Universal plans up to 3 hotels on ex-water park site

Universal Parks and Resorts detailed plans to build as many as three hotels where its Wet ‘n Wild water park in Orlando formerly was located. In plans filed with the city government, Universal said it is planning two or three hotels with “resort style” swimming pools and landscaping, plus retail stores and restaurants. Universal also plans to build three parking garages ranging in height from two stories to three.

In March, the theme park operator disclosed plans to build about 4,000 hotel rooms on the site of Wet ‘n Wild, which closed last year. Universal’s latest filings with the city show that the company plans to build 1,200 hotel rooms at the former water park site on the west side of Universal Boulevard and 2,800 on the east side. Developed in 1977 by George Mallay, the creator of SeaWorld, Wet ‘n Wild operated for 39 years. [Orlando Sentinel] – Mike Seemuth