Manta at SeaWorld Orlando is one of Florida’s most intense roller coasters — a Bolliger & Mabillard flying coaster that flips riders into a face-down, arms-out position before sending them through a 113-foot dive, four inversions, and a low pass over a lagoon that sprays the queue below.
Since opening in 2009, Manta has become one of SeaWorld Orlando’s signature attractions, prized as much for its stats as for the strange, weightless sensation of soaring like the ray it’s named after. Below is everything you need to know before you ride: exact drop height, ride length, whether it goes upside down, and what to expect from the flying position.
Quick Answer
Manta is a Bolliger & Mabillard flying coaster at SeaWorld Orlando that stands 140 feet tall, drops 113 feet, and reaches 56 mph. Yes, it goes upside down — riders invert four times (a pretzel loop, two inline twists, and a corkscrew) while lying face-down in the prone flying position. The full ride lasts about two and a half minutes, and riders must be at least 54 inches tall.
Manta’s Height, Drop & Speed
Manta’s lift hill climbs to 140 feet before the flying train rolls over the top and dives into its signature drop: a 113-foot plunge that pulls riders face-down toward the ground below. That drop feeds directly into the ride’s first inversion, and the train hits its top speed of 56 mph within the first half of the layout.
The full circuit runs 3,359 feet of steel track, making Manta one of the longer flying coasters in the world. Bolliger & Mabillard built it at a reported cost of around $50 million. Manta was SeaWorld Orlando’s tallest and fastest coaster when it opened in 2009, but it lost both titles in 2016 to Mako, a B&M hypercoaster that stands 200 feet tall and reaches 73 mph.
How Long Is the Manta Ride at SeaWorld?
From the moment the train leaves the station to the final brake run, Manta’s ride time is roughly two and a half minutes — long for a roller coaster, thanks to its extended layout, four inversions, and a slow, dramatic low pass over the ride’s on-board water feature near the end.
That runtime doesn’t include the pre-show queue, which winds through a real aquarium habitat with rays and other sea life — worth a look even if you’re only there for the coaster.
Does Manta Go Upside Down?
Yes. Manta has four inversions: a pretzel loop, two inline twists, and a corkscrew, all experienced while riders are locked face-down in the flying position rather than seated. The pretzel loop is the ride’s signature moment — a massive, sustained inversion that presses riders into the restraints while the ground rushes past inches from their face.
Because the inversions happen in the prone position, they feel noticeably more intense than the same elements would on a seated coaster. There’s no seat beneath you and no floor in front of you — just the harness and the sky.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Only Flying Coaster
Manta is SeaWorld Orlando’s flying coaster and the only ride of its type in the park. Flying coasters rotate riders from a seated boarding position to face-down as the train leaves the station, and Manta executes that transition smoothly before the climb up the lift hill.
Once in the flying position, everything about the ride changes. Drops feel like diving, turns feel like banking through open air, and even straight sections feel faster because there’s nothing blocking your view of the ground. It’s a fundamentally different sensation from any seated coaster at SeaWorld, Universal, or Disney.
Tips for Riding Manta
All loose items — phones, bags, hats, sunglasses — must go in a locker before you ride; small lockers near the entrance rent for a few dollars, or a multi-use locker covers several rides across the park for the day.
Ride Manta early, right after the park opens. Waits build quickly through the afternoon and are typically shortest in the first hour. The 54-inch height requirement is strictly enforced, and guests using wheelchairs can enter through the main ride entrance rather than a separate accessible queue.
Manta in Motion
Watching Manta from the ground is almost as entertaining as riding it. The trains glide silently overhead with riders stretched out in the flying position, and the low pass over the water creates a dramatic spray that spectators love to photograph. The layout weaves through the park’s aquarium and landscaping, making it one of the most visually striking coasters in Central Florida even for guests who never board.
Manta Stats at a Glance
Park: SeaWorld Orlando. Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (flying coaster). Opened: May 22, 2009. Height: 140 feet. Drop: 113 feet. Top speed: 56 mph. Track length: 3,359 feet. Ride duration: about 2 minutes 30 seconds. Inversions: 4 (pretzel loop, two inline twists, corkscrew). Riding position: face-down prone flying. Minimum height: 54 inches.
Flying coasters are just one style of coaster — explore the rest in our types of roller coasters guide.
manta seaworld orlando FAQs
What is Manta’s drop height?
Manta’s main drop is 113 feet, dropping riders from the top of the 140-foot lift hill into the ride’s first inversion.
How long is the Manta ride at SeaWorld?
The ride itself lasts about two and a half minutes from launch to the final brake run, not counting the queue.
Does Manta go upside down?
Yes. Manta has four inversions — a pretzel loop, two inline twists, and a corkscrew — all ridden face-down in the flying position.
What kind of coaster is Manta?
Manta is a Bolliger & Mabillard flying coaster, meaning riders lie face-down in a prone position as if flying over the park, rather than sitting upright.
Is Manta the only flying coaster at SeaWorld Orlando?
Yes, Manta is currently the only flying coaster in the park, and one of only a handful of B&M flying coasters in the world.
What is the height requirement for Manta?
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to ride Manta.
When did Manta open at SeaWorld Orlando?
Manta opened to the public on May 22, 2009, after a soft opening earlier that month.
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