Manta (SeaWorld Orlando)

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manta
The fake contact with the water

The fake contact with the water

Data
Location SeaWorld Orlando
( Orlando , Florida , USA )
Type Steel - Flying
model Flying Coaster
Drive type Chain lift hill
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
opening May 22, 2009
length 1024 m
height 43 m
Departure 34 m
Max. speed 90 km / h
Travel time 2:35 min
capacity 1500 people per hour
Trains 3 trains, 8 cars / train, 1 row of seats / car, 4 seats / row of seats
elements 30 m high Pretzel loop ,
2 × inline twist ,
corkscrew
Inversions 4th
Theming Rays and underwater world

Manta in the US American amusement park SeaWorld Orlando ( Orlando , Florida ) is a steel roller coaster of the Flying Coaster model from the Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard , which was opened on May 22, 2009 after eight months of construction. On the 1024 meter long and 43 meter high route, the trains accelerate to a top speed of 90 km / h. The passengers ride through four inversions in a lying position in the trains designed as rays .

history

One of the three trains from Manta

SeaWorld presented the concept for Manta to representatives of the tourism industry on April 2nd, 2008 after several years of planning. The park did not provide any details about the railway. It was only said that it would be the largest investment in a single ride in the park's history and that the ride would open in 2009. It was also revealed that although it was a roller coaster, the attraction would be more than just a roller coaster. The park's vice president of sales and marketing , Joseph Couceiro, described the ride as the "next generation attraction at SeaWorld" that would immerse visitors in the marine life.

Artworks for the new attraction were made public in April 2008. Since SeaWorld did not publish the pictures, those responsible did not want to confirm that the system would ultimately correspond to the artwork. On March 12, 2008, an application for trademark protection for the name "Manta" as a ride was submitted. On May 29, 2008, the park gave further details about the attraction and officially confirmed that the track would be called “Manta”.

In September 2008 the construction of the station building and the line began. The company Superior Rigging & Erection built the supports and rails for Manta . The rails closed in December 2008. From the beginning of May 2009, visitors were able to get an impression of Manta as part of a soft opening before the attraction was opened to the public on May 22nd.

layout

After the train has left the double charging station, it climbs the 43 meter high lift hill . Once at the top, he takes a right-hand bend down the 34-meter-high First Drop and enters the 30-meter-high Pretzel Loop . The train then completes a left turn and enters the first of two inline twists , whereupon it winds through the corkscrew after a left-right curve combination . After a right turn, he comes into the block brake . Then the train appears to touch the water on a 270 ° right-hand bend close to the ground and then passes a 13-meter-high waterfall designed as a near-miss element . The train goes through the second inline twist and is finally decelerated to walking speed by the final brake and drives back to the station building.

Theming

At Manta , special emphasis was placed on the waiting area. This was designed with mosaics and works of art by rays so that it is reminiscent of a coastal town. On the 16,000 m² area of ​​the attraction there are ten aquariums which together hold 700,000 liters of water. Around 3000 animals of 60 different species live in the aquariums. In addition to over 300 rays, seahorses , large shredded fish and other tropical fish species can also be observed.

Some of the aquariums can also be viewed by visitors who do not want to ride the roller coaster. These visitors can use a second entrance, which is separated from the waiting area for the roller coaster. However, the waiting passengers have access to special exhibition parts.

technology

rail

Overview of the plant

Manta’s steel rail is 1024 meters long and at its highest point, the top of the lift hill, 43 meters high. Bolliger & Mabillard had them manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia in southwest Ohio . The rail is dark blue and the supports light blue. In order to reduce the noise, the rail is filled with sand in some places. Friction brakes are installed at various points along the route, with which the system control can adjust the speed of the train if necessary.

In order to increase capacity, Manta uses a double charging station in which two trains can be dispatched simultaneously on parallel tracks. For this purpose, there is a switch in front of and behind the station building that divides the rail line or brings it together again.

Trains

Manta at SeaWorld Orlando 08.jpg
Manta at SeaWorld Orlando 10.jpg


On the left the sitting position during loading, on the right shortly before departure in a lying position.

Manta has three Flying Coaster trains from Bolliger & Mabillard with eight rows of seats for four people each. The theoretical capacity is 1500 people per hour. The passengers are held in their seats by lap bars and “vests” attached to them, which extend over the upper body. In addition, the feet are secured by special holders.

