There’s a new style backyard water toy that combines the slip and slide concept with a bouncer.
We bought The Banzai Gushing Geysey Water Park since we don’t have a pool in our backyard. To cool things off in the summer we decided to look for equipment that would let our six-year-old splash with her friends instead of us always driving to use someone else’s pool.
Price
We bought the water park online for $ 299.00 and it had more favorable reviews than more expensive models costing around $ 400.00. We decided even one summer’s use would be worthwhile.
Experience
The water park has been used about five or six times in the month we’ve owned it and I would give it a highly positive rating.
Up to four active children ages four to nine have been on it, climbing up the ladder, and sliding through the spray into the basin below.
Set-up is easy. Simply plug in the cord to an outlet, turn on the air blower, and the water park fills with air and is ready for use in about two minutes.
Attach a garden hose to the plastic tubing that runs up the side, along the roof where it sprays, and down the opposite side where it sprays in the basin.
The spray comes out at the top of the slide and is strong but not uncomfortable. Water in the basin fills up to ten inches after a couple of hours of use. As it’s filling, there is enough water to cushion the kids when they reach bottom.
The ladder is like an inflatable rock wall with handholds and toeholds to climb up. We’ve seen a four-year-old boy climb up easily.
Children who have used it are quite physically active in our family and their circle of friends and it’s entertained for two to three hours at a time without any becoming bored.
Dimensions and Features
The Banzai Water Park is 14 feet long, 9 feet to the top of the canopy, and 7 feet wide.
One plastic tube runs from the ground where it attaches to a garden hose, up to the roof and down the other side to the basin. Velcro straps allow the tubing to be adjusted in the basin. The tubing did get a slight kink in it when I was trying to adjust it but it did not stop the spray.
There are two water bags to use as anchors to stabilize the slide.
The material is Dura-Tech construction and dries quickly. It is light to move to a dry spot after use and one adult can easily move it. We drape ours over a regular size picnic table.
Be careful not to drag over stones to prevent the chance of ripping.
Emptying
Draining the water is simple. Turn off the air blower and when the water park deflates, the water will drain over the sides. It is best set up and drained on a flat surface.
Our yard has a gentle slope leading to a cement patio and the base of the house. The first time we used it, we set it up on the slope about 15 feet from the house and when we drained it the water poured over the side and we were afraid it was going to flood inside our back door.
The water park is low maintenance and uses water straight from the hose. It comes with a case for off-season storage.
I would recommend this as a durable yet inexpensive way to entertain children ages five to ten.I see it being used quite often at our house for the next two to three years.
