Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Roller Coaster

I am not a roller coaster person. My first memory of riding a roller coaster is my brother, Karl dragging me through Cedar Point to go on the Corkscrew. It was the “newest” roller coaster back then (yes, I am old, get over it) it went in loops and made you go UPSIDE DOWN! Why the hell would I want to go upside down on purpose?

Wait, actually I have an earlier memory of a roller coaster ride from hell (sheesh memories are flooding in, I may need some therapy for this). 1977 Disneyland, Space Mountain, I had no desire to ride this ride, but my mom did (she was a big roller coaster fan) and she couldn’t leave me standing out by myself so I was riding, no choice. Fine, but you have to hold my hand the WHOLE time and not laugh when I scream. She agreed. No one told the idiots running the ride about our agreement, since I was the smallest in the group I got placed in the very front of the rocket ship ALL ALONE! I was NOT happy! I was a bit pissy the rest of that day if I do remember correctly, and I think I got a sweet pair of Mickey Ears afterwards.

Roller Coasters have come a long way since 1977 and even since the 80’s at Cedar Point. Sea World in Orlando has a new coaster opening this month called the Manta. “The only flying roller coaster of its kind in the world. A seamless blend of up close animal encounters with a head-first, face-down thrill ride.” Holy cow! First of all in the line you are walking through an aquarium exhibit, so it is not as boring as other ride lines. Then when you are on the ride, you start out sitting like normal, but wait, why are you putting leg braces on? Because you are going to ride most of the way ON YOUR BELLY! As if you are the Manta sailing through the ocean world. There is even a part called the Pretzel Loop. That kinda makes Cedar Points Corkscrew seem a little lame.

This new ride open on May 22 (yes, Ris, that is Bobby daddy’s birthday) in Orlando. Too bad it won't be at the San Diego Sea World where we will be in June. If you are going to be lucky enough to be in Orlando anytime soon, you can check out the Manta website and enter to win a front of the line pass. I imagine the lines for this are going to be HUGE! It is very easy to do, simply fill out the entry form, surf the site and answer 6 easy questions. That’s it. You can even check out a behind the scenes video from Ted Murphy during construction. Go enter now, and if you ever ride the Manta, come back and let us know how you liked it.

Post?slot_id=
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

4 comments:

  1. OMG that looks so cool. I think our first trip to Orlando will be when J is old enough to go on that!! I just hope I am not too old by then. Mommy was about 65 when she took her last rollercoaster ride if I remember correctly. I think it was with Adam at Stateline.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't know how grandma was able to handle that ride. Chris and I went on it when we went to Vegas in 2008 and I thought my face was going to fly off. I didn't go on it with her and Adam but I figured Chris and I could do it for her since we were leaving.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes I remember the Corkscrew well. After waiting a long time in the hot sun finally getting to the front and strapped in, or was it barred in. The ride was very exciting, even going upside down, until near the end when it turned sideways and made two full 360 degree turns. That was my undoing. The turns made me dizzy and gave me a headache that lasted about two hours. It was the last headache I have ever had. Also, the last roller coaster ride I have had.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I never thought I was a roller coaster person until I went to Six Flags in Atlanta last summer. I, too, had a traumatizing childhood experience with a roller coaster...but I digress.

    One of the rides at Six Flags is Superman, which uses the leg braces and everything so that you are completely horizontal the whole time, as if you were flying. WOW! It made me a little dizzy but it was still a lot of fun.

    ReplyDelete

 
ss_blog_claim=2474f3d18ad162ea7680e223f036f781