Island H2O Live! Water Park: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting - The Family Vacation Guide (2024)

You may feel that if you’ve seen one water park, you’ve seen them all. They all seem to have similar rides and attractions, and Island H2O does indeed have all that.

However, this water park’s unique selling point is its use of technology. It’s a water park that older children, teens, and young adults will love– especially those who love being active on social media!

In Orlando there’s a lot of competition for theme parks and water parks, but Island H2O Live! Water Park is definitely worth a visit as you can create a more personal experience with the park’s app.

If you have a teen in your group as you tour Orlando, consider this stop! There’s plenty for younger kids and adults as well. Let’s dive into it!

What is Island H2O Live! Water Park?

Located at the Margaritaville Resort in Orlando, Florida, Island H2O Live! is the most technically advanced water park.

The park only opened in 2019 and has a reputation for being the most modern water park in Orlando (possibly the country). By using your smartphone, visitors can be fully immersed in the interactive experience.

Simply connect your wristband to the app in order to take advantage of the park’s features. Streaming music and posting about your experience is all part of the fun!

Features include playing games to earn points for food and discounts from the gift shops, as well as plenty of opportunities to create photo and video content to share with friends. You can even listen to your favorite music when it’s your turn on the rides.

You will need to set up a profile on the app in order to use this function. Here, you can create a playlist of your favorite sounds, as well as select your favorite color.

When you reach the front of the line, just scan your wristband before hopping on the ride. Now you’ll be able to listen to your selected tunes, as well as see lights flashing in your favorite colors!

The water park itself has all the features you would expect from a park.

Thrilling slides with huge drops, a wave pool, a lazy river, an over-21s area, and an area for the youngest guests all feature. They also have live entertainment, DJs, and surprise guests throughout the year!

How to Get to Island H2O Live! Water Park

Address:

Island H2O Water Park

3230 Inspiration Drive

Kissimmee, FL 34747

How to Get to Island H2O Live! Water Park

Island H2O Live! Water Park is about a half-hour drive from downtown Orlando.

If coming from the I-4 West:

• Take Exit 64, then merge onto 192 West

• Take the left onto Inspiration Drive.

If coming from the I-4 East to Four Corners:

• Take Exit 6 from FL 429 North

• Keep going on 192 East, then turn right onto Inspiration Drive.

If coming from the 429 South:

• Take Exit 6

• Take a left onto 192 East

• Finally, take a right onto Inspiration Drive.

Alternatively, you can take public transport from Orlando, but it’s fairly tricky. Make sure you bring your phone to navigate the walks.

• Start by taking the SunRail P337 South to Kissimmee station

• You then need to walk to the intersection of Pleasant St and Neptune Rd, which is only a couple of minutes away

• Take the 55 bus west to Irlo Bronson Mem Hwy and Legacy Blvd.

From here it’s about a half-mile walk to the park.

Island H2O Live! Water Park: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

Island H2O Live! Water Park Hours

The park closes over the winter period, opening back up in March. During this time, their hours are from 10:30 am–5 pm, daily.

At the end of May, they switch to their summer hours, which are 10 am–6 pm Monday to Thursday, and 10 am–9 pm Friday to Sunday.

In the fall, they are generally only open Friday to Sunday, from 10:30 am–5 pm, but the days they are open vary, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

Worried about cold water? Rest assured that when the weather starts to cool down, the park’s water is heated!

Island H2O Live! Water Park Rides and Attractions

The Downloader

This 284 ft. two-person tube slide allows riders to race down to their own playlist and light selection. It’s a fairly smooth ride without too many twists and dips.

Reply Racers

On this ride, you’ll slide down on a mat at record speeds.

Six slides sit side by side where you can race your friends to the bottom. There’s also a steep vertical drop, so you can get up some serious speed on this ride.

You’ll definitely want to race your friends over and over to prove who’s the champ!

Reload Rapid

A 314 ft. twisting, turning two-person raft slide, customized with rider’s playlists and lights, is sure to keep you guessing as to what’ll happen next!

Profile Plunge

This fast 587 ft. slide is great for a group or families of up to six, and everyone can fit on a large circular raft.

