An example of why we love SeaWorld- especially if you're a local!
Cash and I didn’t have anything planned today, and temperatures were scheduled to climb into the 90s, so I suggested that today be the day that we tackle Infinity Falls at SeaWorld. For one reason or another, we’ve actually never ridden it. It’s one of those rides where you get absolutely drenched, and usually, we hit SeaWorld in the evenings to attend a food festival, concert, or other events. Also, for a while, Cash was nervous about that drop.
Why We Keep Coming Back To SeaWorld
We’ve been pass holders to SeaWorld from almost the moment we arrived in Orlando 7 years ago. Their passes are very reasonably priced, and the perks get better every year. Today, after I had the idea to take Cash to ride Infinity Falls, I logged on to see what perks they are currently offering. Here’s what all I found that we could use:
Free One Time Quick Queue (one per trip- a Platinum pass holder perk year round)
Free Unlimited Quick Queue after 4 (with some exclusions)
Free tasting sample for the Seven Seas Food Festival
Free insulated cups that are good for cheap refills year round (unfortunately, we missed this since it was over at 1 pm and I didn’t realize it)
A pretty great list.
Planning Out The Day
We packed a bag with some water, some sunscreen, and our passes, and we were off. There was a wait to get into the parking lot, so I knew it was going to be a busy day, but I wasn’t too worried because of all the quick queue options we had available.
Note: Parking is free as a pass holder, and the top tier passes are supposed to get Preferred upfront parking, but I’ve noticed on busier days sometimes that perk isn’t available. Oh well, more exercise!
I noticed when we were waiting in line that the one-time queue included Icebreaker, but the unlimited that starts at 4 did not. So we had a choice to make. Cash had been waffling for a while, trying to decide whether he wanted to ride Icebreaker or not, as it’s a little more intense roller coaster than he’s been used to in the past. He could tell it would make me really happy, so he said he’d do it.
He was super nervous but did great, and he loved it!
After Icebreaker, we got our refill cup and headed to the drink stations. We bought our cup a few years ago, and refills are only 99 cents in the park. So I refilled my cup and went up to the register. With our Platinum pass discount, the guy said the refill would be 88 cents. I gave him a dollar, and he gave me a quarterback. So…75 cents then, and we got our soda!
We were getting hungry, so we wandered the food booths and settled on fish and chips. It was delicious and a pretty good-sized portion. On the way, we passed a great live band playing some older 90’s country, which made this Oklahoma girl happy. After that, we got another drink refill from one of the restaurants, and because of the line, the lady at the register just waved us through. So, our second refill was free!
Pro tip: This actually happens a lot. Officially, refills are 99 cents after the first day you buy the cup, but a lot of the time, they just let you have it for free.
After we ate, we grabbed our unlimited quick queue passes after 4, and went to Infinity Falls. The wait time was posted at 90 minutes when we got in line. With the quick queue, I would say we waited only about 15 minutes, and the ride was so fun. It’s one of those typical big tube water rides where everyone sits in a circle and goes through rapids, but it feels smaller than a lot I’ve been on. It went faster, and the rapids were much more plentiful. At the end, it takes you straight up like you’re on a lift next to a waterfall for the big drop. Cash’s only negative feedback was that he wished the drop was steeper, but I’m sure you can only get so steep on that type of ride. The best part is that we did indeed get thoroughly soaked, which is what we were going for since it was hot outside.
After we rode Infinity Falls, we popped over to Journey to Atlantis, which was another ride Cash hadn’t ridden in years. Here’s the story behind that one: it used to be his favorite ride when he was younger until one day, we rode it when he wasn’t feeling well. I encouraged him to push through and go ahead and ride it before we headed home. He got off the ride sobbing, and that’s when I realized his temperature was 103. Of course, I felt awful, and he never wanted to ride that ride again. Today, he worked up his courage, and we rode it. I’m so glad we have that ride back in our repertoire because it’s actually a very cool log ride with a little roller coaster-type finish.
It’s so fun getting to ride new things, or things you haven’t ridden in a very long time, especially when you go to the parks as often as we do. And we got lunch, two refills, rented a locker, and had a quick queue for everything we wanted to ride, and only spent $2.25. I call that a pretty great day.