Extreme amusement

Tigers, toons and new rides add twists at theme parks

ORLANDO, Fla. -- If you're heading to Theme Park Central this year, get ready to dance, splash and play tug-of-war with a Bengal tiger. But the fun won't come cheap.

At Disney, the price of a one-day ticket to a single park has bounced above $70 for an adult. Prices are slightly gentler at Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, with significant discounts for multiday tickets. Water parks -- including SeaWorld's new Aquatica and Disney's Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon -- offer the least expensive one-day experiences at $39.

Here's a survey of new attractions at Florida's parks.

Aquatica

Water slides, wave pools, meandering rivers and cooling fountains -- and dolphins?

Dolphins and other creatures are the newest twist on Central Florida water parks. They're found at Aquatica, which opened in March.

The Commerson's dolphins are permanent residents of Dolphin Plunge, a ride through 250 feet of clear tubes that zips through the dolphin pool. This isn't the only dolphin slide that zips through an animal habitat, but Aquatica is the only park that mixes water attractions with a chance to touch a giant anteater or sulcata tortoise. For those, go to SeaWorld, just across the street.

But the main splash at Aquatica is still water ... 3.3 million gallons of it spilling down 36 slides, a bubbling "rapids" river and lapping the infinity-edged shore of the sandy "beach."

The attractions are designed to suit families as well as teens and young adults. Dolphin Plunge is the signature ride. The park also has high-energy slides called Hooroo Run (a six-story, 250-foot triple-drop flume), Tassie Twister (a twisting tunnel through a bowl that takes single or double inner tubes) and Taumata Racer (a 300-foot slide through tunnels that take a 360-degree turn).

Families with small children can head to Big Surf Shores (the gentler of the two wave pools), Kata'a Kookaburra Cove (where all rides are limited to those under 48 inches tall), and Walkabout Waters, a wading pool and playground with slides, water canons, fountains and two 375-gallon buckets that dowse guests with water.

And then there are not-too-scary but not-too-tame options that suit a range of tastes: gentler slides, two "rivers," and a wave pool.

One of the park's bragging points is that it is capacity controlled, which means that when the number of people hits a certain level, the park is closed until the crowds wane.

Admission: $38.95 ages 10 and up; $32.95 ages 3 to 9; $89.95 Aquatica-SeaWorld combo. Extras: parking $10; lockers $8 and $10 (all day); private cabanas (with refrigerator, locker, soft drinks) $175 for four in summer, $150 in fall and winter.

Info: (888) 800-5447, www.aquaticabyseaworld.com.

Disney

You knew a "Toy Story" ride had to be coming. As of this month, the toys take over Andy's new Midway Games Play Set, and chaos reigns in the form of Toy Story Mania -- a ride through the carnival. Cars are armed with spring-action shooters that let the riders rack up points as they "hurl" pies, "toss" rings and "launch" eggs -- all virtual. An animatronic Mr. Potato Head plays barker.

Toy Story Mania is set in Disney's Hollywood Studios -- formerly known as Disney-MGM Studios -- where it joins most of the season's other new offerings from Disney. Already open are three shows that encourage park-goers to join in the action.

Block Party Bash is a parade that freezes floats, dancers and characters from Pixar films on Hollywood Boulevard. Green Army men from "Toy Story," Mike and Sully from "Monsters Inc." and Flik and Atta from "A Bug's Life" all dance the macarena. Kids join in for "YMCA" -- which they all seem to know.