There are also three hundred rays - their group known as a "fever" &mdash that swim or fly past and even over guests heads. Children will get to peer into an aquarium with nearly 300 colorful clownfish and mysterious sea anemones by climbing into a unique pop-up aquarium that offers a 360-degree view. While waiting to board the roller coaster, guests will get the chance to view the underwater worlds of tropical fish and rays.įloor-to-ceiling aquariums showcase rare leafy sea dragons and thousands of schooling fish. SeaWorld created something unique with Manta by starting the experience in the queue. Manta makes it debut at SeaWorld Orlando today, May 22. This will mark the first major addition to SeaWorld Orlando since opening the Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin attraction in 2013.Manta's signature "wing-dip" puts riders on this flying roller coaster within inches of the water. It will have an ocean floor/shipwreck theme, Morrow said, and there will be educational aspects that cover the many species of sharks - more than 400 - and the obstacles they face in the wild.Ī precise opening date for the thrill ride and its land has not been announced. Mako will be the centerpiece of a new shark-based land, although SeaWorld has not yet revealed the name of that area. It will be fast, but when you make these turns, you're gliding through the turns." "The coaster is going to be completely smooth. So you can feel like the mako shark as you're gliding through the reef," said Mike Denninger, vice president of theme-park development. "We relate what we're doing here to nature and to reality. Magnetic brakes and polyurethane wheels cut down on friction, which will help deliver a smooth, shark-like experience, designers said. "Basically, as you're navigating the hills, you're allowed to float up and down and you're not really being jammed into some steel bar or overly padded seat," he said. Mako's seat design is a good choice, he said. That floating sensation is "what every coaster fan covets," said Chris Kraftchick, regional representative for the Florida Region of the American Coaster Enthusiasts. SeaWorld has touted the ride's "air time" along with it becoming the longest, fastest, tallest roller in Orlando. The lead car eventually will have a SeaWorld logo plus additional graphics representing the movement of water, Morrow said. SeaWorld will have three trains for Mako. Each train will have seven cars, making for 28 passengers per train. You can lean forward, you can lean backwards and you really get to experience the freedom of the weightlessness," Morrow said. "This allows for everything above your waistline to be free. The cars will have no shoulder restraints, depending on individual lap guards to keep riders on board. Mako will be the third full-size roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando joining Manta and Kraken. "They hand-carve it, we approve it and then it comes back the way it is," he said. "That's actually a very unique point of difference of this particular species of sharks," he said.ĭesigners do hand sketches, proceed to digital modeling and then the idea is sent overseas for manufacturing, Morrow said. The animal and the ride vehicle has five gills, whereas most sharks have six, Morrow said. Some details match the physiology of a real mako shark. "I have scientists, doctors and educators sitting at my table, a creative core, from day one," said Brian Morrow, SeaWorld's vice president for theme-park experience. The mako shark served as inspiration for the look. The theme park unveiled its lead car for Mako last week. Dark, menacing eyes and gills will guide SeaWorld Orlando's new roller coaster when it debuts this summer.
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