Delirium_Guy

On Diamondback you notice the splashdown. In the back you get soaked if you turn around or lift you hands up, if you just sit there you'll get misted. In the front it looks like you are actually in the water and from the middle you see it from the sides and because of the great seating you see it ahead of you. Although non-riders can't get wet from the splashdown, they love watching it and is a great sight! And also, on SheiKra I certainly noticed the splashdown, but I have yet to visit BGE. And lastly Mantas is more un-useful as Diamondback's cause Riders don't get soaked, and either do on-lookers, and the trains don't even really touch the water, it's about the same as Backlot Stunt Coaster's. Having ridden Sheikra numerous times, the splash itself is very much unnoticeable from being on the ride itself. Spectators, yes, very much interactive. Skimming the water is cool, but in no way do you really notice the big wave behind you. You DO get wet on Manta's splashdown, apparently you haven't been reading. Its MORE effective on Manta as while you are banked on your side.....the water is literally splashing just a foot or so in front of your face. I'm pretty sure that my left side was wet from Manta's waterfall today and pretty sure my right side was wet from the splashdown.....having ridden the ride well over 40 times in the past 2 weeks I think I can accurately speak about what it does. To be fair, I'll be riding Diamondback on Friday, but since its essentially the same setup as the Dive Coasters.....I see no reason for it to be any different than Sheikra. Next thing you know someone is going to be arguing that Diamondback has better landscaping

I'm hearing that about the back seats. Still, for the most part, you wouldn't know you were even splashing through the water. I'll get back to you on Friday :-)

Indeed they do and its even MORE effective on the ride. I hadn't been able to ride the right side of the train as when we were riding during employee rides the water wasn't there, so I kept riding left side for the rockwork :-) Rode the right side of the train today, HOLY cow it looks like you are literally just inches from the water during the splashdown....and you DO get wet during the splashdown on that side of the train. The entire splash area is also very engaging for guests. Thats the thing I dont' understand about Diamondbacks splash down....its perhaps the most pointless one created as it does nothing to intereact with guests and I'm sure you barely notice it on the ride itself.....cause you don't notice it on Sheikra or Griffon.

You will love it and I know you are a sucker for theming from our chats. To be perfectly honest, this attraction could be plopped down at Disney as is and fit right in....the quality is really that great. Of course, there are a few minor small things you can nitpick over, but overall the area and entire attraction are simply beautiful. It certainly makes for an exciting view as guests walk in the Park....because the splash down area is th FIRST thing they see now. I'll get ya some more pictures with some more detail :-)

Avatar, Here are some pics that I took with my phone this afternoon. I'm going back with my camera since I'm off tomorrow, so I should have some higher quality pictures to share then. This is under the station, or under the sea :-) The line splits to head to the two different stations here This is entering the aquarium building, just after crossing the bridge from the waterfall Riders get within 2 feet of the waterfall and yes you do get wet One of the viewing windows from the rider queue line Quite a few rays already, when all is said and done there will be 300 plus 2500 other fish, including sea dragons and an octopus Not the best picture, but shows part of one of the smaller aquariums integrated into the queue Walking directly under the lift The new pathway that connects the Manta plaza and existing areas....notice all the LARGE trees that were just planted upon completion of construction.....Kings Island take note that this is called landscaping....not placing gravel down Splashdown Entrance sign. The queue enters the rock formation and actually goes behind the water fall that the train flies by Better pictures, more detailed tomorrow!

