Tidal Cove
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Tidal Cove offers a visually appealing and convenient water park experience, especially for those traveling into the city. It boasts a wide variety of water slides and attractions catering to different age groups, including a relaxing lazy river and an adventurous surfing ride. The on-site poolside grill provides better-than-average food with large portions and quick service.
Key Highlights
- ✓Abundant and visible lifeguards ensure safety, which is highly appreciated by parents with young kids.
- ✓A wide variety of water slides and attractions, including a lazy river and a surfing ride, suitable for families.
- ✓Friendly, attentive, and helpful staff members, with specific mentions for Patty (bar) and Gordana (server) for outstanding service.
- ✓Lines for attractions move quickly, reducing wait times.
- ✓On-site food is described as delicious, better than average for a poolside grill, with large portions and quick service (burger and shrimp cocktail specifically recommended).
- ✓The lazy river provides a very relaxing experience.
Standout Features
- ⭐Variety of water slides (tubing, adventure, etc.) and attractions.
- ⭐Relaxing lazy river (when operational).
- ⭐Surfing ride for more adventurous guests.
- ⭐High staff presence, especially lifeguards, ensuring a safe environment.
- ⭐Quick-moving lines for attractions.
- ⭐Poolside grill with quick service and good quality food (burger and shrimp cocktail recommended).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Arrive early, especially on hot days, to secure chairs and avoid the peak crowds.
- →Be prepared for potential closures or operational issues with facilities like the lazy river, hot tub, or main pool temperature.
- →Manage expectations for children under 40" as they will not be able to ride all slides in the kids cove.
- →Budget generously, as overall costs (day pass, food, parking) are comparable to an Orlando theme park.
- →Do not bring outside food, as it is not permitted.
- →Consider trying the burger and shrimp cocktail at the poolside grill for a potentially satisfying meal.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Inconsistent operational status of key facilities: the lazy river was broken 4 out of 5 days, the hot tub was broken one day, and the main pool was too cold to swim in on another day, especially in chillier outdoor temperatures.
- ⚠Height restrictions in the kids cove prevent children under 40" from riding half of the slides, leading to upset kids. The main slides have a 42" minimum height requirement.
- ⚠Significant overcrowding on hot days by both resort guests and locals makes it nearly impossible to find a chair unless you arrive very early. Chair hogging is prevalent and unenforced, despite a 45-minute limit sign.
- ⚠High overall costs including a steep day pass price, expensive food and drinks, and an additional $45 per day for parking.
- ⚠Food quality is described as overpriced fast food by some, despite others finding it better than average.
- ⚠Outside food is not permitted, forcing reliance on expensive on-site options.
Price & Value
Tickets/day passes are considered pricey or steep. Food is expensive, with some reviewers finding it overpriced for its fast-food quality, while others acknowledge its better-than-average quality. A significant additional cost is parking at $45 per day. Overall, visitors should 'be prepared to spend like you’re going to an Orlando theme park'.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations for special needs mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No outside food allowed.
- •Food and beverages must be purchased from on-site vendors (e.g., poolside grill, bar).
🚗Parking Info
- •Paid parking is required and not included in the day pass.
- •Parking costs an additional $45 per day.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Can be very crowded/mobbed on hot days, attracting both resort guests and locals.
- •Arriving early is essential to secure chairs before they are taken and held for the day.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Lifeguards are described as 'everywhere', indicating a strong focus on safety, particularly appreciated by parents with young children.
- •Staff are generally friendly and attentive, contributing to a safe environment.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Hot days, due to significant overcrowding and difficulty finding seating.
- • If you are on a strict budget, as costs for entry, food, and parking are very high.
- • If your children are under 40" and prone to disappointment over ride restrictions.
- • If your main interest is specific facilities like the lazy river or hot tub, as they have been reported to be frequently non-operational.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Splash & Snack Pass
Adults: $84++, Children (3-12): $62++Duration: Daily, 11 AM - 5 PM
Eat & drink all day long for one great deal. Passes are redeemable every 90 minutes for one food item plus one fountain drink or gelato scoop.
