July 2023 my husband and I went to a wedding in Destin Florida. The hotel we stayed at was walking distance to the Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park. We did not do the mini golf course side. We did go to the water park side; I do not know what the temperature was but it was very, very HOT so a water park sounded like a great thing to do. Right?
We wore our water shoes and walked to the water park. There were a few rides they said our water shoes were the wrong kind, so they made us remove them. Our water shoes were stored in a little cubby. After the ride we had to walk back up, passing the people who were standing in line to retrieve our shoes.
We were unsure what rides would allow our water shoes so we put them into a locker. One of the rides we waited in the line about 30 minutes to get to the top. The decking was not wood but looked like some kind of plastic made to look like wood. Everyone who was barefoot in line said it was burning their feet too. There was no shade to stand in that part of the line going up. Both my husband and myself burned the bottom of our feet so bad we had blisters on them. The rest of the trip I had to skip wearing sandals to wearing sneakers with socks.
The Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park was a very fun park! However, I will not go to another outdoor water park in full sun without aqua socks.
This mishap was detrimental to me, so for your FYI below are website rule quotes from various outdoor water parks, Check Water Park Rules Before you go:
- Footwear other than aqua socks are not allowed in any attraction.
- Aqua socks are not permitted on body slides.
Big Kahuna’s does not allow bathing attire with: belts, buckles, rivets, grommets, metal of any kind, tongs or cut off jean shorts.
I do not see anything in there about “water shoes”.
- All patrons must wear appropriate swim attire while in the water. Clothing such as cut-off shorts, gym shorts, and underwear are not permitted as swim wear. No metal buttons or zippers on bathing suits.
That’s all nothing about water shoes there…
Great Outdoors Waterpark in Lafayette, CO under Rules & Regulation
- Swim attire with metal or hard plastic ornamentation will not be permitted on our slides, as it can damage the interior ride path.
I could not find anything about wearing water shoes…
Oasis Family Aquatic Park in Brighton, Colorado under waterslide rules
- Dress for Safety. No loose/oversized/baggy clothing or accessories which are not thoroughly secured to your person, or any carried items, on any ride or attraction which may pose a hazard. Prohibited items may include, without limitation (depending on the specific ride), any form of headwear, scarves, long belts, fringed materials, high heels, loose footwear, wigs, purses, backpacks, or any dangling fabric. If you choose to wear unstable, loose or ill-fitting shoes to the Park (e.g., high heels, flip-flops, clogs, loose sandals or Crocs or slip-ons, etc.), realize that you are creating a hazard for yourself in a crowded park, and you may not be able to partake in certain attractions. We urge you to wear secure, comfortable footwear.
Noah’s Ark Water Park, boast the largest waterpark in the USA under Safety 1st
On that same page under, Dress code – No inappropriate clothing or nudity:
- For safety reasons and to prevent property damage of rides and attractions, the Park prohibits cut-off jeans, denim shorts, clothing/swimwear with metal rivets or spikes, metal fasteners or buckles, or belts. Shoes of any kind are not allowed on any water slide or tube rides.
- Swim wear with exposed zippers, buckles, denim fabric, rivets or metal ornamentation is not permitted.
I could not find anything about wearing water shoes…
Silverwood theme park Boulder Beach Athol, ID under Dress Code for Boulder Beach Water Park
Now that I see all these rules, my water shoes were Merrells and had a plastic buckle on the side, this is probably the reason they would not allow me to wear them. I am going to look for a water shoe that will work well with my planar fasciitis so I can walk more hours on the concrete at the water park.
Stay tuned, I will be reviewing shoes that help me last long at the water park in spite of my planar fasciitis.
