Orlando Watersports Complex

Fun place!!! Sorry to have to give you 2 stars OWC, BUT your staff isn’t the most impressive. Also if something breaks (which I totally understand) and you have only one cable open, go about instituting a two lap maximum? You have the advanced only open, and guys doing 6 plus laps that keeps everyone waiting 45 minutes for one lap? This SUCKS and can be easily changed. Step up your game and get out of the A/​C and realize how much it sucks waiting 45 minutes to get a run in. I expected better…

This place is super fun and it is a cool experience, simple as that. I first went here about 3 years ago and have been there twice now in the last couple weeks. Consistently professional and a good time. There has always been a blend of kids, teenagers, families, tourists and locals. I like how me (keep in mind, I am 41 and a pretty good wake boarder) doesn’t feel intimidated or out of place. I like how the really good people and the new totally inexperienced people all just focus on having a good time and nobody is treated negatively (that I saw). Know that if you can snowboard, you probably could get started here quickly if you have never done this. If not, lesson might be in order and just like any new sport, you won’t be a pro in 1 hour :)
About the staff, friendly and they get it right helping to make it fun. If you are completely new and confused or concerned about safety or just simply how the machines work, they will take the time to explain whatever you want to know. Listened to a mom yesterday new to boarding ask the cable operator about how often people get hurt and the kid gave a very professional response which impressed me. It is ran in a very safe way from what I can see, kinda like a chair lift at a GOOD ski resort.
I can’t really think of anything I don’t like about coming here. Always super excited because I know I am gonna have a blast. Yesterday didn’t disappoint. I went at a time when the weather forecast looked best. Anybody can do this on a smart phone and you obviously won’t want to go when thunderstorms are forecast. I planned my time on Saturday around the weather actually and it worked out perfectly. 4 hour rental, 2pm to closing which was at 6. Started raining like hell when I was driving away.
Facilities are perfectly fine. Showers, bathrooms, food, drinks, board shop for new stuff and actually, I brought a new/​used board that I just bought and forgot a couple parts. One of the staff went out of his way to help me out which was really nice and highly appreciated! I brought my own boards, vest and helmet. I ride on the larger lake and love it. Yesterday wasn’t too busy and I waited in line only once, maybe 3 minutes max, but all the other times, no waiting at all really. They did say it was a slower day. Might be a good idea to call first and ask if they have a special event going on before you arrive. Weather was 72deg and no problem with being comfortable. Good times!

Great, clean complex with knowledgeable staff, but customer service is lacking. We arrived at 4 and paid for 4 hours, which should have lasted until 8, but nobody informed us that the standard cables closed at 7. We would’ve only paid for 2 hours. The instructor only spent 15 minutes showing my sister how to wakeboard and never told us why she didn’t get a longer lesson.

My 12 and 16 year old had a blast here today. They both did the Get Up Guarantee, for $ 60 each they got a 1 hour lesson and 4 hours wakeboard time, this fee also included board and helmet. Everyone was really friendly and helpful! Shop sells wake board gear, go pro items and basics like towels and sun screen. There’s also a little café for drinks and snacks… Which being in the 90’s today was appreciated by not just the kids but my Hubby and I. Kids are happy, tired and looking forward to going back to OWC!

Best wake boarding place ever! Kids went to summer camp here and had a blast!!! Instructors are very nice and helpful. Way better than a theme park with long lines. Go for day and have so much fun. OWC is clean and well maintained.

This place is so cool! The staff is great & soooo helpful. They all really believe in you & won’t stop until you get up & wake — boarding. It’s obvious that the staff is passionate about what they do & sharing it with others. If you’re a first timer don’t be intimidated. I highly recommend starting with the get up guarantee package that includes a 1 on 1 lesson with a great instructor & 4 hours of wake boarding. Adventure seekers of all ages & skill levels will have fun. Skip one of the parks & go here instead — you won’t regret it & Mickey won’t miss you.

We are on spring break in Orlando and knowing the theme parks will be overrun with crowds, we decided to get the kids involved in a physical activity. With 4 kids, age 4,5,7 and 9, the OWC could accommodate all of them with one instructor. 4 kids for 4 hours and get up guarantee was worth the $ 59 each. The younger ones were able to easily go around the lake on knee boards. My oldest was able to get up after a few falls. My 2^nd took a little more time to get up. The youngest two pooped out after a couple of hours but enjoyed riding along with Nick on his surfboard.
After the lesson, my husband and I felt we needed to reinforce the lesson with another go. We came back two days later and signed up for lessons again with Nick. This time my husband and I signed up along with my two eldest kids. This is the way to learn wakeboarding. The cable line method allows for quick repetition. Once you get up, you get a few more tips a few to go even further and learn negotiate the turns around the cable line that traces the lake. My husband is left handed which naturally made it easier to take the turns counterclockwise around the lake by leaning back into the corners. My girls and I are right handed so we spent a majority of our time learning to make the turns by leaning forward.
This place was a great find and plan to include the OWC as part of our Orlando itinerary when we return. I highly recommend Nick as an instructor. He carried a GoPro during the lessons and expect to find some fun footage on my email when I return home. The establishment is family friendly and accommodating to newcomers. The front desk staff, the cook, and the guys running the cable line were all very kind and helpful. Consider this place when you need a break from the theme parks.

