Sara A. Fajardo, Orlando SentinelBlack Hole at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando. Visitors must be at least 48 inches tall to ride.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelOliver Davy, 14, visiting from Ireland, enjoys the Aqua Drag Racer ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelKids play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelA youngster plunges down the Bomb Bay ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on May 14, 1993. (Orlando Sentinel file)
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelThe new $1.5 million children's water playground opens at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on July 26, 1991. (Wet 'n Wild)
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelA $2 million expansion project nears completion at Wet 'n Wild on International Drive in Orlando on Feb. 8, 1988. (Wet 'n WIld)
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelPeople enjoy the Lazy River at Wet 'n Wild on April 16, 1987. (Judy Watson Tracy, Orlando Sentinel)
Stephen M. Dowell/staff photographerWet 'n Wild has remained one of the top 10 most visited water parks in the world.
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelFamilies play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelOliver Davy, 14, visiting from Ireland, enjoys the Aqua Drag Racer ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelFamilies play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Angela Peterson / Orlando SentinelWet 'n Wild has seen great crowds so far this year, partly attributable to big doings at other attractions.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSurf Lagoon wave pool is pictured from above at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Ryan Jones, Orlando SentinelA patron rides Aqua Drag Racer, a new ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, Fla. Monday, June 23, 2014.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSwimmers enjoy the Lazy River at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelFamilies play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Phelan M. Ebenhack / Orlando SentinelWet 'n Wild revamped the Hydra Fighter ride. The changes include regulated flow of the water cannons and streamlined chairs to make it easier for riders to propel.
Ryan Jones, Orlando SentinelA patron rides Aqua Drag Racer, a new ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, Fla. Monday, June 23, 2014.
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelFamilies play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelGuests gather around the pool at Wet N' Wild water park.
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelBlastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild is a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelGuests ham it up for the camera in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelConstruction workers take a break and enjoy the view atop a new flume ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Jan. 3, 1986. (Judy Borich, Orlando Sentinel)
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelThe sprawling attraction is pictured from above at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelTourists cool off in the wave pool at Wet 'n Wild on Spet. 21, 1990. (Gary Bogdon, Orlando Sentinel)
Ryan Jones, Orlando SentinelPatrons carry mats for Aqua Drag Racer, a new ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, Fla. Monday, June 23, 2014.
Ryan Jones, Orlando SentinelA lifeguard stands at the bottom of Aqua Drag Racer, a new ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, Fla. Monday, June 23, 2014.
Frank Rivera / Orlando SentinelWet 'N Wild visitors carry their floating tubes to the top of a ride at Wet 'N Wild.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelThe sun sets during Wet 'n Wild's final week before its Dec. 31 closing date.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelA construction worker pours concrete on a slide at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on March 29, 1977. (Tom Kennedy, Orlando Sentinel)
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelFrank Bermudez and his daughter Alexia, 3, play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Roberto Gonzalez / Orlando SentinelFrom atop the Wet n' Wild ride The Surge, George Millay founder of Wet 'n Wild and SeaWorld talks about his life, it is the subject of a new book by Tim O'Brien, Orlando, Friday, November 19, 2004.
Larry L. Lopez / Orlando SentinelOrlando, Fl - Rafael Gonzalez - Orlando Fl, dances along with friends as the music starts up at the 4th annual Fiesta San Juan. Wet 'N Wild hosts its 4th annual Fiesta San Juan Saturday June 28, 2003. Activities Include food, live music, dancing and contests. The park will continue the festivities till 1 A.M. so that guests can honor the tradition of "The Night of San Juan" by taking a big splash in the water at midnight for good luck.
ROBERTO GONZALEZ / ORLANDO SENTINELAn addition to Wet 'n Wild's thrill-ride lineup: the Hydra Fighter now open.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelKamikaze super slide is under construction at Wet 'n Wild on Jan. 18, 1979. (Gordon Williamson, Orlando Sentinel)
ANGELA PETERSON / ORLANDO SENTINELWet 'n Wild theme park on International Drive now owned by Universal Studios.
