traveldk.com

Orlando’s best water park is full of rides and slides to keep the most hardened thrill-seeker’s adrenalin pumping. But it’s not all action – there are kids’ rides and chill-out areas, too.

Need to unwind on a tropical beach, swim with dolphins, or snorkel over coral reefs? Well, if you check into Discovery Cove, you can. This exclusive (daily entry is limited to 1,000 people) and inspired Orlando attraction offers the features and personalized services of an upscale island resort. Admission is not cheap, but includes everything from lunch to wet suits and sun block. Reservations two months in advance are suggested.

In the battle for water park supremacy, Wet ’n Wild’s main competitor is this sizeable Disney park. It’s what a ski resort would be like if it started to melt, with water slides replacing ski runs. Geared to teens and young adults, the park offers seven water slides and excellent rides, a wave pool, and kids’ areas. If park capacity is reached early (as it often is), it closes to new admissions until later in the day. (see Water Parks).

Though not as large as Wet ’n Wild, this Kissimmee park offers a good assortment of slides and thrill rides. Some are unique, such as Wipe Out, a wave generator pool for surfing on body boards, and the Double Berzerker, a steep, double-dip slide. There are also loads of land-based activities such as a children’s playground, beach volleyball, and mini-golf. Water Mania often gets packed.

This Disney water park is an enthralling mix of slides, tubes, and the largest wave pool in the US. It’s well-suited to families with pre-teen children who’ll appreciate the gentle nature of the attractions here. One stand-out is Shark Reef, a short snorkel course over a coral reef teeming with tropical fish and live sharks. Wannabe surfers (see Surfing) can pay an extra fee to use the wave pool out of regular hours. (see Water Parks).

Dive at Florida’s most spectacular crystal clear inland springs and rivers, which boast 200 ft (61 m) visibility and a wide variety of marine life. Swim with manatees, turtles and catfish or enter the ‘grand ballroom’ 100 ft (30 m) below the surface in a cavern dive. Gear rental, transportation, and lessons are available.

These Disney World-based centers were founded by four-time world champion water-skier Sammy Duvall. The Contemporary Resort branch offers parasailing, water-skiing, wake-boarding, knee-boarding, and tubing. Guests can either rent a boat and driver or take lessons. The slalom course is geared to more hardcore water-skiers. Guests can bring their own gear or rent it.

This friendly facility, which is home to Dave’s Ski School, offers water-ski lessons, water-ski and wake-board charters, and rentals of personal watercraft (such as Waverunners and Seaddoos). The center, on the shores of Lake Bryan, is geared to beginners, and kids as young as three can join in. Nonskiers and spectators can use the lakeside beach, volleyball net, and picnic area.

Lap swimmers who find hotel pools insufficient for training will delight in this championship facility, with its 25-lane regulation lap pool. Although YMCAs are very family-friendly, the facilities here are geared toward serious swimmers.

On the eastern edge of Kissimmee, this center offers three pools – one for laps, one for kids, and another for the water slide. It’s perfect for families with toddlers or youngsters for whom a major water park could be a bit overwhelming (and admission is far cheaper).