Welcome to Theme Park Insider! Join the community or log in
Theme Park Insider
Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube

Manta opening day announced

Sea World Orlando: This is about opening of Manta at SeaWorld.

From Ken Black
Posted February 8, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Saw today that the new Manta coaster will go live and open to the public May 22. So what are you most looking forward to about the coaster? Is it the queue line attractions or the ride itself?

SeaWorld claims the line will be an attraction in itself. That may be stretching things a little bit. But it should be interesting.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Corey Romberg
Posted February 8, 2009 at 8:38 PM
Sweeet! I'll be there! I should be going to Orlando on May 18th for the summer, so I cant wait to ride that and RRR at USF!

From steve lee
Posted February 8, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Is BEC prone to doing passholder previews? I'm not that interested in going to stand in a two hour line for a flying coaster. Of course, I'll end up going either way, because I'm a moron.

From Steve Ward
Posted February 9, 2009 at 6:15 AM
great news..
I will be over for 2 weeks from 15th may
very pleased to hear that

now... when is RRR opening ?!?

From Katie G-Desjardins
Posted February 9, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Sweet! I hear it's suppost to be an awesome ride, but I'll see! I can't wait, Though the lines be more than likely be huge!

From Gareth H
Posted February 9, 2009 at 6:21 PM
Hmm, question for ya.

With this type of ride, is there a MAXIMUM height limit??

From David Graham
Posted February 10, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Good question Gareth, nothing I could find out there stated there is one. I even trying looking around using the Superman ride at Six Flags GA. S0 I emailed B&M to see if they could answer that. I really don't think there will be, cause when you really look closely at the ride photos from places like rcdb.com or even B&M site there is plenty of space. I know on superman there was plenty of room and I'm 6' 1", but will let you know when I get an answer.

From Gareth H
Posted February 10, 2009 at 4:17 PM
On AIR, at Alton Towers, it was 6ft 6, this was when it first opened and I've not been back since.

I'm 6ft 5, so I was alright, not that anyone checked my height anyway.

I'm really hoping there isn't a height limit, but may enquire at the weekend if I head over there (For the Bud BBQ)... The ride does have some very low sweeps, looks awesome!!

From Steve Ward
Posted February 11, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Gareth
Im 6ft 7" and am pretty broad too and i have no issues with Air. because of the style of harness it seems to have more give in it.
I really hope that Manta doesnt have a limit because im really wanting to ride it

I dont have a problem with 90% of the rides, i can normally cram myself on LOL

Im over there in May, if you are there before that then PLEASE post in here to say if there is a limit or not.

Cheers

Steve

From Gareth H
Posted February 11, 2009 at 11:25 AM
I'm not broad so never have to sit in any specific rows on coasters, so I'm lucky like that.

I'll be there either on opening day, or at a passholder preview (Or press if I can get in)..

Will update you then :)

From David Graham
Posted February 17, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Hey Gareth

Finally got some what an answer to your question on is there a height max for Manta. Here is the response from Bolliger & Mabillard:

We refer to your e-mail.

It is difficult to specify an exact limit as, for a same height, the length of the legs / upper body may vary.

A seat at the entrance of the queue line allows the guests to check if they will fit the restraint system.

We are sorry not to be able to give a precise height limit. If you were able
to ride other B&M coasters, you should be able to ride MANTA.

We hope that you will be able to ride it and that you will enjoy it.

Regards,

I know this really doesn't give us a limit, but at least they took the time to try and answer it to help everyone out.

From Gareth H
Posted February 17, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Hey David, thats excellent!
So no seat max height, wooohooo!! :)

From David Graham
Posted March 4, 2009 at 5:32 PM
First, you are welcome Gareth...


The Orlando Sentinel just added an update for Manta as well as you can see a picture of the trains. Here is the link, but pasted the info for everyone below

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/orl-bk-manta-roller-coaster-seaworld-on-track,0,4731496.story

Construction of SeaWorld Orlando's Manta, an inverted flying roller coaster that incorporates an enormous aquarium in its queue, continues to be on track for the thrill ride's official opening just before Memorial Day weekend.

"We're putting in landscaping, so that's an indication that we're very far along in our attraction," says Brian Morrow, director of design and engineering, during a walk-through of the area Wednesday. "It's like the home stretch for us, we're about two and half months away from wrapping it up and walking away and turning it over to operations."

