Manta Construction Update

[Dueling Dragons]

Hi, I live in Orlando and go to Seaworld a lot. I took some pics of Manta being built. If you guys want i'll post them. They're really cool. So far, they have the switchtrack, the station, the lift hill, and the big drop should be done, they were about half done last weekend. So, i'll post some pics maybe.

[willo22sly]

Looks pretty cool, a sweet addition to the park.
!48!

[Westcot]

Sure, some more photos would be great. :)

Here's some photo updates from the 5th...

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

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=662019

[willo22sly]

Sure, some more photos would be great. :)

Here's some photo updates from the 5th...

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

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=662019
From those pics it looks like a pretty intense inverted coaster!!

[Boston]

^Looks like an even better flying coaster! ;)

[abcde...]

/\lol!

This looks so much better yhan Air at Alton Towers! (which is still really fun!)

[Ice101]

^Looks like an even better flying coaster! ;)
Haha, Manta is very nice for being so compact. I was expecting it to be a bit taller though, either way it is a great ride.

[BoRJoYZeE]

Nice blue track. So Shiny!

[Westcot]

Today's update from Johnnyupsidedown...

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

Since the last update, the bottom portion of the pretzel loop has gone in, as well as a few more supports. I'll be at SeaWorld the 25th-26th of this month, so I'll try to get some good photos from the Skytower and the ground. From looking at the current progress of the ride, hopefully they'll already be on the in-line spin by the time I'm there. :)

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta/sw292a.jpg

[zackness5]

Haha, Manta is very nice for being so compact. I was expecting it to be a bit taller though, either way it is a great ride.

me to..but if its true and the trains will have "wings" that skim the water, it will be all worth it...:heart:

[6000000flags]

Manta is lookin good. That layout is, IMHO, a return to the purpose of the flying coaster: an accurate simulation of flying and aerobatics. If I had wings, I'd probably try every maneuver there. Seaworld has done spectacular.

[zackness5]

Manta is lookin good. That layout is, IMHO, a return to the purpose of the flying coaster: an accurate simulation of flying and aerobatics. If I had wings, I'd probably try every maneuver there. Seaworld has done spectacular.

i need an immellen, thats a real flying menuver;)

[sykesie-92]

Haha ye
I think it looks brilliant, imo im glad it isnt as tall as tatsu!
tatsu looks like a amazing coaster, i just thing flying coasters should swoop close to the ground!!
Manta looks like the perfect flying coaster- if it had an Immelman

[RCTfangirl]

It's looking good. I'm lovin' the layout!

[Ice101]

i need an immellen, thats a real flying menuver;)
That'd be painful, really painful.

[ytivarg]

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta/sw292a.jpg

God... someone at Sea World needs an English Lesson...

"Block Break" :confused::haha::hitting-self:

[deadstar]

"In-linespin" !?!

Oh well, but the layout looks delicious!

[Nethero]

Whoa! Does that ride have 3 loops?

My fist opinion: either it will be crap or it will be really fun in the back. ;)

[Boston]

"Block Break"
"In-line Spin"

Am I missing something? What's wrong?

[Westcot]

^ It should be "block brake," not "block break." ;)

[tycooner55]

...or it will be really fun in the back. ;)

You enjoy saying that don't you? :weird:

[Boston]

^ It should be "block brake," not "block break." ;)

:haha: Dang, I must be dyslexic. :(

[Harpo]

"Block Break"

They got it exactly right. The block is going to be out for 15 minutes having a cup of coffee. Not to worry. With luck, an emergency stop won't be necessary while it is gone. :D

[zackness5]

That'd be painful, really painful.

naw.....the train would just have to be moving(somewhat) slow

it would be worth it though

[Nethero]

You enjoy saying that don't you? :weird:

Not really, but I must spread the fad! :mad::up:

[Alpengeist]

The one thing you can always count on with any Busch Park, is that they'll build a quality coaster. Of course, having a obvious relationship with B&M doesn't hurt with that.;)

[sykesie-92]

The one thing you can always count on with any Busch Park, is that they'll build a quality coaster. Of course, having a obvious relationship with B&M doesn't hurt with that.;)
Haha yes
but...
there would be a big problem if the relationship between them was broken, maintenance and stuff.
It happened to alton towers i believe a while back, first one they fell out with either verkoma or arrow about replacing the trains for corkscrew, in the end up the manufacture stopped giving AT parts so they had to go to defunct models for parts, probably why its closed now
B&M also refused to service air once, in there opinion, they gave AT a really good prototype, but AT wanted them to sort out the problems, B&M refused, so AT stopped giving them money for the ride
Not sure what the relationship is like now.
-Brad

[tycooner55]

Not sure what the relationship is like now.
-Brad

If all that's true, probably tense.

