SeaWorld Orlando (SWO) Discussion Thread

[CPmillenia94]

Nobody has really mentioned this, but Mako's first overbank is really incredible.. I can't really think of anything else like it, maybe silver bullets overbank if anything.

[colinx]

On the topic of turning the sky tower into a drop tower, there are much other things needed before adding a drop tower. I don't think SeaWorld even needs a drop tower to be honest. I think if anything, they should be working on updating Journey to Atlantis and Wild Arctic. In terms of new attractions, a Sea Rescue dark ride/simulator ride would be awesome.

[vertec909]

I hope SWO isn't 2 hours from BGT (since the website says less than an hour).

 

cause we're going to BGT on Sunday, and doing a day trip to SWO

 

 

We went to BGT today also and heading to SWO tomorrow. BGT was better than I expected.

[deere839]

I hope SWO isn't 2 hours from BGT (since the website says less than an hour).

 

cause we're going to BGT on Sunday, and doing a day trip to SWO

It takes a hour and 10 mins to go for me seaworld to bgt I always take the free mears shuttle to bgt from seaworld

[bert425]

I hope SWO isn't 2 hours from BGT (since the website says less than an hour).

 

cause we're going to BGT on Sunday, and doing a day trip to SWO

 

 

We went to BGT today also and heading to SWO tomorrow. BGT was better than I expected.

 

any "can't miss" things you'd recommend?

 

(we're doing the Safari on Monday. . and then, to keep w/ this thread, lemme know what you think of SW, so we can plan that too ).

[bert425]

I hope SWO isn't 2 hours from BGT (since the website says less than an hour).

 

cause we're going to BGT on Sunday, and doing a day trip to SWO

It takes a hour and 10 mins to go for me seaworld to bgt I always take the free mears shuttle to bgt from seaworld

 

we'll have a rental car (we're going to Weeki Wachee too).. so will be driving, but it's very cool they offer the shuttle back and forth.

 

didn't realize it was free tho!

[BlahBlahson]

^Papa Clyde's Ice Cream in Spring Hill near Weeki Wachee is crazy legit. They have every flavor and they make everything and it's very very good.

[coasterbill]

I hope SWO isn't 2 hours from BGT (since the website says less than an hour).

 

cause we're going to BGT on Sunday, and doing a day trip to SWO

 

 

We went to BGT today also and heading to SWO tomorrow. BGT was better than I expected.

 

In my opinion BGT is the best park in Florida. Take your mouse and shove it up your a** Disney.

[RAWKIN_coaster38]

I hope SWO isn't 2 hours from BGT (since the website says less than an hour).

 

cause we're going to BGT on Sunday, and doing a day trip to SWO

 

 

We went to BGT today also and heading to SWO tomorrow. BGT was better than I expected.

 

any "can't miss" things you'd recommend?

 

(we're doing the Safari on Monday. . and then, to keep w/ this thread, lemme know what you think of SW, so we can plan that too ).

I guess it depends on what you like, don't skip out on all the animals for coasters, but don't miss any of the coasters either! Besides the safari which is awesome, there are kangaroo and lorikeet feeding, but if you go later in the day they're less interested. I like all the shows (including Iceploration!) and they're good to do if the rides are closed for weather. I definitely loved Kinetix (night show) last year and I haven't heard but I assume it's already started up this year. Also, Jambo Junction and Curiosity Caverns are tucked away and easily missed, but they're nice quiet animal areas with smaller animals. The flamingos are LEGIT I love the flamingos! Esp if you can get a keeper to give you some of the food to feed them. Also, don't miss the cheetah run!

[coasterbill]

Can't miss at BGT:

 

- Back row of Kumba, far right seat (closest to the exit platform... I can't stress this enough)

 

- Back row of Montu

 

- Cheetah Run presentation. They're amazing animals... seriously.

 

The pet show is also very good. Iceploration sucks balls.

[bert425]

I hope SWO isn't 2 hours from BGT (since the website says less than an hour).

 

cause we're going to BGT on Sunday, and doing a day trip to SWO

 

 

We went to BGT today also and heading to SWO tomorrow. BGT was better than I expected.

 

any "can't miss" things you'd recommend?

