Ride intensity of Manta and Kraken vs. Disney Rocken Roller Coaster etc

[cinderellamom123]

Was curious for coaster lovers what the intensity level is of Manta and Kraken vs. a disney coaster like rocket roller coaster. Is manta or Kraken less in intense etc. We have 10 year olds that will do anything disney but are debating on the sea world coasters. Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[DOOM1001]

Rock n Roller coaster is a small compact coaster with a fast launch,tight corkscrews and a loop right after the launch.Kraken and Manta are bigger coasters that you would find at parks like Cedar Point or Six Flags,they are overall probably more intense but I think it also depends on the person.For example Kraken for me is obviously a taller faster coaster than RnRC but I find that coaster super enjoyable and doesn't give me any of the headbanging Rock n Roller coaster gives me,on Kraken I always feel like I'm going 60mph on a Lay Z Boy and nothing really bothers me on the ride.Manta on the other hand has a maneuver called the pretzel loop which puts some pretty heavy G's on your chest,I've also experienced this on another flying coaster at Six Flags in Atlanta.It is the strongest part of the ride which is a totally unique experience since you ride it in a flying position.The rest of the ride however is a pretty fun and tame experience.I think if your kid is up for it I would let them try them,I would go with Kraken first since it's closer to a traditional coaster and if he enjoys it then go for Manta.

 

[anorman]

My DDs did both of these (Manta and Kraken) 2 yrs ago when they were 7 and 9 years old. They were their first non-Disney roller coasters and they loved them......all I could hear afterwards was, "Let's do it again!!!" So we did!

I agree with PP....Manta does give you a unique feeling when you ride...!!!!

 

[scottishgirl1]

Hi, my DS was probably nearly 11 when he rode Manta and he enjoyed it but he did feel very sick afterwards. We went to the pet show nearby to get him out the heat and he just lay on one of the benches and didnt look at the show so DH took him to first aid for a lie down for a bit and they said feeling sick was quite common after Manta.

He did really suffer from travel sickness when younger so he is obviously prone to it but he hasnt felt sick on any Disney coasters and he rode Hulk and Rip Ride Rockit also and was fine.

Cant help with Kraken as none of the kids have tried that one yet!

 

[Metro West]

Hi, my DS was probably nearly 11 when he rode Manta and he enjoyed it but he did feel very sick afterwards. We went to the pet show nearby to get him out the heat and he just lay on one of the benches and didnt look at the show so DH took him to first aid for a lie down for a bit and they said feeling sick was quite common after Manta.

Remember...Manta is a flying coaster and is completely different from any other coaster in Florida. It's totally new sensation to "fly" instead sitting in a seat.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Remember...Manta is a flying coaster and is completely different from any other coaster in Florida. It's totally new sensation to "fly" instead sitting in a seat.

Agreed.

While I am not a coaster girl my boys ride them all. They have been on every Disney coaster, all the Universal coasters and feature rides (except Rip Ride Rocket which was closed to due inclement weather on our visit), both SeaWorld coasters, and a whole whack of others at various theme parks from Ontario to Wisconsin.

They *LOVED* Manta (since our visit, it has been declared their favourite coaster ever). Apparently it is a totally different feeling than anything else they've ever been on. Didn't make either one of them feel ill in the slightest.

Me, I am happy to hold the camera while they have their fun .

 

[SharonK0527]

I am not a "traditional" coaster fan so I don't go on coasters like Kraken (tall coasters with big drops). I love Rock n Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest. Really enjoyed Dueling Dragons at IOA (although I was slightly dizzy afterwards). Haven't been brave enough to try the Hulk yet. I worked up the courage to go on Manta last October - DH and DD went with me. I am SO glad I didn't chicken out and went on the ride! It was an awesome ride and I loved it! DD had just turned 11 and she loved it as well. She has been on all the roller coasters I've been on and we were both a little nervous before the ride started (fear of the unknown) but once it was over we declared it one of our favorite rides! The scariest part for DD was getting strapped into the ride. When the seats move to put you in the laying-down position she got really scared. I'm a ride chicken myself and I just kept telling her it was going to be fun, don't worry. Sure enough, once the ride started all I heard were squeals of delight coming from the seat next to me It certainly is a very different sensation to experience a roller coaster laying on your stomach rather than sitting but it was very cool and we really enjoyed it. None of us felt sick at all afterwards. We will definitely go on Manta again.

