Editor’s word: This can be a recurring submit, recurrently up to date with new info and gives.
That is shaping as much as be an enormous 12 months for U.S. theme parks — and we’re not simply speaking about Disney. From coast to coast, theme parks are opening thrilling new rides for little ones, households and thrill-seekers.
In actual fact, we discovered 11 new curler coasters, thrill rides and water rides opening throughout the nation in 2023, and there may be nary a point out of Disney on the checklist (although Disney has lots happening this 12 months, as properly).
Associated: TPG’s 10 high household trip locations for 2023
If you’re able to really feel the wind speeding by means of your hair as you plummet down a terrifyingly tall hill, otherwise you wish to sail previous foolish creatures constituted of outsized Lego bricks, you’ve come to the fitting place.
Listed here are 11 points of interest opening at U.S. theme parks this 12 months that we are able to’t wait to expertise.
Legoland New York Resort — Water Playground
The water playground can have 4 waterslides, an interactive water play construction, and a station to construct and race your personal Lego boat. There’s additionally a close-by altering space so you may slip out of your moist swimsuit whenever you’re prepared to go for the park’s land-based points of interest.
Legoland New York’s water playground is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend.
Join our every day e-newsletter
Legoland Florida Resort — Pirate River Quest
Winterhaven, Florida, which is residence to Legoland Florida Resort, as soon as featured a theme park with elaborate botanical gardens, water ski exhibits and canal boat rides known as Cypress Gardens.
Now, visitors can sail by means of those self same historic canals on Legoland’s latest attraction — although, this time, a rowdy crew of swashbuckling pirates will be a part of them.
Pirate River Quest is an all-ages boat journey (there is no such thing as a minimal top requirement). It takes visitors on a quest to search out Captain Redbeard’s misplaced treasure, which a troop of mischievous monkeys has stolen. Through the journey, you’ll encounter a sunken pirate ship, a menacing kraken and different larger-than-life Lego creations.
Pirate River Quest opened Jan. 12.
Common Studios Hollywood — Tremendous Nintendo World
Ever daydreamed about strolling by means of a warp pipe and becoming a member of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach on their adventures? Quickly, you’ll have the ability to try this at Common Studios Hollywood’s latest land dedicated to all issues Tremendous Nintendo.
Although the land has just one journey, Tremendous Nintendo World has greater than sufficient to maintain you busy after you race to the end and take down Bowser. All through the land, there are interactive challenges the place you may acquire digital cash and attempt to safe a high rating — suppose battling koopas and punching query blocks.
To take part and work together with the land, you’ll wish to buy a Energy-Up Band, which yow will discover at kiosks contained in the land or within the 1-Up Manufacturing unit present store. Additionally, you will discover all of the souvenirs and clothes you must full your expertise. When all that gameplay makes you hungry, seize a chew to eat at Toadstool Cafe.
Tremendous Nintendo World opened Feb. 17.
Common Orlando — Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast
What’s higher than one Minions-themed attraction? Two Minions-themed points of interest. Quickly, a brand new attraction dubbed Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast will be a part of Common Orlando’s in style Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
Villain-Con Minion Blast will characteristic a never-before-seen journey know-how that makes use of a motion-based pathway as an alternative of a standard journey automobile. Company will wield blasters to fend off villains as they’re guided alongside the pathway, encountering loads of mischievous Minions alongside the best way.
Villain-Con Minion Blast can be adjoining to Despicable Me Minion Mayhem at Common Studios Florida, together with a brand new Minion cafe and different surprises Common has but to announce. Right here’s to hoping the shock is Minion dance events.
Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast is scheduled to open this summer time.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — Serengeti Flyer
The Serengeti Flyer swing journey is at present the world’s tallest and quickest journey of its variety, reaching a high velocity of 68 mph and a most top of 135 ft. You may soar above zebra, giraffes and different animals that reside within the park’s 65-acre Serengeti Plain.
