The newly refurbished Wild Wild Wet at Downtown East in Singapore is a whole load of fun for both kids and adults.

If you haven’t been to the newly refurbished Wild Wild Wet, you have no idea what you're missing out on. Post-completion of a major five-year refurbishment late 2018, the water park has doubled its original size, added seven new attractions and definitely become our family's favourite water park. Here are five good reasons why you and your kiddos will absolutely love the new water park too.

1) Kids-friendly attractions and rides galore

Kidz Zone

On arrival, my six- and eight-year-old, Little E and Big E, made a beeline for these four pint-sized versions of big slides. Extremely tame and nothing scary, even kids younger than them were going a few more rounds on the slides. Ten weees! down the slides later, they were all warmed up for the other worthy park attractions.

Tsunami

Though it’s called Tsunami, the wave pool was neither scary nor too boring. As Goldilocks would say, it was just right. We've been to wave pools where we were constantly being smacked in the face by water and also those with waves so non-existent you were better off in a regular pool. So I'm pleased to say we found the perfect wave pool at Wild Wild Wet. Tubes are welcome in the pool for you to bob along and pretend you're in the real sea. But with no shade or shelter, like the real ocean, you'd be baking under a sunny, cloudless day.

The Water Works

The Water Works slides – one open and one covered – is a less scary option for kids not ready for bigger slides. The slides are both relatively slow such that we stopped moving at some parts and had to scoot ourselves along. Still, my kids like them as they are relatively more exciting than those at the Kids Zone and Professor’s Playground, but less daunting than the steeper slides. Do note that there is a minimum height of 1.22m for the slides.

Professor’s Playground

The Professor's Playground is a water playground with slides, ladders, water cannons and fountains, another attraction younger kids would enjoy. It comes complete with a giant bucket that empties gallons of water over those waiting below. Kids would definitely spend some time splashing around this one.

Shiok River

At Shiok River, kids and adults would be content to let life slow to a crawl while sighing "ah life is good..." as they float along a pool water-filled river that meanders around the park. There is nothing much to see or do other than relax, compared to some water parks where you have play things in the river or go through dark caves and see fishes on the sides. But my kids were happy to bob along for a few rounds till the adults had to badger them to try the other more exciting attractions. There is little shade so bring the cap and long sleeve swimming gear, if not like us, you’ll only realise the next day you’re sunburned because you had too shiok a time drifting in the river.

Vortex

This concealed tube ride is high-speed and steep with lots of loops such that even my hubby and I found it very exciting. My eight-year-old liked this one but her younger sis did not dare go on it. Be warned that the climb up to the starting point is five-stories high, a lil tiring but after all that effort up, you'd think twice before chickening out. Do note that there is a minimum height of 1.22m for this ride.

Ular-Lar

We love water park rides where we can go together as a family - there is no camaraderie like that of a whole family screaming together through rapids. Touted as the first raft slide in Southeast Asia that is similar to white water rafting, Ular-lar definitely more thrilling than The Water Works. Adults probably wouldn’t find this scary but it’s fun when the whole family gets to whoop together over the drops and bumps. Little E was a little nervous at the initial drop but she and her sister wanted a few more rounds after their first try. Definitely faster than The Water Works but still manageable for kids. Do note that there is a minimum height of 1.22m for this ride.

Others

Younger kids can also enjoy Splash Play, a water play area for small ones, and Yippie, a shallow water play area with soft equipment.

2) Adults and older kids can have fun too

Adults and older kids wouldn't feel left out with the number of thrilling rides at the water park. Other than Vortex, my kids didn't dare to go on most of these but hubby and I did and we had a whale of a time!

Slide Up

Okay, both my kids went on this but only because it looked innocuous when you’re not on it! It just looks like a short slide and not as high up as Vortex or Free Fall (see below) right? Nope, this turned out to be one of the scariest water park ride I’ve been on! Even the hubby commented it was a little scary and he is one who really likes thrill rides. My heart must have stopped the moment we hurtled down the slide at top speed from four stories high. My two girls were a bit shaken after the ride, so I’d probably recommend this only for those with a high fear threshold. You can go as a pair or attempt it solo. There's a minimum height requirement of 1.47m while children between 1.2m and 1.46m must be accompanied by an adult.

Torpedo

The Torpedo is touted as a free fall from an 18-metre-high capsule before you go on a high-speed slide through a tube and is the first of its kind in Singapore. The wait in the capsule was the scariest part of the ride. I could literally hear my heart thumping as I stood on a catch in the capsule and a voice counted down before the catch released and I dropped into the tube slide. The rest of the tube of the ride was less daunting as it was pretty short and I found the Vortex more fun if you like twisty tubes. But the anticipation before the drop was definitely worth it. You’ve been warned. Minimum height of 1.22m applies.

