SeaWorld Orlando’s Summer of Mako begins Friday with coaster’s grand opening

SeaWorld’s newest roller coaster, Mako, opens tomorrow (Friday, June 10), and the theme park is also kicking off a host of related activities and entertainment called “Summer of Mako.” Through Aug. 7, the new event celebrates Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster with experiences for all ages.

The coaster itself is a hypercoaster, “which means it’s all about speed, tight turns and that weightless feeling you get at the top of each hill. Its design and engineering was inspired by the real mako shark — one of the ocean’s fastest shark species,” according to SeaWorld Orlando. You must be at least 54 inches tall to ride the coaster, which is the same requirement as the park’s two other big coasters, Manta and Kracken. The grand opening of Mako takes place at 9 a.m. Friday, and park guests are invited to attend.Take a look at our behind the wall story .

Here’s a video (filmed and edited by SeaWorld) of my daughter on Mako, and much of it is point of view, so you can get a feel for whether you’re as brave as a fifth-grader. On Saturday, I’ll have another blog post about what to expect on the ride with interviews from park experts.

Like any new theme-park attraction, Mako is sure to draw big crowds for the foreseeable future. One way to beat the crowds is to become a SeaWorld annual pass member and take advantage of perks in June that allow those guests to ride the coaster without long waits. Among them:

** Each pass member can reserve a complimentary, one-time use of Quick Queue for Mako on a date between June 11 and 30. Register online. This is limited to 500 pass members per day.

** On Tuesdays and Saturdays from June 18 to Aug. 13, pass members can get into the park early at 8 a.m. to ride Mako before it opens to other guests at 9 a.m.

Mako is the centerpiece of Shark Wreck Reef, a two-acre realm that also includes Shark Encounter, Sharks Underwater Grill, shops, shark and shipwreck theming and educational experiences featuring sharks. Shark Wreck Reef is designed to make guests feel like they’re underwater and part of the group of sharks that have taken over a shipwrecked reef. Renowned artist and conservationist Guy Harvey has painted a large mural of a mako shark swimming with fish in the Shark Wreck Reef and also has exclusive special merchandise for sale at SeaWorld Orlando.

During the “Summer of Mako,” visitors can touch a shark at the new Shark Touch Pool located near the Wild Arctic attraction. They will have the chance to learn about and interact with brown-banded bamboo sharks, white-spotted bamboo sharks and epaulette sharks. (This experience is included in park admission and does not have an additional charge like some of the feeding experiences.)

Guests can join the frenzy as they race around SeaWorld Orlando to find some of the tallest, fastest and longest creatures that call oceans home with a park-wide, text message-based scavenger hunt. Those who complete the Mako Challenge will have $1 donated to the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund on their behalf.

For the limited-time event, SeaWorld is introducing new food and beverage offerings, including a honey vanilla mako shark cookie; a SeaWorld exclusive Coca-Cola Freestyle mix, Mako Blast (and Diet Mako Blast); a specialty alcoholic beverage only available at Shark’s Underwater Grill; and Mako American Red Ale, a SeaWorld exclusive brew available in several locations around SeaWorld. My family and I love South Pole Chill, the exclusive Coca-Cola Freestyle mix that was introduced with the opening of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, so we can’t wait to try Mako Blast.

Pass members can take advantage of other special offers related to Mako in June, as well:

** Stop by the new pass member lounge and purchase an exclusive Mako T-shirt for $10 plus tax.

** Get 10 percent off the price of a ride photo to commemorate your first experience on the fastest coaster in Orlando.

** Purchase admission for guests for half off. Each pass member can buy up to six tickets at the discounted rate through Dec. 31, 2016. The tickets must be used by Dec. 31, too.

Other popular summer entertainment returns this year, including extended hours (closing at 9 p.m.); Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up The Night; a block party along the Waterfront area; and concerts and fireworks for Fourth of July weekend.

Follow @Kristin_B_Ford

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