South Bay Shores Waterpark Information and Guidelines

• Appropriate swimwear is required. Guests are not permitted to enter waterpark attractions wearing thongs or transparent bathing suits, regular shorts (including khaki and cargo styles), long pants, street clothes, cut-off shorts, or denim. We reserve the right to determine the appropriateness of swimwear. 
• Guests wearing bathing attire with metal buttons, rivets, zippers, or snaps will not be permitted to ride Pup’s Pier, Reef Racer, Tide Pool Slides, and Shark Reef Plunge. 
• Footwear is not permitted on South Bay Shores attractions. Aqua socks and aquatic style footwear are permitted on Otter Trotters, Nor Cal Wipeout, Mission Falls, Coastal Cruz, Tide Pool (slides excluded), Rushin’ River, and Breakers Bay. 
• Guests requiring special accommodation should speak to a member of the Aquatics management team. Due to attraction manufacturer requirements, some riding restrictions may apply. 
• All Guests who require a diaper are required to wear a swim diaper or a diaper specifically designed for aquatic use. 
• When exiting South Bay Shores, shirts, shoes, shorts and cover-up attire are all required when returning to the theme park. 
• If you do not have appropriate swimwear, swimsuits and other aquatic gear may be purchased at Surfside Supplies. 
• As a general rule, when visiting South Bay Shores, Guests should avoid clothing that may be considered inappropriate for our family-friendly environment.  Clothing and visible tattoos that depict violence, nudity, vulgarity, or discriminatory language or graphics are prohibited.  

To ensure the safest experience for all Guests during their visit, the following rules are in effect. We appreciate your cooperation in this regard. 

• Attractions may have specific height, weight, and safety requirements. Please refer to the Safety Guide sign posted at each attraction to make an informed decision as to whether the attraction is right for you. 
• Please refrain from running, horseplay, and other boisterous activities. 
• Glassware and similar material with a tendency to shatter on impact are not permitted in South Bay Shores.
• For safety reasons, diving is not permitted at any attraction. 
• South Bay Shores and California’s Great America are smoke-free environments. 
• Keep an eye on your young children. Children should not be left unattended at any time. 
• Please secure all loose articles, including hats, glasses, and jewelry when riding. Cameras, cell phones and video recording devices may not be used on any slide or in any changing area or restroom. 
• Water toys and inflatable assists are not permitted.
• Masks and snorkels are not permitted on any water attraction. 
• Hearing devices or any other electronic devices may be damaged by water. Please take the necessary steps to protect such items. 
• According to crowd size, time at the water attractions and access to South Bay Shores may be limited. 
• Persons having active diarrhea or who have had active diarrhea within the past 14 days are not allowed to enter the water.

Our Aquatics staff is here to ensure that you have a safe and pleasant visit. First aid staff and waterpark supervisors are available throughout the area should you have any questions or need assistance.  Please follow all lifeguard rules and instructions, but do not talk to or distract lifeguards while they are on duty. 

In an effort to provide a safe and enjoyable waterpark experience for our Guests, South Bay Shores routinely utilizes training exercises to improve our lifeguards’ skills and vigilance. These exercises will occur during normal operating hours and may consist of the following: submersible water manikins, the use of video surveillance equipment, internal and external audits, active/inactive water rescues and/or first aid scenarios. 

South Bay Shores provides a full day of fun in the sun! To make the most of your day, be sure to drink plenty of water in order to avoid heat exhaustion. A drinking fountain is located near each restroom. There are also multiple drink stand locations available throughout the waterpark. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen frequently throughout the day. If you happen to forget your sunscreen, Surfside Supplies has sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses available for purchase. 

Life jackets are available for use throughout South Bay Shores. Life jackets are complimentary and are available to any guest wishing to use one. Children, first-time swimmers, and weaker swimmers are encouraged to wear a life jacket. Some attractions require Guests below a specific height to put on a life jacket before participating in the attraction. Aquatics staff and lifeguards reserve the right to impose the use of life jackets as needed. For specific attraction requirements, please visit our accessibility guide.  Guests are permitted to wear their own life jacket; however, it must be Coast Guard approved.  

First Aid is located at Breakers Bay. Emergency Medical Personnel are on duty during all waterpark operating hours. If you need any assistance during your visit, do not hesitate to stop by First Aid, or notify the nearest lifeguard. Our team would be happy to assist. 

Upon your arrival to South Bay Shores, we recommend selecting a meeting place such as Pup’s Pier, in the event you or your child become lost or separated from your party. Please alert an associate if your child becomes separated, as public address pages cannot be broadcast inside South Bay Shores. Children who are separated from their parties will be taken to Family Care Center, located in Planet Snoopy.

If you happen to lose an item or leave an item behind while visiting, please drop by Guest Services. If you’ve already left the park, please fill out a lost and found form.

South Bay Shores is committed to providing all of our Guests with an enjoyable visit. Guests with disabilities are encouraged to visit our accessibility guide for detailed information on the requirements of each attraction, along with the programs that California’s Great America and South Bay Shores offer. 

A water wheelchair is available for Guests requiring additional assistance. The water wheelchair may be used by multiple Guests on the same day. Use of the water wheelchair is on a first come, first served basis. Pool lifts are available at the First Aid Station by Breakers Bay. During your visit, please speak to a member of our Aquatics team to obtain access to the water wheelchair or the pool lifts and for further accessibility information. 

For your convenience, lockers are located next to Pier 76 Cafe. Various locker sizes are available for personal belongings. Locker rentals are automated and may be paid using Credit and Debit Cards. The lockers work with electronic pin codes and will allow unlimited access throughout the day. Locker access is available until California’s Great America is closed for the evening. All lockers will be cleared out each night when California’s Great America closes. California’s Great America cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen items.

Relax and enjoy the privacy of your own private cabana. These cabanas provide you with a fantastic place to escape the crowds and rest when needed. A limited number of exclusive cabanas are available each day and often sell out. For more information and to reserve your cabana, please visit the Cabana Information Page.

Inner tubes are available free of charge at each attraction that requires a tube in order to ride. Inner tubes must remain at the attraction after riding. You may use a provided tube once, then hand it to the next person in line.