I rode the Flying Ray! Manta at SeaWorld

Our family visited SeaWold Orlando for the first time last week, and it was quite the experience.

We were supposed to visit both SeaWorld and Aquatica water park, but unfortunately for us (and every other Orlando tourist) there was some crazy weather going on and the whole trip was very cold and wet.

The one bright spot for me was that I did get to ride Manta, the new roller coaster at SeaWorld.

For a brief 2 hours on Wednesday, the skies were blue and Manta was running (it does not run in the rain).

Manta is unlike any roller coaster that I have ever experienced. Instead of sitting upright, your body is actually turned so you are facing down (like you are on all fours) and essentially flying through the air!

Manta has tons of twists and turns making this the most amazing, thrilling experience.

I had to ride alone (my daughter is not tall enough) and I was scared out of my mind before getting on the coaster. After I felt "secure", (and the ride is REALLY secure) I relaxed (a little) and enjoyed every second of the ride. It was like flying!!

Looking back, the scariest part is when you actually board the coaster and it takes you from the sitting position to one where you are facing down. As you travel up the first climb you can see everyone waving below you, which really gets your adrenaline going! After that, the rest is pure fun.

Though the wait for Manta was long on this day, the ride queue leads you through an aquarium full of rays! These are some of the most beautiful creatures to watch as they really do look like they are flying underwater. This definitely helps pass the time.

Manta has officially opened at SeaWorld Orlando and is sure to be a popular attraction this summer.

To ride Manta you must be at least 52" tall, and no extra baggage can be brought on with you (lockers are located near the front entrance).

Like Disney, SeaWorld has a child swap that can be used for this ride. One parent waits in line, rides the ride, then upon exiting they get a pass from a SeaWorld team member. The other parent then can ride by entering a fast queue with a minimal wait time. It worked pretty smoothly for us, and gave my husband the chance to ride as well. He is NOT a coaster person (I forced him to go on this) but he loved it too.

If you are visiting Orlando this summer, make a visit to SeaWorld and ride Manta...it is totally worth it!