Gaylord Opryland SoundWaves: What to Know Before You Go {review}

It was a spur of the moment getaway. Last week, I arranged a quick getaway with our crew for an overnight stay at one of our favorite Nashville hotels, Gaylord Opryland. Their new water experience, SoundWaves opened recently and it has been on our to-do list to get there to check it out.

As always, we loved our room at Gaylord Opryland. We always choose to stay in an Atrium View room with a Parlor room attached. This is great for larger families like us or if you like a little more space and the comforts of home in your hotel stay, this is the way to go!

Nashville’s Best Indoor Waterpark: SoundWaves

For over a year, we’ve been watching the progress made as SoundWaves was being built. We stay at Gaylord Opryland several times a year and also pass by the resort often. Everytime we’d see it, we’d check out the progress being made and talk about how excited we were to visit once they had completed it. Guess what? It’s completed and it’s A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! 4 acres and 3 levels of complete fun and beauty.

SoundWaves is currently an indoor only waterpark that has so much for kids (and adults) of all ages to do – some of which include: a multi-waterslide tower, FlowRider® surfing, rapid and lazy rivers, pools for kids and adults, rock climbing, VR experiences, restaurants, private cabanas and more. It is the nation’s first truly upscale indoor/outdoor resort water attraction, fusing music and water to create an exclusive modern oasis with something for everyone—from incredible thrill rides to relaxing indulgences.

We have been to many resorts that have waterparks and we travel alot with our kids (one of the great perks of homeschooling). We can honestly say this is our favorite water experience & resort we have visited. From the mouth of my husband (who can be very particular about waterparks):

Something for everyone, spotlessly clean, great staff – just really well done in every way.  It sets the standard for what a waterpark really can and should be.

—Joe Tucker

The layout and beauty of this waterpark is unlike anything else we’ve seen in an indoor waterpark. Literally breathtaking.

No matter the temperature outside, the temp inside is a steady 84 degrees. The park has floor to ceiling windows and skylights, which gives LOTS of natural light. Yes, you should even wear sunscreen inside SOUNDWAVES (as funny as that may seem) because you can get sun from all the natural light that comes through.

Yes, there are even cabanas at SoundWaves and they are wonderful! Indoor and outdoor cabanas (once the outdoor park is open in 2019) are available to rent daily by guests who have pre-purchased a SoundWaves experience. Each cabana seats up to six guests, and conjoining cabanas are available for up to 12 guests. Cabanas include 4 bottles of water, refrigerator, and TV. Food and beverage cabana service is available for additional purchase. Aren’t they gorgeous?

The indoor water attractions include:

• Stage Dive™ Body Slides –This ultimate body sliding adventure features two slides. Choose the translucent tube with LED lights, or try the opaque tube with no lights for even more suspense.
• Record Launch™ – Choose your adventure at the top. Pick the tubing bowl path for an intense centrifugal experience with 16 LED lights and four music speakers, or push the limits of gravity with our two-person serpentine water ride.
• Rapid Remix™ – Climb aboard a mega raft for four to five people and get ready for a breathtaking series of vortex loops, complete with 21 LED lights and 12 music speakers.
• Up Tempo Rapids River – Zip along our rapid river, complete with waterfalls and spray features.
• Down Tempo Lazy River – Grab a tube and float down this relaxing lazy river through cavernous rock features with LED lighting.
• Crowd Surfer – Nashville’s only double FlowRider lets two people surf at once.
• Groovin’ Lagoon Activity Pool – Fun for all ages, explore this pool area’s rock wall, lily pad walk, basketball hoop and 30-foot water curtain.
• Quarter Note Cove – Explore this splash pad and pool designed for young children.
• Half Note Cove – This multi-level play structure is great for kids of all ages with its multiple small and medium slides, shallow water and spray features.

