May 4, 2007 - Rumors start to spread that SeaWorld Orlando could be planning their next coaster for 2009. It will most likely be a B&M flying coaster. It is said to complete with Universal's rumored Harry Potter expansion.
July 17, 2007 - It is said that the bus/taxi lot will be moved, with the current one being used as construction access to the Project 2009 coaster. The coaster is said to be right by the entrance of the park, in the area of the now demolished aquarium all the way back towards the Journey to Atlantis and Penguin Encounter area and between Key West and Waterfront. They may actually close off access to this side of the park during construction and force all of the guests to take the path through the Waterfront area from the main gate area for several months. Other rumors point that the coaster will be a B&M flyer, a B&M hypercoaster (like Apollo's Chariot), or an indoor coaster (like ROTM).
September 25, 2007 - Some land is getting cleared to move support buildings around.
October 22, 2007 - The coaster is said to have shorter trains (only 3-4 rows long) which is themed to different types of rays (Manta ray, Sting ray, Bat ray, etc), have a ground-hugging layout like Air in Alton Towers and less like Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags, and a water splashdown (like Griffon and SheiKra), but SWO wants the coaster to swoop down over rolling waves, skimming the surface of the water. In fact, the tips of the Ray’s wings sticking out to the sides would dip into the water itself, tossing up big rooster-tails of water. It is also said that there will be a dual-loading station like Tatsu.
October 24, 2007 - Seems like BGT is getting nothing new in 2009, so the timing is right for a new coaster at SWO.
January 13, 2008 - Construction walls are said to go up within 1-2 weeks.
January 16, 2008 - One of the entrances of Blue Horizons is said to be closed for construction.
February 5, 2008 - A large area of land has been fenced off for a rumored B&M flying coaster opening summer 2009. Here is the progress:
March 11, 2008 - A large area has been closed off in the parking lot for future parts of the rumored flying coaster:
March 24, 2008 - The coaster is said to be called "Manta." The themed area could be called "Lost Cay."
April 2, 2008 - Concept art was leaked, showing an aquarium and the coaster, thus semi-confirming it.
April 8, 2008 - The coaster will be a B&M flying coaster, and will have an animal exhibit around possibly the queue. It is said that the coaster might not have 8-to-10 row seating.
April 18, 2008 - Site prep for the flying coaster, rumored to be Manta, is finished:
May 29, 2008 - The B&M flying coaster has been announced under the name Manta.
June 8, 2008 - Construction on the tank (where an aquarium and the queue lines will be) begins:
August 3, 2008 - Construction on the station house begins:
September 20, 2008 - Vertical construction begins:
Tracks and supports have been brought:
September 28, 2008 - Tracks and supports have began to go up:
October 5, 2008 - The switch track and the final brake run have gone up:
October 26, 2008 - The roof of the maintenance building has been installed:
October 30, 2008 - The 140 ft. lift hill is complete:
Bricks have gone up on the roof of the maintenance building:
November 2, 2008 - The 113 ft. drop is complete:
November 5, 2008 - The roof of the maintenance building was painted gray:
November 17, 2008 - The pretzel loop has gone up:
November 20, 2008 - The diving helix, as well as the first in-line spin has gone up:
Concrete has been poured on top of the tank:
November 23, 2008 - They begin putting bricks on top of the station house:
The maintenance building is getting a fresh coat of paint of blue:
The first in-line spin has gone up:
November 27, 2008 - Manta's opening date has changed to Spring 2009. The maintenance building has been painted blue:
They added more bricks on top of the station house:
December 3, 2008 - The block brake has gone up:
December 5, 2008 - The last of the supports went up. The final dip has gone up:
Bricks on the top of the station have expanded:
December 10, 2008 - More track has been hung, including the flat spin and turn just after the wing dip:
The roof of the maintenance building is being repainted lighter gray:
December 12, 2008 - Track work has been completed as all track (the rest of the turn after the wing dip, the wing dip, and the second drop) has been hung:
Here is a picture of the last piece of track getting hung:
The track work is not the only thing completed. The paint trim of the roof of the maintenance building (light gray) has finished too, thus completing the maintenance building on the outside:
As you can see, digging has began on the splash area. Once the coaster passes the wing dip, on-lookers or passers can get splashed. Same with the final dip.
January 4, 2009 - They are starting to plant trees in the construction area:
As for the pond area, some deep holes have been dug:
Lots of structural work is occurring with the tank:
January 18, 2009 - The foundation for the water splash effects have started to go:
The photo shop has been erected:
The station is starting to take shape as the blue construction roof is starting to get paved with concrete and wood. The roof of the tank area is getting paved as well:
As you can see on the photo above, the emergency exit platform has been installed.
The lift chain has been installed:
February 1. 2009 - Concrete for the splash effects have been installed:
The photo shop is getting its roof:
What was once the construction roof of the station building is now a paved roof. The wooden roofs of the station are steel now:
Construction on the seaside village begins, and the maintenance building is getting a trim of red:
February 3, 2009 - SeaWorld announced the opening of Manta: May 22, 2009. Commercials begin:
March 4, 2009 - Manta's train was unveiled:
That's all for now. The next update for Johnnyupsidedown.com (the website where I got the pictures) is February 15, 2009. What is my best thought of when Manta will open? Well, SeaWorld already announced the opening: May 22, 2009. So I believe in them.
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