Manta (SeaWorld Orlando)

Manta is a steel flying roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida, United States. The attraction allows guests to encounter numerous species of ray before boarding a manta ray-shaped train that takes them on a 3359 ft roller coaster ride above the park, reaching top speeds of 56 mph. Designed by Swiss firm Bolliger & Mabillard, Manta restrains riders in the prone position and features four inversions. The well-received attraction officially opened to the public on May 22, 2009. Its slogan is "Dive deep, fly high...".[3]

History

SeaWorld Orlando revealed the concept that was to become Manta to a gathering of travel industry representatives and community leaders on April 2, 2008,[4] although it had been in the planning stages for years.[5] The exact specifications were not immediately revealed, but the park said it would be their largest single investment in an attraction and that it would open sometime in 2009.[4]

Design

Theme and surrounding experience

Manta is an attraction which encompasses a themed queue and a roller coaster. The queue is designed to resemble a seaside village decorated with mosaics and artwork inspired by rays. Within the attraction's 4 acre site are ten aquaria containing 184,000 USgal of water. Approximately 3,000 animals representing over 60 species are visible—including over 300 rays, such as cownose rays and spotted eagle rays. Other creatures on display include sea horses, leafy seadragons and tropical fish.[11]

Portions of the aquarium exhibit can be viewed by guests who do not wish to ride the roller coaster.[12] Non-riding guests can use a second entrance to the attraction area, which is separated from those waiting for the roller coaster.[13] Guests in the ride's queue have access to special exhibit components, such as a Plexiglas "pop-up" window into the aquarium. Manta's rails, supports and track are filled with sand to reduce noise.[13]

Trains and loading procedure

Manta is a flying roller coaster, which simulates the sensation of flight. It is designed to resemble the way rays—mantas in particular—appear to fly through seawater. Guests are initially seated upright on the trains[13] in one of eight rows that hold four passengers each, accommodating up to 32 riders.[14] Manta operates with three trains. Before departure, mechanisms in the station raise the cars up to the track, such that the riders' spines are parallel to the track.[13] Guests are secured in their seats using a locking lap bar, a vest-like harness and flaps at the riders' ankles to hold their feet in place.[14][15]

The cars are highly stylized. The lead car is shaped like a manta ray with a wingspan of 12 ft.[14]

Track

The steel track of Manta is 3359 ft long and lift hill is 140 ft high. There are four inversions; a pretzel loop, two inline twists and one corkscrew. The track is dark blue and the supports are light blue. Sand is placed inside some sections of track to reduce the noise produced by the trains.[13] Friction brakes are used to control the speed of the train.[18] The track was fabricated at the Ohio-based Clermont Steel Fabricators.[19] In 2015, a clone of Manta opened at Nagashima Spa Land under the name of Acrobat.[20]

logodimensions	125px
imagedimensions	250px
location	SeaWorld Orlando
section	Sea of Shallows
coordinates	28.41194°N, -81.46167°W
status	Operating
opened	May 22, 2009
soft opened	May 5, 2009
year	2009
cost	$50,000,000‡R1R‡
type	Steel
type2	Flying
manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
designer	PGAV Destinations
model	Flying Coaster – Manta
lift	Chain lift hill
height ft	140
drop ft	113
length ft	3359
speed mph	56
duration	2:36
capacity	1,500
gforce	3.7 ‡R2R‡
restriction in	54
trains	3
carspertrain	8
rowspercar	1
ridersperrow	4
virtual queue name	Quick Queue
virtual queue image	Quick Queue availability logo.svg
virtual queue status	available
rcdb number	4190

Manta (SeaWorld Orlando)

History

Design

Theme and surrounding experience

Trains and loading procedure

Track

Ride experience

Reception

See also

External links

References