USA: Aquatica Orlando Announces New Hybrid Slide for 2018
SeaWorld’s Orlando-based Aquatica water park announced yesterday that it will open a new hybrid slide named “Ray Rush” in spring 2018. The planned new water adventure will combine three slide elements: In four-person rafts, bathing guests will be launched by water jets at 36 km/h (33 fps) from a height of more than 18 meters (60 feet) into the first of several enclosed tube sections. Next, riders will swirl into a colossal translucent sphere which spins the raft around the slide walls before entering another enclosed tube section. Then, riders will drop into an open-air halfpipe that resembles the shape of a manta ray. Finally, bathing guests will enter another enclosed tube section ending in a splash basin.
“Ray Rush will offer a ride experience you won’t be able to get anywhere else in Florida. Aquatica will be the first waterpark in the state to combine these three unique elements into one attraction,” said Cathy Valeriano, Vice President of Aquatica Orlando. “Ray Rush is the perfect addition to our attraction portfolio, complementing what is already one of the most family-friendly waterslide lineups in Orlando,” she added. Ray Rush will have a height requirement of some 1.06 meters (42 inches). It will be located on the north side of the park next to the “Walkabout Waters” waterplay structure – in order to make way for the new attraction, the “HooRoo Run” rafting slide will close permanently on October 31st, 2017. To accommodate construction, “Walhalla Wave” will temporarily close on this date and re-open in spring 2018 alongside Ray Rush. (eap)