The Profile Plunge is a zero-gravity-style ride, making you feel weightless. There are plenty of surprise drops, twists, and wall sweeps, sure to excite the thrill seekers in the family.

Jam to your favorite beats on the way down, though you may fight over whose music gets played!

Live Streaming

Enter the trap door, before going for a free fall!

There’s a video recording here, so you can capture and post your drops and 360 loops on this 326 ft. journey.

Live! Lagoon

You may think you can take a moment and relax in the two-person tube in this lagoon… until the waves crash into you, that is!

Live! The lagoon is Island H2O’s wave pool, encompassing a massive 24000 sq. ft. of water. You’ll feel like you’re at the beach!

Level Up

For the competitive at heart, Level Up is an area where family and friends can come together and play games in the water.

Older kids will enjoy playing a game of basketball right in the pool, and the little ones will love hopping across the lily pads and seashells.

Hashtag Heights

The whole family can ride together on this nearly 500 ft. zero-gravity-style drop. The moment will also be captured on video for you to cherish and share via the app.

Follow Me Falls

Follow Me Falls has a sharp drop to start so that the momentum will propel back up a vertical wall.

When the momentum runs out, you’ll drop back down again, but not before experiencing an incredible moment of weightlessness on the top of your ascent.

This ride is captured by cameras, which you can find on your app later.

Drop Down

On Drop Down, before the trap door opens you’ll have a moment to enjoy the view from way-up high and question your life choices… right before you freefall down the steep slide!

The fear will be captured on video, so put a brave face on… or don’t!

Chat Creek

Chat Creek is Island H2O’s version of the lazy river, where you can take a time out, get some sun, and have a chat.

The creek is 1300 ft. long, but you can hop on and off at any point, or just hang out all day.

Candy Strip Cove

Here you’ll find a selection of colorful slides for kids who don’t quite meet the height restrictions on some of the more thrilling slides but are too big for the little slides in Pelican’s Paradise.

The minimum height for this area is 36”.

Pelican’s Paradise

This area is just for the younger children, with slides to fit their size, shallow splash pools, and plenty of places to explore and play.

Private Domain

For those aged 21 and over only, the Private Domain pool is a place for adults to have a quiet moment away from the kids.

The pool is large, with plenty of lounge chairs. Parents will have a hard time leaving!

Virtual Village

This area is where people can come together, share a meal, take photos, and post about their days! It’s a shady retreat from the water and the sun.

Selfie Shack

Selfie Shack provides a place to take and share a quick selfie or a group photo, which can then be viewed from your app.

Mementos

Here, you can buy those key items you accidentally left at home– whether it’s a towel, swim goggles, or sunscreen!

You can also pick up a souvenir of your day if all the photos and videos aren’t enough.

Be Live!

Be Live! is a hut where you can stop by and make a video about your experience at Island H2O. As is the theme here, you can later view and share your video from your app!

Island H2O Live! Water Park Parking

Car parking is $10 per vehicle and there’s plenty to go around– but get in early if you don’t want to walk too far!

If you have a bus with 15 or more paying guests, parking is free. Larger vehicles, such as motorhomes and vans, will be assessed at the time, based on how much space they take up.

If you have a select season pass, parking is free.

Island H2O Live! Water Park Tickets

A season pass will allow you access to the park for the year and will cost $109.99 typically. If you were to pre-purchase in the off-season you can get $50 off, and the proceeds go to the charity Give Kids the World Village.

Buying the season pass on sale can work out cheaper than a single visit if you purchase on the day. You’ll also get free parking, a guest ticket, and a souvenir bottle.

The season pass comes to just $6 a month over the 10-month period the park is open.

Even if you miss out on the special, having a season pass is good value for money if you’ll go more than once.

If you’re visiting as a one-off, you can purchase a day ticket for around $70 at the gate. If you purchase online ahead of time, you’ll get a discount– making it around $57.

Don’t forget to factor in the $10 for parking if you are driving!

Island H2O Live! Water Park Wristband System

When you enter the park, you are given a personalized wristband that connects to your app. You’ll need to download it to your phone before your visit.

The wristband is scannable and will unlock many of the features of the park.

