By Kevin Yee
This week we take you backstage in the maintenance and facilities roundhouse for the Manta roller coaster [Read more…]
Travel Channel roller coaster series to feature SeaWorld and Busch Gardens – Vote for your favorite
The Travel Channel will soon be featuring Busch Gardens Tampa’s Sheikra and Montu along with SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta and Kraken thrill rides in a series about the best roller coasters in the U.S entitled Insane Coaster Wars. They’re inviting thrill-seekers to settle the battle once and for all and find the best of the best coasters in the U.S. [Read more…]
Out of the Loop: SeaWorld San Diego getting a unique Manta coaster
Column by Andy Guinigundo
Manta opened in SeaWorld Orlando on May 22, 2009. The flying-style roller coaster has been thrilling guests ever since. A flying coaster suspends guests with restraints with the ride vehicle overhead – headfirst, face down. Manta is SeaWorld Orlando’s fourth coaster.
SeaWorld San Diego has been lacking in the thrill ride department. [Read more…]
American Idol stars dominate Top 10 Theme Park Photos of 2009
Everyone can give a thumbs up or down to any photo in our gallery. As you’ll see below, our American Idol pictures were very popular by visitors to our online gallery. Here are the top 10 photos from 2009 that received the most thumbs up (and least thumbs down). Click on any of the photos to pop open a larger version.
Number 10
A night view looking down to the pool area from an upper floor of the new Hilton Orlando.
Photo courtesy of Hilton Orlando
Number 9
American Idol television stars pose with Mickey Mouse outside The American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Number 8
The entrance to SeaWorld’s new Manta flying roller coaster.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Number 7
David Cook and Carrie Underwood sing a duet during the opening of The American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Number 6
A panoramic night view from the Top of the World lounge of Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Number 5
An usher greets guests without a smile at the gates of Universal Studios for Halloween Horror Nights.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Number 4
Fans arriving at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are greeted by some Stormtroopers up above.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Number 3
Carrie Underwood and David Cook smile as they stand next to Mickey Mouse for a group photo.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Number 2
David Cook rides down Hollywood Boulevard during a parade for the opening of The American Idol Experience.
Photo by Julie Saunders
Number 1
David Cook and Carrie Underwood share a ride on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios after the opining of The American Idol Experience.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
Top 10 theme park videos of 2009
Our YouTube channel was a popular place in 2009. We reached more than a million views for a couple of our older videos, while others lay dormant for reasons unknown to us. Sometimes we think a video is going to be a huge hit and it flops, and sometimes we wonder why we’re bothering to record something and it turns out to be very popular. Other times a video won’t be popular for weeks and weeks, then all of the sudden the view count shoots up. But for whatever reasons, here are the top 10 viewed videos we posted in 2009. We’ll start at number 10.
Number 10
A full ride on SeaWorld’s new Manta roller coaster – 99,000+ views
Number 9
Club Penguin Rockhopper and Blue Penguin at Walt Disney World – 120,000+ views
Number 8
Halloween Horror Nights 19 2009 Opening Night Scare Zones – 130,000+ views
Number 7
Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow at the Disney D23 Expo – 131,000+ views
Number 6
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2009 with Disney Fairies – 132,000+ views
Number 5
David Cook Sings at Walt Disney World’s American Idol – 135,000+ views
Number 4
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster POV from Universal Studios – 306,000+ views
Number 3
American Idol Kris Allen sings “Heartless” at Disney World – 388,000+ views
Number 2
Dance-Off with the Star War Stars 2009 – Hyperspace Hoopla – 408,000+ views
Number 1
David Cook and Carrie Underwood Duet at Walt Disney World – 820,000+ views
As we said in our Top 10 Blog Posts of 2009 story, some videos have obviously been online longer than others, so here’s our honorable mentions:
Manta Opening SeaWorld Orlando – Views, Interviews, & Queue – 80,000+ views
Star Wars Weekends 2009 Parade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 22, Opening Day – 78,000+ views
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Now Open – 77,000+ views
Disney World Fantasyland expansion announcement & makeover concept art – 66,000+ views
Disney Hall of Presidents update with Obama animatronic – 60,000+ views
Santas in training take Manta for a spin
Before you can ride a sleigh pulled by reindeer all over the world in one night, you must work your way up. These Santas in training thought the Manta roller coaster at SeaWorld would help them get used to the high-speed twists and turns – just in case Santa needs someone to fill-in one Christmas Eve.
Photo: Miss America 2010 contestants at SeaWorld
After spending the day at the Universal Orlando Resort on Wednesday (Which we documented with photos and video Here.), the 2010 Miss America contestants gathered for a photo at SeaWorld in front of the new flying roller coaster, Manta.
The contestants are in town this week to support the Miss America Outstanding Teen pageant and spend time together before officially competing for the title this Jan. 30.
Have a sleepover with Manta at SeaWorld
SeaWorld has always offered a way to drift off to sleep while snuggling up near penguins, snoozing by sharks and dreaming with dolphins as part of an overnight experience. But now guests can discover the sea like never before during sleepovers at Manta, a flying roller coaster and animal habitat all in one.
Families and groups are immersed in an underwater world surrounded by exotic fish, rays and sea dragons inside the floor-to-ceiling aquariums where guests can count sea life instead of sheep to fall asleep. Each evening kicks off at 6 p.m. with a pizza party, activities and a special craft to take home.
Sleepovers are available year-round at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens for families and groups. The programs are flexible and available for birthday parties, individuals, school groups and scout groups. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens sleepovers are accredited by the American Camping Association.
To discover more and book an unforgettable experience, visit SeaWorld.org, BuschGardens.org or call (866) GO-TO-CAMP.
Summer 2009 Issue Now Available for Preview and Pre-Order
The Summer 2009 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for preview and pre-order.
It’s our first quarterly issue and the first of our new and improved editions featuring nearly 20% more pages, thicker paper, more high-quality photography, and more articles than ever before.
Feature articles in this issue include:
• COVER STORY: Hitch a Ride on a Giant Stingray
with SeaWorld’s Manta, Florida’s First Flying Roller Coaster.
• Slip Slide Away at Disney’s Water Parks
Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach offer cool retreats year-round.
• Skipper Ben’s Top 10 Ways to Beat the Heat
• Magical Memories
Contest winner looks back at his year as Disney’s Chief Magic Official.
• Africa, Animals and Art
Kidani Village expands upon the culture found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
• Africa meets India at Sanaa
Disney’s newest restaurant dishes up African cuisine with Indian flavors.
• Stitch invades Tomorrowland in Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration.
And if you subscribe now at our new low price of $19.99, you’ll be among the first to receive the new Summer 2009 issue when it begins to mail out next week. But hurry or you’ll miss it!
Again, you can preview and pre-order the Summer 2009 issue here.
Orlando Magic fans take a ride on the blue coaster, Manta
Orlando Magic fans donned game-day gear to ride head-first, face-down on SeaWorld’s new roller coaster Manta. Fans painted their faces, arms, legs (and even hair) and sported Magic-inspired shirts and shorts to root on their hometown team as they cheered aboard Manta.