Roller coaster lovers have been waiting all summer, and the day is finally here - the new high-flying, gliding attraction Manta has finally opened at SeaWorld! And if the long lines of peple waiting to ride the flying ray are any indication, then it's clear that Manta is already the must-experience ride of the summer.

The only flying roller coaster of its kind in the world, Manta is unique in that riders climb into what appear to be traditional seats and harnesses only to be rotated forward into a face-down position. Each coaster car is designed to look like a manta ray with a 12-foot wing span, so riders will literally ride on a manta's belly as it twists and soars above the ocean.

You'll want to hold on tight - and maybe say a prayer if you've recently eaten lunch - for Manta, which offers an intense ride in the first half and a smooth ride with breathtaking views in the second half. Though the coaster looks rather tame from the ground, riders will soar head-first at 56 mph through a track-twisting pretzel loop, in-line spins, and a close call with a waterfall that'll make you gasp. One of the most fun parts of the ride is the wing dip, where the coaster car flies sideways and seems to skim the water, sending up a spray.

As is the ride itself wasn't well-designed enough, it seamlessly blends with an awe-inspiring que area filled with up-close animal encounters. As they wait in line, guests will get to peer into ten aquariums filled with nearly 250,000 gallons of water and more than 3,000 marine animals.

For guests who might be too young or not thrill-loving enough to ride Manta, do check the now-open non-rider side of the aquarium, where guests can stick their heads into a 'pop-up' aquarium and come face-to-face with nearly 300 clownfish and mysterious sea anemones. Another highlight of the aquariums is a giant Pacific octopus, who slinks back and forth between habitats through an underwater tube.

On a funny side note, one of our staffers, Taylor Scott, got to ride Manta last evening as part of the media previews. He described to us the thrill of being strapped in and switched into horizontal position before the ride took off. To his dismay, however as the ride swoooped down into his first loop, his keys fell out of his pocket! He immediately began freaking out and couldn't even enjoy the rest of the ride, but as soon as he alerted Sea World employees, they immediately returned his keys to him.

Surprised, he queried them, "How'd you find it so fast?"

"Magic," they simply responded. "This isn't Walt Disney World, but we've got a little magic of our own here at Sea World."

When guests are soaring over the park in an experience that's probably the closest they'll ever come to flying - we'd say there's definitely something magical about that. Still, if you plan on riding Manta in the near future, you might want to use the lockers!

If you've ever dreamt of soaring through the air like a bird - or a manta ray - then you'll definitely want to check out Manta! Take a look at discount SeaWorld tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com to begin a flight you'll never forget.