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelFamilies play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelThe sprawling attraction is pictured from above at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Sara A. Fajardo, Orlando SentinelRide goers walk up the stairwell of the newly revamped Black Hole.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelConstruction is uderway on the $1.5 million children's water playground at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on March 4, 1991. (Wet 'n Wild)
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelColorful umbrellas line a sitting area at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelWet 'n Wild attraction under construction in Orlando on Feb. 22, 1977. (Bill Phillips, Orlando Sentinel)
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelThe Disco H20 ride is pictured at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
George Skene / Orlando SentinelOrlando, June 12, 2006-Wrist band and scanner. Wet N' Wild is the first water park in the country to adopt the GO technology, which puts credit card info on a waterproof bracelet. (using Radio Frequency technology, like what you'd find in the automatic toll pass). It lets park patrons pay for anything by scanning their bracelet. Company says it boosts sales and customers are finding it very convenient.
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelThe Aqua Drag Racer ride is pictured at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelGuests ham it up for the camera in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
JIM CARCHIDI, ORLANDO SENTINELRiders emerge through a waterfall to run a gauntlet of water jets. The ride sends guests along a series of "pipes" and slides as they are propelled by constant streams of water.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelPark-goers enjoy the lazy river at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando in November 1985. (Orlando Sentinel file)
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelPark-goers enjoy a night-time float on the lazy river at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Aug. 14, 1992. (Orlando Sentinel file)
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelTubers enjoy the Lazy River at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Joe Burbank, Orlando SentinelWet 'n Wild on International Drive in Orlando opened in 1977. Universal Orlando, which owns the park, announced it will be closing it in 2016. Universal is opening its own water park, Volcano Bay.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelNavy sailors enjoys a ride down the Bubba Tub at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on July 27, 1992. (Gary Bogdon, Orlando Sentinel)
Ryan Jones, Orlando SentinelPatrons exit the tubes at Aqua Drag Racer, a new ride at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, Fla. Monday, June 23, 2014.
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelFamilies play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
FRANK RIVERA / ORLANDO SENTINELParticipants in the 11th Annual Cardboard Boat Race paddle furiously during the competition at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando. 2 of 2. ORG XMIT: 9704270-4A
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelWet 'n Wild under construction on April 6, 1984. (Orlando Sentinel file)
Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando SentinelSwimmers enjoy the Lazy River at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando on Monday, December 19, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Jacob Langston, Orlando SentinelKids play in the water at Blastaway Beach at Wet 'n Wild, a new child-friendly area that opened in June 2012 at the Orlando water park.
Orlando SentinelWet 'n Wild on International Drive in Orlando opened in 1977. Universal Orlando, which owns the park, announced it will be closing it in 2016. Universal is opening its own water park, Volcano Bay.
Orlando Sentinel file / Orlando SentinelA mountain rises in Orlando as Wet 'n Wild takes shape along the east side of International Drive on Sept. 7, 1976. (Tom Kennedy, Orlando Sentinel)
Frank Rivera / Orlando SentinelDutch tourists splash around Tuesday, Nov. 30 in the main pool at Wet 'n Wild. Despite the cool weather, the tourists loved their time at the attraction.
Sara A. Fajardo, Orlando Sentinel
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Black Hole at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando. Visitors must be at least 48 inches tall to ride.
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Florida residents can go to Wet ‘n Wild water park for the rest of 2016 with a new ticket offer from the International Drive attraction.
The cost is $39.99 per person, and the unlimited-admission ticket must be purchased by May 31. (A version with parking included sells for $77.49.)
It’s the home stretch for Wet ‘n Wild. It was announced last year that the park would close at the end of 2016. The attraction has operated on I-Drive since March 1977. It was conceived by George Millay, who was proclaimed “father of the water park.” Millay, who died in 2006, sold interest in the park in 1998.
The newest Wet ‘n Wild attraction is the Aqua Drag Racer, a mat slide that was erected in 2014 and replaced the Bubba Tub. Among the other operating rides are Black Hole, Brain Wash, Disco H2O, Mach Five, Bomb Bay and Der Stuka.
Wet ‘n Wild is owned by Universal Orlando resort, which currently is building a water-based attraction called Volcano Bay, which is wedged between its Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Interstate 4.
Proof of Florida residency is required. There is a limit of six tickets per Florida ID.
To purchase the discounted tickets, go to wetnwildorlando.com.
