Rapids Water Park

So the kidlet turned eight this past week and to avoid the planning and expense of a birthday party I offered to take him to Rapids Water Park.  It's the least I could do.  I knew as the day got closer I would regret my decision, because I am chronically lazy and hate sun, but once you promise something to your kid, there is no getting out of it.  Unless, of course, you are comfortable being branded as the worst parent in the WORLD who doesn't KEEP THEIR PROMISES.  If I bowed out of this excursion, for sure my son would grow up to be a sociopath and get life in prison for a series of heinous crimes.

We left at a reasonable hour but the wait in West Palm Beach stretched out as we waited for successive generations of the family to show up (four in total!).  My mom and her sisters, who I refer to in my own head as the Fates, all had to go...to just wait in the shade and hold all our stuff for three hours.  Because there is nothing that feels as good to a grandma as being a martyr for the sake of their ingrate children and precious grandchildren.

Well, thank God they did go because they paid.  Weekend admission is $38.95 plus tax.  Regardless of age.  Newborns?  $38.95.  Senior citizens?  $38.95.  That is BOGUS.  We did get a free pass to return within a month but still, this is incredibly overpriced.  The cheapest parking we saw is $10 and you are NOT allowed to bring in outside food and drink.  Eh.

Honestly, though, I had fun.  Despite the whining and waiting in line and walking on red-hot concrete in bare feet, I liked it.  I love water slides.  My second cousin and I left our kids in the kiddie area under the watchful gaze of the Fates and went on all the awesome adult rides we couldn't convince our yellow-bellied spawn to ride.  I did all the shaming techniques I could think of: look, that kid is smaller than you...look, a GIRL is riding it, AND she's smaller than you...but no dice.  Funny, because shaming like this always works on me.  My son is extremely cautious, though...at least I don't have to worry about him climbing onto the roof pretending to be Superman and breaking his arm.

I couldn't recommend this as a cost effective family activity but I'd keep on eye on their website for coupons or discounts-since Six Flags closed down so many years ago, this is the closest water park you'll get-can't wait to plan a weekend Orlando trip someday with Wet 'n Wild and Blizzard Beach.  That would be awesome!