 

[Claire-Bear]

I'm glad to hear you say that Sharon. I too love duelling dragons and EE. I have been on hulk a few times but sometimes do wuss out (just because the launch scares me) I do not want to go on Kraken due to the size of the drops but am trying to build up the courage to go on manta. Just worrying how much I'll freak out when being turned

 

[DOOM1001]

I'm glad to hear you say that Sharon. I too love duelling dragons and EE. I have been on hulk a few times but sometimes do wuss out (just because the launch scares me) I do not want to go on Kraken due to the size of the drops but am trying to build up the courage to go on manta. Just worrying how much I'll freak out when being turned

There's really not that big a difference in the size of the drops of these coasters,Kraken 144ft,Manta 113ft,Dragon Challenge/Dueling Dragons 125 ft.

 

[Sehsun]

I haven't been on Kraken yet, but I want to someday (the drop looks a little scary). An acquaintance said Manta was more intense than Kraken, so I guess I better try it one day.

Manta is one of my favorite rollercoasters!

Manta on the other hand has a maneuver called the pretzel loop which puts some pretty heavy G's on your chest,I've also experienced this on another flying coaster at Six Flags in Atlanta.It is the strongest part of the ride which is a totally unique experience since you ride it in a flying position.

As DOOM1001 mentioned, there is a ride like Manta at Six Flags Over Georgia (Superman: Ultimate Flight) in that you are not sitting in a seat but in a horizontal position. Very neat sensation, I went on it in 2005.

I would also agree that the pretzel loop is the most intense part of the ride. As far as the scariest part of the ride (and it takes a lot longer than the pretzel loop), I would say it is the climb (before the faster part of the coaster begins - sorry I'm not great at coaster lingo). You can see everything below you. Scary but thrilling at the same time!

 

[Claire-Bear]

There's really not that big a difference in the size of the drops of these coasters,Kraken 144ft,Manta 113ft,Dragon Challenge/Dueling Dragons 125 ft.

Dragons are actually 115 and 95 drops, so kraken is 30 feet higher drop which is quite a lot to me! 25% extra!

 

[Josh Hendy]

Rock'n'roller coaster is to me (40s male in reasonably good shape) an easy little ride, except I get a little bit of a sore neck afterwards unless I remember to relax my neck muscles and let my head roll around a bit on the cushioned, wrap-around headrest.

Revenge of the mummy on the other hand is a very similar coaster but it has a flat headrest with no side support. At one single point in the ride there is quick sideways whiplash effect. I found that I would get a sore neck unless I remembered to brace my head against the headrest a split second before the car jerk sideways. Of course, you have to ride Mummy a few times before you get the hang of this! Neither RnR nor Mummy (nor Space Mountain) every gave me the slightest feeling of nausea, headache or fatigue.

Kraken tended to make me a bit nauseous, and I was also irritated by the sun shining right in my eyes at times as the coaster was going up and around. This coaster is physically demanding and tends to leave me a bit wobbly and headachey afterwards. It is very similar to The Hulk in this way.

Manta is very smooth and not physically demanding except for two things: at one point there is some kind of upside-down loop where you get a gradual, but quite strong G-force pushing you down (upside down) against the thing supporting your back. It's not unpleasant but it feels pretty intense as you're going maybe 50 mph at the time and you're on your back after doing a huge loop. The other intense thing about Manta is hanging on your stomach with your face down for most of the ride, and you might get stuck that way for a minute or so at the end of the ride waiting to unload. I know it makes some people sick because I've seen the results.

All of these coasters are of course very fast and scary, and the fear may add significantly to some people's discomfort, on top of the physical effects I described. Enjoy!

 

[DOOM1001]

Rock'n'roller coaster is to me (40s male in reasonably good shape) an easy little ride, except I get a little bit of a sore neck afterwards unless I remember to relax my neck muscles and let my head roll around a bit on the cushioned, wrap-around headrest.

Revenge of the mummy on the other hand is a very similar coaster but it has a flat headrest with no side support. At one single point in the ride there is quick sideways whiplash effect. I found that I would get a sore neck unless I remembered to brace my head against the headrest a split second before the car jerk sideways. Of course, you have to ride Mummy a few times before you get the hang of this! Neither RnR nor Mummy (nor Space Mountain) every gave me the slightest feeling of nausea, headache or fatigue.

Kraken tended to make me a bit nauseous, and I was also irritated by the sun shining right in my eyes at times as the coaster was going up and around. This coaster is physically demanding and tends to leave me a bit wobbly and headachey afterwards. It is very similar to The Hulk in this way.

Manta is very smooth and not physically demanding except for two things: at one point there is some kind of upside-down loop where you get a gradual, but quite strong G-force pushing you down (upside down) against the thing supporting your back. It's not unpleasant but it feels pretty intense as you're going maybe 50 mph at the time and you're on your back after doing a huge loop. The other intense thing about Manta is hanging on your stomach with your face down for most of the ride, and you might get stuck that way for a minute or so at the end of the ride waiting to unload. I know it makes some people sick because I've seen the results.

