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This summer, more than 135 exciting, thrilling, and cool new rides and attractions open at more than 50 U.S. theme parks, waterparks, family fun centers, zoos, aquariums, and museums, in 24 states.
Adrenaline seekers can enjoy 20 uniquely designed roller coasters and thrill rides; water enthusiasts can soak up the fun of more than 80 water attractions, including waterslides and lazy rivers; and families can enjoy more than 34 activities together, such as child-themed rides, interactive play structures, and animal exhibits. Whether on summer vacation or a day trip, park visitors will likely experience one of the year’s emerging trends: unique rider positions, immersive 3-D experiences, or waterslides and other attractions.
More than 300 million people visit U.S. amusement parks annually and the industry generates more than $57 billion (about €43 million) for the nation’s economy. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the worldwide trade association for the attractions industry, produces this annual preview of what’s new at amusement parks, waterparks, and attractions in the United States.
“American families are gearing up for a blockbuster year at theme parks and attractions, which are set to open new, innovative roller coasters, rides, slides, and family activities,” said Chip Cleary, IAAPA president and CEO. “Summer 2012 will be remembered for remarkable roller coasters, exceptional guest experiences, and water park openings and additions.”
Here are some of the main new attractions opening this summer per state:
California
Cars Land opens at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. The 12-acre (approx 5 hectares) addition replicates the town of Radiator Springs featured in the animated film “Cars.” It includes three new attractions: “Luigi's Flying Tires,” “Mater's Junkyard Jamboree,” and “Radiator Springs Racers.”
Legoland California in Carlsbad., opens “Pirate Reef,” a pirate ship attraction that includes water cannons that allow visitors to shoot water at each other. When guests come to the end of a giant chute slide they create a tidal wave and soak visitors standing on a nearby Lego bridge.
SeaWorld San Diego unveils the “Manta” roller coaster. Riders glide, swoop, and dive like a ray through more than 12 twists and turns with the coaster’s wings skimming the water. Passengers start “Manta” enclosed in a tunnel with larger-than-life images of rays projected on a 270-degree enveloping screen.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo adds the “Superman: Ultimate Flight” roller coaster, designed to simulate the feeling of flight. The ride features a 150-foot (45 meters) tall inversion, two loops, two vertical rolls, and reaches speeds of 62 miles per hour (100 kph).
A 400-foot (122 meters) tall drop tower called “Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom” debuts at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. Guests experience a thrilling plunge at speeds of 85 miles per hour (136 kph) in a floorless gondola. The tower’s uniquely attached to the structure of an existing coaster.
Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, introduces “Transformers The Ride,” which features elaborate 3-D media and visual effects. Guests battle evil Decepticons as members of the human-Autobot alliance.
Florida
Legoland Water Park in Winter Haven opens with a wave pool, “Twin Chasers” enclosed slides, three “Splash Out” slides, “Joker Soaker” a water playground with a 300-gallon splash bucket, a “Build-A-Raft” lazy river, and a toddler play structure “Duplo Splash Safar.”
SeaWorld Orlando unveils “Turtle Trek,” which consists of two naturalistic habitats with both freshwater and saltwater animals. The freshwater is home to 200 fish, such as large-mouth bass, bluegill, and manatee: The saltwater displays 1,500 fish and more than a dozen sea turtles. After viewing the animals, guests enter a domed theater to view a 3-D/360-degree immersive film that features more than 12 species of sea animals.
Universal Studios Florida in Orlando introduces a ride, a nightime multimedia experience, and a parade. “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” is a 3-D adventure with Gru and his daughters that takes guests through minion recruitment, training, and an interactive, minion-inspired dance party. “Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories” is a nighttime multimedia experience narrated by Morgan Freeman. The show features images and cutting-edge waterfall screens within the Universal Studios lagoon, surrounded by colorful fountains and pyrotechnics to celebrate Universal Pictures’ epic cinematic moments. “Superstar Parade” includes floats, state-of-the-art technology, and hundreds of energetic street performers featuring characters from “Despicable Me,” “Hop,” “Dora The Explorer” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
The first phase of the reimagined and expanded Fantasyland at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom opens in 2012 and features several new attractions. Storybook Circus, themed after the animated movie “Dumbo,” is filled with big circus-style tents and includes a double version of the aerial gondola ride “Dumbo the Flying Elephant.” The ride “Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid” and the Be Our Guest restaurant may also open by the end of the year. The Magic Kingdom also adds “Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom,” an in-park game where guests become Merlin the magician’s apprentice and use clues and an interactive map to defeat an army of villains.
