SeaWorld Kraken
Sea World Orlando continues to add rides to enhance their theme park and give them a broader appeal. It was exciting to see Journey to Atlantis, a water coaster ride added about ten years ago. Just driving by outside the park, you can see this colorful ride, beckoning you to come into the park and head straight for it. It is a water ride, so it supplies the opportunity to cool off on hot summer days.
Then came Kraken in 2000. Kraken is a floorless roller coaster, meaning your feet dangle free above the park. It is the fastest ride at any Sea World park, a real departure from the kiddie rides that are common at Sea World. It’s this type of appeal that has been broadening the theme park’s appeal to teens and adults. Years ago, Sea World was thought of as the theme park for families with young children. Teens and young adult couples would often skip Sea World when planning which attractions to include in their vacation.
This summer, Manta opened. Manta is also a roller coaster, but one you ride lying on your stomach. It is designed to make you feel like you’re flying, face-first on the back of a manta ray. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Almost everyone has had a desire to fly at some point in their life. My sister took her teenagers on this ride recently and gave me the low-down. The teenagers loved it. To them, it’s the next step in thrill rides. They’ve ridden all the fastest and fiercest. The face forward, lying on your stomach ride was a new sensation. My sister, who usually loves roller coasters, said this one was too intense for her. I’ve heard that from others, too. It’s so fast, and you’re looking at a different view than usual coasters, so it has some people calling it chaotic. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but it gives Sea World a new edge, and offers a more mature option, making it a park, not only for families with small children, but for teens and young adults, too.