Includes:
- •One food item (every 90 minutes)
- •One fountain drink OR gelato scoop (every 90 minutes)
FlowRider Cabana Rental
$350-$1,000Duration: Daily
Luxurious 10x10 cabana rental near the FlowRider. Excludes waterpark admission.
Includes:
- •10x10 cabana with privacy curtains
- •Ceiling fan
- •Flat-screen TV
- •Mini-fridge (Fruit platter, 4 bottles of water, 6 cans of assorted sodas)
- •Sectional lounge, chair, and table
- •Two designated lounge chairs
- •Personal safe
- •Personalized food & beverage service
Kids Cove Cabana Rental
$450-$1,000Duration: Daily
Luxurious 10x10 cabana rental near Kids Cove. Excludes waterpark admission.
Includes:
- •10x10 cabana with privacy curtains
- •Ceiling fan
- •Flat-screen TV
- •Mini-fridge (Fruit platter, 4 bottles of water, 6 cans of assorted sodas)
- •Sectional lounge, chair, and table
- •Two designated lounge chairs
- •Personal safe
- •Personalized food & beverage service
Lazy River Cabana Rental
$450-$1,200Duration: Daily
Luxurious 10x10 cabana rental near the Lazy River. Excludes waterpark admission.
Includes:
- •10x10 cabana with privacy curtains
- •Ceiling fan
- •Flat-screen TV
- •Mini-fridge (Fruit platter, 4 bottles of water, 6 cans of assorted sodas)
- •Sectional lounge, chair, and table
- •Two designated lounge chairs
- •Personal safe
- •Personalized food & beverage service
Luxury Oasis Cabana Rental
$500-$1,800Duration: Daily
Luxurious 10x10 cabana rental in the Luxury section. Excludes waterpark admission.
Includes:
- •10x10 cabana with privacy curtains
- •Ceiling fan
- •Flat-screen TV
- •Mini-fridge (Fruit platter, 4 bottles of water, 6 cans of assorted sodas)
- •Sectional lounge, chair, and table
- •Two designated lounge chairs
- •Personal safe
- •Personalized food & beverage service
Palm Breeze Cabana Rental
$350-$1,000Duration: Daily
Luxurious 10x10 cabana rental in the Palm Breeze section. Excludes waterpark admission.
Includes:
- •10x10 cabana with privacy curtains
- •Ceiling fan
- •Flat-screen TV
- •Mini-fridge (Fruit platter, 4 bottles of water, 6 cans of assorted sodas)
- •Sectional lounge, chair, and table
- •Two designated lounge chairs
- •Personal safe
- •Personalized food & beverage service
Party Package
Varies (minimum $400 F&B spend)Duration: Full day
Packages for birthday parties, bachelorettes, and group gatherings. Includes discounts on cabanas and tickets.
Includes:
- •One cabana rental (10% discount per cabana)
- •Discounted tickets (up to 15 guests per cabana)
- •$400 food and beverage minimum spend
- •15% discount on bottle service
- •Sectional lounge
- •Chair and table
- •Two designated lounge chairs
- •Flat-screen TV
- •Personal safe
- •Mini-fridge stocked with water and soda
- •Fruit platter
- •Personalized cabana service
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Private Parties & Group Outings
Available upon request
Varies, includes discounted cabana rental (10% off), discounted tickets (for up to 15 guests per cabana), $400 food & beverage minimum, 15% off bottle service.
Tidal Cove is a venue for outdoor reunions, birthday parties, business outings, and bachelorettes. Contact the Lifestyle Sales Team for arrangements.
🍎Food Policy
- • Outside coolers, food, or drink are not permitted into Tidal Cove.
- • All other outside food & beverage is strictly prohibited (for parties and general entry).
- • Externally sourced celebratory cakes are permitted for parties on the day of the event; no storage services provided.
- • Take-out prohibited for Splash & Snack Pass purchases.
- • Splash & Snack Pass is not valid on bottled drinks, kosher offerings, alcoholic drinks, or at Surf House, Poolside Orders, or Gift Shop.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Height & weight restrictions apply to select attractions and vary. Guests should check individual attraction rules.
- • Pregnant women and persons with heart conditions or back trouble should not ride most slides.
- • Service animals are permitted, but must remain under handler control and are not allowed in pools or on slide attractions.
