How to survive water park season with savings, safety and sanity

Washington Post

19-07-2025

Parents, consider this your warning: A water park visit is probably in your near future.
Spending your Saturday simmering in industrial-strength chlorine may not top your dream itinerary, but you'll be among the tens of millions of people wading into wave pools in the name of childhood joy. And with the planet turning up the heat, the splash scene is expanding: 23 new parks will open in 2025, according to hospitality consulting firm Hotel and Leisure Advisors. So you might as well go in with eyes wide open and SPF 50 at the ready.
Whether you're braving the body slides, pretending to relax in the lazy river or just trying to keep your kid from licking the handrail (again), consider this your survival guide for splashing smarter, not harder.
Alex Ojeda has turned getting soaked into a full-time job. As a bona fide water park influencer with 15 million social media followers, he's splashed his way through 50 of the wildest water parks on the planet. He's braved beasts like the world's tallest waterslide at Qatar's Meryal Waterpark, a nearly minute-long vertical drop that looks like a dare from the devil himself. These days, Ojeda's expertise isn't just viral, it's practical: Royal Caribbean hired him to help design its Perfect Day Mexico water park.
One thing he's learned? Those safety rules plastered on signs and shouted by lifeguards aren't just for show.
'In the U.S., I never get scared about an injury because here everything is about lawsuit prevention,' Ojeda says.
That's not to say accidents can't happen. Something as simple as disregarding weight limits can compromise balance, increasing the risk of a tube tipping and causing serious harm.
James Harhi, founder of lifeguard training company StarGuard ELITE, says 'the biggest mistake people make is thinking their kid can swim, but not realizing how much energy they're burning all day.'
In Harhi's experience, most rescues happen when little swimmers get fatigued. That's why StarGuard ELITE always urges the parks they consult with to offer free life vests.
But the hardest truth to hear?
'The biggest danger we deal with is parents scrolling instead of watching their kid,' he says.
The real secret to surviving a day at the water park isn't just bravery — it's paying attention.
Lines? You'll wait in them. That epic ride your kid's been hyping up for weeks? Might be closed for maintenance. And that postcard-perfect sky? Could be dumping rain by lunch. Water parks are a lot of things, but predictable isn't one of them.
To dodge the weather drama altogether, skip the skies and head indoors. That's the whole idea behind the Great Wolf Lodge empire, 23 American resorts that draw roughly 13 million people annually, according to spokesman Jason Lasecki. Kept at a toasty 84 degrees year-round, the brand is just one option in a growing universe of climate-controlled water parks, which Hotel and Leisure Advisors says will expand by five this year.
If you have thrill-thirsty teens, a fast pass might save the day. Like theme parks, many water parks now offer skip-the-line perks. At Splash Country in Dollywood, guests can grab a TimeSaver H2O pass for $55 and get priority access to eight rides. For unlimited speedy entrances all day long, that'll be $70.
As for avoiding poolside meltdowns over closed slides, your best bet is to call ahead or check a park's website to confirm which attractions are up and running, according to Todd Andrus, a marketing executive for management firm Premier Parks. And before you go, have a heart-to-heart with your kids: Not every ride will be open, not every plan will go perfectly and that's okay.
It might surprise the casual water parker, but shoes are actually encouraged these days for safety and comfort. With so many slippery surfaces, a little traction on your feet can improve a day at the parks. That said, your little darling shouldn't be cannonballing in Nike Airs.
'I really like Crocs,' Ojeda says.
A water-friendly shoe that won't slip off mid-slide or float away halfway down the lazy river is the best bet. In this instance, Velcro is your friend. And at some parks, such as Raging Waters in Los Angeles, you can buy water shoes in the gift shop.
In Ojeda's line of work, abrasion is an occupational hazard.
'I'm a big rash guard guy,' he says.
In fact, Ojeda has a collection of rash guard shirts — one from nearly every park he's visited. He says they're a must for slide goers. Ojeda also has strong feelings about swim trunks. He swears by trunks with built-in compression liners, such as Chubbies.
'You can wear them all day and you don't feel like … well, the word is chafing,' he says.
