What's New or Under Construction at Top Theme Parks
Description
Here is what is new for 2008 and beyond at popular theme and amusement parks -- roller coasters and other rides both rumored and under construction. Busch Gardens Africa
An African-themed village and animal exhibit, Jungala replaces the Python coaster. Busch Gardens Europe
Nothing reported. Cedar Point
Reworking of the Peanuts Playground with seven new family attractions and a family lounge area, some of the attractions are coming from Geauga Lake. Cypress Gardens
The park has been sold to an investment firm, and its future ride line-up is uncertain. Disney’s California Adventure
The front gate area of the park is being rethemed to 1920s California, with a new Walt Disney Story attraction. Toy Story Mania, a Pixar-movie-themed interactive dark ride with 3-D effects and rider-controlled options throughout, is under construction in Paradise Pier. In 2009 or 2010 Radiator Springs Racers, a high speed track ride, will debut in Cars Land, a new land themed to the Pixar movie, to be built on what is now an adjacent parking lot. Also, a Little Mermaid ride will come to Paradise Pier, along with various place making throughout the entire park. Disneyland
A new version of Star Tours is in production, as part of a planned revamp of the entire Tomorrowland area by 2010. Dollywood
A 5 million dollar "River Battle" ride has been opened in the Timber Canyon area which involves a raft ride that arms guests with powerful squirt guns to shoot at interactive targets as well as guests both in other rafts and on the shore. Hard Rock Park
The park is slated to debut in South Carolina in Spring, 2008. The park is a combination of thrill park and ode to rock 'n roll itself. Hersheypark
An Intaride vertical lift inverted coaster, Fahrenheit, will feature a 90-degree lift and 97-degree drop. Kings Dominion
Dominator, a floorless multi inversion coaster is being relocated from Geauga Lake Kings Island
Nothing reported. Knott's Berry Farm
Pony Express will debut on Memorial Day weekend in 2008. The roller coaster is a Zamperla design that places riders on one of 16 "horses," which launch from zero to 38 mph in three seconds. Legoland California
A new hotel resort, with its own park entrance next to Pirate Shores, is under construction. A SeaLife Aquatic Center is also under construction, next to the front gate. In addition, Lost Kingdom Adventure, a dark ride, will anchor the new "Land of Adventure," which also will include a drop ride, plane ride and ball crawl pit. SeaWorld Orlando
A new water park, called Aquatica, is under construction, slated for a spring 2008 opening. This will be a seperate ticket from SeaWorld Orlando. SeaWorld San Diego
A new Sesame Street-themed kids' land is slated for 2008. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Tony Hawk's Big Spin, a skate-themed spinning coaster. Six Flags Fiesta Texas
A B&M inverted coaster, Goliath will be relocated from the former Six Flags New Orleans. Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags' first themed indoor coaster, The Dark Knight Coaster debuts in spring, with a Batman vs. The Joker theme. (Note: ride construction has been cancelled. This attraction will not be built) Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is also getting The Dark Knight Coaster. Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags will revamp X, its Arrow 4D coaster, adding a tunnel and light elements. The coaster will reopen in Spring 2008 with the new name, X2. The park will also add "Thomas Town," a new play area themed to "Thomas the Tank Engine." Six Flags New England
Six Flags has canceled plans for its The Dark Knight Coaster at SFNE, citing construction delays. Six Flags Over Georgia
A 2.5 million dollar Thomas the Tank EngineTM play area, train ride and merchandise shop will be constructed for the new season. Six Flags St. Louis
The park's third wooden coaster, Evel Knievel is a GCI design that honors the motorcycle daredevil. Universal's Islands of Adventure
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter debuts in 2009. Get in line now. Universal Studios Florida
A new Simpsons-themed ride debuts in the old Back to the Future building in 2008. Universal Studios Hollywood
Ditto on The Simpsons. Walt Disney World - Disney's Animal Kingdom
Nothing reported. Except for the persistent rumors about a new "Beastly Kingdom" land, featuring a dragon-themed coaster or water ride. A new restaurant will replace the "Tusker House" restaurant. It is rumoured to be a buffet. A Yak and Yeti restaurant will open next spring. Walt Disney World - Disney's Hollywood Studios
An American Idol show, with park visitors as contestants will debut in 2008, as will Midway Mania (see California Adventure, above), going into the old "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" soundstages. Walt Disney World - Epcot
The American Adventure show is getting a substantial upgrade. Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom
Nothing reported. Wild Adventures
New owners, Herschend Family Entertainment have planned many improvements in 2008, including the construction of a new ride, "The Rattler", plus 300 new animals and many new shows and events. -- Last edited by Jack Williams
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Readers' Opinions
From Sylvain Comeau on Feb 8, 2008
Is the new version of Star Tours going to be at Disney Hollywood too? It wouldn't make much sense to have a new version of that ride at one park and the old version at the other...
