I received complimentary Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston Admission for myself and my family in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
Hello, Fancy Friends!
Do you like water parks? To me, visiting water parks are the best way to cool off in the summer!
As promised, i’m taking to the streets of Houston, TX to find the best ways for you to cool off with your family this summer. This past Sunday, I spent my Mother’s Day with my family cooling off in the extreme Houston temperatures at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston. Sometimes you can’t always hope on a plane, train or bus for a much needed getaway but you still want to feel like you are on vacation. If this is you, then this water park is where you want to be! In an hours drive, I felt like I had been transported to a resort for the day. I was consumed with sand, palm trees and water at every turn. Sounds amazing right!?!
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston is located on Galveston Island. The short drive from Houston is completely worth all that awaits you. With over 30 attractions designed to entertain the whole family, heart-pounding thrills are sure to have your family buzzing for summers to come! The great thing is that I’m sharing my favorite highlights from our visit with you and I even have you covered with information you need to know before you go.
Go Make A Splash This Summer!
Our Experience
Sunday, we packed our picnic and other water park necessities and headed to Schlitterbahn for a day of fun! We arrived about an hour after opening. As a result of us having a reserved cabana, we received designated cabana rental parking conveniently located just a short walk to the gate. We felt like real VIP’s!
My advice, always get to water parks early for the best selection of everything! Surprisingly, the line to get in was super short. We received wristbands for entry and our cabana that had to be worn at all times. After breezing through the line, we headed straight to our cabana to get settled in and what awaited us was priceless.
The Cabana
As first-timers to Schlitterbahn, the reserved cabana added so much value to our experience. I don’t think I would ever want to come back and not rent one! It included a table with four chairs, 2 lounge chairs, a hammock, a locker (lock not included), a bucket of bottled water, a personal server and all the shade and breeze one could hope for in 90 degree weather. We brought games to play at the table but we were having too much fun to actually stop and play them.
I did however, sneak in a moment of me time to lay across the lounge chair and read a few chapters of my book. It was the most peaceful moment ever! The breeze felt amazing, the shade was priceless and the sound of water splashing from the lazy river beside our cabana really added to the resort feel. This entire experience made for a really peaceful Mother’s Day! My advice is to take a minute to just live in the moment. Close your eyes and let the sound of splashing water, tiny giggles, and endless laughter take you away. Trust me, you will want that moment to last forever!
Rent a cabana, you won’t regret it!
We spent our day exploring and getting familiar with the water park. I’m not sure if its because of the size of the park but it didn’t feel over crowded at all. There were plenty of inner tubes available when we needed them and we experienced no bathroom waits which was great. Heated pools, swim up bars and conveniently located gift shops are other attractive amenities that peaked our interest.
My favorite thrill was Torrent River! It is a fast paced lazy river where giant waves are at every turn pushing you along for a thrilling, yet relaxing ride. This river is apart of their Transportainment River System that also connects with Krystal River, a calmer lazy river, as well as a more fast paced one called Whitewater River. I loved that it was something my whole family could experience together. I have much more fun experiencing things like this with my family. It’s an EPIC experience that will give you so much life! I’ve never experienced a lazy river like it.
My Husband’s favorite ride was Massiv Monster Blaster! As the world’s tallest water coaster, he loved every twist, turn, drop and splash. He rode it with our tween and they both came off the ride full of adrenaline from the breathtaking, wild rush.
My Tween’s favorite ride was Dragon Blaster! She loved the speed, dips, twists and dark tunnels! I rode this with her and the dark tunnels were my favorite part, as the thrill of not knowing what was coming next was super exciting.
My son, the 8-year-old non-swimmer favorite thrill was the Cliffhanger! It took a lesson in fearlessness to get him on it but once he became courageous he rode it more than once and declared it his favorite ride. Also, my son is always such a fan of lazy rivers. As always, he drug us back every chance he got. He had just as much fun as my daughter, the 11-year-old swimmer. This further confirms that this place is family approved!
Young children have their own separate thrills with sand, shallow entry beaches, small slides, splash pads, and climbing structures. I was not concerned about our safety at all during our visit as the lifeguard staff was extremely attentive to the safety of the guests in the water at all times.
Why is Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston such a great place for families to cool off in Houston? Because the short drive makes the perfect day trip, they have thrills for entire family, and they provide a ton of ways to save:
- affordable season passes. This way you can go as often as you like!
- free life jackets. Safety first!
- free inner tubes. First come, first serve!
- free parking. You don’t have to drive a longer distance and still pay to park!
- Picnics are welcome! Moms rejoice! You can pack your cooler with whatever your family likes and save a ton of money this way (no glass or alcohol). Trust me, you’re going to need it!
- Plenty of seating and shady areas!
Know Before You Go
Water Park : Obviously, you will get wet!
Parking: FREE!
Lockers: A huge selection of lockers for rent.
Tube rentals: FREE Inner tubes!
Life Jackets: Complimentary life jackets are provided throughout the park!
Picnics: Picnics are welcome!! No glass or alcohol allowed.
Cabanas: Start $195 plus tax depending on when you visit. The included amenities are great! I highly recommend reserving one!
Rain Policy: If it rains the water park will remain open. In the event of severe inclement weather, such as lightning, heavy rain, or high winds, Schlitterbahn attractions may need to close for the safety of the guests. In the event rides do shut down they will reopen as soon as it is safe. Since the water park remains open most rainy days, they do not offer rain checks or refunds.
Caution: You will probably stay all day. It’s just that fun!
Tips
- Get there when the park first opens. This will allow you to beat the crowd, avoid long lines and get first dibs on seating.
- Don’t forget your sunscreen! Although there are plenty of shady areas, the sun is unavoidable. Remember to reapply consistently.
- Wear water shoes. The ground get’s really hot!
- Bring your picnic to save money.
- Have a designated meetup spot for your party in the event you all get separated. They do not page for lost parties.
- Get a cell phone waterproof pouch to wear around your neck. This is the easiest way to carry your money, credit cards and cell phone if needed.
- If you don’t want to carry around money get a water proof “Cashless Wristband”. It can be loaded with whatever amount of money you like to use throughout the park for food, lockers and gift shop purchases.
- Always use the buddy system.
- Ride your favorite rides first. This will help insure that you experience them before you burn out and hopefully you’ll beat the long lines.
- Check the height minimums for the rides before you go so that you and your kids know which rides they will be able to enjoy with out a hassle.
- It’s best to come dressed in your swimwear. However, bring a towel and dry clothing to change into before leaving the park.
Ways To Save On Admission
*Purchase prepaid tickets at participating HEB locations.
*Purchase tickets online rather then at the gate.
*Visit as a group of 15 or more to save on admission prices.
*Purchase season passes so that you can visit all summer long.
*Visit after 3pm during summer water park season for discounted afternoon admission prices.
*Subscribe to their emails to receive the best offers in your inbox.
Click here for additional information on hours of operation, dining options, entertainment, additional FAQs and much more…
I hope you have fun at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston cooling off with your family this summer!
What’s your favorite way to cool off in the summer?
What are you waiting for!?! GO OWN YOUR FANCY!!!
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