By Tom Wuckovich

There’s a new adventure coming to SeaWorld Orlando, and it promises to offer guests high-speed thrills, close-up animal encounters, undersea adventures and wide, sandy beaches. It’s called Aquatica, and it opens to the public in March.

The park that brought us Shamu and Discovery Cove is taking water parks to a new level. When visitors enter Aquatica, they will immediately experience the vastness of nearly 60 acres of lush landscape inspired by the vivid color, stunning flora and carefree personality of the South Sea Islands. Reminiscent of the rugged beauty of New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea, the landscape of Aquatica is striking. Crystal-blue rivers wind through hidden grottos and refreshing waterfalls, while rich greenery and bright flowers adorn towering rock formations.

Peeking through this verdant landscape, brightly colored, quirky buildings topped with swooping, pitched roofs create an uplifting, carefree setting. Colorful, whimsical animals—derivative patterns from New Zealand’s Maori culture—adorn carved totem poles and interactive fountains.

Live animals from lands all over the world, including Commerson’s dolphins, brilliant macaws and colorful fish, bring to life the park’s playful, high-energy nature.

Aquatica features the most thrilling water rides in the world with 36 water slides, six rivers and lagoons, and more than 80,000 square feet of beach area. These distinct attractions will zoom, float and splash guests through amazing animal habitats and undersea adventures.

The park’s signature attraction plunges riders in clear tubes through a crystal-blue lagoon with black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins. Guests feel as if they are flying beneath the sea among these fascinating animals. Aquatica’s attractions offer equal emphasis on thrill rides and immersive swimming experiences. A colorful mix of racing tunnels, raft rides and rivers offer crashing surf and speeding thrills, while pools, lagoons and lazy rivers invite guests to enjoy a slower pace.

Colorful eight-lane racing slides, triple-drop raft rides, double inner tubes, and a six-story family ride round out the mix of thrills.

Even the littlest swimmers will enjoy one-of-a-kind attractions at Aquatica. One of the world’s largest interactive water play areas includes a colorful rain fortress that towers 60 feet above a 15,000-square-foot pool. The entire family can zoom together on slides and blast water cannons.

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