Summer Waves Water Park, Jekyll Island

Before we even went to the water park I read reviews to get an understanding of what to expect. It helped A LOT! We started our day by eating a big breakfast at Cracker Barrel so all of our bellies were full so we didn't have to buy food at the park. I'm not big on being ripped off for a little sandwich. You are NOT allowed to bring in outside food or drinks as they check your bags at the gate. And I didn't want to sit outside at the car in the heat to eat with kids either. The sign said no masks (goggles) but we had those in our bookbag and they didn't say anything. Which is good because my kid needed his. His eyes started burning and then got suntan lotion in them so we had to go to the First Aid station for eye drops. Both boys that helped us were very nice. Don't forget to rent a locker. A small is $10 and large is $13. Get a large, for it is still small. We had to cram our bags in it. You will get $5 back if you keep your receipt when turning your key in. SO KEEP YOUR RECEIPT HANDY! They also do give a military discount at the counter. For four family members plus a large locker rental we paid $80. They do check children's heights at the counter. If you have a kid that is under 48" it's really no big deal. They only have 6 slides, and if they are under 48" they are limited to 3 slides. Honestly, my kids were more interested in the wave pool and lazy river. The wave pool is awesome! Your kids will love it. Just stay with your kids cause those waves will push your kids all around. They can be crushed by other kids on tubes. Take a shirt for your kids. I took note from reviews from this and I'm glad I did. The tube rubbed my sons back and needed his rash guard shirt. Take goggles for this too. Your kids will be constantly rubbing water out of their eyes. Your small child will get pushed under the water a lot. The lazy river is also very nice. Using a tube is optional. My son and I didn't use a tube which was fun cause the water just pushes you down. Also, float jams happen. It is a narrow lane but it's okay. Not really a big deal. The water does have junk floating around in it. Just ignore it. I don't know why, but they have mulch around the park which is stupid. WEAR YOUR FLIPFLOPS! I also took note of this. The cement gets hot and I would see people running into the grass. You are allowed to take your flip flops off at rides. If you're going down a slide you can hold your flip-flops. They do have a Larry's Subs to eat at and a Dippin Dots. I saw one other place, but not much. Not sure of pricing. Probably pricey. The park is not that big but it's enough for all day entertainment. We were there for 6 hrs and were beat after that. We stayed in the lazy river for a long time and hit up the wave pool several times. If you have small children (0-3) they have a kiddie park. Very shallow water and a small slide. Good enough for the little ones. After the park we changed and went to eat at FINNS on the beach. VERY GOOD! Then went for a walk on the beach to wind down. My youngest passed out for the hour ride home. Well worth spending the whole day! Enjoy!

Summer Waves is the perfect place to bring kids for about half a day of fun. This makes it really easy for those who are coming from out of town or who have other agenda items that day. My thoughts and suggestions about the trip: Attractions -- Top attractions for the two preteens I brought were the wave pool, the bucket, and the black slide (name?). These were thrilling enough for the many older kids and teens that were there (and adults too). There are not really that many attractions at this park, hence the half-day, but the lines were short enough to where you could easily do most of them multiple times. The lazy river was really kind of narrow, making for traffic jams. That bucket that dumps water on you every 30 secs or so was awesome!! Food -- limited but good. There is a Larry's Giant Subs on site, and an ice cream stand we didn't really look at. Also dippin dots. Larry's will give you cash back which is nice. Price -- Personally I thought it was a little pricey for the size of the park. Recommendations -- Other reviewers urging footwear are correct. It's OK in the morning but by afternoon that concrete is sizzling hot. They make you hold the shoes while riding but it's worth the minor hassle. I would also recommend surf shirts/rashguards and boardshorts because suits tend to not stay put on some of the faster/rougher attractions. :)

Summer Waves is awesome. yes a bit pricey...but once that big bucke t dumps water on you ...its worth it. There is something for everyone here. 2 areas for the little ones including thier own little slides, the wave pool. lazy river, and then the big thrill slides..some that even use rafts so your little ones can go down them with you. Will definantly be back and might even buy season passes...we had a great time and refreshing way to cool off on a hot summer day. PS: Wear flips flops or water shoes...

