in size than the Disney water parks we will describe later, Wet'n'Wild packs a lot of fun into a very small space.  This is a versatile park - with a greater variety of activities than other area parks.  Visitors can enjoy near-vertical water slides, multi-person rafting rides, wakeboarding, water-blaster wars, and more.  But beware - this park is Orlando's most popular, and it can be a bit crowded on Saturdays during the summer.
Our Ratings:
Thrill Rides
Lazy River 
Kids' Area 
Crowd Handling 
Cleanliness/Upkeep 
Unique Attractions  
Bang For Your Buck

Adventure Island - Tampa:
Adjacent to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Adventure Island is similar in scope to Wet'n'Wild - with a similar selection of rides, slides, and flumes.  A bonus for families with mid-age children (ages 6-10) is "Splash Attack."  "Splash Attack" complements the standard kids rides offered by Adventure Island, with 500 feet of slides, tubes, climbing nets, and interactive water elements.  Added Bonus: You save $20 when you combine admission with Busch Gardens on a 2-Day Pass.
Our Ratings:
Thrill Rides
Lazy River 
Kids Area' 
Crowd Handling 
Cleanliness/Upkeep 
Unique Attractions  
Bang For Your Buck

Disney's Blizzard Beach:
Disney's cartoonish take on a midummer blizzard is fun in the off months (May, September, and October).  Unfortunately, if you visit in the summer, you need strong sunglasses - all that fake snow is BRIGHT in the Florida sun!  Lots of fun for all ages, with Mickey "snowmen" floating downriver and America's tallest waterslide (at 120 feet).  The theme is unique and the "ski resort" details give kids a lot to talk about.
Our Ratings:
Thrill Rides 
Lazy River  
Kids Area'  
Crowd Handling 
Cleanliness/Upkeep 
Unique Attractions  
Bang For Your Buck

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
Typhoon Lagoon is the cream of the crop.  This Disney water park is designed and landscaped to resemble a castaway island, with details like "shipwrecked" boats and numerous palm trees and grottos.  "Castaway Creek" is the best "river" feature of any Orlando water park.  This is the best florida water park experience you'll get outside of visiting on of our famous springs.  Perfect for a lazy day!
Our Ratings:
Thrill Rides
Lazy River 
Kids Area'   
Crowd Handling
Cleanliness/Upkeep 
Unique Attractions  
Bang For Your Buck

Pricing for the water parks changes constantly, and often depends on season and the size of your group.  Many parks offer discounts for groups of 15 or more, so contact them if you are coming with other families.  Also, be aware that the parks do maintenance on the rides in the off-season, so if there is a particular attraction you are dying to ride, call ahead to make certain it is open.

Bring-Along Necessities:
-- Towels for everyone - why pay to rent them?
-- LOTS of sunscreen - it costs twice as much at the park.
-- LOTS of bottled water - why pay $2 per bottle?
-- Sunglasses - "souvenir" sunglasses may not be strong enough.
-- Cash for locker rentals to hold wallets/keys/etc.
-- Non-perishable snacks like crackers, raisins, etc.  Why snacks?
    It is important to snack often when swimming and playing in
    the summer, to avoid heat exhaustion in 95+ degree weather!

(Don't forget - If you found any part of this guide helpful...please click on the YES below!  The more YES we get the easier it is for other people to find and benefit from this guide!!!)