The Coaster Critic's Blog

SeaWorld Orlando's Manta is Moving Along
JohnnyUpsideDown has a rack of construction photos of SeaWorld Orlando's 2009 flying coaster Manta. As you can see from the pics, the ride's been topped off and the station is coming together.


Check out JohnnyUpsideDown's latest Manta construction photos. Read all about the Manta coaster, also check out this construction video from SeaWorld of the coaster's topping off:

Milestone & A New Site Coming Real Soon
Two and a half years ago I began this blog as an outlet for my love of roller coasters and writing. This post is my 400th post and it's been a fun ride especially when my readers drop in and post comments. Some agree, some disagree, and others just share their experiences. Either way, The Coaster Critic's Blog is at its best when the community joins in on the discussion. One of my most commented posts was driven by the angry mobs that were dissapointed by the Dark Knight Coasters. So I encourage all you lurkers to give your two cents.

Big Announcement This Week!
If you're a long time reader you may have noticed that I have been posting less frequently the past month or so. I've been hard at work on a side project that I hope to launch this week. I had to take down my last project due to relentless spam attacks creating eronious users. The platform that the site was built on wasn't quite ready for primetime, but I hope to bring it back at some point in the future. This week's announcement involves a different web site that's almost two years in the making. Okay, so I haven't really been working on it for all that time, but it's been incubating since late 2006. The image to the right hints at the new site's theme.

SeaWorld Manta Photo Contest

Manta Watch is underway! SeaWorld is having a photo contest promoting their new Manta flying coaster. The first reader who's able to take a picture of Manta's track while it's being shipped from Ohio to Orlando will win two tickets to the park and front row seats on Manta. Read more about the contest including the route of the Manta track here. Send your photos to: joel [at] thecoastercritic.com

Thanks to all my dedicated readers subscribed via email and on the RSS feed. And thanks to those who just stop by every now and then. Stay tuned for the big announcement later this week. I'm looking forward to your feedback.

SeaWorld Orlando's Photo Contest
SeaWorld Orlando's new Manta will be a Bolliger & Mabillard flying coaster reaching heights of 14 stories and speeds of 60 mph that will open in Summer 2009. Now, SeaWorld is having a photo contest. The first reader who's able to take a picture of Manta's track while it's being shipped from Ohio to Orlando will win two tickets to the park and front row seats on Manta.

The prize package includes:
-- Two admission tickets to SeaWorld Orlando (valid for one year)
-- Front-of the-the-line access for two people for a ride on Manta. If the winner visits SeaWorld Orlando before Manta opens, they can choose front-of-the-line access on either Kraken or Journey to Atlantis.
-- Travel expenses, meals, etc. are not included.
-- Employees and contractors of Busch Entertainment Corporation and their families are not eligible.

The trucks carrying the blue B&M track will be following this route from Clermont in Batavia, Ohio to Sea World in Orlando, Florida:
-- Rte 32 West out of Batavia
-- I-275 south to I-75 South to Florida
-- I-75 south to the Florida Turnpike
-- Florida Turnpike to Interstate 4
-- Interstate 4 to the Beachline
-- Beachline to SeaWorld Orlando

**UPDATE** - 10/7
Manta Watch is underway! SeaWorld is having a photo contest promoting their new Manta flying coaster. The first reader who's able to take a picture of Manta's track while it's being shipped from Ohio to Orlando will win two tickets to the park and front row seats on Manta. Send your photos to: joel [at] thecoastercritic.com

SeaWorld has released the video below showing some Manta track arriving at the park:

Manta Coaster Officially Unveiled | SeaWorld 2009
While the concept art and name had already been leaked to the Internet, this morning SeaWorld officially announced the details of the new Manta roller coaster. Manta will be a Bolliger & Mabillard flying coaster reaching heights of 140' and speeds up to 60 mph that will open in Summer 2009. Flying coasters feature trains where riders are secured in a face down flying position with the track overhead.