Manta took its first official guests about 230PM today. I haven't been able to take any pictures yet, but here my thoughts on the entire experience. Now that the ride has opened, I have no problem posting my opinion as I was able to ride quite a few times the past week or so. The ride flat out rocks. I've been on all 3 Superman clones plus the 2 Vekoma models. I had an idea of what to expect from Manta, much to my surprise the ride absolutely exceeded my expectations. The backseat is most certainly more intense than the front seat. I gotta admit though, being in the front and watching the Manta Lead Car spiraling ahead of you is pretty awesome. The backseat is fantastic. It starts with a nice pull over the lift and a quick whip around to the right.....the drop honestly has some bite to it and much more than what one would expect. As any of us could have anticipated, the Pretzel Loop is fantastic....it is WAY more intense than Superman's.....but I have yet to ride Tatsu but can't compare. i will tell you that a few employees that I was talking to one night HAVE been on Tatsu and they actually preferred Manta. The rest of the ride is just fun. The first inline twist is relatively slow in the back seat, but very graceful as you watch the sky spin around. The downward spiral picks up the speed VERY quick and you pull some nice g's going through it. I do want to note that before entering this element, you do appear to glide over the tree tops below. The flat spin is a lot of fun as well! Its taken pretty fast and I love the dip upon exiting it as you are facedown over the crowd on the walkway below. The block brake trims VERY little speed off the ride and the drop whips the backseat over it. I will say that the second half of the ride doesn't have so much intensity, but stands out and is INCREDIBLY effective with all the visuals in play. While riding, as the train banks out of the block brake drop, you see the wall of water that sprays in front of you for the splashdown. The climb up and turn into the waterfall turn is quick and fun. Backseat, left side is the money seat.....the waterfall is VERY VERY close and you do get wet from it on the ride. The next inversion is smooth and taken pretty fast, but the last turn on the ride is where it seems like you are just inches from the water surface on the left side of the train. Overall, the ride is AWESOME and it most certainly exceeded my expectations for it.....which doesn't happen to often to me. I know some may think I'm biased because I work there, but I am a seasoned rider and have been on plenty of coasters to make fair judgement. Definitely a backseat ride. The non-rider side of the aquarium is not open as of yet. The queue for the ride is absolutely beautiful inside, even has hidden rays engraved into the rockwork. As of now, there are rays in the main tank however it isn't anywhere near what will ultimately be in there. Even with this not being complete, the experience is wonderful. For guests not knowing anything about the attraction, it really is immersive in how they have it set up. There are multiple smaller aquariums along the way as well, some of which have yet to have their occupants move in. Once you reach the end of the aquarium building there is a greeter where the line splits to go to each of the two stations. At this point, everything is heavily lit in deep blues, given the impression of being under the sea.....and I gotta say much more effectively than the queue for Nemo at Epcot. There is a wonderful soundtrack that not only accompanies the queue line and station, but also the entire area. The Park did a wonderful job at bringing everything together, its all very cohesive. One of the coolest "little touches" that I like is the sound effect that accompanies each train as they are dispatch. A very loud thunderous type roar sounds, followed by a mix of the music from the promo video that was released back in March. The ride opend around 230 today as others have stated. The queue was filled, but not quite to the entrance. After I got off work, I walked over and decided to wait just to get the rest of the experience with the queue. Wait time was only 30 minutes. KUDOS to the crew! Fantastic job running all three trains, very impressive dispatching given its the first day of operation with guests. As you are waiting on the bridge that leads from the waterfall to the showbuilding, you will get splashed. As the last car of the train passes the waterfall, water is flung all the way over to the bridge which was unexpected, but cool This attraction has elevated the standards for BEC Parks and I feel has set the bar even higher for the SeaWorld.. Comparing the final product (well, not quite final, yet) to the artist renderings.....you won't find all that much difference. The aquarium is almost completely hidden behind the foilage that the Park has planted. The entire area is absolutely gorgeous and the ride fits in seamlessly. Its very interactive with guests and people were absolutely loving every second of it today.

Aside from the Pretzel Loop, I agree with you about the S:UF clones.....I much prefer Firehawk to those. With that said, I much prefer Manta to Firehawk. It has several moments of great intensity, obviously the pretzel is one of those. But its elements and how they interact with the surroundings are very effective. The first half is intense and super fun, the second half is fun but will rely more on the visual aspects. The waterfall appears VERY close and you do get wet from it.

