Big Kahuna’s Destin Review: Is the Water Park Worth It?
Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park in Destin, Florida surprised us. We had driven past it on several previous trips and never thought it looked especially impressive from Highway 98, but when we finally visited, it ended up being one of the most fun things we did during the entire vacation.
This Big Kahuna's Destin review is based on our family's visit to the water park. We did not visit the separate Adventure Park, so the review below focuses on the waterslides, lazy rivers, rapid rivers, kids areas, wave pool, surf simulator, food, prices, and our overall experience.
Our First Impression of Big Kahuna's in Destin
This was our fifth trip to Destin, and we had passed Big Kahuna's many times without stopping. From the road, the park does not look nearly as large as it actually is, so our expectations were fairly low.
Because we were staying longer than usual on this trip, we decided to give it a try on a day when we did not already have something planned. To our surprise, our kids loved it. There were far more rides and attractions than we expected, including waterslides, tube rides, rapid rivers, a lazy river, a wave pool, a surf simulator, and several areas for younger children.
Big Kahuna's Ticket Prices
Ticket prices can change, so I would check the current rates before your trip rather than relying on an old posted price. When we visited, buying tickets online was a little cheaper than waiting to purchase them at the park.
Big Kahuna's has offered single-day water park tickets, multi-day options, and combination tickets that include the Adventure Park. Children age two and under have also been admitted free with an adult ticket in the past. Discounts may be available for military members, first responders, seniors, and guests who do not plan to use the water attractions.
We thought the water park tickets were somewhat expensive at first, but after spending the day there, we felt like we got our money's worth because there was enough to keep our family busy for hours.
Big Kahuna's Attractions for Little Kids
Families with younger children have several areas to choose from. Big Kahuna's has splash areas, fountains, smaller slides, shallow water, and play structures designed for little kids.
- Bombs Away Bay is a family-friendly area where younger children can splash and play.
- Buccaneer Cove has slides, water cannons, and large dumping buckets.
- Croc Flats has several smaller twisting slides.
- Pleasure Island is another water-play area with smaller slides.
- Tadpole Pond has a frog-themed slide and play area.
- Fun Fountains has fountains and splash-pad style features.
These areas make the park much easier for families with children who are not yet ready for the larger waterslides.
Lazy Rivers, Rapid Rivers and the Wave Pool
One of the things we liked most about Big Kahuna's was the variety of river attractions. If you want something relaxing, you can float along the Lazy River or Humungo River.
If your family wants something more exciting, Thunder River and Raging Rhino River are much faster. They have drops and faster sections and are long enough that they feel more like actual attractions than a short float around the park.
Our kids had so much fun on the rapid rivers that they wanted to ride them again before we left. The wave pool is also nearby and gives you another place to cool off between rides.
Big Kahuna's Best Waterslides and Tube Rides
- Kowabunga Racer - Four people can race side by side while riding headfirst on mats. This was one of our kids' favorites.
- Maui Pipeline - This area has three slides, including enclosed and open-air options. The slides finish with a noticeable drop into the water.
- Tiki River Run - Two riders can go together through a long enclosed tube with several fast sections and drops.
- Jumanji - These are among the tallest slides in the park. The dark enclosed tubes make the ride feel faster and more intense.
- Cobra Twister, Hammer Head, Pirate's Escape and Monkey River - These are shorter rides but still fun if you want something quicker between the larger attractions.
Dining Options at Big Kahuna's
There are several places to get food and drinks inside the park. The options are mostly what you would expect at a water park, including burgers, pizza, fries, chicken tenders, hot dogs, frozen drinks, and snacks.
Island Time Cafe serves items such as pizza, hamburgers, and fries, while The Hideaway has burgers, chicken tenders, hot dogs, and onion rings. There are also stands selling frozen treats and other snacks.
The prices were a little high, but they did not seem unusual for a theme park or water park. Finding an open table during busy periods can be harder than finding food.
Honolulu Half Pipe Surf Simulator
The Honolulu Half Pipe is one of the more unusual attractions at Big Kahuna's. It simulates surfing or bodyboarding and is very different from the traditional slides and tube rides throughout the rest of the park.
It seemed especially popular with teenagers. The downside is that the line can move slowly because riders take turns individually, so the wait may be much longer than for some of the other attractions.
Pictures of Waterslides and Rides at Big Kahuna's
Is Big Kahuna's Water Park Worth It?
For our family, yes. Big Kahuna's was much better than we expected and ended up being one of the highlights of our Destin trip.
The park had enough variety for different ages, the larger slides were fun, the rapid rivers were excellent, and the lines were not terrible when we visited. We also liked that the park was much larger than it appeared from the road.
We have visited several water parks, and Big Kahuna's ranks toward the top of the ones we have tried. It is not on the same level as a destination water park such as Atlantis Aquaventure in the Bahamas, but it offered more than enough to make a full family day worthwhile.
I would give Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park 4.5 out of 5 stars. We would definitely visit again on another trip to Destin.