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Sea World San Diego |"Manta"| Mack Launched

^Yeah, but forgetting about the noise (or lack of it) for a second.

Journey to Atlantis, looks absolutely horrible, and really does impact on the area as a whole; it sticks out like a sore thumb. If I'm saying that as a coaster enthusiast, then **** knows what the people living there must think of it.
 
Yeah unfortunately it's not just residence concerns. It's neighboring businesses concerned about not just distractions from the coaster itself, but the type if crowd it may attract. And we both know these types complaints aren't always logical. In any event, this is a major step forward for this park that people who aren't locals just won't understand.
 
gavin said:
Journey to Atlantis, looks absolutely horrible, and really does impact on the area as a whole; it sticks out like a sore thumb. If I'm saying that as a coaster enthusiast, then <img> knows what the people living there must think of it.
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It actually doesn't look that bad from the freeway, inside the park it's not all that bad.

Way back when this thing was first opened (and I wasn't into coasters, much) I thought it looked neat.
 
Or that he doesn't know what he's talking about. Especially since he's RIGHT.


(or possibly she, apologies :p)
 
Xpress said:
It actually doesn't look that bad from the freeway, inside the park it's not all that bad.
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Nobody's going to mind what it looks like inside the park. The problem is that you can see it, in all its "glory" from really far away, and it really does stick out. I can understand why the locals would be pissed when that thing went up.
 
gavin said:
Xpress said:
It actually doesn't look that bad from the freeway, inside the park it's not all that bad.
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Nobody's going to mind what it looks like inside the park. The problem is that you can see it, in all its "glory" from really far away, and it really does stick out. I can understand why the locals would be pissed when that thing went up.
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You cannot see it unless you are looking for it (which is what I kind of was implying when you can see it). The biggest thing for people, IF they had gripes about the place would be the sea world tower, which can be seen from almost anywhere in the immediate area, but once again, only if you're looking for it.

Only a few miles away is the city of San Diego which features a plentiful amount of 200+ft. sky scrapers, so something like this would actually be pleasing to the eye, over the boxy, blunt, and overall eye sore downtown...

One more thing to consider is the part has trees covering a lot of its frontal area, which mask up the ride pretty well. The rear is covered up by a bay, and islands, which blend it in pretty well.....
 
The art work is very nice, but so was the artwork for the other Manta and I failed to spot this so called nice station theming.

The picture in the building will just be 3 small tanks like the one in Orlando and I think it would have been better if it was a tunnel that put you in the tank.

The coaster going out from under the bridge will have the view ruined but netting that will be needed to stop people throwing things at the ride :( Shame really.

But yes it looks great in pictures, and I still think its great the park is getting a new ride with a new done up area.

I dont mean to sound so down on it was just let down by the other Manta by everything but the coaster which is probably the best coaster now in Orlando.
 
Did you just go through the queue or in the actual Manta aquarium Marc? The queue is just supposed to give you a taste of what the aquarium is all about (in case you didn't see the interview videos we posted during the construction) & I think they do a good job of that. And I don't think that another glass tunnel was needed, since the park already has one (for the sharks). The way they did the glass ceiling (in the Manta aquarium) works just as well imo.
 
East Coast(er) General said:
Did you just go through the queue or in the actual Manta aquarium Marc? The queue is just supposed to give you a taste of what the aquarium is all about (in case you didn't see the interview videos we posted during the construction) & I think they do a good job of that. And I don't think that another glass tunnel was needed, since the park already has one (for the sharks). The way they did the glass ceiling (in the Manta aquarium) works just as well imo.
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We just went where the staff directed us and I don't remember seeing a glass ceiling and that isn't the sort of thing you just forget. Is it possible that section was closed or something? I must admit I did wonder what all the fuss was over when essentially, throughout the queue we only saw 3 or 4 small tanks set in the wall... very sealife centre-esque.
 
This is the actual Manta aquarium I'm talking about Mark/Marc. You probably didn't go into it & just went through the ride queue.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v92r07nRfc[/youtube]
 
Yes we saw that before we went on the ride, due to the ride not opening till the weather got warmer :)

The aquarium was stunning really well done but for me that is not part of the ride queue which is why I wondered where this fantastic queue was, as we done that part first the actual queue was a complete let down as I was looking for this great theming that was not actually part of the queue.