Manta took its first official guests about 230PM today. I haven't been able to take any pictures yet, but here my thoughts on the entire experience. Now that the ride has opened, I have no problem posting my opinion as I was able to ride quite a few times the past week or so. The ride flat out rocks. I've been on all 3 Superman clones plus the 2 Vekoma models. I had an idea of what to expect from Manta, much to my surprise the ride absolutely exceeded my expectations. The backseat is most certainly more intense than the front seat. I gotta admit though, being in the front and watching the Manta Lead Car spiraling ahead of you is pretty awesome. The backseat is fantastic. It starts with a nice pull over the lift and a quick whip around to the right.....the drop honestly has some bite to it and much more than what one would expect. As any of us could have anticipated, the Pretzel Loop is fantastic....it is WAY more intense than Superman's.....but I have yet to ride Tatsu but can't compare. i will tell you that a few employees that I was talking to one night HAVE been on Tatsu and they actually preferred Manta. The rest of the ride is just fun. The first inline twist is relatively slow in the back seat, but very graceful as you watch the sky spin around. The downward spiral picks up the speed VERY quick and you pull some nice g's going through it. I do want to note that before entering this element, you do appear to glide over the tree tops below. The flat spin is a lot of fun as well! Its taken pretty fast and I love the dip upon exiting it as you are facedown over the crowd on the walkway below. The block brake trims VERY little speed off the ride and the drop whips the backseat over it. I will say that the second half of the ride doesn't have so much intensity, but stands out and is INCREDIBLY effective with all the visuals in play. While riding, as the train banks out of the block brake drop, you see the wall of water that sprays in front of you for the splashdown. The climb up and turn into the waterfall turn is quick and fun. Backseat, left side is the money seat.....the waterfall is VERY VERY close and you do get wet from it on the ride. The next inversion is smooth and taken pretty fast, but the last turn on the ride is where it seems like you are just inches from the water surface on the left side of the train. Overall, the ride is AWESOME and it most certainly exceeded my expectations for it.....which doesn't happen to often to me. I know some may think I'm biased because I work there, but I am a seasoned rider and have been on plenty of coasters to make fair judgement. Definitely a backseat ride. The non-rider side of the aquarium is not open as of yet. The queue for the ride is absolutely beautiful inside, even has hidden rays engraved into the rockwork. As of now, there are rays in the main tank however it isn't anywhere near what will ultimately be in there. Even with this not being complete, the experience is wonderful. For guests not knowing anything about the attraction, it really is immersive in how they have it set up. There are multiple smaller aquariums along the way as well, some of which have yet to have their occupants move in. Once you reach the end of the aquarium building there is a greeter where the line splits to go to each of the two stations. At this point, everything is heavily lit in deep blues, given the impression of being under the sea.....and I gotta say much more effectively than the queue for Nemo at Epcot. There is a wonderful soundtrack that not only accompanies the queue line and station, but also the entire area. The Park did a wonderful job at bringing everything together, its all very cohesive. One of the coolest "little touches" that I like is the sound effect that accompanies each train as they are dispatch. A very loud thunderous type roar sounds, followed by a mix of the music from the promo video that was released back in March. The ride opend around 230 today as others have stated. The queue was filled, but not quite to the entrance. After I got off work, I walked over and decided to wait just to get the rest of the experience with the queue. Wait time was only 30 minutes. KUDOS to the crew! Fantastic job running all three trains, very impressive dispatching given its the first day of operation with guests. As you are waiting on the bridge that leads from the waterfall to the showbuilding, you will get splashed. As the last car of the train passes the waterfall, water is flung all the way over to the bridge which was unexpected, but cool This attraction has elevated the standards for BEC Parks and I feel has set the bar even higher for the SeaWorld.. Comparing the final product (well, not quite final, yet) to the artist renderings.....you won't find all that much difference. The aquarium is almost completely hidden behind the foilage that the Park has planted. The entire area is absolutely gorgeous and the ride fits in seamlessly. Its very interactive with guests and people were absolutely loving every second of it today.

