Spring 2000 Roller Coaster is Adventure Park's First
ORLANDO, Fla. --- A terrifying monster of the deep will soon be let loose on Central Florida. Its lair will be deep within Sea World Florida.
Kraken --- a massive, mythological underwater beast kept caged by Poseidon --- emerges from the depths of the sea and will break all records as the newest, highest, fastest, longest --- and wildest --- roller coaster in Orlando. The mega-coaster opens spring, 2000.
Sea World Florida's first-ever roller coaster also is the first of its kind in the Southeast.
Best described as a "floorless" coaster, Kraken's seats are open-side and ride on a pedestal, high above the track. Riders' feet dangle and no coaster car surrounds them.
Designers say this about Kraken's extreme design: Imagine sitting in your favorite chair. Going 65 mph. While you're upside-down.
Riding on Kraken, there's nothing in front of guests or beneath their feet. Above riders' heads is nothing but sky. During each of the coaster's seven high-speed loops, the only thing above is the ground.
It's just you and the monster.
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The Best Coaster in Orlando --- Sea World Florida's KRAKEN -- Soon will rise above all others.
Kraken's sensation of flat-out speed, high G-forces, weightlessness and spiraling loops and turns may be unparalleled in theme park thrill rides, but Sea World's designers chose to add a few new twists. A portion of Kraken's 4000-foot-plus length is over water. The coaster plunges underground three times, once where riders unexpectantly dive deep into the lagoon, entering the serpent's underwater lair at full speed, huge plumes of spray drenching bystanders.
Wandering through Kraken's lair, guests will come face-to-face with live eels --- the fearsome serpent's young --- encased in round see-through "eggs." It's yet another way Sea World blends thrills, entertainment, and animals.
"Our guests have always told us what thrills and adventures they'd like to see at Sea World Florida in Orlando," said Ed Litrenta, the park's vice president of marketing. "And now, with Kraken, they'll be able to experience the fastest, longest, tallest, and wildest coaster in Orlando. In my opinion, it will be the best coaster on earth."
Sea World Florida burst onto the thrill ride scene in 1998, when the Orlando adventure park opened Journey to Atlantis, a watercoaster ride through the mysterious lost city. Journey to Atlantis was chosen by Disney Adventure's Magazine as one of the nation's scariest thrill rides and by USA Today as one of the nation's top five new attractions for 1998.
"With the great coasters at our Busch Gardens parks and Sea World Texas in San Antonio, Anheuser-Busch has more than 20 years experience in designing and building state-of-the-art roller coasters," saide Litrenta. "And this will be our best yet. If you're looking for wild coaster rides in Orlando, Kraken will be your first stop."
The Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks include Sea World parks in Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio and Cleveland; Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay and Williamsburg, Va.; Adventure Island in Tampa Bay; Water Country in Williamsburg; and Sesame Place near Philadelphia. To learn more about the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks, visit www.4adventure.com or call toll-free (800) 4ADVENTURE.