For anyone suiting up for a splash day, consider this your Speedo era. Sure, a trendy two-piece slays in selfies, but today's slides can send you flying. Summit Plummet at Disney's Blizzard Beach clocks in at highway speeds, and the last thing you want is a wardrobe whoopsie in front of a full audience of lounge chair spectators.
And Disney spokesperson Darrell Fry would rather you keep things appropriate for the younger crowd.
'Be sure to wear family-friendly swimwear [no thongs],' he said.
Three words: Get the cabana.
'Not all of us can go stay at a five-star hotel,' Andrus says. 'But you can rent a cabana. And I will tell you, it's a complete and total game changer.'
Shady oases in a sea of sunburn and chaos, cabanas are fast becoming the water park world's VIP upgrade. Borrowing a page from the luxury resort playbook, more parks now offer these breezy sanctuaries for rent. At Virginia's Massanutten, most options include lounge chairs, coolers and ceiling fans.
Even indoor water parks are making room for them. In Oregon, the air and space-themed Wings & Waves Waterpark — notable for its four waterslides that come out of a real Boeing 747 aircraft stationed on the roof — has First Class Cabanas, which can be reserved for up to nine people ($200 if booked online, $225 if booked in the park) and come with a $50 food credit from the on-site cafe.
Go ahead, treat yourself. As Andrus says, 'Your kids are going to feel like rock stars.'
At your municipal splash pad, no one's batting an eye if you roll in with a tote bag full of chips and juice boxes. Some parents have whole pizzas delivered to the spraygrounds. But try that trick at a major water park and it probably won't float.
Some people resort to smuggling. Andrea Upchurch admits to covertly entering water parks with a small backpack purse with Goldfish crackers, pretzels and protein bars for her kids.
'We also have a meal plan for Carowinds Carolina Harbor Waterpark, but it's only one meal,' she says. 'So we go somewhere in the park and get a splittable meal and treat it like a snack to share.'
After the fun in the sun, the Upchurch family finds someplace less expensive to eat outside the park's gates.
Not all venues frown on a BYO feast. At Silverwood Theme Park's Boulder Beach in northern Idaho, for example, picnics are practically encouraged as long as guests follow the rules.
'Guests can bring in a soft-sided 12-by-12-by-12-inch cooler with small snacks or a personal lunch,' says publicist Sally Spaulding. 'Also, you may bring in factory sealed, nonalcoholic beverages.'
The best move: Pack a tailgate picnic for pre- or post-park eats, then research in-park summer dining deals.
At Magic Theme and Water Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a Gold Season Pass ($140) gives visitors unlimited park visits as well as one free meal per trip.
The term 'accessible' gets thrown around a lot these days, and travel writer Jaclyn Greenberg says a lot of it is lip service.
'My son Henry loves to have fun but is unable to walk or talk,' Greenberg says. 'For my family, flat, easy-to-access paths, large restrooms and changing areas with an adult-size fold-down table, as well as a few calmer rides — such as a lazy river with a zero-gravity entry — are bonuses we look for so my son can have fun with the rest of my family.'
Finding all of that in one place is still a rarity. But there are signs of progress.
Ojeda highlights Morgan's Inspiration Island in San Antonio, which bills itself as 'the world's first ultra-accessible splash park.' The site offers free waterproof wheelchairs, complimentary ventilator bags and water-collar covers for tracheostomies — details that make a difference.
Still, Greenberg says, 'I don't love places that are only or mostly for people with disabilities. I want places that are inclusive for everyone.'
For her money, DreamWorks Water Park in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was the answer.
'We booked surfing lessons for my family for my birthday, and they had two staffers there to surf with my son so the rest of us could take typical lessons,' Greenberg says. 'He sat on the surfboard with one of them. It was crazy, but so cool and great that he was happy and participating and we could also do something that was challenging for us.'
No one likes dealing with soggy cash, especially water park staffers. That's one reason more parks are ditching dollars altogether and moving to fully cashless systems, from entry fees to snack bar purchases.
'All of our Premier Parks have moved to a digital season pass,' Andrus says. 'People are already carrying their phones in waterproof pouches. Now you can just scan your phone and go — no need to worry about cash.'
Pro tip: Be sure to check a park's payment policy before arrival. Some parks won't accept cash at all, and you don't want to be stuck high and dry without a way to pay.