There is even an adult level which includes an amazing infinity pool, bar, and comfortable lounging chairs. It’s absolutely beautiful! {must be 18 years or older to go to this level}

But wait…there’s more! In May 2019, SoundWaves is opening an additional 106,000 square feet of outdoor attractions, which includes:

• Beat Drop – The floor drops and riders plunge down a near-vertical tunnel to enter a looping waterslide.
• Bass Drop – This extreme high-speed, open-flume body ride is a six-story free-fall into 6 feet of water.
• Rock’N Racer – With four lanes, riders race each other through tight 360º loops to see who finishes first. A leader board at the bottom shows who won.
• Rising Stars Stage – This multi-level play structure is great for kids of all ages with its multiple small and medium slides, shallow water and spray features.
• Tidal Track Wave Pool – Waves come every 10 to 15 seconds on this beach that goes out to 6 feet deep, complete with a giant LED screen that can be viewed from the water or the hundreds of feet of shoreline.
• Diamond Pool – This adults-only flat water pool area is for ages 18 and up only.

We cannot wait to visit again when the outdoor part of SoundWaves opens up in Spring of 2019!

While we were visiting last week, several of you asked me a few SoundWaves specific questions on Instagram :

• Can you purchase day passes to SoundWaves? No. SoundWaves is reserved exclusively for guests who book the SoundWaves Water Experience overnight package. The water attraction has limited capacity to prevent overcrowding and keep the experience relaxed and comfortable. With this package, guests will receive admission to SoundWaves; exclusive check in at the Magnolia Lobby; early access to SoundWaves on the day of arrival; baggage storage upon early arrival; and daily hotel shuttle transportation to and from downtown Nashville via your SoundWaves wristband.
• Are life jackets and inner tubes available? Coast Guard approved life jackets are available on a first come, first serve basis at various locations. We recommend children under 48 inches and weak or non-swimmers wear a life jacket. Inflatable toys are not allowed in the water attraction. Inner tubes are provided for select slides and rivers and are available on a first come/first serve basis. Guests may use their own Coast Guard approved life jackets or puddle jumpers.
• Is there somewhere to eat inside SoundWaves? Delight in Nashville dining. SoundWaves includes Decibels™, a restaurant with indoor and outdoor eating areas, plus two outdoor food trucks and multiple bars. Status Cymbal™, an adults-only pool and bar, is on the top indoor level. You may bring other hotel food inside SoundWaves but not food from outside the hotel.

A few tips before going:

• Make sure you reserve a SoundWaves package ahead of time. You can only visit SoundWaves if you have purchased the SoundWaves Hotel Package. Reserve Your Stay HERE. 
• If you’re a Davidson County resident, you can save up to 40% off your package, but you must have proof that you live in Davidson County to redeem this deal.
• There were ZERO lines when we went. I think it was the day of the week. We were there on a Thursday and Friday and it was wonderful! I think when we go again, we’ll choose to go on a Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday. Middle of the week seems like the time to go.
• If you are visiting SoundWaves during peak season or during a holiday weekend, I would get to the entrance of the waterpark 30 minutes before they open to make sure you beat the crowds.
• Check-in as early as possible so you can get the most out of your SoundWaves experience. You can enjoy the park as soon as you check in and get your wristband!
• Wristbands deactivate at 12pm on the day that you’re scheduled to check-out . But, here’s the catch! As long as you stay in the park, you are fine to enjoy everything. Just don’t plan to leave the park and run to have lunch somewhere else in the hotel, then go back in because your wristband won’t work. As always, if they can, Gaylord Opryland will accomodate late check-outs if they aren’t too busy. We were able to ask for a later check-out time (4pm) and they even extended our wristbands until 8pm on the evening of check-out.

We cannot say enough GREAT things about SoundWaves Nashville. We’re counting down the days ’till we are back and visiting the outdoor waterpark.

You can check out my stories over on Instagram for more photos and a few videos of our stay. Just click on the “Nashville”, “Blog”, or “Travel” highlight button to see more.

I’d also love to help you plan your stay at Gaylord Opryland and experience at SoundWaves. Leave a comment with your questions or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram and we can get your trip planned!