Manta

Wylder · Manta

On Saturday May 2nd, Sea World let guests test out their new coaster, set to open, officially, Memorial Day weekend. This is the third flying coaster I have ridden and it is by far the best. It is a very smooth ride with a lot of neat features. Manta skims a lake, has a near miss with a waterfall and rolls a few times to give you a weightless feeling. I would hightly recommend Manta if you are going to be near Sea World.
The emplyees went to great pains to stress that the coaster doesn't officially open until May 22, so there is no guarantee it will be open on any give day, until then.

e_tapley0687

Great pics man! Was the line long? How was the queue? Was there any negatives about the ride? Sorry for all the questions lol.

Darienlakerules

looks awesome!

Wylder

The line was not bad. It took about 25 min. to get on the first time and about 15 min. the second. I think once people realize they are testing it, the lines will increase.
As far as the queue, it was amazing. It was well air conditioned (Saturday was very hot). There are several windows that look into a massive ray aquarium. After that they have a couple of smaller tanks to look at. All very amazing.
As far as the negatives, I can't think of any. It was smooth, lots of great twists and turns. Flying coasters have a tendency to mess with my stomach. I could only ride Superman at Six Flags Georgia once. After riding Manta twice, I was feeling a little off, but I could have ridden it again in a little bit. It also was near the end of a long, very hot day.

Darienlakerules

It keeps looking cooler and cooler! Keep posting pictures othe the ride please!

Wylder

Here are a few videos of the coaster and queue.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30877136@N03/3497575644/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30877136@N03/3497490364/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30877136@N03/3496762187/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30877136@N03/3496774373/

Rollerman87

Looks like that splashdown is amazing Very Happy

AWalkInTheParkPodcastPat

I agree with Wylders positive review, I rode it this week and was very impressed. The ride exceeded my expectations.

Sea World has a winner with Manta.

ZipperRules

What is with Manta Rays all of sudden in the past years? Every since that guy died from one of them, they have been more intriguing to people like zoos (Pet the Manta Rayes), in Discovery Cove I think they had you could pet them, and so on.

Let's see if I could get killed by one of them? It's just like the new craze because someone was killed by one of them. I don't know. Of course, they clip their tales so they don't have venom in them.

These pigs have swine flu. Come touch them, and see if you survive.

If you haven't pet a snake, you should try that (not the poisonous ones though). They feel so soft, and nice. Shocked

dougscoastergirl

^

mmkay

So, I gotta ask you Wylder, or Pat, did you get wet on this ride? My aversion to getting wet on rides is well documented.......I'm so pathetic.

By the way, awesome pics, they are so great. I can't wait to see the pics and the trip report from Universal when that bad boy opens up!

e_tapley0687

Wylder

I haven't heard of anyone getting wet. I was in the third row for both of my rides and I didn't get a drop on me. I think the angle of the spray keeps the water away from the riders, but won't be 100% sure until I ride in back.

Stingray · POV video of Manta from Theme Park Review

The Guy's at Theme Park Review has POV footage from the Front Row of Manta. LOOK'S GOOD
Here the video and link.

Link

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=742697#742697
There's talk that the back row is the most extreme part of the ride when going though the pretzel loop. Which do you think is the best to seat in the ride at?

traincrossing9

^lol "Drop it like it's hot"
It definitely seems like Manta is a winner for Sea World. Very Happy

What other flying coasters have you been on and how does this one rank? I remember Pat saying that Tatsu was better because it had more forces but i've also heard that Manta is better because it's actually re-rideable with less forces.

Stingray

I haven't rode Manta. I hope I can go this summer to ride it, if not I will be in the fall.
As far as other flying coaster I've rode there was Batwing at Six Flags

Now that was a fast ride. It seem short and the flying moment of the train was a bit slow reacting. But it was hard ride for the most part. I remember seeing people throw up after getting off. there was punk on the floor going thur the exit. I guess this flying coaster is not easy for those who haven't rode on before.

The next flying coaster I rode was the Borg Assimilator that is now the re-theme NightHawk at Carowinds, NC

The re-theme NightHawk at Carowinds
Now this ride was fast and extreme. Not so bad, I thought it was well rounded ride.

From what I read and heard from other podcast including Season Pass Tastsu maybe the best flying coaster in the Country. Air at Alton Tower is the first and best flying coaster in the foregin market I heard. I really like the soundtrack to air. Here's the sample.
http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/downloads/air.mp3
But I remember Doug and Brent talking great things about Tastus. I think Brent talk about how comfortable the ride is. The way the seat is design it seems to be the best ride seats made.
It looks to be that Manta is good all around from what I hread from other podcast. It's funny there one podcast I listen too called dis unplugged where they review Manta with there family. They found it great and just as good as any coaster in the Orlando and Tampa area.

Well I wait and see how it is and like the man on the video said.
Drop it like it hot. YEAH!

Wylder

Out of the three flying coasters I have rode, Manta is by far the best. I have been on Superman - Ultimate Flight at Six Flags and X-Flight at Geauga Lake (now Firehawk at Kings Island). Superman was ok but did get to my stomach ( I was only able to ride it once). X-Flight was fun, I was able to ride it a couple of times.

I have never ridden Tatsu, so I can't compare it, but of the three I have ridden Manta is heads and shoulders above the others.

I was asked, during the podcast, if Manta was now the center piece of the park and I said I thought Kraken would still get more riders. Thinking back, with the aquariums for both riders and non-riders and the whole beauty of the coaster, I think you could say that. It is the best over all attraction in the park.

Manta

POV video of Manta from Theme Park Review