When families visit a water park, they want more than just thrills; they want a day where every member, from toddlers to grandparents, has something to enjoy. The best water parks deliver on this by designing experiences for all ages, keeping guests entertained from their first visit through their teenage years.
For years, there was a gap in quality attractions for younger guests. Parks had high-thrill rides and relaxing pools, but few standout rides for kids. That’s changing.
At the heart of this shift is what we call a graduated ride experience: an intentional design philosophy where attractions build in intensity and scale, helping young riders grow in confidence as they move through the park.
It starts with RideHOUSE, a multi-level play structure built around interaction and exploration. It combines kid-friendly body slides with sprayers, tipping buckets, and water curtains all designed in a compact footprint that’s easy to supervise.
Then come KIDZ rides, scaled-down versions of iconic attractions like TornadoWAVE and RallyRACER. With smooth transitions and shallow landings, they’re perfect for independent play, while keeping things safe and visible.
For kids ready for more, the KIDZ Adventure Tower (KAT Tower) offers bigger thrills in a size that’s still accessible. It blends advanced KIDZ rides with smaller versions of ProSlide’s signature thrills, providing a natural bridge to full-scale attractions.
This thoughtful, layered approach gives parks something for every stage of childhood: from parent-assisted rides to solo slides to exciting bridges into teen-level thrills. It’s a design that grows with guests, ensuring every visit offers something new to discover.
A great example of this approach is Water World in Lloret de Mar. In 2024, they introduced the KIDZ Double TornadoWAVE, offering younger guests their own version of a signature ProSlide ride. This year, to celebrate their 40th anniversary, they added Europe’s first Double TornadoWAVE 60, the full-size thrill version of the same ride. It’s a perfect example of how graduated attractions can create memorable family experiences that keep guests returning year after year.
If you’re attending IAAPA Expo Europe in Barcelona this September, you can learn more about the graduated ride experience and how to build better family experiences at your park. Visit us at booth 2-1247, September 23-25. You can even book a meeting in advance to schedule time with our team.
And if you’re arriving early, don’t miss Water Park Day at Water World Lloret on September 22. It’s a rare opportunity to experience the park firsthand and hear directly from operators. During the day, Aaron Wilson, the Vice President of business development in Europe, will be part of the session “Children: The Forgotten Demographic” alongside our client Joan from Water World. We’ll explore how parks can better serve their largest guest group by offering rides that grow with kids and keep families engaged.