Johnny Upside down has posted a new update. Ride is tentatively scheduled to soft open next Friday, but that could easily change. People are going to be surprised, thats all I'll say about it. Its absolutely fantastic, exceeded my expectations by a long shot actually.....and that doesn't happen very often for me! Park is doing a phenominal job with the landscaping, with the finishing touches being put in place and the new pathways about to be poured. The second half of the ride is turning out to be an incredibly VISUAL experience....the waterfall rocks are AWFULLY close in the back left seat and the same seat comes daringly close to what will soon be water during the very last turn. The splashdown pond is currently being painted a very deep ocean blue and more and more trees continue to be brought in.....we're talking BIG BIG trees. Its quite astonishing to go back and look at the construction site from say, December....when the trackwork had just been completed. I would have never dreamed it would be looking like it does now..... Here's the update http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta0.html

Funny to hear you say that :-) I seem to recall all those visits to Coaster Celebration where *I* adored the ride....even with the shoulder restraints and you detested it! Funny how things change, shame I didnt make it back in time to experience it with the lap bars :-( I also agree with what tigellinus says, Poltergeist & Joker's Jinx put FoF to shame....especially with how FoF is operated now.

Regarding an opening date, it was originally going to be opening officially on Memorial Day weekend....same as Manta. However the pictures that were posted from Tuesday? They reflect how the ride has looked for almost a month now. Rumor has it that there is a serious engineering issue with the lift that is going to require serious modifications....hence why vertical construction has halted with the lift being the ONLY part left to complete. So it goes, late June / early July may be the soonest we get to take the first rides! Looks like its promising though and its certainly changed the skyline at Universal.

On a random note....lets add a 3rd B&M to the list that valleyed.....Kraken valleyed during an early morning test this morning :-) Ride was down all day after. We experienced very gusty winds plus temps were in the low 40's this morning here in Orlando. It can happen anywhere!

I haven't had a chance to take any pictures, but the construction walls have came down around the first half of the ride. The pathway that runs from the former Gulliver's Gift Shop to Smokey Creek has re-opened! While the ride may or may not be everyone's cup of tea or their favorite, there is no denying that SeaWorld has done a FANTASTIC job landscaping. I'm so impressed with the area that they have completed, the ride fits so naturally into the landscape and looks like its always been a permanent fixture of the park. Can't wait to see what the other side turns out like, it already looks great with what they have done. Anyway, RCPro has posted an update with some great new pictures that really show off the landscaping... www.rollercoasterpro.com/updates/swo03.30.09/

I prefer the Vekoma versions to the Superman flyers.....except the Prezel Loop. Its one hell of an element that nothing on the Vekoma's can touch. I haven't ridden Tatsu, but I haven't talked to one person who did not love it. Like you're friend, most tend to agree that its the best flyer out there. I think Manta is going to fall somewhere in the middle. I can't fairly compare to Tatus, like I said, but I don't see Manta providing the intensity that Tatus reportedly provides.....but I think it'll be far superior to the Superman rides and I think I'm gonna enjoy it more than the Vekoma flyers. I'll be finding out soon enough I suppose. - Todd, who enjoys Firehawk tremendously

SeaWorld gave the media a preview of the trains for Manta as well as the overall construction site and aquarium today. Please see the article at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attr...0,4731496.story which also includes the preview video that the Park put out for the ride. Also please see the photo gallery at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attr...09.photogallery in which they have uploaded about 25 new pictures taken from the tour today. They give a great preview of large ray aquarium from up above in the maintainance area and also some previews taken from within the non-rider and rider queue itself. The ray aquarium is just 1 of 10 that will be featured in the queue and non-rider experience! The trains look GREAT, I'm very very happy with the color choices. Of course there are still details to be added, but even if they did nothing else to them they are looking darn good. - Todd, who has been walking by Manta daily for the past year and is just ready to ride!

Although I haven't been to Dollywood yet, I know for a Fact I would prefer SOB over Thundehead. I would prefer SOB over any other wooden coaster in the world except Balder, T-Express, Voyage, El Toro, and Colossos at Heide park. WOW, thats a pretty bold statement.....what makes those rides so special? I'm glad SOB has a few fans, but personally I'd rather see the thing torched....its definitely in my bottom 10 out of over 100 wooden coasters ridden :-/. In any event, you can't state for a fact that you would prefer SOB to any other wooden coaster in the world, how could you possibly until you've actually ridden them? - Todd, who had a horrible last ride on SOB.....

