Make a Splash with the Family!

Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe, found in Greensboro, NC, is a destination like no other! I grew up going to amusement parks as a kid. My favorite part was always the waterpark area. Over the years, more theme parks have added a water element, because let's face it—summers are hot! Kids are generally tough. They are willing to wait in lines for a ride longer than my attention span can normally handle. Yet even as a kid, I would always beg my friends to go on the water rides, or better yet, the water slides. When I was introduced to Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe as an adult, it was a, "Where have you been my whole life?" moment. A single park with water attractions only? Yes, please! 

Should I Bring My Baby?

Absolutely! This is one of the most baby and toddler-friendly parks I have ever seen. I have taken babies to other theme parks and found myself sitting in the hot sun for hours, regretting that I ever came. Here, you can rent a cabana for an affordable price and you will want to come back year after year. The cabana rentals make your time at the park relaxing, comfortable, and easy. All of the work is done for you. Think all-inclusive resort, for a fraction of the cost. When you rent a cabana you have guaranteed access to a shaded pavilion dedicated to your party alone. We stayed in an Ocean View rental complete with six chairs around a table, four lounge chairs in the sun, a safe for your valuables, a stocked refrigerator complete with cold water, and the best part—an overhead fan. The cabana has tableside service where can order snacks, meals, and even drinks delivered right to your table. All of the cabanas were full in the area where we were, and they are only accessible by wristband. What I noticed was that most of the cabanas were rented out by families with babies. This is the perfect option for families with little ones. It is always reassuring to know that you have all of your belongings in one spot and the safe is a huge bonus. I did not have a baby this time, but I have brought younger children in the past and the cabanas are perfect for babies. 

If the cabanas are full or you do not have a big enough of a group to consider renting one, you will find a locker rental pavilion with lockers available to rent. These are conveniently located next to the dressing rooms with showers. 

What If a Parent Doesn't Want to Slide?

I told my kids that I would take them to the waterpark under one condition: that they would entertain me by joining me on the Lazy River—just once. Of course, this request was received with groans and complaints but they actually ended up loving the "boring adult ride." Plus, with over 40 attractions at this location they had plenty of choose from when it was their turn to choose. I was surprised that they enjoyed the pools just as much as the slides. We spent the time equally divided between the two type of attractions. I enjoyed the slides and we had a great time bonding. The lines were not too long since we went in the middle of the week. By the time we were done going on the slide, we could often use the same tube and go right back up. Later in the day we would have to wait for a few minutes but never did we have to wait in line at the bottom of the attraction, only on the stairs going on up. That made the day the most enjoyable, the short lines! It also helped that the staff was efficient, moving everyone along, making sure the experience was pleasant for all guests.  

I did seem to tire out more quickly than my kids though. I appreciated how you would find seating, sometimes bleacher-style seating, at the bottom of the slides. This was perfect for parents to wait for their kids to come down the attraction. My kids are too young to wander the park alone, but old enough to wait in line and ride the slides without me holding their hand. It is the perfect set up. When I was tired I could simply keep an eye on them from the seating at the bottom. 

 

Is a Waterpark Safe?

When we first arrived, my kids wanted to go jump off the pirate ship. Though it looks like a kiddie pool, it is not. Make sure you have your child wear a life jacket if he is not a strong swimmer. I love that by each of the pool areas they provide you with life jackets. Your child is welcome to wear one around the park but it is so much easier to just use the ones at each of the attractions when you get there. There are plenty to go around. Some of the slides and rides do not allow life jackets which could make things cumbersome trying to haul them around and store them somewhere.

Lifeguards are everywhere, watching everyone. Though parents are responsible for their children, it is comforting to know that the lifeguards are there to watch out for the safety of the guests, and there are plenty of them. 

The biggest concern, in my opinion, is having ample adults in your party to keep an eye on your kids. When you plan your trip, know ahead of time who is going to stick with who  or who is willing to trade off keeping an eye on which child. The most stressful part as a parent is having your child run off and not knowing where they are. This place is huge so having a plan and rules in place with your kids before they attempt any attractions can help the day go smoothly. Having a central location to meet is also key, which is why I love having a cabana. This helps with older teens that would be going out on their own. It also helps that they announce the time at the top of the hour to help keep everyone informed. Carrying your phones around is possible with a waterproof case but not practical for every attraction. 

So much is provided in your price of admission that it seems impossible to get though it all in one day. We got there shortly after it opened in the morning and stayed until closing and we still did not get everything in that we wanted. At least not as many time as we wanted! The dreaded Lazy River ended up being a huge hit with my youngest and he was bummed that we only had time to do it once. I highly recommend visiting this location as a destination. Make a weekend out of it, or several days. There is so much variety and it is extremely family friendly. Not only are there several splash areas for little ones but you will find play areas for different swim abilities or preferences. All of these areas have plenty of seating for parents or grandparents and most have shade. Of course if you want to work on your tan, you will find plenty of lounge chairs to use on a sunny day!

How Do I Plan My Trip?

Be sure to visit the promotions tab on the Wet 'N Wild site. I have noticed that these are always changing so be sure to check before you go. It is also important to note that it is cheaper to purchase your ticket online rather than buying it at the gate, although you can choose to do either. Note that you will have to pay for parking unless you purchase a season pass that includes parking. If you want to secure a cabana, do so before you go if you can. They fill up quickly. 

If you are planning to go on a weekend and don't like the thought of waiting in lines, consider the H2O to Go pass. This gives you VIP access to the attractions without the dreaded lines. If you are going mid-week, I suggest going early in the day to avoid the long lines. 

You still have plenty of summer left. The park is open the rest of this month (July 2025) and August 2025! Check the site for exact days and hours before you visit.