Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

2010 Best Theme Park Attraction: Griffon vs. Manta

March 22, 2010, 11:58 AM · Day Three of the 2010 Best Theme Park Attraction Tournament continues with a first-round match-up from the Best Roller Coaster bracket.

(Frankly, this sounds like it would have been an awesome 1960s Toho Studios monster flick.)

If you haven't been on both these rides, we've got attraction descriptions linked below, as well as two of Theme Park Insider's best on-ride videos ever for you to watch on this page. Take a look, then decide which one you'd like best. Or, if you've ridden these models at other theme parks, consider them when making a decision.

6. Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Griffon

vs.

11. SeaWorld Orlando's Manta


Please tell us in the comments why you voted the way you did. And please consider subscribing to our Theme Park Insider Twitter feed for immediate notices when we open new match-ups for voting.

Next up: Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom vs. Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Curse of DarKastle

Replies (13)

anonymous
68.13.210.38
March 22, 2010 at 12:11 PM · I live right by Busch and visit all the time. Griffon was my all time fav coaster until I visited FL last year and got on the Manta. I am PRAYING Busch brings us a flying coaster to take the place of Big Bad Wolf. If griffon was laying down, it would be tops, but nothing compares to riding "laying down"
anonymous
69.134.251.60
March 22, 2010 at 12:15 PM · Next up: Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom vs. Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Curse of DarKastle

Looks like a clear win for Expedition Everest. Curse of DarKastle is good, but nowhere near as good as its Spiderman counterpart.. and you can't beat the originality and track changes of Expedition Everest.

Also, fun fact.. Curse of DarKastle blue-screened last time I was in it. That was interesting.

anonymous
76.123.184.94
March 22, 2010 at 12:30 PM · There is nothing like the Griffon! We rode it over and over and still couldn't get enough of it. The massive drop, the twists and turns...just an incredible ride all the way through.
bluesrider
Writer
Derek Potter
March 22, 2010 at 12:33 PM · Why people are so impressed with Griffon is a mystery to me. Actually I think it's that little extra effort from the marketing department at Busch Gardens via Facebook/Twitter that got out the vote for Griffon.

Griffon is a one trick pony that does the trick twice. Fun yes, best coaster? absolutely not.

Bigwig30
Writer
James Rao
March 22, 2010 at 1:30 PM · I like Griffon a lot, and I have not ridden Manta, but it just looks like such a sweet ride I gave it my vote anyway. I think the reason Griffon is winning so handily is because Busch is heavily involved in the voting today, on both Twitter and Facebook. Kudos to them for getting people motivated. Erniebald57 would be proud, eh, Derek?! =)
anonymous
70.160.37.61
March 22, 2010 at 1:05 PM · I live 5 mins. from Busch and have rode the Griffin quite often. I also live in FL for 10 years and visited the Busch Gardens there. I rode the Shekra in FL before the Griffin was even installed and to me the Griffin is not much different from the Shekra (almost identical rides). I rode the Manta last year while visiting FL and this coaster is not at all like any I have ever rode before. I screamed with delight the entire ride and it was well worth the wait in the hot July sun:))))
anonymous
24.162.248.231
March 22, 2010 at 1:13 PM · Why do you make me choose between these two they are both great but once again I will choose BGW
JoshC.
Joshua Counsil
March 22, 2010 at 1:24 PM · I admire the dive coasters. The concept is original, especially with the wide-seating arrangements, but Manta is damn near a work of art. What a beautiful ride, both to experience and to watch. To boot, its queue is filled with marine life. What more could you ask for?
KCWes
Wes Lindquist
March 22, 2010 at 2:01 PM · So how many of you voting for Griffon have actually been on Manta? Manta should be the winner and would be my overall champion of this bracket.
anonymous
69.120.22.254
March 22, 2010 at 3:04 PM · I support the semi-North East candidate.
bluesrider
Writer
Derek Potter
March 22, 2010 at 4:13 PM · Yep I'm proud. Get the vote out. I want to know what the people think. I just wish that the voting windows were longer so that more people could get involved. I would have still liked to have seen day long contests like last year. Last year's format seemed to generate a lot more interest. Thousands of voters, lots of comments, and dramatic finishes....our own March Madness. This year doesn't quite feel that way, at least not yet.
Dozer11
Brandon Mendoza
March 22, 2010 at 4:39 PM · I LoL'ed at the Toho reference! Wish I could have voted, but I've never been on either.
Meep
Tim Odom
March 23, 2010 at 6:15 AM · Well, this vote killed my bracket, I had Manta getting far in this tournament. It really is a great coaster, and as much as I love Griffon, it really is the better ride. Hopefully, as more ride Manta, more will see just how good of a ride it is.

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