ORLANDO, Fla. – In one month, Orlando's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster will open at SeaWorld Orlando.
Mako has been surfacing above the theme park skyline for a while, and on Tuesday, News 6 got a full tour of the thrill experience, including the queue line, track and the surrounding Shark Wreck Reef.
"Mako is intended to connect our guests with the shark," said Vice President of Theme Park Development Mike Denninger.
The connection for guests begins as the first step into line and into the realm of the shark.
"The guests will take the point of view of a mako shark," said Vice President of Theme Park Design Brian Morrow. "They will move through the hunting grounds of the mako."
After a series of educational encounters, including a Guy Harvey exhibit, riders will come face to fin with the 28-seat coaster.
"The first drop is exhilarating," said Denninger. "As you crest the hill, you're just waiting for the track to stop bending back underneath you."
Mako will take riders 200 feet high, and the coaster will reach speeds up to 73 mph. The coaster has a series of lifts and drops designed to mimic the motion of the mako shark.
"It keeps delivering this great airtime feeling, which is all about speed and height and acceleration," said Denninger.
In all, the ride gives theme park guests nearly three minutes of thrills, but designers said they hope they'll walk away with more.
"They'll learn what they can do to make a difference out in everyday lives and here in the parks for sharks in the wild," said Morrow.
The roller coaster is set to open on June 10.