Wet n' Wild water park was opened in March, 1977, by George Millay, the creator of Sea World. At the time it was heralded as the first water park in America. In the late 1990's he sold off his share of the park and it was purchased by the Universal Studios Group. It has run steadily since it opened and has been a great success for many years.
In recent years, Universal Studios, Orlando has added Cabana Bay to it's three other hotels and now has plans to open a water park in 2017 to be called Volcano Bay. It will close Wet n' Wild on 30 December, 2016. Speculation is that the new park will open simultaneously, This will create another distinct park collocated on Universal Studios Orlando main property. The reason is to create little reason for visitors to leave the complex through the course of a stay. It will encourage visitors to remain on park. Vacation packages and other incentives will sweeten the deal for traveling families.
The opening of the new water park is expected to put Universal Studios on par with nearby Sea World and Walt Disney World which each have water parks of their own.
(photo courtesy of www.orlandosentinel.com)
