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What's coming to a theme park near you? Round-up of 2012 new attraction openings

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Published: May 15, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Let's recap where we're at with new attraction openings this spring, shall we?

Transformers The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood
Our early leader for Best New Ride of the year: Transformers The Ride 3D at Universal Studios Hollywood

Here's what is open already:

I've also heard that these two have opened, though we didn't have anyone assigned to cover them. Trip reports welcomed!

So now here's what's still to come (at least, officially):

May 18

May 25

June pretty much belongs to Disneyland Resort, with the reopening of Disney California Adventure on June 15 headlining a slew of openings mid-month. (DCA will be closed to the public on June 14.)

June 5


June 13
June 15

We have a couple of other openings elsewhere that we're expecting sometime next month:

TBA

And looking ahead, later this year:

July 9

"Holidays 2012"

So, what are you planning to see this year?

Readers' Opinions

From Victoria Jurkowski on May 15, 2012 at 10:53 AM
What lands in DCA are being renamed? I know Hollywood Studios Backlot or whatever it's called will now be Hollywoodland, but is anything else changing?
From Anon Mouse on May 15, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Wow. A busy year for theme parks. I will be there, but slowly.
From Robert Niles on May 15, 2012 at 11:26 AM
In addition to Buena Vista Street and Cars Land joining the line-up:

- Hollywood Pictures Backlot becomes Hollywood Land
- Golden State officially splits into Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak, and Pacific Wharf
- A Bug's Land and Paradise Pier remain the same

That gives us eight lands in California Adventure.

From Dominick D on May 15, 2012 at 12:35 PM
This year I'll be seeing whatever is open in Fantasyland and Despicable Me. Carsland and Transformers will have to wait a year for me.
From Daniel Etcheberry on May 15, 2012 at 12:53 PM
I plan to see Buena Vista Street, Cars Land, and Transformers.
I just wonder how many hours will I have to wait for RSR and Transformers; I hope its 90 mins. max. The front of the line at Universal is too expensive, and since I will get a Fastpass for World of Color first thing in the morning, I won't be able to get one for RSR.
From James Koehl on May 15, 2012 at 1:14 PM
I'm excited about the major work being done at Cedar Point for "Luminosity- Ignite the Night", their new big-budget end-of-day show that will fill Celebration Plaza and the entire midway.
From Wendy Purdy on May 15, 2012 at 1:49 PM
I believe the "Mad T Party" at California Adventure is scheduled to begin June 15 as well.

And, Daniel, you can hold another Fastpass while you have a World of Color Fastpass. It does not "count against you."

From AJ Hummel on May 15, 2012 at 4:05 PM
I plan to get to everything in Southern California except Pirate Reef (just visited the park last year and don't feel the need to return just for a Splash Boat ride), plus Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland (I've been part of a group trip here since November). I was also planning to get to the new coaster at SFDK in Northern California as well, but since CGA and SCBB (also in Nor Cal) are getting new ones next year that trip got delayed until 2013.
From Caroline Davis on May 15, 2012 at 4:31 PM
I don't think there will be any trips to the US for me this year now. I'll probably wait until the Snow White Mine Train opens to visit Florida. Would love to visit Cedar Point (and a lot of other parks near that region) but I probably won't ba able to now for a while.
From Daniel Etcheberry on May 15, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Thank you Wendy for the info.
From Amy Smith on May 15, 2012 at 7:30 PM
Turtle Trek opened at Seaworld Orlando not San Diego. Unless it's at both?
From Robert Niles on May 15, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Fixed. (Cmd-C/Cmd-V strikes again.)
From Manny Barron on May 15, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Fighting alien robots!
From Flavio de Souza on May 16, 2012 at 8:06 AM
Looking at this list I am very glad I decided to go to California in August instead of Orlando or Paris. South California dominates the openings this year!
From 166.248.96.2 on May 16, 2012 at 11:08 AM
My family wants to go to l.a in a month and i definitely want to go to ush and finally ride transformers . Being new to ush and the west coast : since transformers will have been open for only a month do any of u guys have tips on how to get around the crowds?
From Jay R. on May 16, 2012 at 3:53 PM
^^^^^^^^
Transformers does have a single rider line, that may be a good option.
From Jay R. on May 16, 2012 at 1:33 PM
I plan to do Carsland & the DLR stuff in Sep. when I renew my annual pass. I want to try Manta at Seaworld & I'm riding transformers as much as I can before the official opening & the crowds, lol.

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