The first car of the train is designed as a manta ray with a width of 3.7 meters. The original plan was for the wings of the first car to have contact with the water at some point along the route, but Bolliger & Mabillard had concerns about this concept. Instead, fountains were installed that “simulate” contact with water. SeaWorld can influence the degree of moisture by adjusting the duration and level of this “splash effect”.

reception

Manta was received mostly positively by critics. The Busch Entertainment Corporation , the parent company of SeaWorld Orlando, leads the increasing number of visitors to the opening of Manta back. In July 2009 Manta was voted “Best New Attraction” 2009 by the Theme Park Insider website . The industry journal Amusent Today also named Manta the best new ride of 2009. In the "Best Roller Coaster Poll" ranking, Manta placed 23rd in the opening year 2009.

Web links

Commons : Manta  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Duane Marden: Manta. rcdb.com, accessed January 22, 2014 .
  2. ^ Dewayne Bevil: SeaWorld's new roller coaster Manta on track for May opening. Orlando Sentinel, March 4, 2009; archived from the original on March 27, 2010 ; accessed on January 21, 2014 (English).
  3. ^ A b c Scott Powers: New SeaWorld Orlando coaster / animal attraction revealed. Orlando Sentinel, April 2, 2008; archived from the original on October 20, 2012 ; accessed on January 21, 2014 (English).
  4. ↑ Images of SeaWorld's Planned Orlando Roller Coaster. (No longer available online.) Wftv.com, April 22, 2008, archived from the original on February 2, 2014 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.wftv.com
  5. ↑ Manta. United States Patent and Trademark Office, March 12, 2008, accessed January 22, 2014 .
  6. ↑ Ted Jackovics: Journey like a manta ray - without getting wet. Sarasota Herald-Tribune, May 30, 2008, accessed January 22, 2014 .
  7. ↑ a b Dewayne Bevil: SeaWorld's Manta set to be born (sometime) in May. Orlando Sentinal, January 21, 2009, archived from the original on April 17, 2009 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English).
  8. ↑ Portfolio. (No longer available online.) Superior Rigging & Erection Company, archived from the original on February 2, 2014 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.superiorrigging.com
  9. ↑ Dawayne Bevil: SeaWorld: Public can preview Manta at noon on May 5. Orlando Sentinel, April 30th 2009, archived from the original on October 20, 2012 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English).
  10. ↑ a b CoasterForce: Manta Front Row on-ride POV Seaworld Orlando. Video on YouTube, November 5, 2009, accessed January 22, 2014 .
  11. ^ A b c Dewayne Bevil: On the scene with Manta at SeaWorld Orlando. Orlando Sentinel May 4, 2009; Archived from the original on June 15, 2009 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English).
  12. ↑ a b c d e Dewayne Bevil: Manta on demand: more details about SeaWorld coaster under construction. Orlando Sentinel, November 17, 2008; archived from the original on December 3, 2008 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English).
  13. ^ Manta, ride the flying ray fact sheet. SeaWorld Orlando, archived from the original on March 17, 2009 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English).
  14. ^ Scott Powers: SeaWorld emphasizes animals in planned new roller coaster. Orlando Sentinel, May 29, 2008; Archived from the original on June 2, 2008 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English).
  15. ^ Scott Powers: SeaWorld releases photos of Manta construction. Orlando Sentinal, September 4, 2008, archived from the original on September 16, 2008 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English).
  16. ^ Manta - Sea World - Orlando - Loading Station. Video on YouTube, May 5, 2009, accessed January 22, 2014 .
  17. ↑ Mark Albright: Sea World's Roller coaster's designer fulfills lifelong ambition. (No longer available online.) Tampa Bay Times, May 9, 2009, archived from the original on February 2, 2014 ; accessed on January 22, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.tampabay.com
  18. ↑ Jason Garcia: New Universal coaster spinning its wheels. Orlando Sentinel, June 27, 2009; archived from the original on July 3, 2009 ; accessed on January 21, 2014 (English).
  19. ^ Dewayne Bevil: Manta, Epcot restaurant, Portofino Bay nab Theme Park Insider awards. Orlando Sentinel, July 3, 2009; archived from the original on March 28, 2012 ; accessed on January 21, 2014 (English).
  20. ↑ Golden Ticket Bonus Issue. Amusement Today, November 10, 2010; Archived from the original on November 10, 2010 ; accessed on January 21, 2014 (English).
  21. ↑ Mitch Hawker: Steel Roller Coaster Poll 12 Year Results Table (1999 - 2012). Retrieved January 24, 2014 .

Coordinates: 28 ° 24 ′ 42.9 "  N , 81 ° 27 ′ 40.7"  W.