New B&M Rollercoaster confirmed for Sea World

[ChrisFL]

From Screamscape.com

2009 - Manta / New Coaster - Confirmed - (4/8/08) While I was in Orlando late last week the Orlando Sentinel confirmed the rumors we’ve been covering for months that the 2009 project under construction at the park would include “a very unique, state-of-the-art ride, a roller coaster if you will, that will provide a sensation of gliding,” according to SeaWorld’s Joseph Couceiro (BEC’s VP Sales & Marketing). While the other officials at SeaWorld were “reluctant to call the ride a roller coaster” I decided to ask Mark Rose, the VP of Design and Engineering at Busch Gardens Africa about it the very next morning at the Media event for Jungala during my interview time with him.
Since Mark Rose has been involved with the creation of all of Tampa’s beautiful B&M coasters I figured I’d mention the Sentinel article to see if he had anything else to add. Right off the bat he confirmed to Screamscape that it would be a B&M coaster and that it would be a “Flying” style design themed as a “Sting Ray” that would feature the experience of “gliding over the water”. When I asked if it might feature Dive Machine gauge track or extra wide (8 or 10 across) seating, he said that those design aspects had not yet been finalized. He also confirmed what was reported in the Sentinel, that the project would also include themed animal habitats not only in the surrounding area, but possibly in the ride’s queue as well. Meanwhile Dan Brown (VP of Aquatica) briefly mentioned the project at the opening of Aquatica on Friday morning and mentioned that the official press release with all the details would be coming in about a month so stay tuned!

 

[DOOM1001]

I always thought it would be a B&M,I'm still wondering what the "reluctant to call it a roller coaster" quote means??

 

[DixieDolphin]

I always thought it would be a B&M,I'm still wondering what the "reluctant to call it a roller coaster" quote means??

If it incorporates animal habitats, they might be reluctant to call it a roller coaster for PR reasons. Particularly when marine mammals are involved, federal regulations dictate very specifically how the animals may be displayed (ie: there must be some educational benefit, etc). So, that's one theory there... they won't call it a 'coaster' yet to keep the animal rights nutjobs off their backs.

Just a theory, though. =)

 

[Metro West]

I guess it's time to get a Sea World AP to go along with the others.

 

[donaldduck352]

I guess it's time to get a Sea World AP to go along with the others.

 

[iHEARTflorida]

cool, cant wait but what does B&M mean?

 

[Jason71]

I always thought it would be a B&M,I'm still wondering what the "reluctant to call it a roller coaster" quote means??

I think that means it will be a mild coaster and they don't want to scare families off. In RealityLand (fun book, BTW), a good portion of the chapter on Space Mountain describes how Disney resisted calling that ride a "roller coaster" for months (maybe years)--even reprimanding CMs who used the term with guests--because a "roller coaster" didn't fit their vision of the Magic Kingdom.

For that matter, doesn't Universal still insist on calling The Mummy a "high-speed thrill ride" or something rather than a "coaster"? I would expect that level of thrills, rather than something comparable to Dueling Dragons or the Busch Gardens coasters.

BTW, not to criticize Screamscape, because they have a better record of accuracy than any other website out there, but there is a difference between "manta rays" and "sting rays." Manta rays are much, much bigger, some up to a 25-foot wingspan. Although SW already has a sting ray pool, as far as I know, the only manta ray exhibit in the world is in the Bahamas...as of right now, anyway...

 

[ChrisFL]

For that matter, doesn't Universal still insist on calling The Mummy a "high-speed thrill ride" or something rather than a "coaster"? I would expect that level of thrills, rather than something comparable to Dueling Dragons or the Busch Gardens coasters.

Well in Universal's case it's only about 1/2 a rollercoaster, the rest is a slow-moving dark ride with a lot of effects, so I can understand not calling it a rollercoaster.

 

[gardener14]

cool, cant wait but what does B&M mean?

B&M stands for Bolliger & Mabillard, the company designing the ride. They designed many coasters for Anheuser-Busch's parks including Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando, Montu, Shiekra, and Kumba at Busch Gardens Africa, Steel Eel and Great White at SeaWorld San Antonio, and Griffin, Apollo's Chariot, and Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Europe.

Here is the company's website: http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/index_en.aspx

 

[snowdoubtaboutit]

Sweet! I can't wait to ride it!

 

[ChrisFL]

B&M stands for Bolliger & Mabillard, the company designing the ride. They designed many coasters for Anheuser-Busch's parks including Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando, Montu, Shiekra, and Kumba at Busch Gardens Africa, Steel Eel and Great White at SeaWorld San Antonio, and Griffin, Apollo's Chariot, and Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Europe.

Here is the company's website: http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/index_en.aspx

They also designed the Incredible Hulk and Dueling Dragons coasters at IOA

 

[iHEARTflorida]

oh right cool, i thou B&M was like some sort of type of rollercoaster!

 

[snowdoubtaboutit]

lol those aren't new . .

 

[Metro West]

lol those aren't new . .

What's not new?

 

[RAPstar]

that's awesome. i've always wanted to ride a "flying coaster". even more reason to come back to FL!