SeaWorld Orlando (SWO) Discussion Thread

[jjune4991]

back to the construction, johnnyupsidedown has posted another update from yesterday

 

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta0.html

[deguy123]

People just complain to complain...lol...Be happy the parK is even getting a new coaster in these bad times. I think the coaster looks great and hopefully will get to ride it next April!

[DiSab]

The area around the pretzel loop is really coming along nicely. Looks fantastic.

[themeparkman25]

Great update! I have a couple questions though.

 

-Why is the ocean drained?

 

and because I just rode tatsu, why does manta have a zero car and tatsu does not?

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

I can't say why the ocean is drained, but Manta has a pilot car because Busch wanted a custom train, whereas Tatsu is a standard model.

[delirium_guy]

Great update! I have a couple questions though.

 

-Why is the ocean drained?

 

and because I just rode tatsu, why does manta have a zero car and tatsu does not?

 

The ocean was drained so the remaining work could be completed on it. It has since had its cement bottom and side walls poured. Also the waterfall structure is having the exterior completed now and is now brown in color. The pathway from Gulliver's to Smoky Creek Grill is expected to reopen today, so that means some great new photo ops beside the Pretzel and Station Area! Getting closer....

[gatorchomp83]

Stopped by the park this afternoon for about an hour and caught 7 cycles. The construction walls from under the first drop and all the way around the layout to the midcourse have been taken down. You can really get a great idea of everything now that these are gone.

 

This ride is going to be VERY photogenic. The landscaping and pathway work they have done under and around the ride is very, very nice. The pathway beween the pizza restaurant and the first drop is now open, but was barricaded off while I was there due to the testing.

 

They are beginning work on new footer rocks in the splashdown ocean, as well as beginning to place new rocks in the actual ocean. The waterfall entry rockwork is really coming along, as is the rock work on the station. I was told today that they were testing variable speeds on the lift hill. From my observations, the train is really booking it at the bottom of the pretzel loop.

 

Anyway, here are a few photos taken today from new angles that haven't been possible since testing began. Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[delirium_guy]

I took my mom and dad over to the Park for a few hours as well. I don't make it over to that side of the Park to often. WOW. I'm very, very impressed and pleased with how the first half of the ride has turned out as far as landscaping. Its absolutely beautiful and the ride really just graceful swoops throughout the entire area. Can't wait to see what the other side turns out....it already is looking fantastic. As you mentioned with the lift speeds, they are still also tweaking the block brake. Saw one test where about half the train started down the drop off of it when it came to a complete stop. Done on purpose, no doubt, but still interesting to watch. They did actually have all 3 trains on the course this evening as well before we left around 745.

[gatorchomp83]

I absolutely agree on the interaction with the surrounding area. It's so quiet, as well, so there is no intruding on the environment. It really feels like it's "supposed" to be there.

 

To go along with the new pictures I posted from today on the previous page, here's a short video I shot with my Blackberry Bold. The aim goes rogue a couple times because my camera was dying and was trying to get shots at the same time, but that side of the park provides a great view of the ride.

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=VID_00011-20090329-1802_13er[/coastertube]

[timberskara]

 

 

 

I love this photo-- finally a good shot of the all the little Manta Rays on the train. Go SeaWorld on this ride! It looks phenomenal.

[FitchCoaster]

^ I absolutely love these trains. Great photo, too.

[sam06pr]

Awesome photos...Let's see if SW can open the ride with all the theme and construction done...unlike BGT

[justint87]

Those were some great photos! Some of the best I seen yet. The landscaping on that side looks beautiful. I haven't had the chance to walk on that side of the park in a while and I can't wait to see for myself in person.

 

Ride is coming along really well and the other half of the themeing is looking great already. Cannot wait to see more pictures during the coming weeks.

[Shellemonster]

Gorgeous pictures. I especially love when the structural engineers have some sense of aesthetics like in this picture:

 

[gatorchomp83]

One little detail I noticed today was the stinger tails on the rays on the trains. Nothing earth-shattering, but that just goes to show even more the level of detail and planning that went into this ride.

[Thelegendarymatthew]

Don't I feel stupid, I thought this ride was still being built. Well it looks good, a lot of detail on the trains, and it looks fun to ride.

[Guest]

I'm still amazed at what my camera can pull off when I'm not behind the lens. Nice photo's... maybe one day I'll go over there and try to show you up

[justint87]

RCPro posted an excellent update of Manta showing off the new area open to the public and the landscaping from various angles.

 

These photos really gives you a great perspective of the area from a guest standpoint.

 

Link:

www.rollercoasterpro.com/updates/swo03.30.09/

 

Previews:

[atem122]

That landscaping is beautiful, the part under the pretzel loop actually reminds me a lot of Griffon's landscaping though

[sam06pr]

Manta just looks stunning and beautiful!

That is what I call a proper BEC landscaping!

[jkwan]

The landscaping for this ride looks amazing.

[Mr. Volcano]

This is coming along great! I am really starting to wish I could be here on opening day to ride it, but I'll just have to check it out when I get back in the Fall.

 

That landscaping is also very nice, I'm going to be really interested to see how it turns out around the splashdown type area.

 

-Justin

[Billy]

Nothing makes a coaster look better than when it appears to blend in with the landscape. Busch always seems to pull that off well. Kumba is another good example of that.

[jjune4991]

^kumba wasn't like that when it opened! it was barren with only dirt...nothing else on opening day!!!

 

oh! and check out the second page of the update! that photo of how close the pretzel loop gets to the pathway...great photo ops!!!

[jmicha]

This ride is turning out absolutely beautifully! I remember when construction first started, I was skeptical of how the massive dirt pit was going to turn into an area as nicely themed and landscaped as the rest of Sea World. Now I realize how wrong I was to be skeptical. This coaster looks like it has already been here for years! The landscaping is beautiful and will only get better as it matures. I'm excited for the next time I go to Orlando.