Sea World Of Texas

I really haven't heard much about either GreatWhite or Steel Eel, so you guys out there who have ridden them, are they decent?

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Top 5 coasters in no particular order: Nitro, S:ROS (SFA), Medusa (East), Talon, Batwing

Great white is a batman clone. (Mantab maybe?)

Steel Eel is a Morgan Jr. hyper. I hear it has pretty good air, but still doesn't live up to the other Morgan hypers (which seem to be falling in the ranks).

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
You must be this dumb to ride Viper. -SFGAdv.

Great White is a Batman the Ride clone themed to a great white (instead of the traditional Batman theme). These clones are great and very intense, personally my favorite inverted coasters.
Steel Eel is a Morgan jr hyper coaster that is 150 feet tall.

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Six Flags Magic Mountain Xtreme Guide

I heard rumors that the Great White runs a bit faster than the B:TR's. Can anyone add to this? I don't mean drastically faster, but that there's just tiny tiny differences.

I've never been to San Antonio, but it looks like from the map that Sea World and SFFT are just miles apart on the same outerbelt.

I often wonder why Sea World would choose to build coasters at this park (so close to SFFT) and its Florida park (surrounded by theme parks), but not its San Diego park, which is, on a good day, a full 1.5 hours from a major coaster park?

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Steel Eel is a fun for a (relatively) small ride. The drop gives a pleasent pop of air, and the rest of the ride runs smooth and fast. The air is consistant, and the longer trains makes a ride in the back quite entertaining. The line moves fast too.

Great White... meh, it's Batman.

Is Sea World California in city limits? SWoT and SFFT are on the outskirts of San Antonio, so maybe there was just room to. It might have to do something with tourism too. San Antonio is a larger tourist city than Houston and Dallas. With SFFT right down the road, it seems to me as if they put in a couple of coasters of their own that couldn't be offered at FT, such as the inverted (pre-BTR and Serial Thriller) and hyper (pre-Titan).

Not only is it in City Limits, its on the city's property. Sea World just leases the land, and they had like a 40 foot height limit (the tower was built prior)up until a year or so ago, when after much debate and opposition from this hippie city council member, sea world got a 200 foot or so height limit that has MANY restrictions such as how many places in the park can reach above 100 feet, what percent of the rides have to be educational, conservation education, etc. They used to have the PDF file on their website. But ALAS, they are getting their own version of JTA, said to be under construction already, probably opening in may 2004. It will be better than FL's one supposedly (and house a new home for dolphins).

The hippie city council lady, dona frye (who fried her brain on pot), claimed after she was the only one that voted no in the last round of voting on the issue, that "just you wait and see. in less than 4 years you'll have a steel eel or kraken coaster. then you'll regret not supporting me. " I wonder if the clip is anywhere on the internet. BTW, the people supported sea world when we voted for their new height limits in like 2000.

Den, the reasoning behind adding thrill rides to the Sea World parks is to appease the teen market, who will quickly grow tired of seeing Shamu and all his friends. Sea World has a very regimented schedule. You can't just go and see a show any time you want. At Sea World of Texas, not only did they have the two coasters, but also a log flume and a white-water rapids ride--not to mention several kiddy rides, and a water-play area.
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2003-Gotham City @ SFA presenting Bathroom the Ride-Please remain seated at all times

Steel Eel is a more enjoyable ride than several of its "Full-Hyper" brethren (including RGW's all-time favorite coaster Steel Forceless ;)). Great White is just another Batman without the theming. It was kinda weird riding a Batman without seeing a broken toilet, but I had just finished chugging a beer so the ride was fine to me. But Steel Eel is the gem over there.

BTW: The ride was so violent in the backseat we nicknamed it "BootySlam: The Ride" (still not as violent at Phantom's Revenge, but close)

lata, jeremy

--who would like to see the smaller parks get Steel Eel caliber rides

I'd almost categorize Steel Eel as a "family" hyper. It's just a nice ride - gentle air, and some nice scenery. I love the first drop over the water, and the banked drop following the MCBR. I think it would be better-served by different trains, though. I always feel reluctant to put my hands up since I tend to get jostled around in my seat. The lap bars don't even touch my legs when they're pulled all the way down.

But I've never seen more than a walk-on for the Eel. I last rode it at the beginning of November, in 50-degree temps and light rain. Rode it three times in a row in the same seat, and probably would've kept doing it until the park closed... but i was getting soaked.

I only rode Great White once, as I've ridden the Batmen at SFGAm and SFStL numerous times, but it did seem more intense, and I actually liked the grassy scenery. It was a nice change of pace from the Batman-themed junkyards.

Sea World park have to add the thrillrides if they want to survive. I believe that animal shows aren't enough anymore. People need to have variety in their parks, especially if they want to draw outside of the immediate market. Shamu and the like are still a powerful draw, but the Ohio park proved it to me that a stand alone marine life park has no staying power on its own.

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2Hostyl said:

Steel Eel is a more enjoyable ride than several of its "Full-Hyper" brethren (including RGW's all-time favorite coaster Steel Forceless ). Great White is just another Batman without the theming. It was kinda weird riding a Batman without seeing a broken toilet, but I had just finished chugging a beer so the ride was fine to me. But Steel Eel is the gem over there.

BTW: The ride was so violent in the backseat we nicknamed it "BootySlam: The Ride" (still not as violent at Phantom's Revenge, but close)

lata, jeremy

--who would like to see the smaller parks get Steel Eel caliber rides

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Nothing will even come close to what PR's backseat delivers during a heavy downpoor. It's almost a punishment to be riding during those conditions.

Coasterman Mike - who enjoys "the office" just as much as the next guy

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My 2002 Coaster Season Video Review is now available here: http://www.geocities.com/coasterman_mike

Actually, SW Ohio had good increases in attendance over its final 7-10 years. Not sure how, but Busch dumped loads of marketing into the region, and the group business increased.

Being their ultra close location to Geauga Lake, the addition of rides would have caused a noticable impact on GL. Any Pittsburgher's would have probably passed on the second day at GL Sea World still had a place in the wide world of tourism in the mini vacation market in Ohio.

However, the addition of rides and the waterpark was needed to maintain attendance in San Antonio. The park struggled in the first few season, draining most of Sea World Inc.'s capital reserves, and limiting growth at the other parks. It was only the natural decision to move the flume and rapids ride from Boardwalk and Baseball to the property, and add quality coasters to fit the clientle.

Busch does not want any family to leave the teenagers at home, because they feel Sea World is all shows, or just for kids. It has worked for Texas and Orlando, and it is working now for San Diego.

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