The Future of Wet 'n Wild

[Cheezbat]

Why does everyone keep calling Wet and Wild the first water park. River Country opened before it and it seems like I've always heard River Country referred to as the first water park.

Technically no.
You have to remember how River Country was set up. It was basically a swimming hole with a few slides. I have seen numerous places just like it(minus the rock work) that had a few slides going into a lake or pool...a few opened in the early 1970's, even before River Country. While Disney's take on the swimming hole was obviously a more well-known and themed experience, it wasn't quite the same thing to what would open the following year on International Drive.
Fast forward to 1977...you have a completely gated in park with slides going into their own filtered pools. Play areas for the smaller kids, and other amenities turn Wet N Wild into a new phenomenon. Wet N Wild was the template for a standard waterpark. Of course, Wet N Wild originated many of the modern slides we see so popular today, but they weren't the first place to have a modern day Wavepool. (That honor goes to Point Mallard Park in Alabama.) They were one of the originators of the lazy river concept though.

So while River Country was around a year before Wet N Wild, there were other places similar to River Country that opened even earlier than Disney's swimming hole...but Wet N Wild was the golden standard for what we call a Waterpark.

 

[JungleSkip]

Wet 'n Wild Orlando to close at end of 2016 | Attractions

"Universal Orlando recently purchased land around the water park for future development."

Do we have an idea of exactly which parcels of land that Universal bought that they are referring too?

The parking lot across the street and a few connected pieces of land. In reality, everything they bought was tied to WNW in some way.

 

[Nico]

Does anyone know the exact acreage of the combined parcels (including WNW)?

 

[JungleSkip]

Does anyone know the exact acreage of the combined parcels (including WNW)?

50-ish acres

 

[kimlovesfl]

I was referring to Coco Cay, I didn't remember the name of it, and it isn't on that exact corner, just close.

 

[keeper]

Yea. With the theming level and need to be creative with space, there's no way they reuse slides. Not to mention ProSlide will probably want to show off and make Volcano Bay a showcase for what they can do.

Yes I agree too. I'm not a water park guy but I do remember reading that in recent years since a bit before Universal bought the property that all major additions were rides that were self contained..."flat ride" equivalents if you will. If that's true this day was thought of well in advance. I can't see Universal wanting them on property for the reasons already mentioned but they can be easily sold to a smaller park in another part of the country or a large hotel.

 

[Disneyhead]

Yes I agree too. I'm not a water park guy but I do remember reading that in recent years since a bit before Universal bought the property that all major additions were rides that were self contained..."flat ride" equivalents if you will. If that's true this day was thought of well in advance. I can't see Universal wanting them on property for the reasons already mentioned but they can be easily sold to a smaller park in another part of the country or a large hotel.

Or Fun Spot.

 

[Disneyhead]

OK, here is my guess as to what is coming:

1-400 room boutique 5 star resort with a nice lake view
1-1100 unit Family Suites Moderate Tower Resort
Dining and Entertainment complex

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Dang...surprised and disappointed :/ Gonna have to go to Wet N Wild quite a few times this next year and a half

 

[Nick]

Dang...surprised and disappointed :/ Gonna have to go to Wet N Wild quite a few times this next year and a half

If you would've listened all of those time we were trying to tell you earlier in this thread...

 

[ranremixed]

Hi All

Mainly a lurker but read this today and thought it was interesting for this discussion. The Sheraton across the street from the W&W parking lot was sold

International Drive hotel sell for $15M-plus - Orlando Business Journal

 

[keeper]

curiousier and curiousier...

Now who is Icon Orlando LLC ?

 

[shiekra38]

curiousier and curiousier...

Now who is Icon Orlando LLC ?

Comcast?

 

[keeper]

I doubt it--that cloak and dagger stuff worked in the 60's but I don't think can work now. It does, however seem odd timing to get rid of a hotel property on I-Drive with the Orlando 360 and SkyCoaster complexes getting so much attention. Wet and Wild wouldn't apply as I'm sure the deal was in place well before the announcement but still weird timing. Not my industry but I would think I'd want to KEEP a hotel on I-drive , watch it go up in value in the next 5 years, THEN cash in.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

So just heard about the fate of Wet N Wild...I couldn't have been more wrong

You guys will probably be pretty excited...if what I heard holds up.

 

[Macfr3ak]

re: WnW plot: I'm going with Hard Rock Casino Orlando! Maybe like this one.

WOAH!!!!!!!!!! i think this would be A M A Z I N G we have one here in Hollywood, FL (ft lauderdale, Miami area) and it is AWESOME.. i just think its CRAZY expensive but a universal spin on or family take on this hotel would be amazing

 

[Macfr3ak]

So just heard about the fate of Wet N Wild...I couldn't have been more wrong

You guys will probably be pretty excited...if what I heard holds up.

what a TEASE!!! lol

 

[Cheezbat]

So just heard about the fate of Wet N Wild...I couldn't have been more wrong

You guys will probably be pretty excited...if what I heard holds up.

Oh really...so maybe these talks about Citywalk 2.0 or just another hotel may be wrong....

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I still think the best bet is to take all operations there to open up more room in the existing parks.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

It's nothing crazy...some of you have guessed already. But the good news is that it's going to be a great addition to Universal's portfolio. That's the exciting part--the expansion of their true resort area