Inside Blastaway Beach, Florida's largest water playground, as it opens with family-friendly fun at Wet n Wild Orlando

This past weekend Wet ‘n Wild Orlando celebrated the grand opening of its newest attraction, Blastaway Beach. The water-soaked play area is said to be Florida’s largest and Wet ‘n Wild’s first new attraction in more than four years.

With a towering 60-foot-tall sandcastle as a centerpiece, Blastaway Beach sprawls across an acre of land and includes 15 slides, two pools, and more than 150 water cannons, soakers, jets, and waterfalls. Though designed for kids to play in, water park goers of all ages can enjoy the new area, getting drenched across its many twists, turns, ups, and downs.

Local elementary school student winners of an art contest were invited to bring their families for the grand opening of Blastaway Beach, which took place on Saturday, June 2, 2012, an hour before the park opened to day guests. The children (and I, armed with a waterproof camera) took full advantage of the early hour in the new area, becoming among the first to slide and dive through the massive water attraction.

Check out the action of Blastaway Beach, including an opening day hula hoop contest, in the video and photos below.

Video: Blastaway Beach grand opening and water-soaked tour at Wet n Wild Orlando

The grand opening of Blastaway Beach is part of Universal Orlando’s ongoing “Year to Be Here,” as Wet ‘n Wild Orlando is owned by Universal Parks and Resorts.

More information about Blastaway Beach and Wet ‘n Wild Orlando can be found at wetnwildorlando.com.