Manta will be 3,359 feet long and will feature four inversions. The splash effects seen in previous concept art will be achieved via water jets. It looked like the wings on the Manta-themed trains actually dip into the water to create a splash, but that's not the case.

This is a great choice for a marquee attraction for SeaWorld. Not only will they have the only flying coaster in Florida, but SeaWorld will boast a truly unique attraction that will be well-themed and immersive. It sounds like Manta will be integrated with an entire sting ray exhibit. The Orlando Sentinel Blog reports on the animal integration:

"Floor-to-ceiling windows will provide encounters with 300 rays, as well as thousands of fish and other creatures native to oceans all over the world. Shark rays, spotted eagle rays, leopard rays, cownose rays, and oscillate river rays float past guests with fluidity and grace in a view new to SeaWorld. Elaborate lighting, sound and rushing waterfalls further will submerge guests into the experience."

UPDATE 9/20 - Read more about SeaWorld Orlando's new Manta including details of the new photo contest.

Are you excited about SeaWorld's new Manta coaster? Leave a comment below.

A First Look at SeaWorld Orlando's Manta
The B&M flying roller coaster that's rumored for SeaWorld Orlando is all but confirmed at this point. Concept art has emerged oddly enough on a British site. The Disney Information Bulletin Board has posted three pieces of concept art. The pictures show a B&M flying coaster themed as a manta or sting ray skimming the surface of the water.

It's still not clear how these 'up-close animal encounters' will work, but Manta looks to take the flying coaster concept to whole new level just as Magic Mountain's Tatsu did. *UPDATE* The DIB has removed their page on Manta, so I've included the remaining photos below:



UPDATE 9/20 - Read more about SeaWorld Orlando's new Manta including details of the new photo contest.

What do you think of Manta at SeaWorld Orlando? Leave a comment below. All pictures copyright Busch Entertainment Corporation.

SeaWorld Orlando Hints at Manta Coaster for 2009
In an Orlando Sentinel article SeaWorld Orlando hinted at a massive new project for 2009. In the article, the new roller coaster is described as the most expensive the park has ever built. A Busch Parks representative stated:

"It's going to have animal components, marine-life components. It will have a very unique, state-of-the-art ride, a roller coaster if you will, that will provide a sensation of gliding," Couceiro said. "The combination of the animals and the ride is what makes it special."

Manta - A Bolliger & Mabillard Flying Coaster
The reference to a 'sensation of gliding' gives credence to the rumors of a possible Bolliger & Mabillard flying roller coaster. Busch seems to prefer B&M almost exclusively in terms of their steel coasters and there aren't currently any flying coasters in Florida. Aside from the novelty of a flying coaster, a large new coaster that interacts with the animals of the park could really be a draw in the crowded theme park market of Orlando.

I'm probably not the first to suggest this, but the coaster could be themed around the sting ray as it is a marine animal that glides. In fact, I just noticed that the Roller Coaster Database has a listing for the unknown coaster and mentions that it may be called Manta.

The integration with the animal attractions sounds really cool. Sure Kings Dominion's Anaconda has an underwater tunnel, but Manta could take the idea to a whole new level. Busch has already achieved this on a water slide that passes through an underwater tube and through a Dolphin habitat at their new Aquatica park. Could we finally have a coaster that rides through a clear underwater tube? I'm looking forward to the official announcement.

Read the full article.
UPDATE 9/20 - Read more about SeaWorld Orlando's new Manta including details of the new photo contest.

**UPDATE** - 10/7
Manta Watch is underway! SeaWorld is having a photo contest promoting their new Manta flying coaster. The first reader who's able to take a picture of Manta's track while it's being shipped from Ohio to Orlando will win two tickets to the park and front row seats on Manta. Send your photos to: joel [at] thecoastercritic.com

What do you think SeaWorld's new roller coaster will be like? Leave a comment below.