In water parks, big, tall, and fast thrill rides often dominate the headlines. But did you know there is a quiet workhorse that is helping to generate more revenue than anything else on site? That’s the power of a great kids’ area. 

Operators of water parks and resorts are increasingly realizing that families with young children are an underserved market. After all, this is an audience that is always on the lookout for a place where the adults can more or less relax, their children can play safely, and everyone can have fun, not just for an hour, but for the whole day. In fact, the better the play, the longer the stay, leading to more spending on food and beverage, high-margin cabanas, side attractions such as arcades, or related merchandise. 

For hotels and resorts, adding water park amenities, such as slides and aquatic play zones, result in higher revenue per available room (RevPAR)—for example, in North America, between 29.1% and 111.3% higher compared to the average of all hotels in the region, according to “Global Analysis of the Impact of Water Park Equipment on Hotels and Resorts 2024” by Hotel and Leisure Advisors. Not only that, multi-generational travel is on the rise: over 50% of parents in the US say they are planning to travel with both grandparents and children in a survey by Family Travel Association. 

Gone are the days of parents and grandparents sitting around the edges of a warm toddler pool watching kids fight over a few spray features. To entice families to stay longer, parks are building beautiful kids’ areas with wondrous theming, mini versions of adult thrill rides, and interactive play features for hours of exploration—for all generations.  

Let’s take a look at some recent examples of well-designed kids’ areas that have become an instant hit with guests. 

Bringing the Little Ones to Little Bavaria at Bavarian Inn 

To enhance its offerings as a year-round family vacation destination, Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, Michigan, opened Bavarian Blast water park this year, which included a dedicated area for small children. Through advanced fiberglass veiling technology, two of its five gentle slides are themed like they came straight out of a German storybook: one with butterflies and another with a goldfish sporting an Alpine hat. Together with a tower topped by a cuckoo clock dumping water on excited children below, this kids’ area makes for a memorable backdrop for those precious childhood photos.

Mini Versions of Signature Rides at Regnum Carya  

To stand out in a competitive hotel market, Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort in Antalya, Türkiye opened Aqualantis, a 20,000-square-meter water park befitting of its five-star status. Its 15 water slides, AquaPlay 1750 multi-level aquatic play structure, and a wave pool are attracting families and keeping them on the property longer. A thoughtful detail in this park is the pairing of miniature versions of heart-pounding adult rides.  

While older kids and adults get to enjoy the iconic Boomerango with its zero-G wall and the Tailspin + Rattler Fusion for high-banking turns and oscillations, the little ones will not have to miss out on the fun. They will be building confidence with Mini Boomerango, Mini Tailspin, and Mini Rattler. This pairing of mini and adult version rides encourages families to come back year after year, as they look forward to their children growing into the “big kid” rides.

Modernizing a Kids’ Area: Kings Island’s Soak City 

To maintain its reputation as a beloved family attraction in Ohio, Kings Island’s Soak City is constantly upgrading its offerings. To kick off the 2025 season with a bang, the park used a two-prong strategy: in addition to opening the high-thrill “RiverRacers” Blaster Battle water coaster, it also revamped one of its older kids’ areas as the new “Splash River Junction.”  

This area has seven gentle slides, a lagoon with a water tower, and plenty of loungers to serve as a relaxing base for parents with young children. By using RiverRacers to generate headlines for Soak City this season, Splash River Junction was able to piggyback on the buzz and attract young families to spend the day at the park. 

Peace of Mind Across Generations 

Providing peace of mind for kids’ areas is Life Floor, a foam-rubber aquatic flooring system that reduces slips and falls and prevents burns to the feet on a hot day. Ideal for multi-generational play, Life Floor is a safety feature not only for energetic small children but also for their grandparents. 

Time to Upgrade Your Offerings 

Well-designed kids’ areas are more than a nice-to-have; they’re revenue drivers, guest magnets, and loyalty builders. Parks and resorts that invest in safe, themed, and interactive spaces keep families on site longer, resulting in higher spend. To explore different attractions for kids, visit whitewaterwest.com/kids-slides and whitewaterwest.com/play.