Alamo City Moms Blog is excited to partner with Sea World to bring you the latest information about new attractions and exhibits.
My kids and I were part of a group of Alamo City Moms Blog contributors who were invited to preview Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster before it opened to the public. This visit was extra special for F.T., G.N., and me because it was our first time to visit SeaWorld San Antonio. Besides enjoying the thrills of the new coaster, we also had time to explore the park and clear up some misconceptions about SeaWorld San Antonio. Thank you to SeaWorld San Antonio for the opportunity to visit the park and ride Wave Breaker!
Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster
This new attraction opened to the public last weekend after almost two years of construction. You queue up near Penguin Plaza; most of the track is located above the park’s lake (but you won’t get wet during the ride). The ride introduces you to the SeaWorld rescue team with a video message assigning you a mission—on our trip, to rescue a stranded seal. The seats are designed like jet skis so that you feel like you are racing over the water to save a needy animal. A lap bar keeps you safe and secure. (Keep in mind the size limits of the coaster: the height range is 48″–77″, and the lap bar needs to close in tightly.)
The coaster accelerates quickly and drops you down a steep incline. (F.T. will never forgive me for that part.) The track swoops and twists through tight curves over the lake, but you are never upside down. There is another acceleration, rise, and drop in the middle of the ride, and a dip close to the surface of the lake. G.N. and I loved the fast swoops and dips. We walked away feeling excited but not overly shaken.
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At the preview, members of the SeaWorld rescue team answered questions about their work. Their team has rescued tens of thousands of animals and continues to advance the state of research on marine life. Their advice for kids who are interested in a career in marine life rescue: study science, especially biology, and spend time working with animals—even pets or livestock in our landlocked city.
After our Wave Breaker experience, we got to explore the rest of the park. We had such a good time that I kept asking myself what took us so long to visit. Here are some of the misconceptions that were cleared up at our visit.
SeaWorld San Antonio is not icky.
Amusement parks run the spectrum from spectacular to satisfactory to hokey to scary. At SeaWorld San Antonio, the quality and attention to detail are impressive. The color schemes, use of natural materials, placement of shade and cooling systems, and even the film-score-style background music are designed to put visitors at ease.
It’s not that far away.
I used to think that SeaWorld San Antonio was in the middle of nowhere. It’s true that it’s on the far western edge of the city, but the city has grown to meet the park. I’ve been in that part of town several times recently for my education nonprofit work. We live near downtown, and it’s just a quick drive on the highway.
SeaWorld holds real educational value.
Experienced SeaWorld hands directed us towards Discovery Point, a can’t-miss attraction. The Dolphin Lagoon, especially the underwater viewing, gives you an up-close view of their playful antics. The aquariums of Explorer’s Reef have an astonishing variety of sea life, beautifully presented. We soaked in as much as we could, but we would love to come back again soon.
SeaWorld gives kids room to grow.
After Discovery Point, we visited the main park. F.T. and G.N. played on a shady playground near the Sea Star Theater, while I caught up on news with a mentor and friend who was also at the park for the preview. The park has attractions for kids of different ages, even young children at the Sesame Street Bay of Play. Friends whose kids are grown tell me that it’s a lot of fun for teenagers because they have room to stretch out.
Animals are treated with dignity.
Our final activity of the day was attending a beluga whale and dolphin show at Beluga Stadium. The animals were active and energetic, and they were instantly responsive to their trainers. The performance showed joy and beauty, not stress. It was like the animals and their trainers were part of the same pod, working towards a common goal.
Looking at a park map, I can see there are many areas of the park left for us to explore—Aquatica, the water park, for example. We are looking into the benefits of getting an annual pass so we can come again at off-peak times. We are thankful to SeaWorld for this opportunity to preview Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster and to have a good first experience of the park as a whole.