From Sylvain Comeau on Feb 8, 2008
Is the new version of Star Tours going to be at Disney Hollywood too? It wouldn't make much sense to have a new version of that ride at one park and the old version at the other...
From Heather Yates on Feb 1, 2008
Hershey Park did open it's Boardwalk last Spring. It is small in comparison to other Amusement parks that have added a water area. It also gets jammed packed. I actually got separated from my family for hours. The only thing I can say is have a designated meeting place.
From Heather Yates on Feb 1, 2008
Hershey Park did open it's Boardwalk last Spring. It is small in comparison to other Amusement parks that have added a water area. It also gets jammed packed. I actually got separated from my family for hours. It was the weekend it opened and we headed there when the park opened. At that time, there weren't many people there, so, I decided to ride the "Roller Soaker" roller coaster. I had to wait for over an hour and when I got off, the park was packed. The only thing I can say is have a designated meeting place. I was also at a loss because I couldn't go out of the area due to the fact that I was wearing a swimsuit & coverup. They have rules about "appropriate attire" outside that area. Finally I went to a First Aid station and they decided to put in a lost chld report on my son to try to get my family back together. Luckily, while they were in the process of initiating that, my huband came up and grabbed my wrist and kiddingly said, "come on little girl." I saw nothing funny, however, after being stuck walking around all that time with no money, keys, etc.
From Heather Yates on Feb 1, 2008
Hershey Park did open it's Boardwalk last Spring. Memorial Day weekend, to be exact & I was there. I had season passes. The area leaves much to be desired. It is small compared to other water parks (within full blown Amusement Parks.) I got there early the morning it opened and headed there. It seemed fine at the time, but I got in line to get on the water soaker - roller coaster. When I got off, the place was packed and I could not find my family. Being dressed in a swimsuit and coverup, I was not allowed out of that area due to their rules about being appropriately dressed. I asked security to help me and they told me to just sit in one place. Yeah, that could have been hours! After about 1 hour of searching for my family, I went to the first aid station and they were going to put in a lost child bulletin on my son to get us back together, but at that moment, my husband came up and grabbed my wrist, kiddingly saying "come on litte girl." It really was scary being separated like that I never dreamed there would be so many people. It was over packed. There wasn't even a path in the walkway. You had to push your way through. So, I would tell everyone to have a meeting place. We usually do, but the attraction had just opened and we didn't think it would take that long for me to ride the ride and hook up with my family.
From Heather Yates on Feb 1, 2008
Hershey Park did open it's Boardwalk last Spring. Memorial Day weekend, to be exact & I was there. I had season passes. The area leaves much to be desired. It is small compared to other water parks (within full blown Amusement Parks.) I got there early the morning it opened and headed there. It seemed fine at the time, but I got in line to get on the water soaker - roller coaster. When I got off, the place was packed and I could not find my family. Being dressed in a swimsuit and coverup, I was not allowed out of that area due to their rules about being appropriately dressed. I asked security to help me and they told me to just sit in one place. Yeah, that could have been hours! After about 1 hour of searching for my family, I went to the first aid station and they were going to put in a lost child bulletin on my son to get us back together, but at that moment, my husband came up and grabbed my wrist, kiddingly saying "come on litte girl." It really was scary being separated like that I never dreamed there would be so many people. It was over packed. There wasn't even a path in the walkway. You had to push your way through. So, I would tell everyone to have a meeting place. We usually do, but the attraction had just opened and we didn't think it would take that long for me to ride the ride and hook up with my family.
