First POV video of test runs on Busch Gardens' Cobra's Curse

May 11, 2016, 10:58 AM · Busch Gardens Tampa is sharing a new POV video of its upcoming Mack family coaster, Cobra's Curse.

Starting with a 70-foot vertical lift that will bring riders within inches of the fangs of a massive cobra icon, the coaster also features spinning cars and a top speed of 40 miles per hour on its 2,100 feet of track.

For riders who want to get up close with real snakes, Cobra's Curse also will feature a 400-cubic-foot snake exhibit with mambas, pythons, and vipers. The coaster is taking test runs now (which explains the water dummies you will see in some shots on the video) and opens to reporters on May 26. We are arranging to have a writer at the opening, with a review for you here on Theme Park Insider later that day.

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Replies (16)

May 11, 2016 at 11:03 AM · Great new ride additional.
May 11, 2016 at 11:13 AM · It appears to go forward in first segment, brake stop, reverses, goes backwards in second segment, then spins in the rest of the trip. The spinning part looks most fun.
May 11, 2016 at 11:26 AM · It's not as chaotic as other spinning coasters, which appeals to me. It looks like a fun ride - not a blockbuster, but a solid addition to the park.
May 11, 2016 at 11:29 AM · Not a fan of snakes, but I think I can get over it for this.
May 11, 2016 at 11:56 AM · Looks just Lovely to me...
BGT is a great park and this will be another fine addition..
May 11, 2016 at 12:19 PM · Not a big fan of spinning coasters to begin with. The snake exhibit is a deal-killer.
May 11, 2016 at 1:37 PM · Mack is having a good year!
May 11, 2016 at 3:20 PM · This looks like a really good and fairly unique family coaster. While Busch Gardens Tampa already has multiple family coasters (Air Grover, Sand Serpent, Scorpion), Cobra's Curse is definitely a different ride experience and should fit the park's lineup well. While not worth a special trip, I look forward to trying it when I get around to visiting the park and I hope to see more from Mack Rides in the United States.
May 11, 2016 at 3:48 PM · This looks more creative and fun then the Toy Story Slinky coaster Disney is coming up with.
May 11, 2016 at 4:37 PM · AAH, COBRAS!!!
May 11, 2016 at 6:08 PM · Looks great. Now if only SeaWorld parks can invest in more rides at their San Diego park. I feel it's the only way to go now that they're getting rid of the whale breeding program. Might as well build up a solid coaster lineup.
May 11, 2016 at 8:40 PM · Didn't know it was going to be a spinner! Looks like a fun family coaster.
May 11, 2016 at 10:59 PM · This looks like a great family coaster. I think Busch Gardens needed this to help round out their coaster lineup. Seems to be a great fit for this park to me.
May 12, 2016 at 4:06 AM · Fun Fact:on the train ride, you actually get to pass through the coaster's construction site and get a close-up view! I was actually able to snag some great photos! Personally, I think BGT is really gonna need this ride. It has some really great extreme coasters, like Montu, Cheetah Hunt and Shiekrah, but Cobra's Curse will definitely be the park's first truly great family coaster.

Air Grover is really more of a kiddie coaster than a family coaster. In fact, the only way they'll let people who are middle school-age or older ride it is if they're supervising someone within Sesame Street's target age group. I really love Sand Serpent, but it's really more out of childhood nostalgia than the ride's actual quality. It was one of the first coasters I ever rode back when I was too young to do the big ones like Montu or Kumba. But it's still just a standard wild mouse. And Scorpion is only ok to ride if either it's your first time riding a roller coaster that goes upside down or if you need to kill some time while your waiting for your return time for Falcon's Fury; but only if you're taking the Quick Queue line; the regular standby line is always a pain because the ride attendants take forever to load the damn thing! But Cobra's Curse is trying something new and looks like it's on that Disney Mountain thrill level where thrill-seekers can enjoy it along with guests with more uneasy stomachs.

Great rides like Cobra's Curse are the reasons why I'm proud to call BGT my home park. That and all the cool animals.

May 12, 2016 at 6:14 AM · I think the biggest drawback of this coaster is going to be the capacity (8 people per train). I've ridden on Sierra Sidewinder at Knott's, and felt that was a pretty interesting ride. Cobra's Curse looks similarly interesting with a shorter spinning sequence. With any BGT ride, the animal exhibit is what separates this from a run of the mill coaster, and hopefully it will deliver.
May 12, 2016 at 9:45 AM · Will be there on opening day!

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