Island H2O Live! Water Park App

You’ll want to download the Island H2O Live! App on your phone before you get to the park.

You can set up a profile beforehand with your favorite music and preferences for the colors of the lights on the rides. Then, when at the park, you can use the app to find your friends and family, check wait times, and see what points you’ve earned.

If a member of your family doesn’t have a smartphone, don’t worry—they can still get in on the fun! There are stations throughout the park where they can set up their profile so that they can enjoy a personalized experience.

Where to Eat at Island H2O Live! Water Park

Tag Shack

The Tag Shack is a social hangout area where you can stop for refreshments, such as cold drinks or ice cream.

The stand has some seats out front, where you can catch your breath and cool down!

Megabytes

Megabytes is the one place in the park where you can get a meal along with cooked (fried) snacks.

The food here is classic American fare, including burgers, chicken fingers, pizza, fries, nachos, salads, and even beer.

Apps and Eats

At Apps and Eats, you can grab a quick snack to get past that mid-afternoon slump. Grab a lemonade, some churros, or cotton candy!

Island H2O Live! Water Park Height and Weight Restrictions

Height and weight restrictions are specific to the rides. Children under 48” cannot go on all the slides, and need to wear life vests in specific areas such as the wave pool and Level Up.

For most attractions, anyone under the age of 16 must be with an adult.

Weight limits for many of the slides are 300 lbs for one rider or 400 lbs for two on two-person rides.

Group rides can take up to six people with a combined weight of 1,000 lbs.

Candy Strip Cove, with its smaller slides, has a weight limit of 200 lbs per person on most slides.

Island H2O Live! Lockers and Cubbies

You can rent lockers in various sizes allowing for individual lockers or sharing with the family. Price varies by size.

You can find lockers and cubbies near the restrooms in various locations throughout the park.

Island H2O Live! Cabanas

The Cabanas offer a secure place for the family to get together, eat, relax, and store their items. It’s great for larger groups, as finding seats for everyone can be difficult.

Families with small children will also enjoy having a place where the little ones can have a nap to break up the long day. With guaranteed shade and comfortable seats, The Cabanas is a place where everyone can meet back up after doing their thing!

Be sure to pre-book your Cabana online the day before to guarantee one– otherwise it’s first come, first served.

Island H2O has four options for their Cabanas: the Standard, Cabana Suite, Adult, and Ultimate.

The Standard Cabana seats six people and can suit up to eight guests. In your Cabana you’ll find:

• Two lounge chairs

• A table with four chairs

• A small fridge with four water bottles included

• Food and beverage service

• A charging station for your devices

• A private locker to store your belongings.

The Cabana Suite is somewhat more comfortable, with seating for 12 with cushioned sofas and chairs, but is suitable for groups up to 16. In the Cabana Suite you’ll find:

• A table for four

• Lounge chairs

• A “living room” style seating area with coffee table, couches, and armchairs

• Plus all the services of a Standard Cabana.

The Adult Cabana is located in the adult area near the Private Domain adult-only pool. Guests must be 21 or older.

Included are the same seating and features as the Standard Cabana. You should be aware that there are only a few Adult Cabanas available, so be sure to book one ahead of time!

The Ultimate Cabana is pure luxury, and there’s only one available in the park, so pre-book early to avoid disappointment!

In the Ultimate Cabana, you can fit 24 guests, with seating for 16. You’ll find:

• A luxury built-in structure, complete with ceiling fans

• Loveseats and chairs

• Twelve complimentary bottles of water

• Plus all of the same features as the Standard Cabana.

The Bottom Line

If you love posting on social media about your trip, you’ll get plenty of content after a visit to Island H2O Live!

With so many opportunities for selfies, group videos, and looping videos of you free-falling down a slide, your feed will be full, and your friends will be seething with jealousy!

Even if you tend to keep your social media more private, you’ll still have a blast with a great selection of rides, a lazy river, and a wave pool.

Listening to your favorite tunes on the rides is a great bonus and is sure to make the experience that much more special. Plus, there’s plenty for the whole family with thrill rides, chill rides, kid areas, and an adult-only pool.

Just be sure to download the app before you go to make the most of this tech-forward water park!