I guess I just got confused with the 2 attractions before going and thought they were all in one.

Its all very nice just when people said the queue line was fantastic it really is not :(

This is what I was getting at with regards to this new ride, some of them pictures are probably not the queue line but a different attraction. I expect it to be the same here.
 
I think it looks like a decent addition to the park. Jet Rescue in Sea World Australia was pretty awesome and that is a similar speed and probably less height than this! Saying that Jet Rescue is good because of it's tight steep bank turns taken at a good speed. Hopefully this layout is taken with a decent speed and is themed well.

Also great to see Mack selling more of these rides!
 
SWSD received final approval today, so the next step before construction can begin is to secure all necessary building permits from the city of San Diego.
The last major hurdle to bringing a new roller coaster ride to SeaWorld San Diego was cleared today, with the California Coastal Commission's approval of the Manta-themed ride.
The new ride, which will include a 54-foot drop, attracted no opposition and had been recommended for approval by the commission staff because it complies with environmental regulations and does not exceed 30 feet, the height restriction governing most of San Diego's coastline.
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Xpress said:
Pretty sure there's no 30 foot height limit down here, seeing as that Atlantis ride is 95' tall, and the sea world tower is like 200 feet.
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The article also addresses this:
Although SeaWorld was granted an exemption to the 30-foot limit through a 1998 ballot measure, its master plan still requires additional approvals from the commission and San Diego City Council if it wants to construct something taller.
At the time SeaWorld was granted the height exemption, opponents feared that it would lead to the construction of roller coasters at the theme park.
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My favorite bit:
The park plans to excavate 24 feet to allow for a steep drop, as well as create a water feature that the coaster will pass over.
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Source:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/11/seaworld-clears-hurdle-to-build-roller-coaster/
 
East Coast(er) General said:
SWSD received final approval today, so the next step before construction can begin is to secure all necessary building permits from the city of San Diego.
The last major hurdle to bringing a new roller coaster ride to SeaWorld San Diego was cleared today, with the California Coastal Commission's approval of the Manta-themed ride.
The new ride, which will include a 54-foot drop, attracted no opposition and had been recommended for approval by the commission staff because it complies with environmental regulations and does not exceed 30 feet, the height restriction governing most of San Diego's coastline.
Click to expand...
Xpress said:
Pretty sure there's no 30 foot height limit down here, seeing as that Atlantis ride is 95' tall, and the sea world tower is like 200 feet.
Click to expand...
The article also addresses this:
Although SeaWorld was granted an exemption to the 30-foot limit through a 1998 ballot measure, its master plan still requires additional approvals from the commission and San Diego City Council if it wants to construct something taller.
At the time SeaWorld was granted the height exemption, opponents feared that it would lead to the construction of roller coasters at the theme park.
Click to expand...
My favorite bit:
The park plans to excavate 24 feet to allow for a steep drop, as well as create a water feature that the coaster will pass over.
Click to expand...
Source:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/11/seaworld-clears-hurdle-to-build-roller-coaster/
Click to expand...

Interesting. I can imagine the 30 ft. height requirement has something to do with all of the aircraft activity around (I mean there is a huge international airport only a couple miles away). Most of the buildings have the red blinking lights atop them.

Also, if it's going to have a 54ft. drop, doesn't that void the teaser video, seeing as it doesn't have a 54ft. drop in it?

Going to have to get a season pass now...
 
Xpress said:
Interesting. I can imagine the 30 ft. height requirement has something to do with all of the aircraft activity around (I mean there is a huge international airport only a couple miles away). Most of the buildings have the red blinking lights atop them.
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Nah, it's pretty clear that the locals don't want a coaster sticking up on the skyline and blighting their view (for whatever reason).

Thorpe Park is about five miles from Heathrow International (you know, the UK's biggest airport) and you can see the runway at Blackpool airport from the top of the Big One. Unless the park is right at the end of a runway, there's really not an issue with 30ft of height... I could jump that high ;)
 
There's a significant ridgeline running up from Cabrillo Point between the airport (which is TINY) and the park. IIRC, it's more than 100-150 feet from water to the top. The airport is only a couple feet above sea level.

A coaster would have to be a lot taller than 30 feet to be an issue to an airport that far away. The height issue is strictly related to the park's location, surrounded by city park land.
 
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