Gulf Islands Waterpark — Attraction in Gulfport

We went there Wednesday, July 21st. We arrived around 9:45 just before park open. There were a few people in each line (season passes, to purchase tickets there, and online ticket sales). They started promptly at 10am letting people in. After we were bag checked while in line (not the best check process when teens are doing this), we stopped at a table to have someone check our tickets/ waivers on our phone, and then went to the gate to have the tickets scanned. We bought the tickets online, and it was easy. The waivers are automatic online when you buy the tickets (if you don't have a waiver yet).

We got through the turnstile and went straight to the bathrooms and lockers. That was a very easy process. Park looked clean, bathrooms were clean, and there was even a staff member by the lockers offering help and guidance for keys, etc. You purchase the locker at an area near the entrance. If you have more than 4 people, you'll most likely need 2 large lockers. The locker keys are electronic and are a rubber wrist band which was practical and comfortable. After we left the lockers, we went to ride the slides and into the kid play place. We went with (2) 15 year olds, (1) 10 year old and a 4 year old. My 10 year old was allowed to wear his goggles on the slides. You cannot bring in your own rafts, but lifeguard approved items are allowed. We brought our 4 year old's life vest, but there were plenty of life vests available. I did see a lady with an infant in the lazy river with a baby flotation device that she brought into the park.

For lunch, we got burgers, the chicken tenders and a chicken sandwich. All meals came with a drink and chips or upcharge for $2 for fries. Be sure to tell the cashiers you want to upgrade your drink because ours didn't offer that and there was a good bit of ice which made not a lot of soft drink in the cup. We also got the pizza. The pizza had a really long wait, over 20 minutes, because they had to make the food for the campers. That was pretty much the only bad part. It was all very good though. Pass on the grilled chicken sandwich as the chicken itself wasn't very big. We also bought soft serve ice cream, and it was just okay for where we were. It was cold and refreshing though.

All of the rides were clean and there was an abundance of rafts everywhere. On this day, there were two camp groups who arrived at park open, but even with all the campers, who were well behaved I might add, and all the other people there, it was still very spacious. The lines were great in the first half of the day and of course got a bit longer by 1pm, but they still weren't ridiculously long. No one in our party wore anything on our feet during the day and the walkways weren't too hot. I think with everyone walking around keeping the walkways wet, they stayed cool.

The seating was abundant. We actually placed all of our items in a locker and didn't need a chair. If you do it that way, you don't have to worry about anyone taking your items. When walking around at 2pm, I noticed many chairs with umbrellas/ shade still were available in the back of the park. I suppose if you have a smaller child, you may need or want a designated area with your items readily available, but there seemed to be enough shade for everyone when needed.

I also want to add that there were so many staff members there that it all felt very under control. Even on the kiddie slides, there were staff members at the top directing the kiddos so there would be no chaos. Not to mention the cargo planes that kept flying overhead for the nearby air force base. Our 4 year old loved that part. We had a great day and will...

Let me start off by saying I've given 3 Birthday parties for my daughter at this water park in T Killings Hangout, the huge room upstairs over the park, but the last time we went for a visit may be the last. For starters the prices! It was $47 to get in here on a Monday. The park only offers 5 water slides and a lazy river. $63 for the new water park in Alabama that's with the theme park included, and it's "new" so needless to say next time we're taking that drive. There was a piece of glass next to 1 of the chairs upon entering the wave pool, I looked down just in time to catch it before I stepped on it😳 The food is over priced and pre cooked. Left under a light for God knows how long🤢 A employee had a attitude when I asked for fries, when another employee asked him to fix them.. No line! I guess I was interrupting them standing around. The workers had NO knowledge of anything. While floating around, I called out for a young female life guard, I called her, saying excuse me very loud but polite about 8 times before she broke the day dream she was in to answer me ( I'm glad no one was drowning) I asked her if the area she was standing in was new, bc it was very nice and I was thinking to myself about renting it, she said Idk I just started today. I asked what the area was called, she shrugged her shoulders and said, Idk, private area maybe🤷‍♀️ I shook my head and kept going around the lazy river.. If you've given parties here before or even visit here before you know the areas have specific names.. Does this sound like an enjoyable $47 per person experience to you for 5 people?? Especially returning guest that have spunt thousands of dollars at your establishment? Not to mention the amount of people we've told about this place in the past and taken them to spend their money or have had them with us. Never again. This place was always over priced but you all can keep the pee smelling lockers, and the burgers that taste like old public school hamburger meat. This place needs major revamping. Your employees need proper training. I almost forgot I heard 1 of them tell another worker that he hope it rains so they can close. Do you know how that feels to a customer that has just spunt $300 to enter your park. Please educate your employees! They do get "paid" to work right?? Please take heed. You're losing your day 1's to...

Gulf Islands Waterpark literally hasn't changed since I was a kid. The attractions here are very hit and miss a to whether or not they're working. Some days they're all up and working, others they aren't. Likewise, some days all things are working at the start of the day, but by lunch either stopped working or were simply turned off. Frequently not working features include the big splash bucket in the kids area, small kids slides in both the kids area and splash pad areas, and the fish gun sprayers in the kids splash pad area (though they spray, they're misaligned where you can't actually spray each other). The free soda fountains were a nice addition, though if you're seeking ice you're unlikely to get any at any time other than the start of the day. The water has been suspiciously cloudy since the end of the first week. The most consistently frustrating part of attending this water park is that year after year, without fail, the life guards are VERY inconsistently trained and performing. Whether it's inconsistent rule knowledge and application, or just simple failure to do anything but stand about as kids dangerously slam into each other and skip lines on the slides they're assigned to the lifeguards and their training leave much to be desired. Entry is also hit and miss. Bags are consistently checked, but not strollers/ wagons. So, if you're looking to sneak in any food, drinks, or toys opt for a stroller or wagon. If you try to bring in water toys in a bag, they'll tell you you can't bring any but that you're welcome to buy some in the gift shop, despite the gift shop literally never having any variety of water toys. Given there's not much for small children to do, it would be nice to have some water toys for them to play with. None of the park is handicap accessible. There are no ramps, one handicap restroom for each gender, and no handicap access...