Manta POV

Sea World in Orlando has released the above POV video of their new roller coaster, Manta. Even with the finale removed from the clip the ride still looks like an awful lot of fun.

Shamu has also been twittering lately and just revealed that Manta is going to open for the public for sneak preview on May 5th already at noon! Awesome!

More Manta!

� Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel 2009

The Orlando Sentinel's Theme Park Rangers blog has once again come through with some super exclusive photos of Manta at Sea World in Orlando.

The photos show the entrance to the attraction and plenty of details of the ride that I haven't seen before. Probably one of the most anticipated new ride openings of the year, this behind the scenes look may be one of the last before we see photos of the opened ride!

Check them out here.

Counting Down to Manta's First Flight

Sea World in Orlando is counting down the days (just about three weeks now) until their new flying coaster, Manta, officially opens to the public.

The park has created a wonderful website for the attraction, which you can access here. They've also started to add all sorts of fun content for viewers to check out, like a new batch of concept art (see the great aerial view above) that we haven't seen before.

Another cool move the park is doing for website visitors is to give away a free electronic photograph of their Manta experience, what sounds like a digital on-ride photograph. All visitors have to do is register and participate in some of the activities offered on the site - many of which are web 2.0 friendly!

A good marketing move indeed!

Manta's Looking Good

� RCPro 2009

Rollercoasterpro.com has a great Manta update for us, it looks like the park has reopened a section of the walkway that goes directly underneath the coaster's track near the Pretzel Loop.

The ride is really coming along in terms of landscaping and scenery as well. Sea World Orlando is really putting a lot of time and effort into making the ride look fantastic.

See the whole update on RCPro here.

The Orlando Sentinel also has up a great interview with the designer of Manta from Sea World Orlando, Brian Morrow. I'd check that one out, too.

Manta Soars On Test Flights

Manta, SeaWorld's all-new flying coaster set to open May 22, glides and spins over the Orlando park on a recent round of test flights.

An all-new breed of thrill ride-plus-up-close-animal-encounters, Manta combines the best of the sea and sky, immersing you in the beautiful and mysterious world of rays and then taking you for the ride of your life aboard a manta-inspired flying roller coaster. Fly, glide and soar headfirst like a ray aboard this unparalleled experienced that only SeaWorld could create.

Ridetheflyingray.com

The Flying Ray

� 2009 The Orlando Sentinel

Photos of Manta's trains have been released from the Orlando Sentinel - and they look pretty neat! There's a 12 ft. Ray as the zero car that will do the splashin' in the pool. Nice color scheme as well.

Lots of photos from yesterday can been seen in this gallery from the Orlando Sentinel.