SeaWorld Orlando’s new coaster, Pipeline Surf Coaster officially opens on May 27, with Pass Member Previews beginning May 12. The Media Day happened yesterday (May 11) and it looks like the Pipeline Surf Coaster is certainly an impressive addition to SeaWorld Orlando’s line up.
From the video below posted to YouTube by In The Loop you get the chance to see this new coaster in action with on-ride reverse POV footage which clearly shows the trains unique design as well as off-ride footage as the coaster glides around the track.
The feedback so far appears to be very positive with the following points being said:
- This coaster is definitely FUN and would make a good first inversion coaster for younger guests although the height requirement is 54″
- Very different and unique experience
- Filled with numerous adrenalin filled airtime moments throughout the ride
- More comfortable than was expecting
- Good layout with range of theming including sand and a water feature at the entrance.
- Provides a new take on the traditional stand up roller coaster, you can clearly see the suspension on the seats which allows you to bounce into the airtime moments.
- Visually impressive
- Throughput could mean long lines as there is only 12 rows with 2 riders per row and stand up coasters usually take longer to load
- Gift shop has a range of merchandise including shirts, caps, drinks cups, pens, magnets as well as generic SeaWorld Orlando merchandise.
You can also take a look at this video which has been posted to YouTube by Midway Mayhem which gives a POV look at what can be expected from SeaWorld Orlando’s new Pipeline Surf Coaster.
We have been keeping you updated on the construction progress over the last few months as construction has ramped up and we have entered the final stages of bringing this new coaster to fruition.
Dummy testing took place back in March and in a video posted to YouTube by Midway Mayhem at the end of March, we got to see the first human testing being done on the new Pipeline Surf Coaster. Check out the video and see it for yourself from time point 20:00.
We take a look back through the construction process…
Here is the journey through the construction process. The track was completed earlier in the year with the first launch captured in March. In the aerial photographs below you can see the guest walkways that are now in place. Landscaping took place around the roller coaster to put the finishing touches on the area before the grand opening.
Apr 14 aerial photo of Pipeline: The Surf Coaster in Sea World Orlando. pic.twitter.com/mZlAcWKrpM
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 16, 2023
Aerial look at some of the guest walkways underneath Pipeline: The Surf Coaster.
?Apr 14 At Sea World Orlando. pic.twitter.com/Qw37p4eWSF— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 16, 2023
Landscaping underway at Pipeline: The Surf Coaster,
?Apr 14 aerial photo at Sea World Orlando. pic.twitter.com/AywxVJeAu2
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) April 16, 2023
In the video below posted on Instagram by SeaWorld Orlando, we got to see the the first complete launch of the Pipeline Surf Coaster against a sunset sky.
In the update from midway mayhem at the end of February, we saw a whole host of photos showing that the Pipeline coaster train was on the track. Initial tests were being done in preparation for the start of the launch testing.
This coaster certainly looks very impressive and it will be a thrilling sight for guests as they approach the entrance to SeaWorld Orlando because the launch is positioned against the pathway so you will get to see the coaster whizz past. Pipeline is located along the water front giving it a scenic outlook and progress is going very well with all track now installed. This can be seen in the video from Attractions Magazine which is embedded below.
At the end of January, SeaWorld Orlando released a video on Instagram revealing the Surfboards which are arriving at the park, these will act as the cars for the new Pipeline coaster. You can see the orange and blue Surfboards close up being loaded into the maintenance shed.
Pipeline will be the world’s first surf coaster and will be manufactured by B&M (Bolliger & Mabillard). SeaWorld Orlando has a good relationship with the company having already worked with them on the popular Manta, Kraken and Mako.
Pipeline will have 2950ft of track, hit speeds of 60mph and reach heights of 110ft tall where guests will move with the waves. This new coaster will include 5 airtime moments and a wave curl inversion. Guests will have to be a minimum of 54 inches to ride.
Pipeline is SeaWorld Orlando’s 7th rollercoaster and should open just a year after Icebreaker. Construction work on the load and unload station is progressing very well. The unique ride vehicle for Pipeline is currently being showcased at the park, just after the ticketing area.
With recent reviews from the Media Day on May 11th, it certainly looks like Pipeline will be an exciting addition to SeaWorld Orlando’s coaster line up. Annual Passholders will be the amongst the first to get the opportunity to experience “Pipeline” when it opens beginning May 12.
Let us know what you think about this upcoming attraction at SeaWorld Orlando by voting in our poll below or leaving us a comment on our Facebook page.