The grand opening is scheduled for Friday, May 22. Typically, a "soft opening" precedes that date, though one has not been officially announced for Manta.

Park guests may catch a glimpse of the coaster's trains on the rails next week during testing, which begins at 3 p.m. They currently are housed in a maintenance building on the construction site.

The sealife -- including about 3,000 animals -- will be moved into the aquarium in about three weeks, Morrow says.

From Corey Romberg
Posted March 4, 2009 at 4:00 PM
That was a very well done commercial by Sea World..I cant wait! thanks for the link!

From David Graham
Posted March 11, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Just curious if anyone is going to be at Sea World today or later in the week. The last article Orlando Sentinel had said testing is to begin midweek after 3pm. I couldn't get out of work to go see, and wanted to see pictures/video of it in action.

From Gareth H
Posted March 11, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Not this week but maybe an AM next week!

From David Graham
Posted March 12, 2009 at 7:55 AM
Thanks Gareth, any ideas as to what day maybe? I will try to get down there and get pictures/video of it, if someone knows?

From Gareth H
Posted April 10, 2009 at 6:23 AM
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet ride.

Was at Seaworld last night and Manta was in full test mode. They were running 2 trains at the same time and everyone was stopping to watch.
(And the staff seem very ((Overly)) excited).

If anyone gets the chance to go see it in text mode, you'll love it.

From Rob Chandler
Posted April 11, 2009 at 3:02 AM
glad to hear that ill be riding this great ride very soon there can any one tell me when rrr is open please?

From Gareth H
Posted April 11, 2009 at 5:45 AM
RRR, hmm, well the track isn't completed yet.
I've asked around some staff and no one seems to know the problem, just that construction on the track was stopped.
One rumor is that they are waiting for a larger crane to come in to complete it, but you'd think that with the amount of $$$ being spent it wouldn't be an issue to source one quickly.

Memorial weekend is fast approaching.

From Jason Jackson
Posted April 11, 2009 at 7:03 PM
The track itself has to be a complete circuit or they wouldn't be able to run the trains (Manta) around it. Are you sure you aren't thinking of Hollywood RRR at Universal?

From Gareth H
Posted April 11, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Hence me saying RRR, not Manta

From Jason Jackson
Posted April 14, 2009 at 4:28 AM
Sorry, since the post was about Manta, I was thinking the RRR was something like Grrrr. :-)

From David
Posted April 25, 2009 at 7:58 AM
ok I really thought I saw something on TV yesterday when I was out to eat showing that Manta will open early (usually soft opening) but due to not close to tv and loud (sports bar) I didn't get to hear when and now can't find any thing on web. Gareth or anyone hear a soft opening date or even AP preview date? Since opening day is May 22nd.

From Susan Jackson
Posted April 25, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Soft opening is the first week of May.

From David
Posted April 25, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Thank you Susan :o)

From Gareth H
Posted April 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Can't wait. I'll be there as soon as I get word!

From Frank Forrester
Posted April 26, 2009 at 1:46 PM
I went there on the evening of the 25th and they were testing it with park employees riding it. It looks like it will be fun.

From David
Posted April 26, 2009 at 6:30 PM
FINALLY!! Found info on it. Here it is on the "soft opening"

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-biztourism27042709apr27,0,6560597.story

Manta poised to roll
Speaking of SeaWorld, the resort says its the much-anticipated Manta roller coaster is ahead of schedule — so much so that it might start letting guests ride it in about a week.

SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said water has already been pumped into the aquariums around the attraction, and the testing and safety checks of the inverted-flying coaster are complete. The park is now populating the aquariums with rays. It has been allowing employees to ride Manta for the past couple of weeks.

Letting guests aboard at the beginning of May would allow for a roughly three-week "soft opening" of the ride before Manta's formal grand opening on May 22.

From David
Posted April 28, 2009 at 7:12 AM
As the article above I posted stated they MIGHT "soft open" in a week, who plans to be there for it or if you do and can ride it, please tell, this also goes for any employees who have riden it yet, how is it???!!!!

From Gareth H
Posted April 28, 2009 at 9:54 AM
This Saturday soft openings start, I"ll be there there Sunday after 4pm. Fingers crossed!

From David
Posted April 28, 2009 at 10:50 AM
DANG!! Was hoping I could sneak in Friday while people are at work, but I'll be down there on Sunday as well...

This discussion has been archived, and is not accepting additional responses.