This was our first time here. We had a great time on all the rides. It was just what we needed so we wouldn't have to go to the beach and deal with sand in everything. Here are my recommendations and comments: Wear swim shoes....that concrete IS HOT on the bare feet. This place is expensive. The daily ticket cost are insane (i think you can get into DisneyWorld cheaper), the food is of course ridiculous and prepare to shell out a lot for locker rentals. You can't bring outside food or drink in. They do have picnic tables outside the park, but forget about smuggling in some chips or something....as they check bags. I found that part outragous! The staff was pretty bland and much like your typical teenage/college age kids are....but overall my kids (9 &4) had a great time and that's what mattered! we'll be back next year....it will take us that long to pay off this time! ha!

We've been going to Summer Waves every year for five years as part of our annual Jekyll Island trip. It isn't huge, but it has something for all three of our sons (14, 9 and 4) which is saying something. I'm reading the negative reviews and wondering what absolute fantasy world these people come from where everything is absolutely perfect all the time. Yes, bathrooms in a large public place sometimes smell, and Summer Waves is no exception, but the pools, rides and pathways have always been very clean, the staff as attentive as they should be and I have never run into an occasion of the innertubes being in short supply. I injured myself one year, slipping and scraping my knee pretty badly, and the manager gave us five free passes so that we could come back the following year. As for the weather, it is much like Florida in that you cannot tell when it is going to blow over in an hour or hang out all evening, so I suggest getting a two day pass (25$) and if you can use both days, great! If not, if its raining all day one day, chances are it will be alright the next. 25$ is what you pay at most theme parks for passes, afterall. In the past, they have also had an evening pass, I think after 3pm, for 10$ a person. If they're still running that deal, its a great one. Play at the beach in the morning, take a break for lunch, have a nap, and then hit the park for less than half the price. Just keep an eye on the weather and see if that day is going to turn into a Florida-like afternoon shower or stay nice for the evening. Would I drive two hours out of my way to go there? Probably not anymore than I would go to another city to take my kid to an art museum or park that they liked. This is something you would do because it fit into your plans.

Summer Waves is the best place to take your family. Whether on vacation or local, it is a great deal! The staff is phenomenal! Season passes are a super deal, and the 2 days for $25 is a great deal for travelers. The rides are so much fun that they keep my children entertained and happy every day. The staff even has events and games to keep interact with them. The lifeguards are there to keep your children safe, not to babysit so don't expect to drop them off unsupervised. This is for family entertainment. I definitely recommend it.

I have lived in this area for 11 years and I just realized how awful this place is,we used to get season passes but they raised the price so high it was better to get tickets somewhere there is more value for my familes dollar.They didn't have enough inner tubes for most of the rides,especially the lazy river and Pirate's Passage.We went to complain and the manager was a condescending,rude woman who seemed to not care.We asked if we could get our money back as we had only been there for 20 minutes but of course that was a no,she said she would make sure they took care of the tube problem which never was taken care of.The bathrooms smelled so bad they may as well have been port a potties at a construction site with drunk worker's that can't pee straight.We wasted a whole day and over 100$ for a family of 5 with nothing else to do but stay and try to have fun despite horrible conditions.Never going back,we will drive out of town instead.

I love SUMMER WAVES its a hot spot to just chill and get wet.We can't wait to go back.

i loved going there summer wavesi have went 4 years in a row and i have never had any problems..if there is something in the pool at any time notify one of the lifeguards walking around that area. besides you cant keep children from messing things up.if you smell and odor then you should noify one of the employees at that time too..and all of my experiences there i never was disrespected not in any kind of way who ever was disespected must have done something wrong because obvioulsy those people dont have to be there waisting there time about people that have such bad judging issues and another thing if you have never been to this place why would you let some one change your mind go find out yourself and trust me you will have a great time...and of course yeah it is little but you can still enjoy yourself..the comment about the wave pool yeah they are gonna have to close it down if something is wrong duhh thats the only way things can get fixed...the comment about the lazy river duhhhh can you read the name''LAZY RIVER'' people get in it to just float around thats what it is there for..summer waves is it great place to go with your kids especially if you have a 3-6 the are going to love the adventure and the hacve food courts its just an amazing place to have an amazing time and they also have a section so you can get a life jacket just in case you wana be safe.... well thats all i have to say about this situation and hopefully next time some of you people will think about what you are saying before you say it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks have a wonderful summer go to summer waves TRUST ME you will not regret it not at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i stay on jekyll every year and every year we go to summer waves it is awesome for my whole family ages 10- 31 it is clean it is nice the rides are great yes it is smaller than white waters or florida amusement parks but it is on an island and i have never waited in line more than two or three minutes and we always stay all day it is a must go if you stay on jekyll which is another awesome place for family vacation!