Raging Waves Waterpark

The value you receive for the price (admission & food) isn't even close to being acceptable. We arrive and get to choose where to park. General lot $20.00. Roughly equal to a 4 city block walk to the entrance. Or "preferred" parking for $30.00. Equal to a 2 city block walk. For the following, please keep in mind we arrived at 2 o'clock on a MONDAY, and they close at 5. We finally arrive at the ticket booth after a 30 min wait in line. One adult and one 6 year old, I say. That will be $160.00, she states. My mouth almost hit the floor. I paused for a second or two while looking at my 6 year old. She has been looking forward to this for quite some time with great behavior to earn it, so I reluctantly fork over the money. As we're getting our hands stamped to enter, I hear the family that was behind us in line talking to the booth attendant that just said to them "2 adults and 2 children, that will be 320 please. I hear the Father say " three hundred and twenty???" But you're only open for 3 more hours!" That's right, sir, we are. "And it's still $320??" Yes, sir, it is what it is the attendant says. The Father was looking at his 2 little girls just the way I was looking at mine, but the only difference was him saying to them "Im sorry girls but we can't afford paying this much right now." He turns to the attendant and VERY KINDLY asks, "Is there anything you can do? How about if I don't even participate but just chaperone?" Sorry, sir, it is what it is was the response he received! With utter dismay on his face, he turns back to his family and says "Okay girls let's go." As they start to walk off, with his girls in tears, my daughter looks up at me and says "daddy thats so sad.. why didn't they at least try to help them? Can we?" Long story short, I catch up to them in the lot and say, "Excuse me, sir, you dropped these." I wink at him and hand him 4 general admission tickets. For the most part, the water rides were a great time. The pool areas could definitely use cleaning and a few of the slide attendants couldn't have cared less about the kids and made it very difficult for some if the younger kids to know if it was their turn to go down the slide yet or not. The only thing a couple of them did was have their backs turned to the riders, and you only knew it was your turn by a thumbs up given by them. (With backs still turned!) LOL No backpacks or bags of any kind was a definite negative. I do get why, to an extent, but they go too far with what's not allowed. I did, however, finally understand why so many people were walking in with only their towels in tow. If I could give an accurate comparison to the food and drink prices, it would be that they are the same as a professional sporting event. $$$ The ONLY reason I didn't give them 1 star is because my 6 six year old did have a lot of fun for the short amount of time (3hours) we were there.

Sep 05, 2024 · E. J

Great place for a day long visit. If you are local it might be good to get the summer pass. When the weather is good the queues for the biggest slides can be long. But lots of other attractions if you don't want to wait.

Aug 09, 2024 · J. N.

Worst experience - First of all waiting time in line is 40+ minutes for every slide. There are huge lines starts from the bottom and all the way up -water is cold- not for little kids, even adults staying in the water -freezing. - a lot of attractions are closed -you have to sit on the floor, because there are no chaise lounge are available. Too busy . Too many people - price is expensive -food is overpriced as well - parking is $20

Aug 24, 2024 · Olga M

If you're looking for a water park near Chicago to beat the summer heat, Raging Waves Waterpark—the largest water park in Illinois—is a top choice. Highly recommended! It's an incredible experience with something for everyone. While booking your ticket, you can also book parking, as it's not free with a day ticket but is included with a season pass. They have cabanas and private huts for rental, which you can reserve online. Make sure to book your tickets online to avoid the huge lines at the park. There's a kids' area and thrilling water rides that make the wait worth it. Expect long lines, especially on weekends, with a 15-30 minute wait for a 5-10 second ride, but it's totally worth it! My favorite ride is "Wonambi," which is both scary and super fun. I also enjoyed the Cyclone and Three Sisters rides. I wanted to try the Boomerang, but I ran out of time. The wave pool is great, but keep in mind that the waves start every 30 minutes, so plan your time accordingly. There are also food shops where you can grab a bite to eat. Lockers are available for rent: small ones cost $14, and large ones cost $18. After trying all the rides, don't miss taking a relaxing loop on the Lazy River with a tube—it’s the perfect way to end your day. Overall, it’s a fantastic experience, and I definitely plan to visit again!

Jul 21, 2024 · Krishna

Went the weekend b4 Labor day, and max wait time was 30mins. The lazy river was so congested we had to walk bcuz no one was giving back the tubes. Went out for lunch and was able to park closer to the Maon entrance. Although I must add the funnel cake with Ice cream was 5☆s

Sep 10, 2024 · Mini Sanz