This One's for Mouseaholic...

[Condorman]

Here's a soft-opening review of the new Manta Rollercoaster in SeaWorld:

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/05/06/manta-sea-world-orlando/

Looks interesting and I'm sure it's fun, but the reality is it's nothing more than another prepackaged stock-design suspension ride with a slight variation on the seat position. I swear, you could paint this same coaster orange, purple or black, call it the Chowmaster 2000, and set it up in King's Island, Cedar Point or any Six Flags in two month's time. If this is the best SW can do, no wonder AB/InBev is trying to unload the park.

That's the Disney difference. When USO builds a coaster, they paint it green and call it the Hulk, or red and blue and call it Dueling Dragons (which, incidentally, was originally designed by WDI before they left for this underwhelming and underfunded arena). However, when Disney builds a coaster they build Mt. Everest around it, and in doing so create not merely an attraction but a breathtakingly immersive experience -- a land in and of itself. Everest, BTMRR, SplashM, SpaceM, RnRC (which USO's Rip"off" Ride Rocket is clearly stolen from) have no equal.

But I hope Manta works out, I really do. Anything to get the crowds out of WDW these days. I can't believe how crowded it is. Has anybody else noticed the crowds? It's so crowded...

 

[jimmymac]

What exactly is your problem with people who disagree with you? You resort to ad hominem attacks, which have no place in a forum like this. And if EE is such a "breathtaking immersive experience", why doesn't the Yeti ever work? Does Disney do anything that is not 100% pure perfection in your eyes?

 

[phamton]

That's the Disney difference. When USO builds a coaster, they paint it green and call it the Hulk, or red and blue and call it Dueling Dragons.Everest, BTMRR, SplashM, SpaceM, RnRC (which USO's Rip"off" Ride Rocket is clearly stolen from) have no equal.

And when Disney names a park, they certainly don't want to confuse anyone

Hollywood Studios There's enough confusion with guests between Universal Studios and Disney. Now we have Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios Orlando, and Universal Studios Hollywood. And people wonder why the guests are looking for Jaws at Disney and Tower of Terror at Universal Studios.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Review from our DIS blogger!

Sounds like a HIT! Look at the pics - DH will love it on the next trip....for me....I'll be the staff photographer on dry land!


Posted on Wednesday, 6th May 2009 by Kathy Werling

By Walter Echols

Let me start by saying that I am not a rollercoaster enthusiast, but I could not wait to try Manta at Sea World, so for the soft opening, my niece and her friend Tiffany, who consider themselves rollercoaster aficionados, accompanied us as the experts and this was as good a reason as any to skip school, so I enlisted their help.


When we arrived, I went into a gift shop to get sun tan lotion when I overheard an employee talking about the opening of Manta in detail. He was explaining how things were going to run during the opening with military precision. As I stood outside talking to Teresa, and the girls, the employee I had overheard came up and started talking to us about Manta.　 His name was Jamal and he talks about Manta with the same fervor most people reserve for politics or religion. He explained how at least 1000 hours had to be logged on the attraction before it could be opened to guests. This was done by employees, family members and the engineers and crew who constructed the ride and their family members. He had been on the ride at least 16 times and explained all the awesome attributes of the attraction. He said it was so good, he guaranteed that we would ride it and immediately get back in line to ride it again.

As we walked around, I randomly asked employees what they thought and they all thought it was the best roller coaster ride in Orlando, but then they were all confessed roller coaster geeks. I finally found a non-enthusiast like myself and she said that she loved it and had convinced other skeptics to try it and they liked it as well.

Of course, the most unique aspect of this ride is the riding position. You sit down, pull the restraint which also positions supports for your ankles then the seat pivots so your legs go back and you are leaning forward. You are not in a flat horizontal position as I originally thought. The restraint is very padded and supportive, so you are comfortable while in the horizontal position. Then you start your assent. For me this was the scariest part. You go 140 ft. into the air while facing forward with nothing underneath you. I do not have a fear of heights but I was starting to freak. Once you pass the crest, you go through loops, twists and turns. At one point, it dipped so close to the water that I thought the wing had actually gone under water (jets actually spray water up towards the wing). You can put your hand out and touch the water. You can also put your hand in the water fall as you speed past. The ride reaches speeds of 56 miles per hour.


