empires

Looking at those pictures, I realized that the site is pretty big. My guess is a dive machine, with one drop, an immelman and banked turnaround. Hopefully it will be at least 200 feet, but I doubt it.

Gotta be honest this is sad to see. Perilous Plunge was the first ride I ever followed its construction progress. Way back on a 56k modem!! Good times

Do you guys think it will utilize any of the old log rides water features below the loop?

I think it looks pretty good, although I'm on the wagon about it ending abruptly after the top hat. Either way should be some good old fashion fun and at the end of the day isn't that what we look for in coasters in the first place. Has anyone heard the exact length on it yet?

Looking at the overhead shot on google maps, if they took out coasters and PP, your looking at a fairly big plot of land. Then you could have the coaster wrap around the skytower (one more reason they opted to keep it), and you could fit a good sized ride here. Still hoping on the giga though

Every coaster knotts has built has been a unique layout to fit the park. A giga will be no different, it'll have to be unique to squeeze it into the space they have. A tight compact like version of levitan could make for one hell of a ride, here's hoping....

To be honest I don't really see how perilous plunge's space will really help with room for a giga. Maybe station space but that's it. If they do decide to build a giga this will have to be one of the most interesting coaster constructions of all time, I mean they literally have no space for a ride structure the size of levitan. Here's hoping they build it!!!!!!!

So I went for the passholder preview today, and all I can say is WOW!!!!!! Manta is the best thing to happen to Sea World ever. Watching this thing grow from start to finish and then be able to finally ride it was amazing!Like PAL was saying its not the most extreme but the first drop is really good, and there are a lot of pops of air throughout the ride. I was also really impressed with the second half of the ride and it's intensity, I initially thought it was going to be kinda weak.. I was wrong and happy to be. Everyone today was cheering as the train came back in the station, not only because the ride is awesome but because they realized their local park just got ten times better.. The themeing is awesome too, even though its barely finished. The lagoon looks great, and the splash Manta makes is huge (you even get sprayed a little if ur sitting on the right side of the train). All my friends who don't think anything about coasters loved it too, and wanted to keep riding. I could go on and on, but just go check it out for yourself!!!!

Dang they're saying the cost of this entire project is 50 million!!

not sure, haven't been in a couple weeks. When i was there last it still looked like there was a ton to do. I'm going on Thursday for the member preview, and I heard media day is Wednesday. I plan to take a bunch of pictures, and yes very excited, SD has been in dire need of some kind of coaster attraction for years. Hopefully, Manta can deliver at least a fun experience overall, that's all i'm hoping for!!!!

Its funny a lot of people who don't know anything about coasters on Facebook are talking crap on Manta over this video, saying its small and has no loops. This just makes me angry, loops are overrated (pretzel loop excluded). I'll take 2 launches any day over a bunch of loops, they actually give you a good feeling

They just posted on Facebook a picture of people riding it, with a caption saying they're gonna post a video later.

Is it just me or does it look like there is still a LOT of work to be done. I mean were less than 20 days from being open to the public and this still looks like a full blown construction site. Verbolten has looked completed for almost a month now. It'll be interesting to see the progress over the next 2 weeks

Got these pics yesterday, Manta is really starting to look finished! The whole main entrance is going to look amazing once complete, Disney status, and there is water now in the bat ray pool. I'm still wondering what is going to be in that giant spot of land by the first drop??? anyone know?

Snapped this shot yesterday while at the park with my family. It looks like the scaffolding is coming down from the main rock structure, and is starting to look really good. The ride really does look really fun in person, and has a good chance of being kinda intense. Its going to be weird seeing a coaster zooming around at seaworld SD.

Hey PAL, did they mention if the splashdown will be fountain effects or is the train going to actually hit the water? Also, did they mention if there's going to be any other water effects added to the ride?

went to the park yesterday and saw Manta with its first drop and turnaround finished and I gotta say it looks really good. also got some good pics from the skytower. looks like there's only two pieces of track left to place. I took these with my cell phone so not the best quality the turn into the first drop overview of the entrance bridge, first drop, and turnaround station and launch building the end of the first half of the ride and second half

The park uploaded a video of the construction progress. It looks like the first launch is done and the show building has its structure. Not looking too bad thus far

Unfortunately it looks as though they're putting a trim brake just after the turn from the second launch, that would really suck!!!! can anyone confirm this?????

I went there a week ago and saw the progress, I really don't see how this is going to be done by late May, especially with all of the rock work left to be done. Is any site covering this construction????