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Looking Forward To 2011

What new themed amusement are you most looking forward to as the new year approaches?

From James Rao
Posted November 27, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Now that the year is almost over, it is time to start looking forward to what 2011 holds in store for us theme/amusement park addicts!

Here’s a list of some of the attractions we fans have to look forward to in the year ahead:

*****

Busch Gardens Tampa
Cheetah Hunt – an Intamin AG, multiple launch coaster

Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Mach Tower – a 245 foot tall, free-fall drop tower

Cedar Point (also at Canada’s Wonderland, Kings Island, Knotts Berry Farm)
Windseeker – a two-seater waveswinger ride mounted on a 300-foot tower

Disneyland (also at Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Star Tours: The Adventures Continues – a re-imagined, 3D version of the classic simulator ride

Disney’s California Adventure
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure – a dark ride from the masters of the genre
Goofy’s Sky School – re-themed wild mouse coaster

Dollywood
Barnstormer – an S&S Power Screamin' Swing pendulum attraction

Knoebels
Flying Turns – a bobsled coaster
Black Diamond – a combination dark ride & coaster (formerly the Golden Nugget at Dinosaur Beach)

Lagoon
Bombora – a steel, sit down, family coaster

Legoland Florida
On the land formerly occupied by Cypress Gardens, this new park will open in the second half of 2011 with over 50 rides, shows, and attractions, including four family-friendly coasters

Six Flags Great Adventure
Green Lantern – a B&M stand-up coaster (formerly Chang at Kentucky Kingdom)

Six Flags Magic Mountain (the new Coaster Capital of the World)
Green Lantern – an Intamin AG ZacSpin coaster
Little Flash (working name) – a Vekoma Junior coaster
SUPERMAN: Escape from Krypton – a re-imagined Intamin AG freefall launch coaster

Six Flags New England
Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum – a Maurer-Söhne Wild Mouse coaster (formerly Road Runner Express at Kentucky Kingdom)

Six Flags Over Georgia
Dare Devil Dive – a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter coaster

Six Flags Over Texas
Texas Giant – a retracked, wood-steel, hybrid coaster

Six Flags Saint Louis (also a smaller version at SF Discovery Kingdom)
Skyscreamer – a 236 foot tall Funtime Star Flyer attraction

*****

So, what new attraction (feel free to discuss something that is not included on this list) has you the most excited as you look forward to 2011?


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From James Rao
Posted November 27, 2010 at 12:40 PM
I'll get things started...

Me and mine are hoping to head back to Florida this next year to hit many things that are new to us: Manta, Rip Ride Rockit, Simpsons, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Granted all those attractions pre-date 2011, but we have not had a chance to enjoy any of them yet.

As for the new stuff, perhaps a side trip to BGT and Cheetah Hunt is possible, and if the timing is right, a day at DHS to visit the re-imagined Star Tours 2 could be in the books.

Locally, Worlds of Fun and Silver Dollar City are adding stuff for the younger crowd, and Six Flags Saint Louis is bringing in a StarFlyer... nothing too exciting, imho, so I think I may hold off on season passes this year...

How about the rest of you?

From duncan henny
Posted November 27, 2010 at 1:34 PM
star tours 2 should be good

From James Koehl
Posted November 27, 2010 at 1:34 PM
I'm taking my family to USO this June. They've never been there and I haven't been there since 2005, so much will be new to me and everything will be new to them.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted November 27, 2010 at 4:51 PM
I always try to visit one new-to-me park every summer. If I'm able to do that in 2011, I do not yet know which it will be.

Great Adventure is my home park, and although I am not a big fan of stand-up coasters, I AM looking forward to riding Green Lantern. When I rode it in Kentucky in '07, it was the only stand-up I REALLY ever liked.

As far as Knoebels goes, I'm not holding my breath on Flying Turns. Obviously, they've spent a lot of money, but I wouldn't be completely surprised if it fails to open this year, too. Black Diamond, on the other hand, holds some nostalgia value for me, having rode the Nugget as a child in Wildwood.

