New SeaWorld Orlando coaster revealed!!!

[Alpengeist]

New SeaWorld Orlando coaster/animal attraction revealed
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2008/04/new-seaworld-or.html

SeaWorld Orlando is preparing to build a new roller coaster attraction billed as the most ambitious and largest single investment for any SeaWorld attraction.

The ride will be part thrill ride and part animal attraction — combining those elements for the pre-show queue line, the ride itself and the-post-show, said Joseph Couceiro, vice president of sales and marketing for SeaWorld’s parent company, Busch Entertainment Corp. He and other company executives revealed their plan tonight to a gathering of travel industry and community VIPs dining at SeaWorld for Busch’s kick-off gala for two other big new attractions — Aquatica in Orlando and Jungala in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Few other details of the new coaster were disclosed this evening — not even a name.

The coaster is set to open some time in 2009.

No cost estimates were announced.

"What it’s going to be is the next generation SeaWorld attraction," Couceiro said. "What we do well is connect the world with the sea, presenting marine life in totally different perspectives. Also what we do well is put the guest in the midst of that. This is the next generation of that."

He and other officials were reluctant to call the ride a roller coaster, though they said it would have roller coaster components. They said the attraction will combine entertainment with education about marine life.

"It’s going to have animal components, marine life components. It will have a very unique, state-of-the-art ride, a roller coaster if you will, that will provide a sensation of gliding," Couceiro said. "And the combination of the animals and the ride is what makes it special."

SeaWorld began clearing land for construction this winter. The ride will go into the area formerly occupied by a flamingo habitat exhibit, a backyard habitat exhibit, other small exhibits and a gift shop.

The attraction's primary construction site, shown in the above photograph shot Monday from SeaWorld's Sky Tower, is situated between SeaWorld's Dolphin Nursery (under the blue roof in the lower left corner) and the Whale & Dolphin Theatre (in the upper right corner.)

Sounds like a B&M flyer with a few modifications to me.

[KingVeveraine]

Aww, when I saw "SWO" I thought it was "SW0" which would would possible mean a new Alton Towers ride.

But this look pretty cool!

[BigLouie]

very cool:up: Can't wait to see what it will be. Its about time they got a new ride anyways...

[Boston]

Why do these guys have to be so vague? "...reluctant to call the ride a roller coaster, though they said it would have roller coaster components." GRAAGH! Cut all this malarkey and just say what it's going to be.

Pretty much all this says is Sea World will get a new ride in 2009 that may or may not be a roller coaster. And if it indeed is a B&M Flyer, I have no idea why this guy would be trying to downplay the hype for it. Instead I would have said something like, "It's a thrilling new experience unlike any other in the state of Florida." At least that tells me it will be exciting. This guy makes it seem like it's going to be a yawn-a-minute trolley through an aquarium.

[Albert Caine]

It is rumored to be a B&M flyer, or a premier ride similar to Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios. I'd bet on a B&M flyer. ;) As a passport member of Sea World I'm really excited. Same for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. It's a great time to live in Central Florida.

[Alpengeist]

Why do these guys have to be so vague? "...reluctant to call the ride a roller coaster, though they said it would have roller coaster components." GRAAGH! Cut all this malarkey and just say what it's going to be.

I agree that it's annoying, but at least we know for sure that a new coaster-like ride is coming.;)


It is rumored to be a B&M flyer, or a premier ride similar to Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios. I'd bet on a B&M flyer. ;)

While a Premier would fit with the rumored launch section, I'm still leaning toward a B&M till more concrete evidence surfaces. If I had a choice though, I would take a Mummy-like ride over a Flyer anyday.

[fathorse]

Why do these guys have to be so vague? "...reluctant to call the ride a roller coaster, though they said it would have roller coaster components."........... This guy makes it seem like it's going to be a yawn-a-minute trolley through an aquarium.

Can't it be both?

[Westcot]

From Screamscape...