Thanks for the compliments :-) I remember you planning your trip down for Halloween Horror Nights! First things first, Discovery Cove. Seriously, there is no reason why anyone should be disappointed with the experience. Are you guys doing the non-swim or dolphin swim? I was truly amazed by the entire park. Its small, but much larger than what I anticipated. The River is outstanding, we floated in it for a good two hours and just kept going around and around, nice touch was that you floated through the aviary. The snorkeling was great too, some of the rays that they have in there are HUGE....especially the spotted eagle rays. Not gonna lie, they freaked me out a little :-) What I enjoyed most was the guest service. Its every bit the guest service that Disney provides, if not better. Mix all that in with the great food (which is all inclusive) and beer (which is also all inclusive) and you have an experience that you can't get anywhere else in Orlando. Now, regarding your massive trip....which sounds like something I'd do....hey Terpy remember those trips? 1) Since you are going in the off-season, obviously the crowds are going to be very light. If you are wanting to do *everything* the Parks offer, you may want to plan for an extra day to go back and hit one of them again. I'll kinda break it down for you. Busch Tampa - You should definitely only need a day here. Most likely they will close at 6PM. Hitting the coasters will be no issue for you, lines are always minimal...most of the time they only run one train on Kumba, Montu and Gwazi....Sheikra typically has at least 2-3. With that said, when crowds demand, they are excellent at quickly getting an additional train on. As for shows, the *only* show I recommend in the entire Park is Katonga. Now, I just did the Pirates in 4D on Monday for the first time, its kinda cool too. If you have visited the Park before, then you definitely do not need more than a day.....most of the time I'm done in a few hours :-) SeaWorld - Again, 6PM close most likely. You're only gonna need a day. Kraken never had more than a 10 minute wait most days, Journey to Atlantis gets a bit of a line sometimes due to being the only water ride and its still pretty warm through September and October. No doubt that Manta will be your longest wait. Like BGT, if you've visited the Park before, then you don't have to worry about all the shows. The key ones to hit would be Blue Horizons, Believe, and Clyde & Seamore. Universal & IOA - Given the budget cuts that Universal is making currently with the big productions like Sinbad, Poseidon, Twister and Disaster!, you may be able to do both parks in a day ;-) No, seriously, Islands of Adventure will take you absolutely no time to hit everything in the Park in just a few hours. 2) Regarding the shuttle from SW to Busch Gardens, do yourself a favor and drive yourself. Its a nice convenience to have, I've taken it once, however if you want to maximize your park time drive yourself....that way you aren't at the mercy of the bus schedule. 3) As for your Saturday park, SeaWorld or Busch Gardens are probably your better choices. Speaking from personal experience by working for SeaWorld, I can say that Saturdays typically aren't that much busier than weekdays. Now, if you are coming in October, Saturdays will be busier regardless.....SeaWorld has Spooktacular which brings in BIG crowds through the day since its a family event, of course you also have Howl-O-Scream and Halloween Horrow Nights going on in BGT and Universal as well. 4) I always have lots to add :-) But hit me up with a private message with any other questions, I will shoot you my email address if ya want. Manta officially opens Memorial Day Weekend, banners went up in the Park today. However, soft opening is quite likely in late April. HRRR is growing by leaps and bounds and is nearing completion as well. So you'll have lots to look forward to this fall! - Todd

Ya never know what will happen by then, but I'd say its unlikely. They are offering great deals for Discovery Cove for Florida residents, with the non-swim booking for $99 and the Dolphin Tow for $199. Given that the place *still* books solid almost every day, lower rates may not be on the horizon :-) Have you done DC before? If you haven't, you won't be disappointed. Even working for the company, I didn't "get" paying the money to go. I finally did, of course with a nice discount, WOW. Even if I weren't an employee, I'd have no problem paying the money to go back. Its absolutely wonderful, hard to imagine that you aren't on a deserted island somewhere.....but rather right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Orlando Attractions corridor. The park is top notch and the experience is great. I've been back two more times since my first visit in December! - Todd

