Train ride opening at Aquatica Orlando during new nighttime event Illuminate
Aquatica Orlando will debut a new nighttime event, Illuminate, with animal-themed lanterns and the park’s first train ride.
Illuminate, an after-hours, separately ticked event, will take place select nights from Nov. 8, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026, well beyond the usual window of Orlando’s holiday season. All of Aquatica’s slides and pools will be closed during Illuminate; the event is billed as a walkthrough lantern festival rather than an opportunity to experience the water park’s attractions.
Tickets cost $30 – $32, depending on the night. Operating hours are 6-10 p.m.
Highlights of Illuminate include:
- Mini Serengeti Express Train Ride, a new ride exclusively open for Illuminate and described as “a whimsical train ride that winds through shimmering savannah scenes”
- meet & greets with “Kiwi Santa,” dressed for summer and inspired by New Zealand
- five themed “realms”: AquaLuma, Candy Cascade Falls, Enchanted Lagoon, Myst Wood Waters, and Rivers of Discovery (see full descriptions below)
- Christmas bars
- exclusive food
- a craft zone where guests can write wishes on a scroll, place their wish inside a lantern, and release the lantern into one of the park’s water features
The train ride is named after the full-size Serengeti Express at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, a sister park of Aquatica within the United Parks & Resorts portfolio.
Illuminate at Aquatica Orlando will take place in addition to, not in replacement of, Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando next door. (However, Illuminate is an extra-cost event; SeaWorld’s Christmas is included with park admission.)
Here are Aquatica’s official descriptions for each of the five realms of Illuminate:
AquaLuma – Legend tells of five animal guardians who first brought light to the waters: Roa the Kiwi, Papa the Spoonbill, Wae Wae the Takahe, Kata the Kookaburra, and Ihu the Gecko. Their glowing footprints, laughter, and starlight guide explorers through arches of shimmer and radiant wildlife that still shine today.
Candy Cascade Falls – A sugary dreamscape where giant gummy bear guardians awaken the forest of sweets, sparking lollipops to sprout, and peppermint paths to glow. Every laugh makes the candy sparkle, every step makes the falls flow sweeter, creating a world where joy itself lights the way.
Enchanted Lagoon – Said to be born of a pearl that fell from the moon, this mystical cove is home to a luminous mermaid who keeps watch over the dreams and wishes cast into her waters. Guests may even catch a glimpse of her sea unicorn companion under a crescent moon.
Myst Wood Waters – Deep in a forest where dragonflies taught the light to dance and macaws painted the skies, a Great Tree of Light pulses with energy. Visitors can feel its heartbeat glow as they step on an interactive mat beneath the tree, activating a dazzling light display while lantern birds, bubbles, and color-shifting chameleons bring the forest alive.
Rivers of Discovery – A glowing tribute to the animals that inspire and the parks that protect like SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Discovery Cove — this lantern-lit safari celebrates connection, care, and curiosity. From dolphins and flamingos to giraffes and lions, each lantern tells a story of wonder and discovery, a journey illuminated by those who care.
Illuminate follows other Orlando water parks debuting new nighttime festivities this year, including Volcano Bay Nights at Universal Orlando and the one-night-only Kuzcotopia at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. That being said, Aquatica is no stranger to nighttime events, having seasonally hosted its AquaGlow after-hours party.
Tickets for Illuminate are now available on the Aquatica website.
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