SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego and Busch Gardens Williamsburg showcase new information and ride vehicles at IAAPA 2016!
This week at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida Seaworld Parks and Entertainment unveiled ride vehicles for all three of their previously announced attractions.
First was Seaworld San Antonio’s Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster. The ride will feature a double launch, at 38 mph and 44 mph respectively while reaching a maximum height of 61 feet. Despite the fact that the majority of the ride, with exception of the loading platform, will be over the water Intamin Amusement Rides has confirmed that this ride will not feature any water effects as seen in rides such as Manta at Seaworld Orlando or Sheikra at Busch Gardens Tampa. Specifics have yet to be confirmed but it is known that several different rescue story lines will be present to add variety to the ride experience. The ride vehicles will be themed as jet skis seating two per row and 8 rows per train. This attraction can be enjoyed by guests with a minimum height of 48 inches.
Second, at the Chance Ride Designs booth, a scale model of the 14 foot “mini submarine” vehicle for Seaworld San Diego’s Ocean Explorer was showcased. The ride will be one of five attractions/exhibits in the new Ocean Explorer realm, with others including live animal walk throughs with habitats for moray eels, octopi, and spider crabs, the ride however, will have strictly digital animal interactions rather than live displays. Three times between the queue and boarding guests will be advised that there is “something big out there” that they are to keep an eye out for while they are collecting data for the team. Two companions, a human companion and a second submarine character will accompany explorers on their data collection journey, which will last approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds. The ride vehicle will consist of 3 rows of 2 riders. Each set of riders, based on row, will be a team to work through five or six in ride challenges which will intuitively adapt the level of difficulty based on the speed and accuracy the last challenge was completed with making the ride interface appropriate for adults as well as the youngest park guests. The first challenge that all riders must face will be to repeat a visual code to unlock their ride vehicle prior to embarking on their mission. In total seven vehicles will be on the 760 feet of track at any given time allowing a capacity of 700 riders per hour. The mini submarine will travel through both indoor and outdoor sections to before appealing to families since “young children tend to fear, and not want to ride, what they cannot see”
The last stop during the unveiling was for the new Great Coasters International Inc’s family coaster, InvadR, at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The single loading platform will feature two different trains, allowing 16 visitors of at least 46 inches tall, per train, to choose between being a resident villager or an invading Viking. Both cars will share the same track, designed for family entertainment as well as airtime, which will feature a maximum height of 60 feet and a maximum drop of 74 feet. As a park built on the principle of conservation it is fitting that Busch Gardens has chosen to recycle the ride chassis from Busch Gardens Tampa’s now defunct Gwazii for the new ride. During the approximate 90 second ride time a top speed of 48 mph will be achieved.
All rides are set to open between the spring and summer in 2017.
Jason Mayhew
My name is Jason Mayhew, and I am the owner of OFF On The Go. When not traveling with the website, I own my own marketing and PR company, J Mayhew Marketing. I have the best job where I get to travel the world and showcase the most amazing and unique experiences!
We are only a few days away from Wave Breaker’s opening day, and my kids can’t wait for our annual SeaWorld summer trip