SeaWorld Orlando (SWO) Discussion Thread

[jjune4991]

^hey, whatever they do, whether dragging a wing, or timing a fountain, they are just trying to have water shoot out for the non riders on cool days. At Busch Gardens Africa, there are so many kids who stand next to Sheikra for hours just to get wet over and over again. It's a great time for parents to sit down a relax for a while.

[alpengeist04]

Very true. Anytime you can have a ride interact with the non riders, it's a good thing in my opinion.

[sheikramatic2006]

did they say when they are going to start testing?

[jjune4991]

i read on screamscape that someone heard of late march. hopefully sooner, so we can see some videos!

[whakojacko]

Idea-maybe the wing will dip into that area thats getting concrete work right now, but not actually touch the water? If that part is empty but below water level, with the right water effects it would appear to be skimming the water

[Shellemonster]

Agreed. Non-rider interaction is a great thing, like on the soaker-coasters (proper name?).

 

I agree it is possible that the concrete section could be empty, perhaps waterfall edges. From looking at it again though, the trench doesn't actually follow the coaster path. Especially where it curves out and away at the end of the curve which is theoretically the direction a splash trail would follow.

I now would definitely side with water sprayers now.

[DiSab]

One thing I was thinking was a possibility. What if the wings on the cars were angled in such a way that only the tip entered the water. The part that went underwater would be vertical, likely lessening the cross-force through the cars. There could then be fountains to create the actual splash effect. While the wing isn't actually causing the splash, it would seem much more plausible, as the wing would be underwater, looking like it was creating the splash.

[coastered]

The park has released it's official promo video for Manta.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clVPiaRdr8c

[aldredd]

Nice vid - thanks for linking.

[eBen]

They link together the imaginary Sea World is after with the fact its a coaster very well. I like this video a lot, even the cheesy grin.

 

 

Fingers crossed that B&M were asked to make a genuine water splash.

[jjune4991]

thanks for the video update! now i really can't wait for may!

[justint87]

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!

[CD]

^ I completely agree with this. They created the effect that they were going for flawlessly. My only concern is that in this commercial they try to make the ride appear to be very family friendly. And between the height requirement and the strong forces the ride appears to have (at least for the first section of the ride) I would not consider this a family friendly attraction.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

It looks like Sea World spent more on this commercial than Six Flags and Cedar Fair spend on rides combined.

[themeparkman25]

Sweet video, thanks for posting this! I thought it really emphasized the off ride experience and how magnificent it will, but it also really emphasized the "wing drag" of the ray. As soon as the boy is riding the ray, its doing swoops on the surface and the bottom of the ocean and,of course, when the track starts appearing. This leads me to believe that the "splashdown", whether created by the car or a cannon, will be one of the main focuses of the entire ride. Further, notice that when the track and supports started appearing they were pretty realistic to that of real life, which, Im making conclusions again, that the video must be pretty accurate in showing the coaster. So when the train is on the track and it has those massive wings, perhaps they will actually be huge. From the first artwork released to this video they emphasized the size of the manta on the car, which would reach the concrete valley currently in place. Thats just my two cents, and maybe Im just not willing to accept that it might not be a true splashdown.

[silvercrew1]

That video was amazing. The music and the animation were all really great. Thanks for posting.

[sam06pr]

Loved the vid....but it they seemed to have been targeting at the family audience and this coaster is not family oriented...Nonetheless I loved the video.

[KrakenKing]

Really, it's not targeting families for the ride, just the aquarium. The vid shows a boy (Teen) walking through the aquarium, then riding the ride. The only time it shows someone under the height requirement is inside the aquarium.

[Shellemonster]

What a high quality production! Thanks for the link.

 

Let's not forget that there is going to be the option to walk through the line area as an exhibit and not have to ride the coaster. It's supposed to be another entire walkthrough attraction for non-riders, so I think this commercial hit all the bases excellently!

[max harvey]

LINK

 

Johnny upside down has posted a new update from a construction tour

[CD]

thanks for the link^

 

Well, thanks to johnnyupsidedown, we officially know that the trains are on site! I can't wait until Sea World unveils them.

 

Do these pipes being placed in the "splash down" look interesting to anyone?

 

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta/sw609a.jpg

 

like they could possibly shoot water?

[Kennyweird]

^That's almost certainly what they're for.

 

It will be interesting to so how this wing dip thing actually works.

[BuschSchoe]

I loved that video.

I really beileve that BEC has the best promos for their new attractions.

[Electerik]

Do these pipes being placed in the "splash down" look interesting to anyone?

 

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta/sw609a.jpg

 

like they could possibly shoot water?

 

Yes. And although it could be an optical illusion, that photo really suggests that the train "wings" couldn't possibly be dipping into the trench.

 

So I guess that about solves it: No true "train splash," just an effect.

[themeparkman25]

Great update, it was awesome seeing all of the ride from inside the construction area and up close and personal with the ride. The first half of the ride is such a twisted section of steel and then after the MCBR just looks fun. I feel a little dissapointed that it won't be a true wing dip, but it will still be a cool section. Now I cannot wait til the trains are reveiled, that will be "aha" moment for the entire ride.