The as yet un-named new park (rumoured to be called "Aquatica") was originally scheduled to open in the summer of 2007 but this has now been pushed back to March 2008. Construction is expected to start in early 2006.

The park will be located on 58 acres of land, on the east side International Drive, south of Sea Harbor Drive between the existing SeaWorld park and the Williamsburg residential subdivision. It will be about one third the size of the original SeaWorld water theme park and about twice the size of Discovery Cove with visitor numbers expected to be limited to around 7,500 people.

Artists impression of new SeaWorld water park[Courtesy of SeaWorld Orlando]
The plans show five attraction areas and three commercial areas but there is little detail about what they will contain. SeaWorld are expected to make further announcements soon.
Pricing

The is no indication of pricing yet but SeaWorld hope to offer "high level of service without long lines". This makes us assume that it will probably require advanced reservations and will be more expensive than the other water parks but less than the exclusive Discovery Cove.
Though details are sketchy at this time, it is assumed it will be a competitor to the two Disney water parks; i.e. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon and to Universal's Wet 'n' Wild (see sidebar).

The new water park is described by SeaWorld as being "naturalistic" and as well as featuring water slides, lagoons and beaches, will also have attractions that bring the guests into close proximity with dolphins and other marine animals; a "total immersion in the sea".
SeaWorld have also said the park will be unique not only in Orlando, but the whole world. They also plan to offer their guests very short lines for the attractions which suggests numbers will be limited.

One of the signature attractions of the new park is a very special water slide.
As the artists illustration above shows, it consists of a pair of clear acrylic tubes that swimsuit clad guests will slide down through a pool inhabited by black and white Commerson's dolphins.
Though you will not be able to touch the dolphins (like at Discovery Cove) you will get very close to them.

The Commerson's dolphins look a bit like a miniature killer whales and are smaller than the more familiar bottlenose dolphins more usually associated with theme parks. They are very agile and will often jump out of the water.
There are not many Commerson's dolphins in captivity and they will be brought over from SeaWorld in San Diego.