Delirium_Guy Posted March 5, 2009 Posted March 5, 2009 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! Quote
Jasper Posted March 5, 2009 Posted March 5, 2009 Looks like a fun ride. Are B&M Flyers better than Vekoma? Quote
Gordon Bombay Posted March 5, 2009 Posted March 5, 2009 Some say yes, some say no. Many say it depends on the B&M coaster. I have a friend I go to school with that is originally from LA. He swears Firehawk is better than every B&M flyer he's ever ridden except Tatsu at SFMM. Those test dummies look awfully familiar... Quote
Delirium_Guy Posted March 5, 2009 Author Posted March 5, 2009 Some say yes, some say no. Many say it depends on the B&M coaster. I have a friend I go to school with that is originally from LA. He swears Firehawk is better than every B&M flyer he's ever ridden except Tatsu at SFMM. Those test dummies look awfully familiar... 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 Quote
welchce Posted March 5, 2009 Posted March 5, 2009 Those test dummies look awfully familiar... That splash down also looks awfully familiar. Do you know what could be a problem when they start testing? ...balloons on the track. Yikes! But do you know what part I think is the most awesome? Not how amazing the trains look and not that it's a flyer with splashing effects... The fact that the queue is going to be going through an exhibit on manta rays which can also be seen by regular guests that don't necessarily want to ride the coaster. One of the best parts of Expedition Everest, IMO, is that you are basically walking through a camp at the base of the Himilayays with facts about the area and the Yeti. It is a totally immersive experience. I guess that's what sets Sea World, Busch, Universal, and Disney apart from the rest. an inverted flying roller coaster Does that mean Firehawk is a non inverted flying roller coaster? Quote
The Interpreter Posted March 5, 2009 Posted March 5, 2009 ... I have a friend I go to school with that is originally from LA. He swears Firehawk is better than every B&M flyer he's ever ridden except Tatsu at SFMM.... I agree totally with your friend...and of the three Vekoma Dutchmen, Nighthawk aka Borg: The Assimilator aka Stealth is by far my favorite. I'm funny that way. I wonder what your friend thinks of Ninja at Six Flags Over Georgia! Quote
tigellinus Posted March 5, 2009 Posted March 5, 2009 To me, I just don't find the B&M flyer trains comfy enough while I could ride Firehawk for an hour and still feel comfy. That said...the B&M pretzel loop is the best flyer element for sure, and Tatsu is far and away the best flyer in N. America! Quote
violakat03 Posted March 7, 2009 Posted March 7, 2009 I've ridden one Vekoma and one B&M. I preferred the trains and comfort of Firehawk but I preferred the ride experience of Superman:Ultimate Flight. You spend more time 'flying' on S:UF than you do on Firehawk, where you spend too much time on your back IMO. Quote
DropZone99 Posted March 7, 2009 Posted March 7, 2009 I've ridden one Vekoma Flying Dutchman (Firehawk) and two B&M Flyers (S:UFs.) Personally I Love Vekoma flyers way more! I like the loading position better. On B&M Flyers, It's so uncomfortable being stacked in the brake run and all the blood rushes to your head. S:UF Is very calm and relaxing, not really thrilling except the pretzel loop. The only downside about Vekoma Flyers are when going up the lift your eyes get burnt by the sun! Quote
violakat03 Posted March 7, 2009 Posted March 7, 2009 I've ridden one Vekoma Flying Dutchman (Firehawk) and two B&M Flyers (S:UFs.) Personally I Love Vekoma flyers way more! I like the loading position better. On B&M Flyers, It's so uncomfortable being stacked in the brake run and all the blood rushes to your head. S:UF Is very calm and relaxing, not really thrilling except the pretzel loop. The only downside about Vekoma Flyers are when going up the lift your eyes get burnt by the sun! I found the loading position to be better on the B&Ms. I get major head bloodrush on Firehawk, but I think a lot of that is you sit in the station for a long time in that slightly tipped-back position before you actually leave the station. It's highly uncomfortable for me, far more so than being lifted up and laying face-down. And that's not even counting the eye-burning! They need to put some shade on that lift hill!! But then, that's why all of us like different coasters! I still feel like I'm the only person on earth who did not like Maverick... Quote
tigellinus Posted March 7, 2009 Posted March 7, 2009 As I believe Terpy has also expressed annoyance with...after YEARS of riding at this point, why do people STILL scream on the B&M flyers when you move to the flying position?! Does it not ever get old?! Quote
Rollercoaster Nut Posted March 7, 2009 Posted March 7, 2009 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! Wow I always use to go just to see shamoo but no I have to go to ride that ride. Quote
Rollercoaster Nut Posted March 7, 2009 Posted March 7, 2009 Those test dummies look awfully familiar... That splash down also looks awfully familiar. Do you know what could be a problem when they start testing? ...balloons on the track. Yikes! But do you know what part I think is the most awesome? Not how amazing the trains look and not that it's a flyer with splashing effects... The fact that the queue is going to be going through an exhibit on manta rays which can also be seen by regular guests that don't necessarily want to ride the coaster. One of the best parts of Expedition Everest, IMO, is that you are basically walking through a camp at the base of the Himilayays with facts about the area and the Yeti. It is a totally immersive experience. I guess that's what sets Sea World, Busch, Universal, and Disney apart from the rest. an inverted flying roller coaster Does that mean Firehawk is a non inverted flying roller coaster? Yah I love the way they have made it so you get background about the ride before you ride it. Just like my favorite was the musuem you walked through going to Top Gun. Quote
goofywdw Posted March 15, 2009 Posted March 15, 2009 Don't the trains just look amazing! I love the zero car! B&M really showed some creativeness with their trains this year with DB and Manta.. Quote
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