From Zack McDonald
Posted November 27, 2010 at 5:45 PM
The Zippin Pippin in Green Bay. Time for a trip back to WI to hit all the great stuff in the Dells then slide up to GB to ride the all new Zippin Pippin.

From Nick Markham
Posted November 27, 2010 at 6:17 PM
Thanks James for putting Lagoon's new coaster coming up on there. It may be a family coaster, but it should stand about 50 feet tall and we are starting to think it is some first of its kind Premier Rides kiddie coaster!

From James Rao
Posted November 27, 2010 at 6:26 PM
I tried to put everything I could think of, Nick.

Sorry I forgot the Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach, Zack!

From Daniel Etcheberry
Posted November 27, 2010 at 7:05 PM
Star Tours.

From M. Ryan Traylor
Posted November 27, 2010 at 8:07 PM
I hoping 2011 will bring me a chance to ride 30 different coasters I've never been on to celebrate my 30th.

From Tony Duda
Posted November 27, 2010 at 8:38 PM
I'm looking forward to Cheetah Hunt at Busch Tampa and Star Tours 2.0 at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Ryan, I saw that you never voted on Busch Tampa attractions. They have, as you may know, 7 coasters (Sheikra, Kumba, Montu, Scorpion, Cheetah Chase, Gwazi Lion and Gwazi Tiger) now and Cheetah Hunt next year. That's 8 of your 30 in one park. Good luck.

From Robert Niles
Posted November 27, 2010 at 8:47 PM
In no particular order: Cheetah Hunt, Little Mermaid, SFMM Green Lantern, Star Tours 2 and Legoland Florida.

From James Rao
Posted November 27, 2010 at 10:14 PM
I'd love to get out to SoCal for Little Mermaid, Star Tours 2, and Green Lantern, but I just can't see funding that excursion when Cars Land is just around the corner. Maybe in 2012...?

Robert, I presume you will be invited to some sort of special Little Mermaid event for the "press"? I can't wait for your report!!

From Manny Barron
Posted November 27, 2010 at 10:32 PM
I'll go with the Little Mermaid ride. I'm also curious to see how Transformers(opening in 2012) starts to take shape at USH.

From David L.
Posted November 28, 2010 at 1:32 PM
I'd say the little mermaid, dare devil dive(if it turns out to be themed), star tours 2, and legoland. And cheetah hunt.

From James Rao
Posted November 28, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Just something to keep in mind while planning: the Magic Kingdom's version of the new Little Mermaid dark ride is not slated to be open until 2012 or 2013... DCA's version is supposed to open in May 2011.

From Robert Niles
Posted November 28, 2010 at 3:05 PM
I'm planning on covering all five of those on my list, so long as they're not on the same days.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted November 28, 2010 at 3:36 PM
Robert Niles said: "I'm planning on covering all five of those on my list, so long as they're not on the same days."

Hmmmm. Suppose they ARE all opening the same day. I smell a challenge!

From Anthony Murphy
Posted November 29, 2010 at 9:13 AM
Well, SFGA is expanding Hurricane Harbor which will have a surfing school. Sounds exciting, but the land was supposed to go to another roller coaster!

I would say Star Wars and the Little Mermaid!

EDIT: I fixed it!

From Mike Gallagher
Posted November 28, 2010 at 4:59 PM
"Sounds exctiting,"

I'm sorry, but that's one of my favorite typos of 2010.

From James Rao
Posted November 30, 2010 at 4:20 AM
What about the overseas parks... what are you folks looking forward to most "over there"?

Incidentally, isn't Battlestar Galactica at Universal Singapore supposed to open (finally) in 2011?

From Daniel Smith
Posted November 30, 2010 at 5:36 AM
Yes, Battlestar Galactica, Madagascar & Transformers are all slated to open next year in Singapore. I've just returned from there so will write up a few things over the coming days when I get a bit of time :)

From Joshua Counsil
Posted November 30, 2010 at 5:10 PM
I wish I could see them all.

