Full Report on Manta, Including Photos & Interviews

[inkkognito]

Just got back from Manta Media Day, and I posted a full report here: http://bit.ly/gEN96

Part two has some cool photos so you can see how the trains work, i.e. the restraits, how you start out sitting, and then how they tilt you forward so you're laying down. I also have a pic. of going up the lift hill stomach down. Part three has interviews with some of the people who worked on the attraction. Enjoy, and if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. It was so good that DH and I purchased platinum annual passports for SW so we can do two-fer rides all summer.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Cool,we call it the"kiss my pass"
We'll be there Sat.

 

[noice]

They have had this open for at least a week now. I was there last Wednesday, and they had a sign out front saying "Now accepting riders."

It has the coolest line I have ever seen. You get to walk past very cool aquariums, and it is very cold inside making it a good place to wait. Waited about 15 minutes to get on, and what an amazing ride.

 

[re121258]

I showed my teens the article, they are way exicited. Any thoughts of skipping Sea World have finally been put to rest.

 

[dolphinslady]

What is a "two-fer" ride?

 

[inkkognito]

They have had this open for at least a week now. I was there last Wednesday, and they had a sign out front saying "Now accepting riders."

Yes, the soft openings started on May 5. It was all I could do to keep DH from buying the passes and going for those, but I convinced him to wait for media day to make sure we really liked the ride (which we do!).

The two-fer is a benefit of the platinum pass. You ride, then can stay on and ride again immediately without getting back into line.

 

[Pax]

Did you happen to notice if they have any test seats, or if the seats/restraints were pretty spacious? Wondering about fit issues for larger sized guests. It can be hard to guess from pictures.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Pax

 

[inkkognito]

They do have a tester seat out front so you'll be able to be sure you'll fit comfortably before waiting in line. My husband is very barrel chested and he fit in with no problems.

 

[Clifton]

Came back yesterday, rode 3 times. I rode the time I entered, also did Kraken the 1st time (Kraken was being built last I was there lol). Then it started raining next few hours so luckly I got those outta the way. And then I rode 2 more times before I left.

The best coaster i've ridden yet. Kraken was ok, though Kumba at Busch Garden TB was better.

 

[inkkognito]

The best coaster i've ridden yet. Kraken was ok, though Kumba at Busch Garden TB was better.

The only coaster I like better than Manta is Magnum at Cedar Point (I'm a sucker for airtime). Manta's such a different ride each time, depending where you sit (lay?). Front gives some air, and the Gs in the back are downright wicked.

 

[jpeppers]

I just got back from Cedar Point for the 1st time and enjoyed Magnum but it literally beat the crap out of you . It must have been very impressive in 1989 but really needs some work. I can't wait to try Manta!

 

[Debs Hill]

Can anyone tell me what the typical wait times have been for Manta since it opened?
Debx

 

[inkkognito]

Can anyone tell me what the typical wait times have been for Manta since it opened?
Debx

It varies...if you get there first thing in the morning, you can get right on and maybe reride in a 20 to 30 minute line. But later in the day, I've seen it up to 75 mins.

 

[DixieDolphin]

.....

 

[MelanieC]

Thanks - great article!

 

[SandrA9810]

did my tenth ride today... I did four during the soft opening, and 6 this morning. But they couldn't seem to get things working right and so i only got like 3 rides in before park opening, but by then they had both lines open and so it was like a 5 min wait.
But the first time i got on today, they took forever to send us out, and then they couldn't get the next train to send. They kept lowering it and raising it, then sent every one to the other side. We just got to hang there for like 15 minutes. Then at like 8:30 they were having technical difficulties for another 20 minutes. I think there were only 6 of us on that train.

 

[inkkognito]

Yeah, they do seem to be having some difficulties lately. I hope it's the sort of bugs that can be worked out through changes in dispatch rather than anything mechanical.

 

[Andrea from PA]

We have Platnium Passes from another Busch Park that gets us into SeaWorld, etc.

I heard rumors that passholders can get in an hour early for the ride - any truth to this?

We'll be there Saturday for a week

 

[smallworldnh]

We rode Manta last week and it was a fantastic ride, we managed to ride it at night on another day as well, that was a completely different and very neat experience. The only complaint I have is that it does seem to malfunction a lot, in fact on our first ride, we pulled back into the station and were stuck in the horizontal position staring at the ground for about 10-15 minutes. It was a little weird (our experience at Busch Garden on the Montu was a bit worse) but they finally got our seats to go upright and then proceeded to shut that side down. I felt bad for the people who were waiting. It is one of my favorites though, we would have gone on it many more times but everytiime we walked over there, they were announcing another problem.

 

[inkkognito]

We have Platnium Passes from another Busch Park that gets us into SeaWorld, etc.

I heard rumors that passholders can get in an hour early for the ride - any truth to this?

We'll be there Saturday for a week

Pure truth!!!!! It runs till June 30. DH and I have taken advantage of this several times. Be warned tho' that it might not be as good as it sounds if Manta decides to "misbehave." We've had mornings where we get a ton of rides and ones where it's maybe a couple because they can't get it running right for a while.