Mako — Attraction in Dr. Phillips

First things first: the restraints are 100% safe. They've been tested by many different entities hundreds of times and no major fatal accident has ever occured with one. They are safe, just open to allow you to experience all the airtime the ride provides. If you don't like the restraints, don't ride it. You'll make the lines shorter for everyone else.

Now, the rest of the ride. Incredible. The airtime is so sustained, so strong, every drop flings you up out of your seat in the back and there's some pretty great positives and laterals as well. Overall it's a great ride and I would 100% recommend it if you're at SWO. Or even if you're not, come swing by and ride this masterpiece of a hyper coaster by B&M.

Going element by element:

First drop: amazing, you feel like you're falling forever and you're floating in your seat the whole way down.

Overbank to the left: pretty good laterals and positives, not the most special element but it's pretty fun.

Camelback: This is the most sustained moment of airtime in Florida for sure, and one of the most sustained in the world. In the back you start floating as you start to crest the lift hill and don't land back in your seat till you valley. Probably my current favorite element of all time.

Hammerhead turn: The main turnaround element of the ride. Pretty good fun, the positives are nice throughout. Nothing incredible but it's good.

Second camelback: This hill does have a set of trims on the ascent which does weaken the airtime slightly but it's nothing huge. The drop here is just as good and you get some incredible airtime here.

Right hand turn: You get some airtime on the ascent and the dive down provides good positive gs. Nothing incredible but still great airtime on the ascent, especially in the front.

Speed hill: Definitely the strongest moment of airtime on the ride. It's drawn out but low so you get strong and pretty sustained airtime through this element.

Hop up into MCBR: Gives great airtime in the front and decent airtime in the back. The lurch forward might surprise you especially if the brakes hit hard. The dive off isn't much, no real forces here other than some ok positives.

Airtime hill: Probably the weakest element on the ride. No real airtime over it, maybe mild floater but not much.

Two overbanks: Very photogenic section of the ride, and it gives lateral airtime which you don't see on every B&M hyper.

Overall, incredible ride and the best coaster in Florida. This is a top tier coaster worth the trip to...

So, if you're currently in the position I spent the day in during my first visit to SeaWorld and you are having some rollercoaster hesitancy or anxiety, here's what I recommend you do: (based on spending an entire day trying to build myself up to ride Mako) If you don't start with the sesame street coaster like I did lol🤦‍♀️try a water one. Atlantis wasn't open today so I waited for the line on Infinity falls (very easy) to go down which was around 8 pm (i recommend going earlier but like I said, I spent all day working up to this) start with Icebreaker. There's no drop and no buildup, it's just a quick backwards glide X2. It's a bit jerky but honestly so quick and easy. From there, try Manta. I asked the ride operators which was the mildest ride and many responded that Manta is a good place to start. Again, slightly jerky but no vertigo, no nausea and I didn't notice a drop since it was dark out. Finally, onto Mako. Regretfully, I spent a lot of time ascending the stairs to mako and watching the riders climb the steep drop, only to get freaked out by said drop and exit down the stairs 🤦‍♀️ I really wanted to ride it but couldn't get over that insane looking drop. Well, it turns out that the drop is the best part of the ride. It might have been the last thing I did at sea world (10 minutes to closing) but I'm so glad I got to ride the coaster that many reviewers have described as one of, if not the best coasters not only in the country but in the world! And to think I almost went home without riding a single coaster 😂 don't be like me; get the coasters in early in the day so you can relax and enjoy the rest of the beautiful, awe inspiring wonders SeaWorld has to offer instead of getting worked up needlessly over fear of roller coasters. I'm so glad I finally rode all of the rollercoasters, even if it was in the last hour 😂 I didn't see any reviews about people experiencing coaster anxiety so I hope this helps someone out there going through the same. Just know that the anxiety is totally unnecessary and you'll end up having an amazing time no matter what...

If you like airtime, no coaster in Florida delivers it like Mako, and that's the biggest appeal of the ride.

Mako has nice theming. It has its own soundtrack that plays in the queue, in the station, up the lift hill, on the brake run, and even in the plaza when the train is flying overhead. It has a majestic feeling like Manta's soundtrack, but a little more forboding with some Jaws flavor thrown in.

There's nice shipwreck theming and some coral reefs, ambient lighting, and a themed car that looks like a fierce mako shark. Plus the coaster is gorgeous, with beautiful teal and purple against a setting over the water. You'll even be able to see Kraken very easily.

Mako is incredibly comfortable. Not only are the clamshell lap bars roomy, but they're body conforming and there's no seatbelt to get in the way of your airtime. But as long as you pull the restraint down at least a bit snugly, you'll stay in the car safely. In addition, Mako is far and away the smoothest coaster in Florida.

The coaster itself is outstanding. The first drop is long and incredibly floaty. The overbanked turns are very fun to wave your hands to, especially towards the end of the ride as you get lower to the ground and water. And all of the Airtime hills will provide whole seconds of endorphin providing zero gravity. The ride is well paced, fun, smooth, comfy, well themed, beautiful, and not too intense. Anyone in your party will enjoy Mako and many will want to ride...