 

(we're doing the Safari on Monday. . and then, to keep w/ this thread, lemme know what you think of SW, so we can plan that too ).

I guess it depends on what you like, don't skip out on all the animals for coasters, but don't miss any of the coasters either! Besides the safari which is awesome, there are kangaroo and lorikeet feeding, but if you go later in the day they're less interested. I like all the shows (including Iceploration!) and they're good to do if the rides are closed for weather. I definitely loved Kinetix (night show) last year and I haven't heard but I assume it's already started up this year. Also, Jambo Junction and Curiosity Caverns are tucked away and easily missed, but they're nice quiet animal areas with smaller animals. The flamingos are LEGIT I love the flamingos! Esp if you can get a keeper to give you some of the food to feed them. Also, don't miss the cheetah run!

 

don't wanna hijack the SWO thread for BGT (sorry!). . . but we're gonna be there for at least 2 full days (likely 2 1/2), and then one full day at SWO.

 

so should have plenty of time for everything! (including all shows)

 

thanks for the advice!

[bert425]

Can't miss at BGT:

 

- Back row of Kumba, far right seat (closest to the exit platform... I can't stress this enough)

 

- Back row of Montu

 

- Cheetah Run presentation. They're amazing animals... seriously.

 

The pet show is also very good. Iceploration sucks balls.

 

LOL

 

(and the night time Kinetix show is up and running already, gonna try to catch it on our first evening there. . we get in around 2pm, so by the time check into Hotel, should still be able to get a few hours in at the park -- hopefully on a non-crowded Sunday evening -- to catch Cobra's Curse, and the evening Kinetix show).

 

how is the evening show at SeaWorld? is it worth it to go to?

or better to spend time in line at a ride (or driving back to Tampa)?

[BlahBlahson]

Light up the night is the best and cheesiest of the current shamu shows, but you wouldn't get a mako night ride due to the park closing at the same time. But it's much better than one ocean, which is also the worst show at SeaWorld. I'd recommend it over that.

 

Blue horizons, even currently running without the high divers, is one of the top shows in Orlando.

 

And yes iceploration at Busch really sucks. They should run their Christmas ice skating show year round.

[thrillrider]

We were at seaworld yesterday, and we're very impressed with mako. On our way down to Florida from Michigan, we stopped by kings island and hit up Diamondback to compare the 2. Diamondback just got served by mako. Amazing coaster!

 

Going back in the park this morning for a few hours to hit up a few shows we missed, and to ride mako once more.

 

Quick question...does the observation tower ever run? On our last 3 visits over the past few years, we have never seen it move.

[SteelForceless]

Quick question...does the observation tower ever run? On our last 3 visits over the past few years, we have never seen it move.

Sky Tower closes for "high winds" a lot.

[dwfan42]

We were at seaworld yesterday, and we're very impressed with mako. On our way down to Florida from Michigan, we stopped by kings island and hit up Diamondback to compare the 2. Diamondback just got served by mako. Amazing coaster!

 

Going back in the park this morning for a few hours to hit up a few shows we missed, and to ride mako once more.

 

Quick question...does the observation tower ever run? On our last 3 visits over the past few years, we have never seen it move.

 

Awesome. I'm gonna be riding Mako soon, so how are the airtime hills, and does the MCBR kill the ride as much as people say? Thanks

[thrillrider]

The airtime is insane. The trim brake is definitely felt, but the ride is still amazing even after it.

[vertec909]

Went to the park on the July 4th, It was hot and had a good amount of people, but got every lucky on getting short wait times for rides. With my 1st ride on Mako there was just a 10min wait time on the sign when we where walking by so i jump in line which was every short. When i got off the line had gotten ever long. Went to get on Kraken and it was temperately closed so nobody was in line and then it opened back up mins later so i was able to walk right to the ride and get on. Also caught Manta at the right time and was able to get right on aswell.

 

All great coasters and really enjoyed them. Mako was a blast and the floating air time is fantastic which made me really looking forward to riding Fury 325 at Carowinds which i was able to do on July 6th. Both are amazing but i think because how fast Fury is you don't feel that floating air as much until towards the end of the ride when it starts slowing down.

