Pictures: Orlando water parks

Spiral around The Storm at Wet ‘n Wild.  (LARRY L. LOPEZ / ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Austin Brown, Clermont watches the Commerson’s dolphins in the Dolphin Lookout, a viewing area of the Dolphin Plunge, which takes riders down 250 feet of clear tubes underwater.  (JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Christian Martin, Orlando, races down Taumata Racer is for those who like the fast lane. A 300 foot slide in and out of tunnels and around a 360 degree turn.  (JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Ruthann, Lonnie, Lexie, 12, and Nicholas, 8, Stefekos, New Hampshire, touch a Sulcata Tortoise on the beach area at SeaWord’s new wwaterpark, Aquatica.  (JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Don’t count on TV ads to play up the slides at SeaWorld’s Aquatica. Take a ride, and judge for yourself.  (JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

A guest at SeaWorld’s new waterpark, Aquatica, takes a ride down one of its many slides during the soft opening on Saturday.  (JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Blue tubes are used to go down Whanau Way a 340 foot slide and spalsh into the crystal blue pool.  (JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Loggerhead Lane floats guests down a lazy river past exotic birds and exotic fish.  (JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The Taumata Racer is for those who like the fast lane. A 300 foot slide in and out of tunnels and around a 360 degree turn.  (JULIE FLETCHER/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. This shot shows Coral Reef Cove, more of a tween/teen area featuring water volleyball and the Cyclone slide (48-inch height requirement). Behind those windows is a large arcade/gaming area.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. Minnow Lagoon is for the littlest ones with a zero-depth entry, mushroomy water features, soaker cannons and milder slides (not in this frame). It’s under a canopy, which is a great break from the sun.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. Out in the sun is Parrot’s Perch, an all-wet play island with slides, water cannons and a 400-gallon bucket that dumps every 30 minutes.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. Adjacent to Minnow Lagoon is a hot spot for parents: The Wet Rooster Tiki Bar (with a full bar).  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. Out in the sun is Parrot’s Perch, an all-wet play island with slides, water cannons and a 400-gallon bucket that dumps every 30 minutes.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

The Coco Key Water Resort in the tourist corridor in Orlando opened in April 2010 and features a waterpark. Guests not staying at the hotel can pay admission to use the waterpark. This shot shows the big slides. The curvy one on the right is called Over the Falls, a body slide with a 40-inch height minimum. The yellow tube is Surfer Splash (42-inch minimum) with 1- and 2-person tubes, and the red slide is Boomerango, on which two-person tubes leave the tower, go up a ramp, experience a sense of weightlessness before sliding back down.  (DEWAYNE BEVIL/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

A child goes down a Bay Slide into the surf pool at Typhoon Lagoon at Walt Disney World.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

Kids play on one of the climbing structures in the shallow water on the edge of Typhoon Lagoon’s surf pool.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

Castaway Creek, a continuously flowing lazy river, at Typhoon Lagoon is a favorite for swimmers of all ages.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

My son scoots down a watery slope in the Ketchakiddee Creek play area for kids at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

My son gets ready to spray other kids in the Ketchakiddee Creek play area at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

My daughter begins her journey on a scaled down tube ride in the Ketchakiddee Creek kids area at Typhoon Lagoon.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

A chairlift at Disney’s Blizzard Beach offers great views on the way to the top of Mt. Gushmore.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

The Ski Patrol Training Camp area of Disney’s Blizzard beach includes slides, a T-bar drop and an iceberg walk.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

My daughter attempts to cross the iceberg walk at Disney’s Blizzard Beach.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

Guests can ride in orange tubes on curving slides through the Ski Patrol Training Camp at Disney’s Blizzard Beach.  (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)