Water Parks: Retooling for Evening Operation

Hot nights and cool drinks, mixed with a rockin’ soundtrack and smooth slides under the stars can make a splash at water parks. Extending the operating day past sunset by offering specialty programing can create buzz, drive incremental attendance, and generate new revenue for facilities on summer nights.

“Essentially, we’re picking up extra days,” says Brad Gilmore, park president of Aquatica Orlando. “In this Orlando market, there’s so many day guests visiting the dry parks that can come to AquaGlow, because we’re open from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.”

The Orlando market is home to a half dozen gated water parks. This year, four of the six facilities have evening events on the calendar, each requiring guests to purchase a special event ticket. Here are 10 components to keep in mind—with an emphasis on safety—when planning to get wet and staying up late.

1. Adding Night Lights

Creating a fresh atmosphere with the addition of lighting sets a nighttime operation apart. Now in its sophomore year, AquaGlow at Orlando’s Aquatica bathes slide structures in colorful hues using theatrical uplighting. Pathways are lit by illuminated jellyfish hanging above. Water safety expert Wess Long, president of StarGuard Elite, a company providing water safety training programs and operational support, says water parks need to add additional lighting for an evening event. “Lighting around the pool decks and attractions is critically important,” Long tells Funworld. “Underwater lighting is critical so that there are not any dark areas or shadows.” He advocates for slide tower stairs, guest pathways, and egress areas to be illuminated, reminding operators that “most jurisdictions have definitive lumens requirements for both pools and their immediate decks.”

2. Adding New Amenities

Adding a new attraction or enhancing others can entice guests to invest in a ticket. Aquatica’s Tassie’s Underwater Twist is an enclosed bowl slide that doubles as an immersive theater with sea creatures projected on the walls. During AquaGlow, the media and music are switched to match the energy of the event. “Think of a psychedelic lava lamp-type experience that you’re inside of before dumping out into our lazy river,” Gilmore says. Both AquaGlow and Island Nights at Island H2O Water Park in Kissimmee, Florida, add foam pits. “Foam helps add to the party aspect of the night. People love to dance in foam—more so at night when it’s glowing,” says Dawn Priebe, general manager of at Island H2O. At the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon adds a DJ where guests can dance in the sand with Toy Story characters.

3. Advertising the Splash

Marketing the Island Nights event at Island H2O takes many forms. “As with any marketing campaign, a variety of channels work best to get in front of our specific demographic,” says Trisha Sissons, the park’s sales and marketing manager. “However, we see great results via social. This is due to a combination of factors based on demo, sharing, visual representation of the event.” When Aquatica opened AquaGlow in May, they invited traditional press and local influencers on a Friday night. The after-work party allowed the media to conduct interviews with Gilmore and sample culinary delights, with the request each media outlet make several posts on their social media channels.

4. Admission Plans for All

Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon caters to families with three hours of additional slide time following park close, although guests can arrive two hours early. Meanwhile, Island H2O Water Park decided to go age 21and older after market research showed adults wanted a night out—without kids. “They [adults] wanted to be a kid again by riding slides, lounging in the lazy river, or playing in the wave pool. Hosting a party for 21+ provides a safe space for adults to play again,” Sissons shares. At press time, Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon cost $85 ages 10+ and $42.50 ages 3-9 and includes ice cream novelties, popcorn, and soft drinks. Island Nights at Island H2O Water Park uses dynamic pricing for the event with tickets starting at $35 and climbing to $46. AquaGlow at Aquatica also uses dynamic pricing with tickets starting at $59 and climbing to $73. Volcano Bay Nights at Universal Orlando—a spring event taking place in April and May—cost $99 per person and included parking.

5. Operationally Speaking

Each event operates on select evenings when it makes the most sense for the operator’s business goals. While some parks, like Typhoon Lagoon, will roll seamlessly from daytime into nighttime operation, others will close, sweep the park, and reset. “Island H2O has tried several different methods,” shares Priebe, the park’general manager. “We have found that hosting a full day of fun in the park for our daytime visitors, then fully closing prior to opening back up for night has worked best. This allows us to do a full reset of the water park, plug in the lights, get the DJ queued up, prep those Mar-Glowrita’s [an adult beverage offering] and provide our guests with an exceptional experience created just for them.”

6. Safely Staffing

At the heart of every evening water park event, is the frontline staff needed to procure the fun. “I would strongly suggest additional supervision be provided for nighttime [operations], so there is increased oversight and support,” says Long with StarGuard Elite. Aquatica will recruit lifeguards ahead of the busy summer season. “We really tailor to all of our lifeguards, and we can give them just the right amount of hours,” says Gilmore. “Some people want a part time job, we’ve got that for them. Some people want full time hours, we’ve got that for them.”

At Island H2O, the park is staffed by what Priebe calls “a hybrid operation.”

“We rely on external partners to assist with security, ID check, and traffic flow; while our internal team is scheduled for either day or night to ensure exceptional customer service,” explains Priebe. “Because this is a 21+ event and runs past midnight, we make sure that we have adults working the evening shifts.”

7. Training

An evening operation presents new challenges. “Training lifeguards for nighttime operations must include conducting the actual training during these hours. It’s imperative to recreate the same conditions so the staff are properly prepared,” Long says. Thus, facility owners and operators need to budget labor hours for a dress rehearsal. He recommends lifeguards become familiar with “surveillance differences,” whether it be in a wave pool or at the lazy river. Plus, all training should include a practice execution of the park’s emergency action plan (EAP). Long also recommends operators keep in mind the transitional hours from sunset to dusk, with these times creating their “own unique challenges of glares and lighting that are different than full daylight or complete dark periods.” 

8. Employee Care

For water parks that will retain staffing from a daytime operation, Long recommends facilities give lifeguards a period to decompress. “Staff should absolutely be given a dinner break and the opportunity to refresh and reset prior to the nighttime operation.” He encourages operators to encourage good nutrition for their frontline staff. “Energy boosters—like coffee or other caffeine products—may have a short-term benefit, but sometimes can lead to a crash later,” he explains. Gilmore says managers need to recognize the efforts of their frontline team. “I am incredibly proud of our team: our entertainment team, our operating team, and our culinary team for putting on such an incredible event,” he says.

9. Adding Security

Adding visible and uniformed security is also a wise idea as the sun goes down. This creates an environment of safety and sends the message that shenanigans will not be tolerated. At Island H2O, the park works with both local law enforcement and an outside security vendor. “Nighttime events have their own unique operations that an extra layer of staffing helps,” Priebe explains. “For instance, we have local law enforcement help with road crossing to our parking lot.”

10. Food and Beverage

One word: cupcakes. It’s all about a brightly colored cupcake. Several operators suggest a limited-edition menus must include Instagramable desserts to be shared on social media by guests. “We have cupcakes that go every restaurant unit. And of course, we’ve also amped those up.” Fancy flatbreads, wings smothered in a unique sauce, and special sliders with creative toppings are food items that can be produced in large batches that will satisfy hungry bathers on the go. Aquatica also offers its own specialty brew named AquaGlow Tropical Wheat Ale.