The ride is incredibly smooth but I think I would compare it more to an F-16 and not the denizen of the deep for which it is named. It was a wild ride but as predicted, once we exited the ride we went straight for the entrance again. Grace and Tiffany have been on all the local coasters and both agreed that it was their new favorite.
The soft opening will continue daily at 12 noon until the grand opening on May 22, 2009.
I think that Sea World has a hit on their hands.

”

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

A note from a Parks thread. Looks like this little coaster is already beginning to be noticed by WDW guests. Perhaps those who look for empty parks at WDW will be happy.

We're Back, and rode Manta 5 times

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just returned and we rode Manta 5 times, over 2 visits, with only 10 mins queue times. It has to be the best coaster ever!!!

We had a great holiday temps above average, highest our car recorded was 107 degrees.

Queues, what queues! Most were walk on's. No idea where touring plans got their 8's and 9's from in our second week. Will never take notice of that again. Longest we queued was 30mins, and that was a very busy evening in Hollywood studios, at Tower of Terror.

Again we had a great time, but think this may be our last visit for several years, as I think we are all disneyed out, Magic Kingdom as lost its magic for us, infact it was the day I enjoyed the least.

Loved aquatica, nice and clean very relaxing.

 

[minnie61650]

Here's a soft-opening review of the new Manta Rollercoaster in SeaWorld:

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/05/06/manta-sea-world-orlando/

Looks interesting and I'm sure it's fun, but the reality is it's nothing more than another prepackaged stock-design suspension ride with a slight variation on the seat position. I swear, you could paint this same coaster orange, purple or black, call it the Chowmaster 2000, and set it up in King's Island, Cedar Point or any Six Flags in two month's time. If this is the best SW can do, no wonder AB/InBev is trying to unload the park.

That's the Disney difference. When USO builds a coaster, they paint it green and call it the Hulk, or red and blue and call it Dueling Dragons (which, incidentally, was originally designed by WDI before they left for this underwhelming and underfunded arena). However, when Disney builds a coaster they build Mt. Everest around it, and in doing so create not merely an attraction but a breathtakingly immersive experience -- a land in and of itself. Everest, BTMRR, SplashM, SpaceM, RnRC (which USO's Rip"off" Ride Rocket is clearly stolen from) have no equal.

But I hope Manta works out, I really do. Anything to get the crowds out of WDW these days. I can't believe how crowded it is. Has anybody else noticed the crowds? It's so crowded...

I agree.
It is another generic coster except the seat does have "a little" personality.

From the ground perspective it just looks like another coaster.

Manta


I see over a dozen such coasters every time I go to Cedar Point.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/park/rides/coasters/index.cfm

Photos of Cedar Point Coasters


Everest, BTMRR, SplashM, SpaceM, RnRC all look like another destination ....NOT just another coaster.



Just my 2 cents.

 

[minnie61650]

And if EE is such a "breathtaking immersive experience", why doesn't the Yeti ever work?

Really? The Yeti doesn't work?

Please don't tell my children that.

They thought the Yeti was "way cool"!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Really? The Yeti doesn't work?

Please don't tell my children that.

They thought the Yeti was "way cool"!

The Yeti hasn't moved for us since the first year it opened. Perhaps that's what he was talking about. But hey, at least the ride is operating most of the time.

I admit, it was a great feature to have the arm swipe as you were riding....the coaster ride itself was a little tame, however.



All the reviews I have seen of Manta so far are big THUMBS UP. Perhaps it's far enough from Sandusky and different enough than other nearby coasters -- to be interesting to those who have ridden.

I'm only posting copies from people who have actually been on the ride - far better judge than myself. Our little Disney group will not have a chance to ride it for a few months....after the US coaster opens I suspect.

It's nice to see that SW has such good opening reviews after they invested so much $$$ to improve their park.

 

[lugnut33]

But I hope Manta works out, I really do. Anything to get the crowds out of WDW these days. I can't believe how crowded it is. Has anybody else noticed the crowds? It's so crowded...

