Posted by Just a brainstorm that I’m putting in a post. I need to battle test it before I write a guide.
Most theme park guides say “Don’t go on a weekend!” and while that may technically be sound advice for avoiding crowds, most of us are going to end up going weekends because we have jobs. If I only went to theme parks twice a year then maybe this would be fine, but I go every week. So once or twice a year I’ll be midweek, sure, but most of the time I’m there on a Saturday.
Note: Tube Run is Mudslide Gorge and Flash Flood = Storm Slides.
Let’s look at the slides and then I will brainstorm a bit.
FREE FALL TOWER
- Free Fall: This never draws much of a line, because it’s terrifying and imposing. It’s also a trek to get up to the very top of the slide tower.
- Jagged Edge: A perfect moderate-intensity slide with lots of airtime that feels really refreshing and doesn’t give you a wedgie. LONG lines.
- Sky Breaker: Terrifying, but less intimidating than Free Fall from the ground. As such, this draws moderate lines, but they can be as bad as Jagged Edge’s sometimes.
- Flash Flood / Storm Slides (Green and Blue): Easy racing body slides, some congestion with people deciding who gets to race who. Solo people like me slow it down (sorry). Moderate lines.
- Cave In: Extremely popular, best slide at Splash Summit. Moderate to long lines, but loading is efficient and the height appears to deter some.
- Mudslide Gorge: Long lines. Terrible congestion. Low intensity tube slides will do this. The addition of VR this summer is going to make this even worse. Also the wood is rotting in this area, be careful.
- Shotgun Falls: I haven’t ridden this. Moderate lines tempered by the fact that no single riders are allowed, and only double tubes are permitted to go down.
- Avalanche: This is a classic mat racer with a bunch of lanes. No lines. Ever.
On Labor Day, everything except Avalanche has a terrible line.
VORTEX TOWER
- Vortex: Worst lines in the park. Low intensity tube slide, easy to access, water jets are refreshing, and everyone loves a good toilet bowl.
- Boomerang: Short lines. This one freaks people out. I think the person who operates the slide while harnessed to the railing is a very brave soul.
NON-SLIDES
- Rainforest River: This runs out of tubes a lot. It is also the second least relaxing lazy river in Utah, after Cowabunga Bay, due to a very rambunctious environment.
- Wave Pool: Also runs out of tubes a lot, but you don’t really need one. It’s just a nice-to-have.
- Kiddie Pools: Don’t really draw a queue at all because only toddlers are allowed lol.
- The activity pool by the unused hot tubs (yes, the hot tubs are not used, sad): This has an obstacle course and a rope swing that can draw lines. The pool is often slightly crowded but usually a seat or two opens up underneath the waterfall if you wait for a few minutes.
- The food: Food that isn’t already-prepared (like their dippin dots knockoff) takes forever at Splash Summit. I rarely eat here. However, the food is good. Your classic fried tendies and the french fries are actually pretty well seasoned. Top-tier.
IDEA
Buy your tube immediately. If you’re a lifetime member or season passholder, get the wristband on at the park entrance when they ask. Sunscreen while waiting in line to get in. Once in, secure your stuff on a lawn chair and GO.
If you aren’t wearing Super Cool Kid water shoes, the ground next to the Free Fall tower is blazing hot. There’s not much you can do about this. Follow the shade if there is any (there won’t be), or if someone dripped water everywhere, step into that. Otherwise, it’s just going to hurt until you get to the slide tower, which staff usually douses with buckets of water throughout the day to mitigate the problem…once you’re actually on the tower.
Knock out Vortex and Boomerang first (Boomerang doesn’t get long lines, but you’re already right there and it’s a short ride). After that, head to the Free Fall tower. Get a mat. Ride Sky Breaker, Free Fall, and Jagged Edge. Then get a tube and ride Cave In and Mudslide Gorge. After that, ride both Storm Slides. Then get a mat again and do Avalanche at your leisure. Finally, secure a tube and do Rainforest River, the wave pool, and the activity pool. After that, boom. You’re free to do whatever you want. You can consider the park done.