Make a Splash! Your Ultimate Guide to Wild Rivers Waterpark in Irvine!
- Angela Cantoni
- Jul 10
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 8
Looking for the perfect way to beat the Southern California heat and make some unforgettable family memories? Look no further than Wild Rivers Waterpark in Irvine! This aquatic paradise promises a day full of thrills, spills, and endless smiles for everyone.
The Waterpark Wonderland!
After opening its shiny new gates in 2022, Wild Rivers has made waves (literally and figuratively!) as one of SoCal’s most epic family destinations. This isn’t your average neighborhood pool—this place is bursting with energy, color, and non-stop aquatic thrills. From the second you step inside, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a vibrant water wonderland where fun rules and worries wash away.
Just a Splash Away from L.A.!
Guess what? You don’t have to trek halfway across the state for a waterpark adventure. Wild Rivers is perfectly perched in the beautiful Great Park in Irvine, only about 50 minutes from Los Angeles. That’s practically a breeze—and totally doable for a day trip! Before you know it, you’ll be swapping city streets for sunshine, slides, and splashes galore.
The Jaw-Dropping Stats of Wild Rivers
Ready for your mind to be blown? Let’s dive into some splashy numbers:
20+ Slides! Yes, you read that right. Over twenty slides of every shape, size, and thrill level. Want to channel your inner daredevil? There’s a near-vertical drop with your name on it. Prefer a gentle float? Hop on a meandering flume and wave to the kids below.
20 Acres of Fun! We’re talking twenty acres of aquatic adventure. That’s enough space for the kids to run wild, for parents to find peace (hello, lazy river!), and for everyone to discover their own perfect splash zone.
900,000+ Gallons of Water! That’s almost a million gallons of cool, sparkling water swirling through wave pools, slides, splash zones, and rivers. Basically, Wild Rivers is one giant, glorious water party!
Attractions at Wild Rivers
Wild Rivers isn’t just slides and a pool—it’s an epic water adventure with rides for every age and thrill level. Check out some of the coolest attractions waiting for you:
🌊 Aquaconda
Type: Family raft ride
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 42” minimum
Hop in a giant raft with up to six friends and twist through enclosed and open sections before a surprise drop into the splashdown pool. A perfect family ride with just the right bite of excitement!
🔥 Bombay Blasters
Type: Enclosed drop body slide
Thrill Level: Low
Height Requirement: 48” minimum
Zoom through dark tubes before splashing out four feet above an 8-foot-deep pool. Definitely for strong swimmers!
🌀 Bora Bora Boomerango
Type: Family Boomerango raft ride
Thrill Level: High
Height Requirement: 42” minimum
Start slow, then plunge down a steep drop and soar up a massive vertical wall—feeling totally weightless before splashing back down!
🏝️ Castaway River
Type: Endless lazy river
Thrill Level: Low
Height Requirement: None (kids under 40” must wear a life jacket)
Float your cares away for as long as you’d like on this gentle 1/3-mile-long river, past bubbling fountains, bridges, and splash zones.
🌈 Cook’s Cove
Type: Giant interactive play structure
Thrill Level: Low
Height Requirement: 40” minimum for slides
Perfect for kiddos, with 77 fun features including mini slides and water sprays. Parents, get ready for giggles galore!
💦 Fiji Falls
Type: Body and tube slide complex
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 48” minimum
A towering slide complex featuring twisting serpentine slides, a superbowl, and the Master Blaster uphill water coaster for a gravity-defying ride!
🐠 Kontiki Cove
Type: Kids’ play pool and slides
Thrill Level: Low
Height Requirement: 36”-54” for slides
Little ones rule this zone with mini slides and splash zones perfectly scaled for young adventurers.
🚀 Pelican Plunge
Type: Water coaster & rattler combo
Thrill Level: High
Height Requirement: 48” minimum
Dive and swoop like a pelican with high-speed drops, uphill water jets, and a wild rattler section for a rollercoaster feel!
🌊 Pipeline
Type: Enclosed tube slide
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 48” minimum
Twisting tunnels, dazzling translucent sections, and thrilling drops make Pipeline a can’t-miss!
🐍 Samoan Serpent
Type: Open & enclosed tube slide
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 48” minimum
Enjoy colorful lights and quick turns in this snaky ride, mixing open and enclosed sections for double the fun.
