Surfacing in summer 2016 is Mako, a 200-foot-tall hypercoaster that will reach speeds of up to 73 mph along 4,760 feet of steel track — nearly a mile long — leaving riders feeling both breathless and weightless. The ride, which will open at SeaWorld, will be the tallest, fastest and longest coaster in Orlando.
Mako's tight turns and speed are inspired by one of the ocean’s fastest sharks - Mako sharks, also called “blue pointers”, are known for their top speed, making extreme jumps and the ability to quickly change course as they pursue their prey.
The new coaster will become one of the world’s few true hypercoasters, a group of roller coasters known for high speeds and steep drops and hills that create a feeling of weightlessness.
“On Mako, you’ll experience what it’s like to be this apex predator, surging through the water at top speed and chasing prey throughout a massive reef,” said Brian Morrow, SeaWorld’s attraction creative director. “It will be a wild mix of fear, thrills and fun.”
SeaWorld’s new hypercoaster will be the centrepiece of a newly themed area surrounding it. The two-acre plaza soon will be fully shark themed including Mako, Shark Encounter, Sharks Underwater Grill, shops, shark and shipwreck theming and educational experiences featuring sharks.
The entire realm is created to make guests feel like they’re underwater, part of the group of sharks and toothy animals that have taken over a shipwrecked reef.
In the plaza, guests will learn about the impact humans are having on sharks and why these animals are critical to the environment. Sharks are hunted for their fins — considered a delicacy in certain countries — and thousands are caught accidentally in nets. Several species of sharks are on the verge of extinction.
Mako uses a unique sound system to enhance the experience, and not just for those on the ride. The full score of Mako can be heard and follows riders out of the station and up the lift hill. Custom surround effects and musical scores fill the realm, changing as the coaster dives through the area.
Follow the Mako frenzy using the hashtag #NothingFaster.
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