14 September – Aquatica

Wake up a bit later than has been the norm and again "Mr Snorry Head" had shown up again last night so yes, I wake alone. It is now too late to think about Islands of Adventure, so looks like it could be an Aquatica day but will need loads of sun crème, as the sun is already out and shining brightly.

We risk the journey up International Drive without the Sat Nav (well it's still in the car but not turned on!) but no worries straight there again, and we are able to park in disabled parking after we show the badge.

Aquatica blue parking voucher

We park up and because Pat (who is feeling really good in the warmth) wants to walk in under her own steam rather than taking the wheelchair we take it slowly approaching the entrance. People are strolling past us, as we take our time.

Map of Aquatica Water Park

There is a bit of a walk to where the main part of the park is – past the dolphin ride (you are in a tube that passes through a dolphin pool) and onto where the locker, pool towel and customer service area is.

So, I queue and get to desk to find it has all changed, you hire the towels from the desk but the lockers are self-service now and I missed the signs that tells us this. I hire two towels – then try and work out how to rent the locker. Walking around in circles – then spot a sign that spans a whole wall explaining stick credit card in the machine – decide on a four-digit code to open the locker – and then it gives you the locker number – you just go and find it – and use the code to open it. So straight forward when you know what to do…. Being able to read or even spot a very big piece of signage helps big time!

Last time we were here we found a great place to sit on the sandy area, so walk over and find a couple of lounge chairs pretty much in the same place, so put our towels down and then we are off across the way into the rapids, putting our floatation vests on. God how I love this – it is so relaxing and loads of fun we go round once then it's time for a ciggy.

Back to the chairs pick up the tin and lighter, and then to look for the smoking area(s) we have to find the map (unlike all the other parks Aquatica does not issue paper maps when you arrive) and when we find the wooden board it tells there are only two designated smoking areas at virtually the opposite ends of the park, and quite a distance from where we are.

Whanau Way and Omaka Rocka signage

Slow walk over to the nearest one – which almost immediately ring bells with us – as it's the one we used last time. The good news is that beside the area is a couple of the rides, so quick ciggy as I head back to the locker to deposit the tin and lighter. I return, and we decide to try one of the rides the closest being Omaka Rocka which is a "single riders in a tube" ride. We pick up our tubes and walk up the ride taking our time, moving to the side as people pass by, and arrive at the top of the ride where we have a great view of the park. Clamber onto the ring and whoosh off we go. Pat manages to do almost the whole ride backwards she got turned and couldn't turn back. I have similar issues but turned myself round once only to be turned back to front at the next turn.

We move onto the next ride which is Whanou Way which is both of us in a double ring. Again, we have to climb up to the beginning of the ride in fact it is the same walkway – but we have to go slightly higher. I have carried the tube to allow Pat to concentrate on just getting herself up to the start of the ride. We jump on the tube - Pat in front me behind – pretty sure that is the ride that three of us did in 2013, in a triple ring which ended with Pat's sister Chris jumping out at the end, to lots of mirth from Pat and I. It is a really fast ride but a touch uncomfortable on the bum!

Two rides are enough for now – so we head back to chairs – for a drink and a break. We enjoy a quiet 30 minutes or so, but it is starting to get very warm. Need to cool off so back on the rapids this time we take a couple of circuits, yet as we climb out it appears the day is having a toll on Pat, she is beginning to become very tired – so we decide to head back via Walmart to replenish food supplies - well primarily ice cream – need to look after ourselves, don't we?

It's a quick shop and we get back to the Fountains and unpack and sort it out, a quick drink and then head down to pool side. A swim, some reading and a couple of drinks, and it begins to darken – the clouds are gathering in very large numbers. There is an announcement to clear the pool area, and we do head back to the room, dry off and then we sit and watch the clouds disappear and the sun return. As we watch people begin to flock back poolside, we decide to join them, and so head back down to enjoy more sun.

Another swim, and a drink and then back to room and similar to last night as spa baths and Penny Dreadful – but the problem with the TV does not re-occur so we can watch through the TV. Goodness knows why it wouldn't work yesterday! Again, we get one episode in – but decide to turn everything off and set the alarm for 6-30am in the morning as Kong is calling us.