The ride was finally officially announced today. It is going to be a great addition to the Park and certainly change the skyline and feel of the Park as guests enter. Keeping up with recent trends in the other BEC Parks......animal interaction mixed in with the actual attraction. Even for those choosing not to ride will be able to have the same animal experience as those queueing up. I haven't been really taking any pics of the construction site, but heavy construction work is now underway. I plan to document the construction in some form, I'll be sure to post some pics from time to time.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_...ls-on-mant.html

- Todd

This looks like a really cool concept. Keep us posted!

Sweet. Looks like a trip to Sea World is due next year.

I second that one! I never have been and my uncle had hopper passes for working at Disney's World Wide of Sports complex for the Braves I hope he has some next summer I will be there when it opens. Wow I think that artwork from the coaster's partial layout they show is awesome looking!

I like how we are now celebrating the animal that killed one the national hero of Australia, Steve Irwin aka The Crocodile Hunter

I'm not following you...I suppose by your logic we should close all Shark exhibits and cancel shark week on the Discovery Channel since people have been attacked by sharks?

^ all those people national heroes?

I don't think SeaWorld named their ride Manta for the sole reason that it happened to be the kind of animal that killed a certain person.

You might have something if it was like KI naming a ride after a sea creature which has nothing to do with the park.

Maybe he means, I don't know, Australian national heroes? America isn't the only country ya know...

Maybe he means, I don't know, Australian national heroes? America isn't the only country ya know...

He actually said national hero of Australia, but the first time I read it I saw national hero of A....a

That's why I changed my post.

So, then, anyone who is not a public figure who have been attacked by sharks or other animals are less important?

Now, if they were naming it Steve Irwin: The Experience, then you might have an arguement.

^ I'm not saying that but to the Australians Steve Irwin was their guy. He would be like any of the Presidents are to the Americans. So to them yes we are less important.

Yes, but this is not being built in Australia. It's in ORLANDO! No matter how you slice it, this is NOT a slight to Steve Irwin.

Better take automobiles off the road too. I'm sure some celebrities have been killed in auto accidents as well. And they seem to be just as important to a lot of us as Steve was to Australia.

I like how we are now celebrating the animal that killed one the national hero of Australia, Steve Irwin aka The Crocodile Hunter

Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray, not a manta ray.

^ I'm not saying that but to the Australians Steve Irwin was their guy. He would be like any of the Presidents are to the Americans. So to them yes we are less important.

I'd say that Sea World best not build a Manta in Australia, then.

Otherwise, they should be fine.

Track showing up at Seaworld today.

I am reliably told Manta's largest and tallest support was put up today!

The backbone of that track is 2-3x the size of the track at KI.

I am reliably told Manta's largest and tallest support was put up today!

That is correct, although I am unsure if it is the highest......there may be one more. They also have a few other supports up near the base of the lift hill. Tank walls have been poured and block work is underway for the Lost Cay entryway. It is amazing how much things have came together in the past month. While it seemed like little progress was being made then, now you can get a feel for how much they really were accomplishing. Like Diamondback, Manta will feature a fairly steep lift hill. Although just that one support is up, it already has changed the entire area. I was only able to snap a quick shot with my phone, I will try to get it posted over here shortly.

* Here are a few pics

Station area

View from Bayside / Wild Arctic area

Highest Lift Support in place

Block work progressing on the entry way and aquarium

This is from the Smoky Creek BBQ area

- Todd

Also, rumor has it that Manta will have been topped off and vertical construction rapidly picking up pace by the end of the month.....stay tuned

^^Is there any way you could turn that last picture around? I am a hankering for some southern BBQ.

I am actually the first person to get pics of Manta on the road.

I won 2 free tickets, first ride on Manta.

Don't believe me, Ill copy and paste the email he sent me.

I am actually the first person to get pics of Manta on the road.

I won 2 free tickets, first ride on Manta.

Don't believe me, Ill copy and paste the email he sent me.

Congrats on winning the contest, according to the count down clock above the employee gate, Memorial Day seems to be the target date. BTW, its not the FIRST ride on Manta, but rather front of line access to the ride once its open. Either way, I'm glad to see a more proactive approach for this ride. I don't recall a lot of buzz about Kraken when it was built, in fact much of the ride was a mystery until it started to be built. They definitely have released more information with Manta, though the layout hasn't been published anywhere. Its a sweet layout though, I was fortunately enough to sneak a peak, and I'm glad to see a totally customized layout. Seriously, this ride is going to completely change the entire landscape at SeaWorld. I think the placement is fantastic, although much like Swan Lake, its replacing a very beautiful section of the park. I suppose thats fair trade and I have no doubts that the area will be beautifully landscaped in true BEC fashion.

- Todd

Updated pics from today....

Track installation has began.....I just took these after I got off work this afternoon...

- Todd

Lift Done, station track done, station in progress, pretzal loop done, much more afterwards done:

http://onride.de/viewtopic.php?t=43166&amp...t=100&u6947

Some additional great pictures can be seen here: http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta0.html

Track is about 60-70% complete. Word is that track work will be finished soon. That is one beautiful ride.

Wow they are moving fast putting the ride together!

FYI, I'm in love with that in-line spin!

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/manta/sw438a.jpg

1. I have no clue why they want the ride done so early, Diamondback has the (Dissapearing each year) Cincinnati winter, Florida has what? The occasional Frost?

2. That inline spin does look awesome.

3. It still looks like a relatively basic coaster. It has a bit more new elements but the layout is pretty simple and kinda short compared to things like their Floorless models. I don't know about you but I for one would like to see a nice sized Flyer, about 4,200 feet long or more, with more elements than just a pretzel loop and a few barrel rolls, maybe some lie elements like on Vekoma Flyers, and if you could try and work it into some terrain. I see these coasters with great potential but it looks like they are making a bit of a cookie cutter out of it as far as elements and basic layout. Does anyone else understand what I'm getting at?

I agree with Beast1979. Those elements look awesome but the ride seems really short.

^^But short and interesting makes for a better ride than longer and boring like Superwait: Ultimate Letdown at GAdv...not that I am actually waiting and instead 'flashing past'!