justint87

As I didn't see for myself, I heard that testing did began tonight and now it seems to have been confirmed by delirium_guy. Manta was all lighted up tonight and the reach envelope were not there earlier in the day so I had a feeling testing started. Can't wait to see it for myself.

Wow.. great pictures! I'm really looking forward to this ride and can't wait to try out that non-inverting loop. Its looks like a lot of fun and I can only imagine right now the view we would get from atop of Rockit.

As of today, still no testing. I was at the park yesterday and the reach envelope were still on the track and there were workers working on the lift. I found this picture on another board, turns out the trains were taken out and put into the station today but were put back into the maintenance building with no testing as the reach envelope remains on the track. My guess is if testing is to occur this week, it will be tomorrow. If not, then most likely Saturday during Viva La Musica so they can show it off when a lot of guests are in the park because of the concert. *Picture by coasterz44 at ThrillNetwork

Great pictures! Testing shouldn't be too long now. I don't know if this means anything but on Saturday, I saw the train (just the zero car actually) at the bottom of the lift. Just like today they were checking the switch track and all, they must have been making sure the sensors and stuff worked on the train and track on Saturday.

I always thought they never used it was the same reason that other said. Disney doesn't want Vekoma to say they built it because Disney designed it. On another note, isn't Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom also a Vekoma design?

I found this interesting quote from the Orlando Sentinel that was not in the original article but when I clicked around, I found this: So if we thought the zero car looked great now, looks like there will be a lot more "detailing" still to be done on it and probably on the little rays as well. Here are two pictures from FOX Orlando showing a close view of the seats as well as another showing off new fencing and trees that have gone in near the pretzel loop.

The trains look great. I love the color and the zero car up front shaped like a manta ray. According to the Orlando Sentinel, testing will begin after 3PM sometime next week, maybe Sunday like delirium_guy said. I hope I can catch a glimpse of the coaster in action sometime next week.

Those new pictures looks great! Can't wait to see more. Its like the more you see, the more you get anticipated for this ride. I don't believe Universal has a set opening date on this ride yet have they? I remember they said "Spring 2009" and while back, is it still around there?

^ I think there is a possible chance they can be seen from Sky Tower but it would be very small and no details if one were to get a picture.

So happy the lift is finally going up, pretty soon the track work be put on and then the non-inverting loop. I think this is going to be an awesome coaster and something unique considering its one-of-a-kind.

I know in some parts of the world, they do eat rays. All you have to do is google it. Some actually looked pretty good. Here is a picture I found of BBQ Stingray:

The stage looks great especially with all the lights on for concerts! It is also great to finally see work resume on the supports for the lift. Can't wait for the actual track and non-inverting loop go up as well. As for the station, it looks pretty big and indoors. Any ideas if there will be a theme going on inside? I always love rides (as well as stations) theme to things, it really makes you feel like your in a whole different world.

I'm glad to hear the themeing is still the same on the log flume. I haven't been on that ride in years! I grew up near MOA and back then we would go here almost all the time. My first ever log flume ride and roller coaster ride was at this park and I hope to one day experience them once more. The last time I was at the park, it still had the Snoopy theme so I can't comment about what all the Nickelodeon theme has done to the place. I hope the place still has the same feel as before.

I want to see the lift go up as well! Hopefully it starts soon because I cannot wait to see how this will look when it changes the skyline as well as seeing the lift and first drop.

"Hide" may not have been the best choice of words but the reason why I said it was because a few days ago, Johnnyupsidedown had an update where he was invited to attend an press event and this was what he said when responding to someone asking him from another board why he didn't get a picture of the train: My question is why aren't they ready to release that info? If they are standard trains, why can't we see them. I'm not saying I'm right about this but hey I can dream can't I? A link to his update was posted on the last page.

My guess would be that it has to be somewhat unique. My reasoning is that they have not shown off the train and are keeping it in hiding until a specific date. Now if they did this and it turns out to be a regular flying car train; whats the point in hiding it then? It would be a disappointment. I don't know if this means anything but SeaWorld has said that the train has a "wing span of 12 feet." Does anyone know if this is bigger than the usual or is it around the size of a regular flying coaster train.

Great video by SeaWorld. I think the video does a great job portraying what they wanted; going from seeing to being. You start out underwater seeing the rays and as your anticipation builds, you become the ray and soar through the sea and sky. Not to mention the music too, I would not doubt that was one of the original score produced just for this attraction. I love it. Now I cannot wait for this ride! According to SeaWorld website, official opening date is May 22, 2009!

If they do have a moving loading floor, this should help speed up the loading times. I was just wondering, I don't know of any coaster of this size with an moving loading floor. Is there one that is comparable to give us an idea of what it would be like?

Rumors say that the trains have already arrived; however SeaWorld has said that the trains would arrive sometime in February. So nobody really knows unless somebody here can confirm that they seen the coaster trains themself..

That drop coming off the top brake run looks great! I have to admit, this ride is really impressing me. The height of this thing already changes the skyline yet the highest point hasn't even been installed yet!

I don't know if this means anything but I heard the parks recently stop giving discounts (ex. on merchandise) to Anheuser-Busch InBev brewery employees. Maybe this means something is close to happening or just another benefit going away.

That brake run is really high up. The skyline will take some time to get use to. The supports are really different from what were used to seeing but overall, this still looks like an awesome ride.

Well I guess the splash effect is and wait and see thing. I would like to see an actual splashdown of the coaster train itself but I have a feeling that it is unlikely. We'll see though.

Interesting. Thanks. Info and updates are becoming harder to find so its great to hear new info. On a side note, I noticed SeaWorld has started advertising for Manta in the Orlando area now. On I4 before the John Young Parkway exit, there is a billboard that shows the same artwork of the ride like the one on the construction wall and yesterday I saw a commercial for Manta. However, both never actually mentions a new coaster, they both said "Pay for a day, come back for a year."

This ride is looking great. The other day I had a glimpse of the storage area from I4 and there are a lot of supports and tracks there. I wouldn't be surprise to see more track work within the next few weeks. I personally can't wait until they complete the lift and first drop. Its always exciting to see the highest point of the ride and imagine what it would be like to be up there getting ready for the drop as well as how it looks and changes the skyline.