Mission Fun at Seaworld
#WavebreakerTX, Seaworld, travel
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to rescue stranded animals as a part of Seaworld's Sea Rescue Team. On Thursday, the Star Family accepted that challenge as we were among the first to preview the latest roller coaster adventure to come to Seaworld Texas in San Antonio.
My family and I were provided free admission to the park for the purpose of this review.
The opinions are mine. It is my Universe, after all.
Inspired by the actual Sea Rescue teams, Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster takes you beyond a ride, it is an adventure!
Join the Mission!
As you wind your way through the queue (welcome relief when the lines run long), you can see stories of actual marine animal rescues from the over 30,000 performed by SeaWorld team. When you board the ride, you actually hop on as if riding a jet ski out to the injured animals. You then proceed to the embarking station where you are assigned a mission - sea lions, dolphins, or turtles. With mission in hand, you are jettisoned out across the water for a non-stop 40 seconds of drops, turns, and pure exhilaration.
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I had the great opportunity to speak with SeaWorld Vice President of Theme Park Development, Mike Denninger, about the design of Wave Breaker. While a thrilling ride, it is also a family coaster intended to have just the right amount of excitement without fear. As it intends to create a feeling of skimming the waves, the coaster focuses more on speed and turns over height. The ride twists its way across the lake, diving and twirling up and down as if bouncing on the crests of the Pacific.
As much as I can speak to the ride, I have to take a moment to share the educational intent of the ride. SeaWorld sees entertainment as a teaching tool; an opportunity to create relationships with and better understanding of the many marine creatures with which we share this blue planet.
Education is the real mission
Actual members of the Sea Rescue team were there to share their true stories of heart-racing moments speeding to the location of trapped or hurt animals. A story that stuck with me was about a hump-back whale wrapped in so much fishing line that he only had one side fin free. His wails of pain could be heard well before he could be seen. After hours of diligent and heartfelt efforts, he was finally freed from his bindings and returned to swimming the seas. All I can say is wow!
This truly is at the heart of this attraction. Understanding what SeaWorld does beyond the rides and the tanks while bringing joy to visiting families is their mission. Yours is just to have fun.