Aquatica Preview Given

[spondishy]

The Orlando Sentinel have published an article on an event held for Orlando Tourist chiefs showing Aquatica the newest theme/water park in Orlando for years.

Aquatica's killer-whale-colored Commerson's dolphins were ready. So were the water slides, the river rides and just enough of the other attractions that Busch Entertainment Corp. gave Central Florida's tourism leaders a sneak peek Friday at the region's newest major attraction.

Even some local competitors appeared ready to welcome the water park, under the assumption that anything new that could attract more tourists to town is good for everybody. As the economy continues to make some nervous, the opening of Orlando's first major park in eight years has tourism officials eagerly counting on Aquatica to create fresh buzz for Orlando.

"What an awesome, awesome park. I just can't wait for this thing to open up," declared Mark McHugh, president of Gatorland and chairman of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "What a great asset to the world's greatest destination."

The water park is preparing for a "soft" opening March 1, with a grand opening set for April 4. During Friday's tours for bureau members and news media, Busch Entertainment officials showed off such rides as the four-person rafts that slide down clear tubes through the Commerson's dolphins pool, and Adventure River, which speeds up the "lazy river" tube ride common to many water parks to an almost whitewater pace.

Article in full Busch gives preview of new Orlando attraction Aquatica -- OrlandoSentinel.com