Journey to Atlantis
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Journey to Atlantis is the name shared by three water roller coasters located at SeaWorld theme parks. These attractions, while different from one another, tell a similar story of a trip to the mythical land of Atlantis. Each one combines roller coaster elements, such as chain lift hills and steep drops, with boat-based attraction elements, such as splash-down landings. All three attractions were designed by MACK Rides of Germany.
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[edit] SeaWorld Orlando
| Journey to Atlantis | |
| Location | SeaWorld Orlando |
|---|---|
| Type | Steel - Water |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Manufacturer | MACK Rides |
| Model | Water Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height restriction | 3 ft 6 in (110 cm) |
| Journey to Atlantis at RCDB Pictures of Journey to Atlantis at RCDB |
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The original Journey to Atlantis made its debut in 1998 at SeaWorld Orlando, and was the first roller coaster to be installed at the park. It was the park's only thrill ride until the arrival of Kraken in 2000.
Journey to Atlantis features a small aquarium exhibit, "Jewels of the Sea", in its gift shop exit area. Inside, guests will find aquaria built into the floor and the ceiling of the exhibit, along with more traditional aquaria.
[edit] Vehicle design
The ride vehicles on Journey to Atlantis are actually boats with wheels on the bottom and on the sides. Each boat carries eight passengers, arranged into four rows with two passengers each. A single lap bar secures both passengers in the row.
[edit] Track layout
Journey to Atlantis begins as the boat is propelled via conveyor belt into a water flume meant to resemble an underwater canal. A siren beckons the boat closer until the mythical realm of Atlantis comes into view. The boat enters the city and all appears well, but soon the siren's true form is revealed, and the boat is carried up and out of the temple on a roller coaster chain lift hill. After a left-hand U-turn the boat starts up a second lift hill, entering a dry flume at the top of the hill that carries the boat to the large splash-down drop. The attraction's on-ride camera captures the boat's photograph as it slides down to the water below.
The boat makes a right-hand U-turn leading to a short drop and a final lift hill that leads back into the temple for one final encounter with the siren. At the top of this lift hill, the boat is now on a roller-coaster-type track. The boat escapes from the siren into the darkness, down a spiraling drop to the left before swooping up and landing in a final splash-down pool. The boat makes one final U-turn to the right before returning to the station.
[edit] SeaWorld San Diego
| Journey to Atlantis | |
| Location | SeaWorld San Diego |
|---|---|
| Type | Steel - Water |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | May 29, 2004 |
| Manufacturer | MACK Rides |
| Model | Water Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 95 ft (29 m) |
| Drop | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Max speed | 42 mph (68 km/h) |
| Duration | 5:00 |
| Capacity | 1900 riders per hour |
| Max g-force | 3.0 |
| Height restriction | 3 ft 6 in (110 cm) |
| Journey to Atlantis at RCDB Pictures of Journey to Atlantis at RCDB |
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The second Atlantis opened in 2004 at SeaWorld San Diego. Its design is similar to the original at Orlando, but with more roller coaster elements than its older relative.
[edit] Track Layout
Riders advance out of the station slowly onto the chain lift hill that takes them into a small enclosed temple-themed area, into a water channel (flume). The riders then slowly advance through the channel and drop through a waterfall, soaking the riders and distracting them before splashing down in a deep water splashdown area. The boat then makes a right handed U-turn in the water pool and enters another building. The building is dark inside, and boats roll inside the darkness onto a special track that works like an elevator, carrying riders to the top. There is a short film in which a whale breakes through a glass building. Riders then do an intense curved drop and rise, followed by another similar one splashing down again. The boat then roars back to the station. A sliding switch track enables high-capacity, faster loading and unloading process.
[edit] SeaWorld San Antonio
| Journey to Atlantis | |
| Location | SeaWorld San Antonio |
|---|---|
| Type | Steel - Water |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | May 11, 2007 |
| Manufacturer | MACK Rides |
| Model | SuperSplash |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Duration | 3:30 |
| Height restriction | 3 ft 6 in (110 cm) |
| Journey to Atlantis at RCDB Pictures of Journey to Atlantis at RCDB |
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The newest version of Atlantis opened in 2007 at SeaWorld San Antonio. First announced in August 2006, this version is based on a different model than the earlier two editions, and resembles a traditional Shoot-the-Chutes boat ride. It is based on the "SuperSplash" devised by MACK Rides.
