Manta is SeaWorld Orlando’s signature flying roller coaster: riders are locked in face-down, arms and legs extended, and sent soaring belly-first over a lagoon stocked with real rays. It’s one of only a handful of Bolliger & Mabillard “flying coasters” on Earth, and the only one of its kind in Florida.
This guide covers everything people actually search for before riding: exact speed, height, and G-force stats, how the flying restraint changes your orientation mid-ride, the walk-through ray aquarium built into the queue, and practical tips like the single rider line that can shrink a long wait to just a few minutes.
Quick Answer
Manta at SeaWorld Orlando is a Bolliger & Mabillard flying roller coaster that hits a top speed of 56 mph, climbs 140 feet, and covers 3,359 feet of track with four inversions (a pretzel loop, two inline twists, and a corkscrew), all while riders lie face-down in a prone flying position. It opened May 22, 2009, requires a 54-inch minimum height, and its queue doubles as a walk-through aquarium home to more than 300 rays.
Stats at a Glance
Park: SeaWorld Orlando. Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard. Opened: May 22, 2009. Height requirement: 54 inches (137 cm). Cost to build: about $50 million.
Max height: 140 feet (43 m). First drop: 113 feet. Top speed: 56 mph (90 km/h). Length: 3,359 feet (1,024 m). Ride duration: about 2 minutes 35 seconds. Inversions: 4 (pretzel loop, two inline twists, one corkscrew). Hourly capacity: roughly 1,500 riders. Peak G-force: about 3.7 Gs.
The Ride Experience
Riders board Manta’s train seated upright, four across in a row, and once the restraint locks into place the seats rotate riders forward into a prone, face-down flying position — arms and legs extended — before the train ever leaves the station. That means the entire ride, including the climb up the 140-foot lift hill, is experienced belly-down and facing the ground below.
From there the layout drops 113 feet and swoops through a pretzel loop, two inline twists, and a corkscrew, banking low over the surrounding lagoon at up to 56 mph. The flying format — a signature B&M design also used on coasters like Tatsu and Air — delivers peak forces of roughly 3.7 Gs during the tightest turns, and the manta ray-shaped lead car has a 12-foot wingspan; a fountain effect was added along the course to simulate the sensation of the wing skimming the water below.
How Fast Is Manta at SeaWorld?
Manta’s top speed is 56 mph (90 km/h), reached during the first drop and pretzel loop. That’s brisk, but it isn’t SeaWorld Orlando’s fastest coaster — Mako runs up to 73 mph and Kraken reaches about 65 mph. What makes Manta feel faster than the number suggests is the face-down orientation: with no floor or seatback in view and the lagoon rushing past just below you, 56 mph flying prone reads as far more intense than 56 mph would sitting upright.
The ride also packs its speed into a short window — the full layout runs about 2 minutes 35 seconds from launch to brake run, so the four inversions and low-lagoon banked turns come in rapid succession rather than being spread across a long circuit.
Height Requirement and Who Can Ride
Manta requires a minimum height of 54 inches (137 cm) to ride, in line with SeaWorld Orlando’s other extreme-thrill coasters like Mako and Kraken. The flying restraint needs riders to fit securely in a horizontal, arms-and-legs-extended position, so the height minimum exists as much for the restraint fit as for the speed and inversions.
SeaWorld notes that the ride’s forces and speeds may not be suitable for guests with pre-existing health conditions such as heart, back, or neck problems, or for pregnant riders — check the posted restrictions at the ride entrance if you have any concerns. Guests using wheelchairs enter and transfer through the main ride entrance rather than a separate accessible queue.
A Ray Lagoon Built Into the Attraction
Unlike most coasters, Manta’s queue doubles as a walk-through aquarium exhibit open to non-riders through a separate entrance. Ten aquariums hold roughly 184,000 gallons of water and around 3,000 animals across more than 60 species, including over 300 rays — cownose rays and spotted eagle rays among them — plus seahorses, leafy seadragons, and tropical fish.
The $50 million attraction was named Best New Attraction of 2009 by Theme Park Insider and placed third in Amusement Today’s Best New Ride poll that same year, cementing Manta as one of SeaWorld Orlando’s signature thrill rides since its debut.
Tips for Riding Manta
Manta splits into two loading stations near the end of the queue, and single riders get funneled through a dedicated line that can run as short as 5-10 minutes even when the regular wait is much longer — it’s also a good way to land a front-row seat if the crew is filling gaps. The single rider line can close during the busiest periods, so ask a team member at the entrance if it’s open.
There’s a shelf at the loading platform for loose shoes, and small lockers sit near the entrance for anything else you’re carrying — you generally don’t need one unless you have a bag. Manta is included with standard SeaWorld Orlando park admission; there’s no separate ticket for the ride. For current park hours, ticket pricing, and any temporary ride closures, check the official SeaWorld Orlando Manta page or SeaWorld’s official tickets page before you go.
Manta Orlando vs. Manta at SeaWorld San Diego
If your search turned up conflicting ride stats, it’s likely because SeaWorld San Diego also has a coaster named Manta — but it’s a completely different ride: a MACK-built launched coaster that opened in 2012, without the face-down flying format. The Manta covered on this page is the Orlando original: the B&M flying coaster that opened in 2009 and remains the only flying coaster in Florida.
Manta at SeaWorld Orlando FAQs
What type of roller coaster is Manta at SeaWorld Orlando?
Manta is a Bolliger & Mabillard flying roller coaster. Riders are secured in a prone, face-down position rather than seated upright, giving the sensation of flight.
How fast is Manta at SeaWorld?
Manta reaches a top speed of 56 mph (90 km/h), hit during the first drop and pretzel loop.
How tall do you have to be to ride Manta?
You need to be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to ride Manta.
How many inversions does Manta have?
Manta has four inversions: a pretzel loop, two inline twists, and a corkscrew.
When did Manta open at SeaWorld Orlando?
Manta opened to the public on May 22, 2009, as one of SeaWorld Orlando’s largest single investments in an attraction at the time.
How long is the Manta ride?
The ride lasts about 2 minutes 35 seconds from launch to the final brake run, covering 3,359 feet of track.
Is Manta at SeaWorld Orlando the same ride as Manta at SeaWorld San Diego?
No. Orlando’s Manta is a B&M flying coaster from 2009. SeaWorld San Diego’s Manta is a different, MACK-built launched coaster that opened in 2012.
Does Manta have a single rider line?
Yes. A single rider line splits off near the end of the queue and often moves much faster than the standard line, though it can close during peak crowds.
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