It's not what I'm most looking forward to, but I was most shocked to see Star Tours 2 up there. Has Star Tours even closed? How quickly could they possibly refurbish that attraction? I seem to recall The Simpsons Ride, which is basically the same type of overhaul, took at least one year from the closing of Back to the Future to the soft opening.

From Sylvain Comeau
Posted November 30, 2010 at 6:58 PM
Star Tours 2 is hardly a "refurbishment." It's a sequel, with a brand new film complete with multiple adventures, interactivity, and 3D.

From James Rao
Posted December 1, 2010 at 2:53 PM
Joshua, I think at WDW Star Tours closed in September. And when the redo is complete it should be a brand new experience.

Some details:
1) The attraction will be digital and 3D.
2) It will be set between the events of Episode 3 and Episode 4.
3) It will have 50+ possible experiences, including a pod race and a trip to Coruscant.
4) Additional new music will be composed by Michael Giacchino.
5) It is supposed to open in Mid-May at both DHS and Disneyland.

Check out studioscentral.com and our very own TPI DHS page for more info and videos.

EDIT: Fixed, Josh! Thanks!

From Joshua Counsil
Posted December 1, 2010 at 12:24 PM
*studioscentral.com

I didn't mean to call it a refurbishment, but you have to admit that an implementation period of 8 months is very short.

From James Rao
Posted December 1, 2010 at 7:46 PM
Josh, a lot of great attractions have been built in a short amount of time (I posted these examples in another thread awhile back, I think):

USO's Rip, Ride, Rockit was announced to the public on March 19, 2008. In July of 2009 it (sort of) began operation.

SW's Manta was announced to the public in May of 2008 and began operation in May of 2009.

DHS' Toy Story Midway Mania was announced in January of 2007 and opened to the public in June of 2008.

MM's Terminator Salvation as announced in October of 2008 and opened to the public in May of 2009.

KI's Diamondback was announced in August of 2008 and opened to the public in April of 2009.

Wof's Prowler was announced in August of 2008 and opened to the public in April of 2009.

Star Tours 2 was announced during the D23 expo and it already has its building, queue, and theme, so now it is just a matter of implementing the new technology and upgrading the aesthetics. And with Star Wars weekends in May, you can bet Disney will push hard to have this attraction ready for those rabid fans who descend on the park during that popular event.

From Jack Curley
Posted December 6, 2010 at 2:27 PM
I can't help but notice that a moving Yeti wasn't on the list for 2011.

From James Rao
Posted December 6, 2010 at 9:33 PM
It's on my wish list... but that's about it. =(

From Jesse Key
Posted December 7, 2010 at 8:31 AM
So many interesting things on the lists!! I am interested to see how the new coasters at Busch Gardens Tampa and Six Flags over Goergia turn out. Anyone got any details on the bobsled ride at knoebels? I don't think I knew about that one.
I think that the Little Mermaid opening will give us an idea of what to expect when it opens in Florida. I would like to visit the Singapore park (so many unique sounding attractions there), but doubt I would be willing to fly that far for it.

From James Rao
Posted December 7, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Jesse, here's a link to the Roller Coaster Database entry for Flying Turns at Knoebels.

From Jesse Key
Posted December 7, 2010 at 3:06 PM
Thanks James. The pics are awesome. Looks like a unique new ride that should have a pretty massive appeal.
I'm not super familiar with Knoebel's, but after doing some research I was pretty impressed by some of thier unique wooden coasters. I might want to plan a trip there!!

From Mike Gallagher
Posted December 7, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Jesse,

Knoebels is a great park. Their two OPERATING wooden coasters are good and better. Most "enthusiasts" I've run across seem to prefer Phoenix, but I'll give my money to the Twister ticket booth anyday. I don't know if you gathered this, but they've been working on Flying Turns for three years now. I do hope it will open in my lifetime. They also have the best Skooter bumper cars, best haunted ride-through outside Disney, and a nice collection of flat rides. Food's good too. Rides are individually ticketed, although you can buy a POP during certain periods. The park..be forewarned..is in the middle of nowhere.

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