Jacksonville, the summers here are HOT! If you’re like most families, you are probably looking for some ways to cool off that are fun, affordable, and great for kids. Just a little over an hour away from Jacksonville there is a hidden gem of a water park that meets all of this criteria! Daytona Lagoon is located right on Daytona Beach. It is open year round and offers 12 water rides, including the new 54-foot tall Kraken’s Revenge four-lane mat racer and the Shaka Half-Pipe ‘pendulum slide’, a giant wave pool and our family favorite. There’s also the lazy river and even a kids play area.
Inside Daytona Lagoon Water Park there is a whole family entertainment center includes the Sky Maze, featuring the Sky Trail® Navigator ropes course with 10 obstacles and over 2,500 square feet of challenging obstacles. A 70-foot Sky Rail® zipline that spans the entire length of the Sky Maze and hovers 12 feet above the mega arcade. Other exciting Daytona Lagoon features include: state-of-the-art laser tag, Grand Prix go-kart racing, miniature golf, rock wall, island hopper, bumper cars, and more!Â
Food at Daytona Lagoon Water Park
Daytona Lagoon also have several eateries like the Paradise Grill, and they have ice cream stations and offer birthday parties and group events that are really affordable. I highly suggest adding the all you can eat option to your waterpark ticket when the promotion is available because based on single meal pricing, it’s easy to make it worth the extra fee.
During our trip the weather wasn’t the most cooperative so we retreated inside for an hour to grab some ice cream and play in the fun park. My kids loved the laser tag and the sky maze. I personally loved the bumper cars and felt as if the selection of games and activities inside were pretty great to pass some time so that we can head back out to the water park.
What do you need to know, before you go?
Daytona Lagoon is a hidden destination in Florida for many but for others it is the ultimate constant go-to for non stop fun and cooling off. In the hotter months and year round you can enjoy the inside fun park. I truly do think there is something for everyone, but it is important to check out what the height requirements are for the larger water slides to make sure your kids won’t be let down. Of course the kids area, the lazy river and the wave pool do not have height requirements and those in my opinion were the most fun so definitely don’t discount the trip if you have little ones.Â
Another thing to consider is time of year. If you are planning a visit in peak summer months, the crowds are likely to be heavier so plan accordingly. You also need to plan ahead for parking. The parking is a bit challenging because it is downtown Daytona and it can get rather busy. There is a garage directly next to Daytona Lagoon and while it is $15 to park there, you can take your parking ticket into the Daytona Lagoon and go to guest services and get it discounted down to $5. If you do use the garage, make sure you take advantage of this offer to save some money.
Top tips for Visiting Daytona Lagoon:
- Plan for Florida weather and make sure to dress according to that weather. The nice thing about Daytona Lagoon is that you can always go inside and enjoy the fun park or grab some food if it starts raining.
- Research the best deals and offers to save the most money for your visit. I like to compare the main website booking direct to third party sites like Groupon and GETOUTPASS to see which one will save my family the most money before purchasing.
- Let the kids be kids and do some navigating! This may sound so silly if you are a Disney or Universal person or used to large overwhelming water parks. Daytona Lagoon feels much smaller and safer and I think it’s fun to let the kids lead the way.
- Plan a budget for food and parking. The food can be a little pricey, but it always is in water parks. Just plan for that and if it makes sense for your family consider the all you can eat deal.
Looking for other great water parks to visit?
Lindsey has lived in Jacksonville now for over 12 years and is originally from the southeast Georgia area. She is a business and data manager for UF Health Emergency and Trauma services downtown by day, a travel agent, social media influencer, and BLS instructor by night. Lindsey is also the mom of three kids, Lily, Logan, and Ruby. She is married to a very talented musician, Cody who plays locally all around in the Bold City Classics and Blue Muse and with the symphony as well. Lindsey started posting on social media about her trips to Disney and beyond on social media in the last few years as a means to document the joy and help others with planning their trips, balancing traveling and motherhood and finding the true magic in it all. As her presence grew she was invited to become a travel agent specializing in Disney and other theme parks because of her expansive knowledge. You can follow Lindsey on Instagram and tiktok as well as request a free travel quote for your trip @magicmomlife or send her an email at [email protected].
