Mostly everything about this ride is all but confirmed at this point in time. The park plans to formally announce the new attraction and other 2009 additions soon.

Construction is currently underway, there's no doubt about that. The area the new attraction and surrounding feature buildings will be installed in is quite large. Lots of land clearing has already been underway for awhile now.

Named after the largest species of the ray family --- Manta, it is also commonly known as the "devil ray" because of its large size, ominous appearance, and bizarre frontal lobes that initially appear to be horns. The new ride's moniker is appropriate for the attraction.

The new ride, a "Flying" roller coaster from designers Bolliger & Mabillard will keep up with SeaWorld Adventure Park's recent trend of combining world-class roller coaster thrill adventures with marine life animal encounters into one spectacular attraction every thrill-seeking park visitor will enjoy.

Here are a few artist renderings of the attraction and its surrounding. Note that a spectator "splash" area will be a prominent highlight of the attraction. This effect will be similar to those found on the SheiKra and Griffon roller coasters at Anheuser Busch's other parks in the States. The ray-shaped vehicles will enter steep bank on its side --- skimming a lagoon, sending a heavy spray of water into an adjacent viewing patio area.

Concept Art / Artist Rendering

Construction Photographs

Orlando Sentinel Article

I saw those renderings on TPR and, while they look cool, they look like they were made in MS Paint by someone with too much time on their hands.
If those are real it looks like the people in the back of the train get completely soaked.

I'm going to wait until SeaWorld officially announces it with their official renderings to make any other kind of judgment though.

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ThrillNetwork Moderator
The user formerly known as WildeFyre
UOIT Mechanical Engineering Student

Those artist renderings are extremely similar to the ones of Griffon right before it was announced.

Those renderings are a little on the janky side.

If it's true it looks pretty cool. Finally a flying coaster in Orlando.

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2009 Carolina Cobra Crew
Go Panthers! 4-6: Week 12 @ New York Jets

#6 North Carolina Tarheels 4-1

Wow, that's not how I imagined the water splash down would be like. This attempt would be safer than the near full emergence that I was dreaming of. It's got the Alpengeist effect with the zero car on. This one might be more decorative and I'm glad it'll be on this one. Does it really test the POV worthiness for Alvey with the potential to soak?

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

That art looks awesome. Seworld is quickly becoming a MAJOR player in Orlando. Like a must visit. Manta and Kraken is the best 1-2 punch for coasters in one park in Orlando in my opinion. And then with Aquatica, SWO is a two day experience.

But I guess Universal is adding the Simpsons and that coaster to the studios that looks awesome. And of course Harry Potter. Disney needs to pick it up.

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Does anyone know how many inversions this coaster will have? Also I cant get the Renderings to show up, can someone please post them.

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

Hopefully some more Busch parks follow suit!

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I posted them in a zip folder on Theme Park Review, there are a few sites that still have them up. I will have them on my site once it becomes official but for now. There are smaller versions on the page as the large versions are 4 times the size you see in my post.
If you want the full versions of the graphics go here download the zip folder that is below the 3 graphics.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum...2837&start=123

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Johnny Upsidedown's Roller Coaster Website
www.Johnnyupsidedown.com
Stop by and take a look at lots of coaster photos, construction and trip reports.

The ride will have an 80 degree drop

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Dirty Tramp

^Where did you hear that?

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When I made it up, but I wish it was true. I guess technically a pretzel loop does have around a 180* drop though...

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Dirty Tramp

It looks like there will be two skirts with the water. In the illustrations there's the left side and then the right side splashing water.

I think there's a MCBR before the right side turn water skirt. This is just an illustration observation of course.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

I'm really interested in what the layout of this ride ends up being. I'm a little worried that it's going to be relatively tame and focus more on the splashdowns and other theming instead of the ride itself.

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TV/Event Guide Editor

I highly doubt it will be tame. We can't read too much into these drawings.

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It's Seaworld. It might just bend that way. It might be my closest interaction with Air?

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

I think that's what Sea World is trying to do. They probably don't want something intense like Kraken, but they want a more substantial coaster than Atlantis. It's in between. As long as they have some of the ride on your back that would be cool. Air is still the only one.

I just cannot, CANNOT, get excited about a flying coaster. I love Sea World, the theming looks cool and all, but flying coasters have got to be my least favorite coasters out there.

Also, call me crazy, but I spot a pretzel loop in the back left of the artistic rendering.

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HANNAH MONTANA!!!!!!!!!
TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM!!!!!
"I'm living proof....THAT GIRLS CAN ROCK!!!!!!"

They're already missing the wheel covers. That's weird for a B&M.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

I'm pretty sure none of the B&M flyers have the wheel covers.

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HANNAH MONTANA!!!!!!!!!
TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM!!!!!
"I'm living proof....THAT GIRLS CAN ROCK!!!!!!"

Nope, They dont but this one will need them if they are going to get wet. Thats also alot of extra cost in upkeep if the train always stays wet as well as the track.

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2009 Carolina Cobra Crew
Go Panthers! 4-6: Week 12 @ New York Jets

#6 North Carolina Tarheels 4-1

Lots of new work has begun at Sea World Florida for Manta. Lots of dirt work being done, footers getting dug and the beginnings of pond work has begun.
Lots of photos from todays 5-13-08 update can be seen here
http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta.html

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Johnny Upsidedown's Roller Coaster Website
www.Johnnyupsidedown.com
Stop by and take a look at lots of coaster photos, construction and trip reports.

I'm really excited about this coaster. Not sure why. Either cause it's a new layout for a B&M coaster or the splash dowm alone but im excited.

I'll be checking your site often to keep up to date with the construction of this bad boy.

You always have some of the greatest pictures.

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2009 Carolina Cobra Crew
Go Panthers! 4-6: Week 12 @ New York Jets

#6 North Carolina Tarheels 4-1

Interesting to note that a few of the new-for-2009 coasters [Kings Island, Worlds of Fun, SeaWorld Orlando] are getting a relatively early start on construction preparation (compared to previous years).

This is not even an August, September start time. Excellent point.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

Dont forget Great America (CF).

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

And Hollywood Rip,Ride,and Rockit at Universal Studios Florida.

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Agreed, maybe most of the none year round parks are going to try and get open sooner then late May. Or could just be the parks are learning to get started sooner so that there is not so much of a rush to get it done and elimante delays and other things when they get to the opening day. It seems that the last year or two parks were faced with delays and all kinds of things and were in a rush to get the rides open. I know some of the media day events I have been to in the past couple of years the parks were still painting and working on the rides.

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Johnny Upsidedown's Roller Coaster Website
www.Johnnyupsidedown.com
Stop by and take a look at lots of coaster photos, construction and trip reports.

Well Cedar Fair learned with Hydra and Silver Bullet that it's much easier to start earlier than work hard later. I guess Voodoo was a bit of a rush.

And Busch always knows how to get a coaster open on time, like not buying from Intamin at all

All these are really good reasons, but this is a REALLY early start. Like 3-4, months. Most of those delays were for only a week or two, and none (I don't think) were more than one month.

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