Free Fall

Alright, the yellow Free Fall open slide is a near-vertical drop and looks scary as hell from afar. The moment I sat on the slide ready to go, I could see the entire park at that height and couldn’t help wondering if somehow I’d tumble out of the slide and fall to my death. I didn’t of course and I was down 50 feet per second on one of Asia’s longest free fall water slide. Your knees might turn weak the initial moments but thereafter with water hitting my face during the drop, I couldn't see much to feel scared. Minimum height of 1.22m required for this, but not like many younger kiddos would dare to try.

Royal Flush

The kids wanted to go for this but it has a minimum weight limit of 35kg per pax, so there were a few disappointed kids who had to u-turn back down though they met the minimum height of 1.22m. Also it’s either two or four in a raft. But if you’re a single rider, like my hubby and I who took turns minding the kids and going for the adult rides, there are bound to be groups of threes in the queue who need one more to go on. So let the lifeguard on duty know you’re on your own. The best part of the ride was when the raft slides into and then up a ginormous bowl, though overall its a rather short ride for the long wait. Definitely one of the more popular rides where you can expect a queue.

Kraken Racers

A pretty fast tube ride where you slide stomach down on a mat. Instructions from the lifeguard was to keep my head down during the ride but I snuck a few peeks on the way down only to have water gushing onto my face. Pretty exciting given the high speed and novel way of going head first. You can choose to go down together with your family in separate slides. There is a minimum height 1.07m.

We were there during the December school holidays and mainly on week days, which meant queues for the rides were relatively short, except for the Royal Flush. Some didn’t have queues at all. But expect longer queues during the weekends.

3) Re-entries allowed

I love theme and water parks that allow re-entries which meant you won't be confined to eating overpriced theme park food. There is only one eatery at Wild Wild Wet - Breeze Café and Ice Cream Shop. It didn’t seem very expensive but we didn’t dine there as there were obviously a whole lot more variety at Downtown East right next to the water park. Some families would exit from the Downtown East entrance and have their lunch at the nearby restaurants like Pizza Hut and KFC, before going back in to play. Just remember to get an re-entry stamp when you exit and don’t bring ta bao food in as outside food are not allowed!

4) Downtown East is pretty cool

Downtown East has a great variety of dining place and some shops worth visiting like the Royal Sporting House outlet shop and The Green Party, a living concept store. My kids love the ice lollies at Krumbz N Kraves, and they were a steal at at 2 for $3 (Sorry, only have a blurry pic!). Of course, all the fast food restaurants like McDonalds and KFC are there, along with kids' favourites like Swensens and Pizza Hut.

There are also other fun things to entertain the kids with at Downtown East like indoor playground Tayo Station, a Shaw cinema, bowling alley Orchid Bowl and karaoke bar Teo Heng. With unlimited re-entries, you can exit Wild Wild Wet and hang out at Downtown East if the weather turns crummy, and re-enter the water park when the sun shines again.

5) It's great for a staycation

D'Resort at Downtown East is right next to Wild Wild Wet with a dedicated entrance for resort guests, which makes the resort great for a staycation. The best part is if you are an NTUC Plus! member, you get free Wild Wild Wet tickets (based on maximum occupancy of the room) if you book through D'Resort's website. That said, our booking of our staycation at D'Resort through a third party hotel website came with free water park tickets too. But best to check if your resort booking through a third party comes with free tickets because the unlimited entries to Wild Wild Wet were really worthwhile.

During our four-day-three night staycation at D'Resort, we were at Wild Wild Wet at least half a day every day. Our kids could not get enough of the water park. As we went during the December rainy period, having unlimited entry meant we could plan our time there according to the weather. If it was not for the rainy weather, I'm sure the kids would love to be there the full four days - that's how much they enjoyed themselves.

Bonus tips for your trip

- The lifeguards at the rides and attractions are pretty strict when it comes to ride rules like height requirements and no loose objects like spectacles, goggles, watches and jewelleries. Lockers are available for rental from $8 onwards (a lil expensive if you ask me), but if like us, you are on a staycation, you can keep your valuables in your room, store your towels/clothes/specs in a plastic bag and place them at the shoe racks before you go for a ride, at your own risk. But I'm pleased to say no one found our unattended clothing worth stealing.

- If you have a family of four, the family ticket packages for two adults and two children - available at $78 on non-peak period and $102 for peak period - will give you cost savings over buying individual tickets. Non-peak periods are non-school and/or non-public holiday weekdays. If you're buying individual tickets, day tickets are cheaper during off-peak period at $24 for adults from 13 years onwards and at $18 for children at 3-12 years old and senior citizens at 55 years and older and nEbO members. During designated peak periods of weekends, school and public holidays, adult tickets are at $32 and children's at $24.

- Bring your NTUC Plus! nEbO Plus! and Plus! cards for park vouchers and Linkpoints issuance.

- Before you go, check for ride and park closures for special events at Wild Wild Wet's website. Wouldn't want to be all psyched up for the Torpedo only to find the ride shut for maintenance during your visit!

Have you visited the all-new Wild Wild Wet? Which ride do you like most?

Disclaimer: We pay for all our visits, and my opinions and reviews here are strictly my and my family's own.

©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.