I was at Epcot on sunday May 3rd and it was DEAD.

 

[Condorman]

And if EE is such a "breathtaking immersive experience", why doesn't the Yeti ever work?

The Yeti has worked every single time I've been to AK and ridden EE. Maybe you're just not having the same kind of luck?

I was at Epcot on sunday May 3rd and it was DEAD.

Ah, yes, but the point is YOU were at Epcot, not Universal or Sea World. Thanks for proving my point.

 

[mitros]

Here's a soft-opening review of the new Manta Rollercoaster in SeaWorld:

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/05/06/manta-sea-world-orlando/

Looks interesting and I'm sure it's fun, but the reality is it's nothing more than another prepackaged stock-design suspension ride with a slight variation on the seat position. I swear, you could paint this same coaster orange, purple or black, call it the Chowmaster 2000, and set it up in King's Island, Cedar Point or any Six Flags in two month's time. If this is the best SW can do, no wonder AB/InBev is trying to unload the park.

That's the Disney difference. When USO builds a coaster, they paint it green and call it the Hulk, or red and blue and call it Dueling Dragons (which, incidentally, was originally designed by WDI before they left for this underwhelming and underfunded arena). However, when Disney builds a coaster they build Mt. Everest around it, and in doing so create not merely an attraction but a breathtakingly immersive experience -- a land in and of itself. Everest, BTMRR, SplashM, SpaceM, RnRC (which USO's Rip"off" Ride Rocket is clearly stolen from) have no equal.

But I hope Manta works out, I really do. Anything to get the crowds out of WDW these days. I can't believe how crowded it is. Has anybody else noticed the crowds? It's so crowded...

It has been HORRIBLY crowded, and has been since last December. It's not much fun these days going to WDW. And it is going to be far worse in the coming months with the 4+3 hotel deal, as well as free dining. It has become very difficult to enjoy ones self there these days. Bad economy? I think not..

 

[mitros]

I was at Epcot on sunday May 3rd and it was DEAD.

We were at WDW May 2nd, May 6th, and May 11th. Horrible crowds everywhere.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Disney does do a good job "theming" its roller coasters but that doesn't mean they're great roller coasters.

BobK/Orlando

 

[phamton]

The Yeti has worked every single time I've been to AK and ridden EE. Maybe you're just not having the same kind of luck?

Maybe you just think it is working. The spine has been broken for over a year and so he cannot move. There are no plans in the immediate future to fix it either. Most people don't even realize that it's not working. The strobe effects that they use are actually quite effective and so people have no clue that it isn't even moving. This means that the computer automatically shifts the Yeti into a particularly frightening pose, then shuts down this Audio Animatronic figure entirely. The theatrical lighting in the attraction's finale sequence is then turned off (So that riders won't be able to see the Yeti from a distance and then realize that this AA figure isn't actually moving). Then -- through a combination of that strobe lighting effect and a series of fans that blow the Yeti's fur -- the Imagineers create the illusion that the Yeti is still moving.

And for verification here is Jim Hill's answer: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hilll/archive/2009/02/06/test.aspx
Jim,

I loved last week’s "Why For" article. So I decided to write and ask a question of my own. All of us Disney dweebs know that the Yeti on Expedition Everest has been broken for quite some time now. But there seems to be no plans on fixing the poor guy. Any idea what’s going on? (I) can't imagine (that) Disney is just gonna let its pride and glory that they hyped so much sit there broken!

Thanks for your time,

Andrew from Phoenix

Sadly, it’s going to be quite a while before this enormous AA figure takes any more swipes at tea trains.

What’s the problem? In short, the Imagineers – back when they were designing the Yeti – didn’t take in account what the long term effects of continually operating an Audio Animatronic of this size might be.

For all your engineers and physics fans out there, let me throw out a few quick stats. So that you can then get a rough understanding of the issues that WDI is dealing with here:

* This 22-foot tall AA figure weighs 20,000 pounds

* Because of the dramatic positioning of the Yeti (i.e. this fearsome creature literally hangs down from the ceiling as it takes swipes at passing trainloads of tourists) , in order to keep this AA figure airborne, the Imagineers could had to attach a structural boom to its back.