- • Emotional Support Animals are not permitted.
- • No pool toys or personal floaties allowed. Tidal Cove provides approved flotation devices.
- • Life jackets are available at Kids' Cove and by the waterslides.
- • All water safety employees are trained in CPR and first aid. A first aid station is manned by an EMT daily.
- • Tidal Cove is a smoke-free facility (includes cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, vaporizing devices).
- • All bags are searched prior to entry.
- • No drone flying or professional photography via drone is permitted without pre-approval from marketingPR@fbdev.com (except for specific events).
- • Dress Code: Appropriate, conservative, lined swimwear only (no transparency, revealing swimwear, thongs/t-backs). Cutoff jeans, denim, hard metal objects, t-shirts, or shoes are not permitted on body contact slides.
- • Footwear is recommended on walkways but not allowed on water slides.
- • Lounge Chair Policy: 45-minute return policy; items will be collected if chairs are left unattended longer.
- • A liability waiver must be signed on-site by all guests prior to entering the water park.
📅Booking Policy
- • Resort Day Memberships (tickets) can be purchased online or at the pool concierge.
- • Cabana rentals require advance online reservation or day-of purchase at pool concierge (based on availability).
- • Cabana rentals are popular and sell out quickly, especially on weekends.
- • Group rates are valid for 20 or more guests and must be paid in one transaction.
- • For party packages, a deposit is required at booking, based on cabana rental and resort day membership costs.
🚗Parking Information
- • Self-parking: $36 daily (paid on-site by cash or credit).
- • Valet day parking: $45.
- • Party package parking: $32 per vehicle (paid on-site by cash or credit).
What People Say
What's Great
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 7 reviews)
- Safe environment for children (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Pricing can be high (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Mark Friedman
3 months agoThis place is really great...in theory. In practice it has some significant shortcomings. The kids cove is all ages but doesn't allow for kids under 40" to ride half the slides. It makes for some upset kids. It's even stranger when you consider the ride height minimum is 42" for the main slides. The lifeguards are everywhere which means safety is a priority and that is appreciated when you have young kids playing here. The different facilities over the course of five days were broken. 4 of 5 days it was the lazy river. One day it was the hot tub. One day the main pool was way too cold to swim in and basically it made it so my kids didn't want to be there in the chillier outside temps. The wait staff is good and the food comes out quickly. The food is large portions and better than average for a poolside grill but expensive (to be expected). On the hot days the place is mobbed by both resort guests and locals. If you don't get there early you can't get a chair and people just plop their stuff down on them and leave it for the day. There's a sign about a 45 minute time limit to be away from the chairs but who's enforcing that? Nobody. Overall it's a really pretty and cool facility but there's a lot of room for improvement in the operations.
Julia Chernyga
a month agoWater Park and Bar! 🌊 The variety of water slides and attractions catered to all ages, making it perfect for families. The lazy river was incredibly relaxing. The staff were friendly and attentive, ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment. The bar offered a fantastic selection of refreshing drinks, and the food was delicious( burger and shrimp cocktail is a must) Overall, Tidal Cove is a must-visit for anyone looking to have a great day filled with fun and relaxation. Can't wait to go back! Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you are at the bar, ask for Patty she is great, also our server Gordana was outstanding. One of the best Sundays🤍
Michelle Ruiz
2 weeks agoSo much fun!! I feel like the tickets are a little pricey, but then again. It is a very convenient water park for those traveling into the city 🔥 I highly recommend 😍
Elie Wolfson
2 weeks agoGreat place to relax in the sun or run around to the tubing and slides. More adventure on the surfing ride, and easy does it on the lazy river
Kat B.
9 months agoThe park is a good destination for kids, offering a wide range of attractions including rides, pools, a water park, and a lazy river. The lines move quickly, and the staff is friendly and very helpful. However, the price for the day pass feels a bit steep, especially considering that you cannot bring in your own food and parking is not included. Parking alone costs an additional $45 per day, which adds to the expense. The food inside the park is overpriced for its fast food quality. Despite these costs, I would recommend this park as a local attraction for kids this summer—just be prepared to spend like you’re going to an Orlando theme park.