All of these coasters are of course very fast and scary, and the fear may add significantly to some people's discomfort, on top of the physical effects I described. Enjoy!

The strong G's on Manta are from that pretzel loop,which at least for me is one of the most intense maneuvers on any coaster,your description states my point that different people can tolerate different things whereas one person might ride a coaster and not bother them at all,someone else will have a totally different reaction.For example I do agree that RnRc does give me a bit of neck banging even though it's not a major coaster.On the other hand Kraken,Mummy,and even some of the biggest coasters on the planet like Millenium Force at Cedar Point I would ride all day long if I could,in fact I think one time near closing I rode Kraken like 15 times in the last hour of operation.Manta is a pretty enjoyable ride except for that pretzel loop,I think the most I could do that ride in one day would be like 2 times,only because of those 3 seconds when the ride does the pretzel loop,I know other people feel it as well but I think that sensation might bother me more than others,I can handle 300 foot drops at 90 mph but Manta's loop REALLY bothers me.

 

[anorman]

The strong G's on Manta are from that pretzel loop,which at least for me is one of the most intense maneuvers on any coaster,your description states my point that different people can tolerate different things whereas one person might ride a coaster and not bother them at all,someone else will have a totally different reaction.For example I do agree that RnRc does give me a bit of neck banging even though it's not a major coaster.On the other hand Kraken,Mummy,and even some of the biggest coasters on the planet like Millenium Force at Cedar Point I would ride all day long if I could,in fact I think one time near closing I rode Kraken like 15 times in the last hour of operation.Manta is a pretty enjoyable ride except for that pretzel loop,I think the most I could do that ride in one day would be like 2 times,only because of those 3 seconds when the ride does the pretzel loop,I know other people feel it as well but I think that sensation might bother me more than others,I can handle 300 foot drops at 90 mph but Manta's loop REALLY bothers me.

I totally agree with you. I absolutely love all the big coasters like Hulk, Dragon Challenge, Kraken, Rip Ride Rocket, Mummy, as well as Sheikra, Montu, and Kumba at Busch Gardens. I can ride these all day! Manta affects me differently as well and that loop....whoa! I'll still do it but once a trip is plenty for me.

 

[kathy884]

I think you've gotten some great descriptions. I'm an almost 52 year old mom who these days is starting to give up coasters that I used to enjoy, but I still do Rock n Roller Coaster, Manta, and Kracken. Of the three Rock N Roller Coaster is the least intense, but the most jerky and even though I do like Aerosmith, the music is louder than I like these days. When they say to take even small earing off on the Kracken, do it. My tiny hoop hearing banged against my face the one time I disregarded this. The on stomach position of the Manta can feel a litte disconcerting. I have to say, though, that that first loop is out of this world, a thrill this almost 52 year old mom really enjoys. I think it would be reasonable given the enjoyment of coasters at Disney to try these two.

 

[SharonK0527]

The strong G's on Manta are from that pretzel loop,which at least for me is one of the most intense maneuvers on any coaster,your description states my point that different people can tolerate different things whereas one person might ride a coaster and not bother them at all,someone else will have a totally different reaction.For example I do agree that RnRc does give me a bit of neck banging even though it's not a major coaster.On the other hand Kraken,Mummy,and even some of the biggest coasters on the planet like Millenium Force at Cedar Point I would ride all day long if I could,in fact I think one time near closing I rode Kraken like 15 times in the last hour of operation.Manta is a pretty enjoyable ride except for that pretzel loop,I think the most I could do that ride in one day would be like 2 times,only because of those 3 seconds when the ride does the pretzel loop,I know other people feel it as well but I think that sensation might bother me more than others,I can handle 300 foot drops at 90 mph but Manta's loop REALLY bothers me.

I agree with Doom - every ride affects people differently. I can take the loops and upside-down maneuvers all day long but I can't do big drops. Rock n Roller Coaster, Manta, Dueling Dragons - none of those have a big straight-down drop like Kraken and Millennium Force (what I consider "traditional" coasters). Usually coasters like the ones I like, the only "drops" are part of the loops and that doesn't bother me. It's the 'climbing the big hill', 'crest over the top', 'drop straight down' stuff that I can't stand. I remember the pretzel loop on Manta but it didn't "bother" me. I felt the sensation but at the time I thought it was really fun. To be honest, the worst part of the ride for me was at the end when the ride was over. We had to wait a good 1-2 minutes for the car in front of us to finish before they pulled us in to unload us. Just hanging there face-down was very physically uncomfortable, especially on my knees. Overall we loved the ride and would definitely do it again.