* Every 40 seconds, the 19 actuators that actually drive the Yeti have to move this huge Audio Animatronic 5 feet horizontally and two feet vertically … and then quickly reset for the next trainload of tourists

* To give you some idea of the amount of power we’re talking about here … Just the thrust of the Yeti’s arm has the equivalent amount of force to a 747 jumbo jet taking off

* The amount of power necessary to drive this 20,000 AA figure? Slightly over 259,000 pounds force

Now picture a heavy-duty yet sophisticated machine like this – the largest, fastest moving AA figure in history -- having to work non-stop 10 - 12 hours each day, 365 days a year. With the vibrations caused by all those pounds force being used repeatedly resonating up through that structural boom that supports the Yeti and then down through the sled that actually drives this AA figure’s back-and-forth movement.

In short, it’s the very force that drives the Yeti that caused this AA figure to break down. In the Imagineers’ quest to create a machine that looked & moved like this wild, living creature … Well, they built a robot that was almost destined to rip itself to shreds.

That’s where the folks at Disney’s Animal Kingdom find themselves dealing with right now. Expedition Everest’s Yeti has multiple operational issues. In order to bring this AA figure back on line, get the Yeti once again performing in A mode (i.e. so that this enormous robot dramatically lunges at each tea train as it passes, lashing out with his arm at WDW Guests) is going to take months as well as a ridiculously large amount of money.

 

[KYMickey]

What’s the problem? In short, the Imagineers – back when they were designing the Yeti – didn’t take in account what the long term effects of continually operating an Audio Animatronic of this size might be.

Too bad they are Imagineers instead of Engineers because an engineer would have realized the forces involved and designed the structure accordingly! It's the same problem that happens many times onight true engineering analysis is not done on something that is designed to "be pretty". People need to realize that everything needs to have an engineering review so its long-term safety and functionality and the ensured.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

It has been HORRIBLY crowded, and has been since last December. It's not much fun these days going to WDW. And it is going to be far worse in the coming months with the 4+3 hotel deal, as well as free dining. It has become very difficult to enjoy ones self there these days. Bad economy? I think not..

Here we go again Mr. Mitros - we have discussed this in multiple threads the last few months.

I can only conclude you have more actual facts than Bob Iger since you two seem to disagree on operations the last 3 months


"We had a difficult second quarter due to the weak economy and other factors," said Robert A. Iger, president and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. 5 May 2009

 

[jimmymac]

Bad economy? I think not..

Disney announces attendance, per capita spending and above all profits are down but you and seemingly you alone still know better???

 

[jimmymac]

[QUOTE=Condorman;31810825]The Yeti has worked every single time I've been to AK and ridden EE. Maybe you're just not having the same kind of luck?

It has nothing to do with luck. The Yeti is broken, plain and simple. It does not work and they don't know how to fix it. But that's only in the real world, not the one where some people seem to exist when it comes to Disney, the Oz-like world where nothing ever goes wrong

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

[QUOTE=Condorman;31810825]The Yeti has worked every single time I've been to AK and ridden EE. Maybe you're just not having the same kind of luck?

It has nothing to do with luck. The Yeti is broken, plain and simple. It does not work and they don't know how to fix it. But that's only in the real world, not the one where some people seem to exist when it comes to Disney, the Oz-like world where nothing ever goes wrong

Was there TODAY and it was working just fine.

 

[phamton]

Peter, it is not working. It's just that everyone has been seeing it broken for so long that they think that is how it is supposed to look. When the ride opened, the Yeti swooped his arm down toward the car. This has been broken for over a year and Disney has no plans to fix it, at least not in the near future. Now the effects are done with strobe lights and fans but no real movement.

Does anyone even remember the Kongfrontation at Universal Studios? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN1M7b48iLs King Kong actually moved. Now imagine that he just stood there with no movement and the effects were done with strobe lights and fans. Yes, Kong broke down a lot but was repaired for years until the cost became too great to justify keeping the ride going. Disney started out with a great Yeti. I was amazed and impressed. Now they just need to fix the darn animatronic. The ride is all about the Yeti. He needs to be fixed , IMO.