Illinois
Six Flags Great America in Gurnee introduces “X-Flight,” a 3,000-foot (914 meters) long winged roller coaster. Two guests sit side-by-side on the side of the track with their feet dangling. They experience a 12-story (36 meters) drop, reach speeds of 55 miles per hour (88 kph), and turn upside down five times.
Indiana
Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus opens “Mammoth,” a 1,763-foot (540 meters) long water coaster. Guests ride six-passenger spinning rafts and experience a conveyor-style lift hill and a five-story drop.
Kansas
Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark expands to include a surf ride, a rapids river, two mat slides, a tube slide, a fast-flow tube chute, and more.
Massachusetts
Six Flags New England in Agawam, debuts the roller coaster “Goliath.” Guests sit beneath the track with their feet dangling as they ascend a tower. Once at the top of the tower,riders drop nearly 20 stories (18 meters) in a vertical free fall reaching speeds of 65 miles per hour (104 kph). Then they go head-over-heels on the outside of a 102-foot (31 meters) tall vertical loop, followed by a 110-foot (35 meters) tall butterfly turn that rockets them up another tower.
Maryland
Six Flags America in Largo opens “Apocalypse,” a stand-up roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 55 miles per hour (88 kph). The ride is 100 feet (30 meters) tall, turns riders upside down several times, and whisks them along 2,900-feet (580 meters) of steel track.
Minnesota
Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America in Bloomington debuts “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock.” The ride takes guests 70 feet (21 meters) in the air in a matter of seconds at speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40 kph). Guests sit in 12 single bucket seats located at the end of a cantilevered arm that rotates around a central tower, and each rider controls their own seat’s rotation. Speeds range from fast like a plane propeller to slow like a see-saw so no two ride experiences are the same.
North Carolina
Carowinds in Charlotte, adds “WindSeeker,” a 30-story (90 meters) swing ride. Two-person swings allow riders’ feet to dangle as the swings ascend the tower and riders slowly begin to rotate in a circular motion. At the top, the swing reaches speeds up to 30 miles per hour (50 kph), flaring out almost 45 degrees from the tower allowing riders spectacular views of both North and South Carolina.
Ohio
Cedar Point’s “Dinosaurs Alive! On Adventure Island” opens in Sandusky, Ohio. The attraction takes visitors into the Jurassic Age. It features 50 life-size animatronic dinosaurs.
Kings Island in Mason expands and renames its waterpark, Soak City. The waterpark adds a 650,000-gallon (2460 m³) wave pool, “Tidal Wave Bay,” and transforms its lazy river into the new “Action River.” The river offers a 2,000-foot (610 meters) journey with new features such as a rain curtain, tipping buckets, and spray hoses.
Pennsylvania
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown adds the scorpion-themed roller coaster “Stinger.” The 138-foot (42 meters) tall boomerang-style ride features more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) of track, six inversions, and face-to-face seating.
Hersheypark in Hershey debuts “Skyrush,” the park’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster. The steel coaster features winged outer seats, climbs 200 feet (61 meters), reaches speeds of 75 miles per hour (120 kph), and includes five zero-G airtime hills.
Tennessee
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, debuts “Wild Eagle,” a 210-foot (64 meters) tall steel, winged roller coaster. Riders experience the sensation of flying as they travel along 3,127 feet (950 meters) of track on a Smokey Mountain ridge and reach speeds of 61 miles (98 kph) per hour.
Texas
The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier opens in Galveston, Texas. The pier has 16 theme park rides, including the steel “Iron Shark,” which reaches speeds of 50 miles per hour (80 kph) and has a 100-foot (30 meters) vertical lift. Guests also enjoy the “Texas Star Flyer,”a 200-foot (31 meters) tall swing ride, a flume ride, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, and carousel.
SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas, introduces Aquatica, a waterpark with up-close animal encounters. Aquatica features luxury amenities, including terraced pools, sandy beaches, and private cabanas. Additionally, the park has a still unnamed “raft ride” that takes riders through twists and turns in an underwater grotto and puts them face to face with several species of stingrays.
Virginia
Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia launches “Verbolten.” The indoor/outdoor, half-mile-long roller coaster has a race car as the ride vehicle and simulates an autobahn experience through the Black Forest. Riders drop 88 feet (27 meters) toward the Rhine River and reach speeds up to 53 miles per hour (85 kph).
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NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
