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.

Only one roller coaster in Orlando allows you to spin, glide, skim, and fly like a manta ray - face down! And that is Manta, the sick (we mean that in a good way) new attraction at SeaWorld Orlando. Though the official opening of the coaster is May 22, Manta has been open in sneak preview form all week to riders, and the reviews are in - Manta is one of the most exciting, unique, and fun experiences to come to Orlando in a long time.

Though not all the sea life is in place and final tweaks still have yet to be made to the ride before it’s officially unveiled at the end of the month, guests who have ridden Manta so far say it’s an intense but fun experience. From the ground, the ride looks smooth and tame, even, but riding the ray is a completely different experience.

Upon first getting onto the ride, everything seems normal - at first. Riders sit down in the vehicle normally (four across) and get strapped in snugly across the chest and legs. But as the ride begins its machinations, the entire vehicle swings forward, placing riders at a horizontal, face-down position. But still, so far so good as the ride gets off to a slow climb.

At that point, riders will have a chance to enjoy a unique perspective of Orlando - face down, with no obstructions in the way. It’s the kind of moment where you can say, “Hey, I can see my house from here,” and it’s actually quite nice until the ride jolts into high gear - and then, we’ll just say that the ‘slow’ part of the ride is definitely over.

From the front row, Manta can be a genuinely scary experience, since no other vehicle is in front, making the whole face-down aspect even more thrilling. But from the back rows, riders report that Manta is genuinely intense and almost jarring, with G forces being felt much more significantly than on the other rows. The consensus is that the back rows are best reserved for the hardcore roller coaster rider, while those looking for a less rocky thrill will be happy with the front row – if they can handle the more psychologically scary view! No matter what row you’re in though, you’ll definitely feel like you’re flying like a manta while riding the coaster.

Meanwhile, the experience of waiting to ride Manta is almost as entertaining as the ride itself – the queue area has been beautifully designed with waterfalls and several aquariums filled with tropical fish, sea dragons, and manta rays. Guests will wait comfortably inside the mostly covered and climate controlled area while they watch rays soaring mesmerizingly overhead. In these early weeks, all the tanks’ inhabitants haven’t yet been added – but keep an eye out for the home-grown coral, the giant 12-pound pacific octopus, who can reportedly put together puzzles, and plenty of weedy and leafy sea dragons.

For those who don’t think they can handle Manta’s exhilarating flight, the attraction also offers a separate aquarium especially for non-riders. So if you’re traveling with a group of friends slightly braver than you, you won’t be bored while you wait for them to get off the ride.

If you can’t wait until May 22 to experience Manta, head on down to SeaWorld and join the others who decided they couldn’t wait either – just get ready to wait on line, since this is one thrill that’s already very popular. Check out discount SeaWorld tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com to begin your Manta flight.