Orlando’s a great place for outdoor fun even in November and, yes, the waterparks are open then. Just be aware that slightly shorter hours and closures may occur at this time of year.
The top news is Universal Orlando’s brand-new waterpark, Volcano Bay. The Aqua Coaster takes visitors over Krakatau, the fire-and-water volcano. Other attractions include body slides, multi-person raft rides, a wave pool and lazy river.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon has a new attraction: Miss Adventure Falls. This multi-person raft ride is a white-water adventure that lasts two minutes — one of the park’s longest water rides. Other noteworthy attractions: The Surf Pool has 6-foot waves and is said to be North America’s largest wave pool — and Mount Mayday is a five-story vertical drop in pitch blackness. Note: Disney’s other waterpark, Blizzard Beach, will be closed from Oct. 29.
Adventure Island, a 30-acre waterpark with a Key West vibe, is adjacent to Busch Gardens Tampa and it, too, has a new attraction: Colossal Curl. At a maximum 70 feet high, it’s the park’s tallest ride, sending four-person rafts on a scream-worthy trip.
The 59-acre Aquatica, owned by SeaWorld, boasts a new drop slide called Ihu’s Breakaway Falls. Riders climb stairs to the top of the eight-story tower, then enter one of three “breakaway boxes.” The boxes plummet to earth randomly, so you never know when yours is going to suddenly drop, which adds to the anticipation. Another popular attraction is Dolphin Plunge, which shoots visitors through a transparent tube that’s submerged in a dolphin pool.
