New Summer Attractions Set for Sea World, Legoland

SeaWorld San Diego hosted a grand opening ceremony for the park's manta ray roller coaster during a Memorial Day weekend that has already seen a new pirate-themed attraction open at Legoland California.

The SeaWorld coaster carries visitors over and through a 100,000-gallon aquarium.

After a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included park and city officials, students from the Elementary Institute of Science received the honor of the first ride.

SeaWorld officials describe the coaster as both fun and educational as riders learn about the manta ray's environment.

The Legoland attraction that opened Friday is Pirate Reef, which includes a 25-foot plunge down a chute between a pair of pirate ships, and water cannons that can be fired by kids on the “vessels.”

Comments on the theme park's Facebook page say riders are soaked by the time they're finished.

“Pirate Reef encompasses three things we know are already a hit with children – water, LEGO and pirates,” said Legoland California Resort General Manager Peter Ronchetti.

Around the ride are 30 models of pirates, monkeys, parrots and frogs, created out of more than 223,000 Lego pieces.

– City News Service