 

Anyways here are a few random pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vertec909]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ArgoZ]

We were at seaworld yesterday, and we're very impressed with mako. On our way down to Florida from Michigan, we stopped by kings island and hit up Diamondback to compare the 2. Diamondback just got served by mako. Amazing coaster!

 

Going back in the park this morning for a few hours to hit up a few shows we missed, and to ride mako once more.

 

Quick question...does the observation tower ever run? On our last 3 visits over the past few years, we have never seen it move.

 

Diamondback is my favorite hyper. The back row floating airtime on the drop and subsequent hills is so awesome. You are exciting me for my Labor Day weekend trip to Seaworld.

[vertec909]

We were at seaworld yesterday, and we're very impressed with mako. On our way down to Florida from Michigan, we stopped by kings island and hit up Diamondback to compare the 2. Diamondback just got served by mako. Amazing coaster!

 

Going back in the park this morning for a few hours to hit up a few shows we missed, and to ride mako once more.

 

Quick question...does the observation tower ever run? On our last 3 visits over the past few years, we have never seen it move.

 

Diamondback is my favorite hyper. The back row floating airtime on the drop and subsequent hills is so awesome. You are exciting me for my Labor Day weekend trip to Seaworld.

 

 

Agree! Diamonback is great but Mako gives you more!

[DILinator]

I hope SWO isn't 2 hours from BGT (since the website says less than an hour).

 

cause we're going to BGT on Sunday, and doing a day trip to SWO

 

 

We went to BGT today also and heading to SWO tomorrow. BGT was better than I expected.

 

In my opinion BGT is the best park in Florida. Take your mouse and shove it up your a** Disney.

 

 

I'll be back with my kids at SWO and even Fun Spot before I'm back at Disney with them, too!

[MiABeta]

Just throwing in a little of my own opinion: The best part of Mako isn't the airtime, it's the banking. The second half of the ride doesn't even need to be fast for the banking to be pretty epic. Also I don't know if I just got Mako in a bad seat but I rode Behmoth at CW less than a week before Mako and honestly Behmoth felt like it had more air time and was a more forceful ride than Mako. I have never ridden Diamondback but I always thought it was better than Behmoth. Don't get me wrong mako is still really great and fun (and I only got middle cars each time compared to back and front on Behmoth) but I actually think Behmoth is better.

 

Also Mako's over bank is comparable to Leviathan's at CW.

[BigBad]

Behemoth is considered one of the best B&M hypers, though, and it's parabolic hill after parabolic hill. There better be a lot of air.

 

I've even heard Behemoth talked about as better than Leviathan.

[TB305]

I rode Mako in the front row about a week ago, and it was an insanely fun ride. The first drop didn't linger over the crest like you see on the hypers with the staggered trains, so the result was some great airtime for the duration of the drop. The first overbank was interesting; you sort of float and hang in your seat before diving back towards the water. The following airtime hill is simply awesome. There was some really forceful, sustained airtime here and the hill seemed steeper or more compressed than other hypers, so it felt unique in that regard. The turnaround was taken with swiftness, and Mako didn't waste time getting turned around for the return trip. The trimmed hill, while noticeably slowed, still provided ample airtime, despite it not being as forceful as the previous camelback. In all honesty, the airtime over that hill is still great airtime, it just isn't what it could have been, but people overstate the effect of the trims. The next hills have pretty good airtime as well, and I really liked the drop off the MCBR. The final airtime hill is a bit underwhelming relative to its larger brothers, but still, decent floater is present here. The finale is interesting; because you're not hauling through the turns, you get pretty good laterals through the banked turns. I really felt like it was a unique way to end a B&M hyper, and it's good to see them playing with lateral forces every now and then. The swooping dive over the water was just really fun in general and a great way to end a stellar ride.

 

Overall, this coaster was a hit for me! I liked it better than (don't hurt me) Apollo's Chariot and Intimidator, so it now resides in my top 5 coasters, granted I've only been on 55. I think if you go in with a standard B&M hyper in mind, you'll love Mako. However, if you're expecting an Intamin style airtime machine, you should probably temper your predisposition.

 

Here's my (fully legal) POV of Mako!

 

[youtu_be]https://youtu.be/QAWEE21vfvA[/youtu_be]