You may expertise a number of negative-G moments (that butterflies-in-your-tummy feeling) as you swing forwards and backwards on this dual-arm final swing journey. Due to its excessive nature, the journey has a 48-inch minimal top requirement.
Serengeti Flyer opened Feb. 27, 2023.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg — DarKoaster
Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s latest coaster can have visitors racing by means of the darkish whereas making an attempt to flee a cursed fort. DarKoaster is a completely indoor coaster with straddle-style journey automobiles designed to seem like snowmobiles (you’ll want them to navigate the unusual snowstorm raging contained in the fort).
DarKoaster is a family-friendly coaster with a 48-inch minimal top requirement and a high velocity of 36 mph. It strikes simply the fitting steadiness between tame and thrilling so the entire household can benefit from the journey. For those who handle to flee from the fort, that’s.
DarKoaster opens Might 19, 2023.
SeaWorld San Diego — Arctic Rescue
Associated: SeaWorld splashes into 2023 with water-themed coasters in any respect 3 parks
Whereas on board, you’ll expertise three launches and a high velocity of 40 mph, maintaining Arctic Rescue firmly within the family-friendly zone, although an actual top requirement has but to be introduced.
Arctic Rescue is scheduled to open within the spring of 2023.
SeaWorld Orlando — Pipeline: The Surf Coaster
If two of your favourite actions are browsing and using curler coasters, you’re in luck. SeaWorld’s new Pipeline: The Surf Coaster is a one-of-a-kind “surf coaster” with stand-up journey automobiles that seem like large surfboards.
Riders will “hold ten” by means of the coaster’s many twists and turns, together with 5 airtime maneuvers and a “wave curl” inversion, reaching speeds of as much as 60 mph.
Pipeline: The Surf Coaster is an excessive thrill journey with a 54-inch minimal top requirement. You probably have little ones, there are many cute animals close by to maintain them entertained.
This coaster is scheduled to open Might 27, 2023.
SeaWorld San Antonio — Catapult Falls
Catapult Falls is a first-of-its-kind cross between a curler coaster and a flume journey. You’re sure to have enjoyable and much more sure to get moist. This journey would be the world’s first launched flume coaster. It is going to additionally characteristic the world’s steepest flume journey drop and North America’s solely vertical carry in a flume coaster.
Reasonably than a standard carry hill, Catapult Falls will transport your raft to the highest of the 55-foot-fall hill through an open-air elevator. When you attain the highest, you’ll plunge down and take off on a fast-paced speedy journey. No minimal top requirement has been specified but.
Catapult Falls is scheduled to open in the summertime of 2023.
Hersheypark — Wildcat’s Revenge
In 1996, Hersheypark unleashed Wildcat on the world. Wildcat was a wood coaster named after “The Wild Cat” — Hersheypark’s first curler coaster, which opened within the Twenties. When Wildcat closed in 2022, Hersheypark hinted that it might need a plan to maintain Wildcat’s reminiscence — and thrills — alive.
The plan is a wooden and metal hybrid coaster known as Wildcat’s Revenge (48-inch minimal top requirement). That is no tame kitty cat. Wildcat’s Revenge will hit speeds of 62 mph and climb to a top of 140 ft earlier than diving into an 82-degree drop and flying by means of 4 inversions.
Wildcat’s Revenge is scheduled to open in the summertime of 2023.
Dollywood — Huge Bear Mountain
Throughout your race by means of the wilderness, you’ll attain high speeds of as much as 48 mph and climbs to a high top of 66 ft. The minimal top to journey is 39 inches, that means households can embark on this harmful journey collectively.
Huge Bear Mountain is scheduled to open Might 12.
Backside line
We’re actually able to journey after that spectacular rundown.
Whether or not you’re planning a theme park trip or stay shut sufficient to one of many parks on this checklist for a fast weekend go to, 2023 is bringing thrilling new points of interest for theme park followers of all ages.
