Manta
The entrance.
SeaWorld San Diego
LocationSeaWorld San Diego
Coordinates32°46′01″N 117°13′41″W / 32.767063°N 117.227998°W / 32.767063; -117.227998
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateMay 23, 2012 (2012-05-23)
Opening dateMay 26, 2012 (2012-05-26)
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched – Family
ManufacturerMack Rides
Lift/launch systemLSM
Height30 ft (9.1 m)
Drop54 ft (16 m)
Length2,835 ft (864 m)
Speed43 mph (69 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:56
Capacity1400 riders per hour
G-forceBetween 3 and 4 Gs
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains4 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.
Quick Queue available
Manta at RCDB

Manta is a steel launched roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, California, United States. The ride was manufactured by MACK Rides and opened to the public on May 26, 2012.[1] It utilizes the same ride system that was used in Blue Fire which opened in 2009 at Europa Park.[2]

History

Rumors about a new roller coaster for SeaWorld San Diego date back to mid October 2007 when details of a possible 2010 project were leaked.[3] This plan was canceled in mid-2008.[4] In early January 2011, construction documents were discovered which detailed the plans for a $10 million manta ray-themed ride and animal exhibit due to open in 2012.[5] On February 9, 2011, SeaWorld San Diego announced that they would be opening a Mack launched roller coaster called Manta in 2012.[6][7]

In late 2018, SeaWorld San Diego premiered a Christmas overlay of the attraction called Merry Manta. The first launch area would feature holiday music and dynamic lightning that created three different shows. Riders would also twist through a sea of glowing Christmas trees while the cool holiday air rushed by.[8]

Ride

Manta features two launches.[9] Riders reach speeds of up to 43 miles per hour (69 km/h) on the two-minute, 2,800-foot (850 m) long ride. The ride stands at a height of 30 feet (9.1 m) and features a drop including an underground portion of 54 feet (16 m).[10] The limited height was required due to height restrictions in place by the California Coastal Commission.[11]

Trains

Manta's four trains each feature manta ray shaped fronts. The 5-car trains each seat riders 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.[1] There is also elevated seating for the second row of each car.

Media

Manta begins with a 270 degree projected media experience at the first launch. The train rocks forward and backward in synchronization with the projected film of a coral reef and school of rays. The media tunnel and film was produced by Falcon's Treehouse. For Electric Ocean, Manta changes after 7PM to Manta re-charged. The film projection for Manta re-charged features an array of colored lights projected on the screen. Various versions of this launch re-purpose Rick McKee's soundtrack from the Mako coaster at SeaWorld Orlando.

Animal exhibit

The previously existing Forbidden Reef exhibit was incorporated into the attraction, featuring a touch pool above and an aquarium below The 100,000-US-gallon (380,000 L) exhibit features 65 Bat rays, 10 Shovelnose guitarfish, 2 White sturgeons and more than 400 other fish.[10][12]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manta (SeaWorld San Diego).

References

  1. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Manta  (SeaWorld San Diego)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  2. ↑ Marden, Duane. "blue fire Megacoaster  (Europa Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  3. ↑ Hart, Lance (October 25, 2007). "SeaWorld California". Screamscape. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  4. ↑ Hart, Lance (June 3, 2008). "SeaWorld California". Screamscape. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  5. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (January 11, 2011). "SeaWorld San Diego to announce new ride for 2012". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Sea World San Diego To Open New Roller Coaster Next Year". Beverly Hills Courier. February 9, 2011. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  7. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (February 9, 2011). "SeaWorld San Diego to add Manta coaster in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  8. ↑ "MERRY MANTA layover and other new offerings for 2018 SEAWORLD'S CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION".
  9. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (May 28, 2012). "Review: Manta joins new class of themed coasters at SeaWorld". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  10. 1 2 "Manta Fact Sheet". SeaWorld. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Roller coaster update: SeaWorld ride moving along". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  12. ↑ "SeaWorld San Diego Announces New 'Manta' Coaster". SeaWorld. February 9, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
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