Florida's New Indoor Waterpark Opening In 2028 Will Offer Wholesome Family Fun In Orlando

Few places embrace playing in the water year-round quite like Florida. The Sunshine State not only has hundreds of miles of Atlantic and Gulf Coast shoreline, but it's also home to lakes, rivers, and, of course, water parks. Central Florida in particular is home to several of these aquatic wonderlands. From Aquatica Orlando and Universal's Volcano Bay to Legoland Water Park and Discovery Cove, it's clear there are plenty of water parks here to beat the heat. And that's not counting Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, which are among the best things to do at Disney World without visiting a theme park. Soon, a new splashy contender will come to Orlando — Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark.

A leader in producing toys, games, merchandise, and entertainment for children since 1945, Mattel isn't new to selling joy to the masses. You're likely familiar with some of its popular brands, including Fisher-Price, Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Hot Wheels, American Girl, and Masters of the Universe, among others. Moving into the theme park space is certainly an interesting move for the company. But it's not the first time it has looked to expand its reach. In 2023, the box-office hit film "Barbie" helped boost Mattel's licensing revenue, while 2026 saw the company expand its entertainment reach with the release of "Masters of the Universe." As for the new water parks, details are slowly trickling in.

First announced in November 2025, Mattel intends to create five indoor water parks across North America under the name Mattel Wonder Indoor Water Park. Initially, Orlando was listed as the first of this chain of water parks to open, with early reports suggesting a 2028 debut. As of October 2026, however, a different location, in Bellevue, Nebraska, is set to take the lead. This first location is slated to open sooner, in late 2027. While concept art for the Nebraska location shows a Barbie-themed activity pool as an example of what visitors can expect, a Mattel spokesperson told the Orlando Business Journal that the Orlando location won't necessarily have the same features.

What we do know is that, at least for the Florida locale, the proposed retractable roof will allow for natural light to pour into the water park. It's a smart move given that despite a reputation for sunny days, Florida experiences regular rainstorms, particularly during the summer. More specifically, Orlando averages around 7 to 8 inches of rainfall per month during June, July, and August.

The park will also have family entertainment center components, with updated plans showing a separate 45,000-square-foot entertainment building, though it's unclear what that will look like. Experiential retail, or shops offering experiences beyond traditional shopping, like photo ops, is also planned as part of the water park experience. The future water park will be located at 15845 State Road 535, just a half-hour drive southwest of Orlando International Airport. It will also be a quick 12-minute drive from Disney World. As for how long you'll have to wait to find out if this will be one of the most fun indoor water parks in the country? Mattel's Orlando-based park has yet to receive a confirmed opening date.