My review is actually for December 2014. I took my husband and brother-​in-​law in here with a groupon for a lesson and four hours on the cable. Even though we were there on a beautiful afternoon it wasn’t too crowded and they both got plenty of time on the water. The staff were pretty friendly and it has great area if you’re like me and waiting for your friends/​family. I was able to lay out and tan or do some reading in the shade. The only down side is that the food on site is on the expensive side. Otherwise it’s a great deal!

Made reservation for «Surfing Sunday“deal for 3 people to wake surf for wife, bro-​in-​law & myself. None of us had wake surfed before (although 2 of us surf & kite, and the other wakeboards) — and we were all able to get up and riding on the wake. Good tips, snazzy mustaches, and some creative boatsmanship in the small area made for success. Very sweet Mastercraft boat + choice of skim or surf style boards. I gave my family gift certificates to this place a few years ago for Xmas so I had been wanting to see it for myself. As tourists in Orlando from the great PNW, this was a much needed winter treat for us. We will return to take a wake skating lesson on their cable park 4 shizzle.

Quick background on me: I first stepped on a wakeboard 10 years ago, I still try to ride at least once a week if at all possible. I’ve been to 4 cable parks in the US so I’ll base this off of my experience of cables I’ve been to (not ones I’ve only seen online).
Out of the cables I’ve been to, OWC does their best to shake things up and move/​add ramps and rails on a pretty consistant basis. I only get to visit about once every 6 or 8 months and there’s always going to be something new. One thing that’s awesome about OWC is the fact that they have two cables. One without obstacles and that runs a little slower for beginners, and one for advanced riders. This is great, it cuts down the line significantly compared to if there was only one line running, meaning more time on the water for everyone.
The only downsides i’ve noticed over the years is a bit of an overall elitist attitude from some of the locals. For the most part everyone is just there to hang out and ride and I’ve never had any direct conflict, it’s just not the best atmosphere if you’re a beginner and are trying to learn.

Driving up to this place you’ll honestly be tempted to turn around. You’ve gotta pass through some very sketchy parts of Orange Blossom Trail and into some industrial backroads, not exactly where you’d expect this place to be. Once you get to OWC, as it’s referred to by most of the locals and avid watersports attendies, you’ll be amazed that you didn’t know it existed in the first place. The complex consists of a lake with cable system running through. This cable systems spins in a counter clockwise direction (good if you ride right foot forward) and pulls about 5 – 7 wakeboarders/​skiiers/​knee boarders at a time on each side.
If you want to try a watersport or are just starting out, the right side of the cable park is the way to go. It runs slower and is mostly open water to practice staying up, ollies, 180s and anything else you may need to practice on surface water. The operators are more than happy to help you get strapped in and learn how to get up and start having some fun. I wakeboard regularly and face planted the first 4 times trying to get up so don’t be afraid to ask, once you get it, you got it always! Most people buy an hour to start which is plenty of time. normally at around 40 minutes our group quits cause our arms are jello and heads to grab a beer.
If you’re a more experienced rider, the left fast cable is where you wanna be. Be advised, if you’re not ready for this side, don’t do it… it may look slow but it will snap you on the corners when you’re not paying attention. This side has tons of trick ramps and sliders on it though so if you’re a great rider, have some fun. I love just sitting on the shore with some friends and watching people do amazing tricks and/​or massive falls!
The back section of the lake is for boat lessons and competitions. Most of the big wakeboarding competitions are held here including Gravel Tour and the World Championships.
There’s also a Performance ski shop here in case you want to buy any gear, but I would really recommend going to their main store on OBT instead.
They’ve even got ½ off specials on some nights, so break out your swimmies and learn how to board!

I just got started with wakeboarding because a lot of my friends are into the sport. Because im a beginner I don’t have much to compare this place to.but.
This place definitely has a younger, athletic crowd. surfer/​skater boys if you will. And most of them are more experienced than just «beginners». That said, it is always intimidating when you are starting out, but the staff there is quite friendly and is willing to offer you tips. You get to see quite a lot of cute guys/​attractive girls there too, although some can be quite show-​off-​y or snobby.
I also realize that you get a lot of foreign people who drop by there, which is cool.
Red Bull colligiate day is my fave: day of free everything plus red bull! you definitely get to meet a lot of cool people, college age there. Many come from out of town to the event.
Other than the fact that prices aren’t cheap, and that it can get crowded during some hours, this is not only a great place to wakeboard, but also meeting new people (/​/​guy watching), or just to hangout.