Mako

**Mako** is a steel hyper coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard at SeaWorld Orlando. Upon completion, Mako became an anchor attraction to the new park area themed to sharks in general, and is located adjacent to SeaWorld's previously existing shark attractions, such as the Shark Encounter aquarium and its attached "Sharks Underwater Grill" restaurant. It is the first new attraction added to SeaWorld Orlando since Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin opened in 2013, and the first new roller coaster since Manta opened in 2009. Mako reaches a height of 200 feet (61 m) with a maximum speed of 73 miles per hour (117 km/h) and has a total track length of 4,760 feet (1,450 m). Touted as the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in the Orlando theme-park market, Mako opened on June 10, 2016 to acclaimed reviews from many guests. In 2016, Amusement Today's annual Golden Ticket Awards voted Mako as the year's third-best new steel roller coaster and the 35th-best steel roller coaster.

## History

In April 2015, SeaWorld officials began teasing the upcoming announcement of a new thrill ride for their flagship park in Orlando, Florida. At the time, the only detail revealed was that the roller coaster would be 200 feet in height and would become the longest, tallest, and fastest roller coaster in the city. A month later on May 13, 2015, SeaWorld filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the name "Mako" along with "Reef Hunter". On May 27, 2015, SeaWorld officially announced the construction of Mako, which was named after the mako shark, considered the fastest species of shark in the oceans. During the time of announcement, a simulated POV was released depicting the ride's intended route along the parks lagoon.

On August 17, 2015, the first pieces of track began to ship from Ohio to Orlando, which started to arrive on site two days later. On January 6, 2016, the roller coaster’s lift hill was topped-out. On February 16, 2016, the first car of the train was shipped and revealed with the front train designed with the face of a mako shark. On March 15, 2016, the last piece of track was put into place.

In April 2016, SeaWorld began showing a presentation called "Mako Rising" previewing the upcoming hypercoaster in their Nautilis Theater, and later testing began on the ride with the park releasing an on-ride POV. Mako soft opening was on June 2, 2016 with the official media day to introduce the roller coaster being hosted on June 9, 2016. A day after, its official opening to the public was on June 10, 2016. In addition to the ride's opening, a summer-dedicated event named "Summer of Mako" was hosted from June to August 2016 throughout the park and its sister water-park Aquatica Orlando.

## Ride experience

The queue line of the ride consists of a wooden pier, which riders upon waiting are situated under. During the queue, guests of the ride take on the point of view of a mako shark as it traverses through preying grounds. Furthermore, as guests go through the queue, various educational displays and a Guy Harvey exhibit can be seen. Mako's station is themed to a shipwreck as with being underwater. Before the rides trains dispatch, a panel located above the riders shows scenes of shadowy figures consisting of a group of sharks going forth with accommodating visuals and sound.

## Layout

After leaving the station, the train makes a small right turn to a 200-foot (61 m) lift hill (which is right next to Kraken's dive loop) to begin its ascension. After reaching the top, it enters a 200-foot (61 m) drop, in which the train reaches at a top speed of 73 miles per hour (117 km/h). Then, the train makes a tall, overbanked turn before it goes to large airtime hill. After the moment of weightlessness, Mako enters its unique element, the Hammerhead turn, which is a tight U-turn to the right. Traveling over another camelback hill, Mako makes another airtime turn and goes into a small airtime hill. After it makes its mid-course brake run, Mako makes a small left turn under the lift hill and goes into another airtime hill. After it makes a banked turn to the right, Mako goes into another banked turn to the left over a part of the park's lagoon and makes its final brake run.