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What will be the Best New Attraction in the 2008 Theme Park Insider Awards?

By Robert Niles
Published: June 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Wow. It's June? Where did the first half of this year go?

This means that we are just one month away from the announcement of the 2008 Theme Park Insider Awards, which honors your picks as the world's best in theme park entertainment.

One of the award this year will be "Best New Attraction," with the eligible entrants any permanent attraction that debuted at a theme park between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008. Here's where I need your help. I've listed the major contenders below, but would like to hear if I've missed any big ones.

The Dark Knight Coaster (Six Flags Great Adventure)
Eagles Life in the Fast Lane (Hard Rock Park)
Fahrenheit (Hersheypark)
Led Zeppelin - The Ride (Hard Rock Park)
Lost Kingdom Adventure (Legoland California)
Nights in White Satin (Hard Rock Park)
Pony Express (Knott's Berry Farm)
River Battle (Dollywood)
The Simpsons Ride (Universal Studios Florida)
Toy Story Midway Mania (Disney's Hollywood Studios)
Tree Top Trails (Jungala in Busch Gardens Africa)

In cases where the same ride debuted at more than one park (e.g. The Simpsons Ride), I selected the version that debuted first. Also, reinstallations from other parks and clones of rides introduced at other parks in previous years are not eligible. (That takes out Dominator.) I also left out minor kiddie rides that have no prayer of winning, such as the other rides around Lost Kingdom Adventure at Legoland.

Finally, for this list I picked what I thought would be the three top contenders from the new Hard Rock Park, where, of course, all the rides are new, and thus, eligible.

I'd like to invite all TPI readers to click the links above of attractions that they've ridden, and to submit a rating and review. (Please read our Guidelines for ratings and reviews on Theme Park Insider first, though.) Those ratings will help determine this year's winner.

The winners of the 2008 Theme Park Insider Awards will be announced on July 4, 2008. In the weeks between now and then, I'll be featuring leading contenders in the other categories, and inviting you to submit ratings and reviews for them, as well.

(And, please, let me know in the comments if I've spaced and forgotten one of the big new rides from the past year. Thanks!)

Readers' Opinions

From Anthony Murphy on June 5, 2008 at 3:38 PM
I go for Toy Story Mania, but is it too new to gain the votes?
From Jack Williams on June 5, 2008 at 5:13 PM
I think that it's going to come between Toy Story Mania and The Simpsons Ride. Sure, there are a bunch of Hard Rock Park rides, but none of them seem like major contenders (Best coaster, however, would be different). Toy Story Mania and The Simpsons Ride are the most hyped about rides this year, and so far they've gotten mostly positive responses (Unlike Six Flags' Dark Knight coaster).
From Russell Meyer on June 5, 2008 at 5:33 PM
I really think Zeppelin is quite a coaster, and would be my vote. I find myself riding other coasters, even my favorites, wishing they had kickin' soundtracks.
From Justin Spisto on June 5, 2008 at 8:53 PM
I believe it will be either Farenheit or Led Zepp the Ride.
From Joshua Counsil on June 6, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Robert -
Behemoth just opened at Canada's Wonderland. I'd say it's a fair contender.
From jim boyadjis on June 8, 2008 at 7:18 PM
I think you forgot a major attraction. Even though its not in the US.. i believe its in the most popular park outside of the US. How could you forget as big of a roller coaster as the Behemoth at Canadas Wonderland. Most of these other rides are small. Even fahrenheit is short. Behemoth is the only truly huge ride being added for this year. Led Zeppelin shouln't be any great suprise for anyone. Its a basic looping roller coaster with a bad paint job. Don't count me wrong because it will still be a good ride, nothing great though.

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