[Ice101]

naw.....the train would just have to be moving(somewhat) slow

it would be worth it though
No it'd be flat out painful. It would really irritate your neck with the forces. Even if the car went through it slowly it would still have enough forces to irritate your neck.

[Westcot]

New photo updates today from Orlando Rocks and Florida Thrills...

http://www.orlandorocks.com/1a/seaworld/all/manta/construction/1/Manta-at-Seaworld-Construction.aspx

http://www.floridathrills.net/showpost.php?p=78879&postcount=190

[Boston]

The pretzel loop is finished! :)

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42837&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=740

It looks so hot.

[zackness5]

wow! its goin up quick! :D

[CoasterJoe]

:haha: Dang, I must be dyslexic. :(

Don't worry. I'm in there with you.:p. I didnt see that. (Really I am.)(You can see in sig.)

~Joe

[Westcot]

Manta photo and video updates from yesterday...

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta6.html
http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=667025#667025
http://www.orlandorocks.com/1a/seaworld/all/manta/construction/1/Manta-at-Seaworld-Construction.aspx

Yesterday, SeaWorld hosted a "backstage preview" day. The Theme Park Review link contains a video where Brian Morrow (one of the people in charge of the Manta project) explains what exactly will happen on the ride. He mentions that the queue would be getting a 5-song original soundtrack, custom artwork, mosaics, artifacts, a lighting system (I'm guessing similar to what they use in the queue for The Seas at Epcot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6EuqxYh6Ks), starts at :57 in the link), and, of course, the manta ray aquariums.

[tycooner55]

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/files/dsc00230_161.jpg

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/files/dsc00220_140.jpg

[Westcot]

Great photos! That pretzel loop/helix looks incredible!

I'll try to get some good photos next week. :)

[cpkidOH]

Great photos! It's really cool seeing the construction of those inversions.

[Cedar Point]

It looks like Griffon. :bulb:

[zackness5]

It looks like Griffon. :bulb:

i guess a little with that paint sceam and that loop....sort of....

[RCTfangirl]

the inversions are looking good.

[KingVeveraine]

Haha yes

B&M also refused to service air once, in there opinion, they gave AT a really good prototype, but AT wanted them to sort out the problems, B&M refused, so AT stopped giving them money for the ride
Not sure what the relationship is like now.
-Brad

But, at the same time John Wardly was the one who wanted a flyer made by B&M in the first place and ignited their spark to make it, and John represents Alton, not B&M. So in theory Alton gave B&M what is fast becoming the Inverted coaster of the 21st century.

[Westcot]

Today's update from Johnnyupsidedown...

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

So far, they've completely finished the in-line spin, and are moving on to the break run. I'll most likely post (my own) video and photo update tomorrow, as well as Tuesday. :)

[Boston]

Has anyone been keeping tabs on the layout progress? I'm trying themeparkreview.com but I guess the forums are offline at the moment. I would hazard a guess that it's nearly done by now though. :confused:

[Ice101]

Has anyone been keeping tabs on the layout progress? I'm trying themeparkreview.com but I guess the forums are offline at the moment. I would hazard a guess that it's nearly done by now though. :confused:
http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta0.html

He'll have another update tomorrow with that exact link also.

[Alpengeist]

I'm sure they're just about done with the track work at this time. Whether or not every piece is in place, that I'm not sure of.

[Boston]

Well, they put the last peice of track on Manta yesterday:
http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta/m9.jpg
Between two sections of track is not where I would want to be. :haha:

They should have kept the balloons on there. :o

[Westcot]

Track completed! :D

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta/sw549.jpg

[The Ghost]

^ That looks very sexy.

[Sno]

Have to admit, it's looking delicious. :)

However, Tatsu is still in the lead in my books. This is a close second, though. Just doesn't beat the elevation Tatsu has. And the turn at the end. :)

[RCTfangirl]

Looking good!