🌴 Shaka Bay Wavepool
Type: Wave pool
Thrill Level: Low
Height Requirement: None (life jackets required under 48”)
Kick back in gentle waves or venture into deeper surf for boogie boarding and bodysurfing. Don’t forget to flash the shaka!
🦜 Tahitian Toucan
Type: Open flume drop slide
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 48” minimum
A short but thrilling slide that launches you off a four-foot drop into an 8-foot-deep pool—ideal for daring younger riders!
🐢 Tala & Mano
Type: Enclosed & open body slides
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 42” minimum
Two side-by-side slides—one partially open, one fully enclosed with colorful light effects—perfect for racing your friends!
🔥 Tiki’s Revenge
Type: SuperBowl tube ride
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 48” minimum
Spin around a giant bowl before splashing into the pool—who needs a roller coaster when you’ve got Tiki’s Revenge?
🏁 Tomcat Racers
Type: Whizzard mat racer
Thrill Level: Mild
Height Requirement: 42” minimum
Challenge your crew to a face-first race down twisting enclosed tubes before launching into a six-lane drop. Bragging rights await!
🌪️ Tortuga
Type: AquaSphere & constrictor family raft ride
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 42” minimum
Six-person rafts twist through enclosed spheres, tight turns, and high banks before a splashy finish.
🌊 Typhoon
Type: Family raft & rattler fusion
Thrill Level: Moderate
Height Requirement: 42” minimum
Tighter turns, steeper drops, and a wild “eye of the storm” finale make Typhoon a ride you’ll want to conquer again and again!
The Mermaid Experience
Ever dreamed of flipping your fins and living your best mermaid life? Wild Rivers makes it possible thanks to Mermaid Cove by Once Upon An Island—an enchanting, interactive experience where kids (and grown-ups!) can transform into dazzling merfolk right in the heart of the waterpark. And let me tell you… it’s pure, glittery magic!
Wild Rivers Waterpark: Know Before You Go!
📍 Address:
10000 Great Park Blvd.
Irvine, CA 92618
🎟️ Ticket Prices:
Single-Day Tickets usually range from $49.99 – $74.99 depending on the day and season if you purchase in advance.
Walk-Up Admission Rates:
General Admission: $79.99
Junior Admission (under 48″): $54.99
Senior Admission (age 63+): $19.99
Kids 2 and under enter free (but always double-check the latest park policies!)
Season Passes start around $149.99, perfect for families who want to visit multiple times all summer long.
Parking is generally $25 per vehicle, so keep that in your budget.
Mermaid Experience Prices
VIP Mermaid Transformation – $64.95 (35 min)
VIP Mermaid Swim Experience – $85.00 (45 min)
Mermaid Academy + Express Braid (Weekends Only) – $64.99 (45 min)
Mermaid Academy + Swimmable Mini Braids (Weekends Only) – $79.99 (45 min)
Mermaid Academy + Dutch Braids (Weekends Only) – $99.95 (1 hr)
Mommy & Me: Mini Braids – $74.98 (20 min for two)
Mommy & Me: Double Dutch Braids – $100.00 (35 min for two)
Spots fill up quickly, so plan ahead for this magical splash of mermaid fun!
Mom-Approved Tips for Your Wild Rivers Adventure
Want to make the most of your day? Check out these tried-and-true insider tips:
✅ Arrive Early: Be one of the first in line and score minimal waits for the most popular slides!
✅ Hydrate Like Crazy: Between the sun and the slides, you’ll be thirsty. Bring water bottles and refill often.
✅ Sunscreen is Everything: Slather it on, and don’t forget to reapply. No one wants to leave with a sunburn souvenir!
✅ Rent a Locker: Keep your valuables safe while you go wild on the rides.
✅ Buy Tickets Online: Save money and skip the ticket lines! Prices can be cheaper online than at the gate.
✅ Make a Game Plan: With over 20 slides and tons of attractions, decide your must-dos first so you’re not wandering aimlessly (or dealing with indecisive kiddos!).
✅ Visit Midweek: If your schedule allows, plan your trip on a weekday to enjoy shorter lines and more elbow room.
Ready to Dive In?
So, what are you waiting for? Dust off those swimsuits, grab your beach towels, and pack up the kids for a day you’ll talk about all summer long. Whether you’re chasing thrills, floating your cares away, or watching the little ones giggle in the splash zones, Wild Rivers Waterpark is the ultimate summer adventure.
If you have been to Wild Rivers, drop your favorite slide or best memory in the comments below—We’d love to hear your splash stories! 💦👇
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