Not so much Warner Bros, but JK Rowling who from rumors that circulate was incredibly difficult to work with. Honestly, the rumors very much remind me of how Seuss Landing came to be. Both parties were very specific for how they expected their characters to come to life. If you believe all that comes down the pipe from Jim Hill, even Disney was trying to get their hands on Potter. Its definitely shaping up to be an impressive addition. Now that Lost Continent is under massive transformation at this point, you can get a better understand of the scale of this project. Right now they are saing 2010, but as always, rumors are abound that a late 2009 soft opening is possible. IF that turns out to be the case and you add in HRRR, Universal could end up enjoying a great year.....this year and next. - Todd

Went to check out the American Idol Experience tonight at DHS. I had no expectations for the show going in, I've been questioning the addition of it since the beginning. With that said, as somewhat of a fan of the show, I enjoyed it VERY much. We went to the 5PM show then returned at 7PM for the finale. In times where Parks seem to be focusing more on experience and really getting the guests involved, this show absolutely excels. They have done a great job at creating an all around memorable experience for the guest performers as well as the audience. In our first show, the performers were kinda lacking. It was nothing more than karaoke quite honestly. The finale however brought some very talented people from earlier shows back. The audience was very much into it and the finalist did a great job. The premise is obviously the same as the show, right down to the judges. 3 of them set to immitate Randy, Paula and Simon. Cheesy lines, but I suppose it only adds to the experience :-) Clips of prior Idol winners are also shown as they are appearing to be giving the contestants advice and such. For those who miss the shows or can't get in because they are full, they do show some of it on the big screen located on the front of the theater. Once again, it seems as if Disney has another winner for an attraction on their hands right now. I still question the staying power of it, but for the time being, its a fun addition and much more detailed and involved than I anticipated! - Todd

I'm not sure why this is just now surfacing. We've had Quick Que running in the Park since around September now. Yes, the pricing is varied. IMHO, the only time its beneficial *most* of the time is for the shows, in particular Believe. Believe fills to capacity at almost every show during the summer. The rides its nice to have, but lines typically aren't a huge problem in the first place. Manta will obviously be the exception when it opens in May. - Todd

Absolutely! While I'm still questioning the Flying Turns and what the payoff will be, there is a lot of respect for Knoebels trying to resurrect a piece of history. As for as High Speed Thrill Coaster, this is perhaps the most devasting ride removal news I've read in a LONG time. It may not look like much, but god what a terribly fun ride at PPP! That thing produced killer airtime, no joke, when they cranked it up to full speed. It will most DEFINITELY be missed by many people! - Todd

Uhhh, the only Disney Parks that I think food is palatable are EPCOT in the various pavilions and Plastic Animal Land. <G> I am always pleased with the food selection at Disney. EPCOT is my favorite, yes, all of the World Showcase restaurants are oustanding. Animal Kingdom has Yak & Yeti plus its quick service counter part....its reasonable and the food is GOOD. Magic Kingdom has Columbia House thats reasonable, nice portions and again good food. Terpy is right in that the prices are reasonable, especially compared to the likes of Cedar Fair and Six Flags. In fact when a 20oz bottle of Coke was selling in the vending machines at KI for $3.50.....they were selling for $2 in the machines at Disney. - Todd, even at SeaWorld the food prices are cheaper and the quality BETTER

The last piece of track was hoisted into placed yesterday for Manta......JohnnyUpsideDown.com has two pictures sent out from the Park. You can see the pictures at http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta0.html . Overall, the project is going up fast and looking better and better each day. I've heard from several people that the trains are on-site as well, but being stored underneath Wild Arctic in a storage area underneath the ride itself. I do recall talking to one of the leads at Arctic few weeks back and her commenting that they did temporarily shut down one side due to a delivery for Manta. Despite the Park still touting a Summer 2009 opening in a recent interview, all signage IN park have been updated to reflect a Spring 2009 opening. I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see a possible soft opening by April when all the Spring Breakers are out and about.....of course this is purely speculation on my part.