At the end of May, I got a text that my friend Julie was planning a big birthday celebration for her 30th (which is actually today – happy birthday, Julie!). We knew they would have a reserved space at WTR Tampa and that tickets to enter would cost us $20 each, but we didn’t do a ton of research after that. After all, of course we’d be there to help her celebrate! Julie and I have been friends since we were eleven.
So earlier this month, we rolled up to the WTR Pool (after we paid our $15 parking fee), and we went through the queue to enter. They did have someone checking bags and technically it says there’s a dress code, though I don’t know what could be considered “inappropriate” for what turned out to be a giant pool party. They opened at noon, and we got there just after 1pm to find what we then considered fairly crowded…
Fortunately, Julie and her husband Adam had reserved a cabana, which gave us a nice shady spot to hang out, snack and drink, in addition to the pool. As time went on, it got significantly more crowded. By about 4pm, it was difficult to find space in the pool. They had good music going throughout the day with a DJ, but it really picked up when Sickick got there later in the afternoon. The dance floor was crazy, but our cabana was near enough that I didn’t feel the need to leave our space.
We ended up heading home right around 6pm, but there were a lot of folks just getting started. I have never been to a venue like this, but these were my key takeaways:
- It’s more fun if you’re drinking. Since I am currently pregnant with baby #2, I am not drinking any alcohol, and I can assure you – this is an environment that’s better with some booze. There’s a whole celebration done when someone orders bottle service, and everyone seems to be getting a bucket or pitcher of something. I was quite grateful that our cabana server kept me well-stocked on Diet Coke and water.
- It can get pricey quickly. Our cabana rental required a minimum spend of several hundred dollars, and when I checked in with Adam, we had blown past it. Across the twelve folks attending, we spent just under $1k on food and drink. He covered $400 of that spend, but it still put us at about $200 for the both of us. You’ll want to plan your budget accordingly, though I feel strongly that the cabana is worth investing in.
- It wasn’t really my scene. I think this is best exhibited in my bathing suit, which was arguably the largest one on the property… While there were at least two other 30th birthday parties happening (as well as one post-divorce celebration), the whole environment made me feel old. I definitely think this is a great spot for someone single and in their early 20s, who’s willing to throw down a little bit of money for a day in the sun – but that’s not really me anymore. I am fortunate to have a pool at home, where we can hang out with our friends… for free.
That being said, this could be a great option for a day if you’re entertaining visitors from outside Florida, or if you’re just more fun and hip than I am – after all, I am an almost-30-year-old married lady about to have her second kid. I am glad to have gone and to have celebrated Julie’s birthday together, but I can’t say I’ll be going back any time soon.