2009 - Manta / New Coaster - Confirmed - (4/8/08) While I was in Orlando late last week the Orlando Sentinel confirmed the rumors we’ve been covering for months that the 2009 project under construction at the park would include “a very unique, state-of-the-art ride, a roller coaster if you will, that will provide a sensation of gliding,” according to SeaWorld’s Joseph Couceiro (BEC’s VP Sales & Marketing). While the other officials at SeaWorld were “reluctant to call the ride a roller coaster” I decided to ask Mark Rose, the VP of Design and Engineering at Busch Gardens Africa about it the very next morning at the Media event for Jungala during my interview time with him.
Since Mark Rose has been involved with the creation of all of Tampa’s beautiful B&M coasters I figured I’d mention the Sentinel article to see if he had anything else to add. Right off the bat he confirmed to Screamscape that it would be a B&M coaster and that it would be a “Flying” style design themed as a “Sting Ray” that would feature the experience of “gliding over the water”. When I asked if it might feature Dive Machine gauge track or extra wide (8 or 10 across) seating, he said that those design aspects had not yet been finalized. He also confirmed what was reported in the Sentinel, that the project would also include themed animal habitats not only in the surrounding area, but possibly in the ride’s queue as well. Meanwhile Dan Brown (VP of Aquatica) briefly mentioned the project at the opening of Aquatica on Friday morning and mentioned that the official press release with all the details would be coming in about a month so stay tuned!

Woah! A flying-style dive machine?! This is going to be an awesome coaster!

[Cedar Point]

That doesn't say that it's going to be a dive-machine-like coaster. Just that it might have dive-machine style seating. It says nothing about being anything like Oblivion, Griffon, or SheiKra. If it's part animal-exhibit, I doubt that it'll be going fast at all.

[Westcot]

^ I see what you mean, and I read the SS post wrong without realizing it until now. Thank you for point that out. :)

Still, an 8-wide 3-row flying coaster sounds pretty cool to me, and there's no way that it ever would go as fast or would be as tall as the dive machines. I just personally like the idea myself...

[Westcot]

^ I see what you mean, and I read the SS post wrong without realizing it until now. Thank you for point that out, Cedar Point. :)

Still, an 8-wide 3-row flying coaster sounds pretty cool to me, and there's no way that it ever would go as fast or would be as tall as the dive machines. I just personally like the idea myself...

[Alpengeist]

Possible concept art for Manta.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/seaworld-manta.php

[tycooner55]

Very cool. Looks like a B&M to me.

[-LiLDaReDeViL5-]

Hmmmm.Can't tell if those are real concept art pictures or if an enthusiast made them.The Dive-Machine Style trains seem to make more sense to me if it's going to be realistic since a Manta isn't long and skinny,but Short and wide.Get what I mean?

[Squid2]

I am thinking that those are enthusiast pictures, not original concept art. They don't look professional, especially when you look at them very closely... the supports do not appear to be part of the original picture, for example.

Squid2

[Cyberleader]

I just get a 404 with that page :(

[maxfreak]

It is rumored to be a B&M flyer, or a premier ride similar to Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios. I'd bet on a B&M flyer. ;) As a passport member of Sea World I'm really excited. Same for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. It's a great time to live in Central Florida.

Heck yea, agreed. Those are the only reasons i like living in FL. Top Notch Theme Parks. :D I go to Seaworld every year, i cant wait to see what this will be like.

[Maylene]

The concept art looks nice! I can't wait to see it built!

[Alpengeist]

I just get a 404 with that page :(

That's because it was removed. Gee, I wonder why.;)

Anyway here's the thread at TPR with the pics and download.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=566909#566909

Squid2, I think the main purpose of these pictures was to show off the train design and the interaction with the water, not necessarily the track layout. Once we get an official announcement, then we'll see the true layout.

[Squid2]

Um... call me a skeptic, I guess. I'm just curious how a site in the UK got ahold of the concept art before anyone else... especially some of the sites that are dedicated to Orlando.

Admittedly the 3rd piece, (the closeup of the train in the turn) looks great. I wonder just how much speed she's going to lose when executing one of those splash turns.

Oh, as a side note, I've lost my contact who worked for SWOrlando, so I can't confirm or deny these rumors anymore. I'm trying to see if I can get info out of there anyway, but I'm not counting on it.

Squid2

[Alpengeist]

Here's a link about the concept art.

http://www.wftv.com/news/15959366/detail.html

[JIOA08]

Hey my mom works for a construction equipment company, and sea World rented a lot of equipment I wonder if it has anything to do with this?

[JonAAAthunder]

The new sketch pics look amazing! It looks like a new B&M Flyer. And it probably will be called Manta. I can't wait for this to open.