From Heather Yates on Feb 1, 2008
Hershey Park did open it's Boardwalk last Spring. Memorial Day weekend, to be exact & I was there. I had season passes. The area leaves much to be desired. It is small compared to other water parks (within full blown Amusement Parks.) I got there early the morning it opened and headed there. It seemed fine at the time, but I got in line to get on the water soaker - roller coaster. When I got off, the place was packed and I could not find my family. Being dressed in a swimsuit and coverup, I was not allowed out of that area due to their rules about being appropriately dressed. I asked security to help me and they told me to just sit in one place. Yeah, that could have been hours! After about 1 hour of searching for my family, I went to the first aid station and they were going to put in a lost child bulletin on my son to get us back together, but at that moment, my husband came up and grabbed my wrist, kiddingly saying "come on litte girl." It really was scary being separated like that I never dreamed there would be so many people. It was over packed. There wasn't even a path in the walkway. You had to push your way through. So, I would tell everyone to have a meeting place. We usually do, but the attraction had just opened and we didn't think it would take that long for me to ride the ride and hook up with my family.
From Mike Woo on Jan 12, 2008
I found out that Magic Kingdom have lengthy planned rehab of Space Mountain. There is a good chance right now that Imagineers wait until after Toy Story Mania opens before shutting Space Mountain down. the construction will last 12-18 months. Which will be named as Space Mountain : Mission 2 ( Unofficial )
From Mike Woo on Jan 12, 2008
I found out that Magic Kingdom have lengthy planned rehab of Space Mountain. There is a good chance right now that Imagineers wait until after Toy Story Mania opens before shutting Space Mountain down. the construction will last 12-18 months. Which will be named as Space Mountain : Mission 2 ( Unofficial )
From Domenik Jost on Jan 7, 2008
Toy Story Mania to open up at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida and Disney's California Adventure.
http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/mgm/tsm.htm
From Todd Harris on Nov 7, 2007
Carowinds only gets a second wave pool...and reduced season pass benefits. Whats up with that?
From Keith Shumke on Nov 3, 2007
Kings Dominion is getting a "new" coaster checkout http://www1.cedarfair.com/kingsdominion/news/detail.cfm?item_id=651 for more info.
From Chris P. on Oct 14, 2007
Canada's Wonderland is getting 'Behemoth' - a new B&M hyper coaster for the 2008 season.
http://behemoth.canadaswonderland.com/
From Anthony Murphy on Oct 1, 2007
They are going to have a problem with the closing of Tusker House. Are they insane? Its the most popular resturant there! If we need anything, its less Buffets at AK. What happened to Resterantorous?
If anything, make a table service place!
From zoe kokkinou on Jun 27, 2007
Simpsons the Ride isn't going to replace Back to the Future the Ride in USH and USF?
From David Kildal on Feb 12, 2007
Paramount's Kings island is now Kings Island, and the Firehawk coaster is being built. Also, there are plans being made for a Universal Studios Singapore.
From Angel Dranbauer on Dec 5, 2006
Hershey Park is opening some sort of boardwalk to the existing park. You can see the hourly progress at the park's website. The park is planning a "grand tribute to the boardwalks of the East Coast beaches, The Boardwalk At HERSHEYPARK will captivate you with over 100 fun-in-the-sun experiences--from the flavors, sounds, and activities of an old-fashioned boardwalk, to the exhilarating refreshment of five distinctive water attractions, including the largest water-play structure in the world!"
*the above quote is directly from the website.
From Neil Preece on Oct 31, 2006
New at epcot is The Seas with Nemo and Friends.
Also is SeaWorld San Antonio with Journey To Atlantis
From scott sorensen on Oct 29, 2006
Valleyfair! in Minnesota is building a new wooden roller coaster named Renegade.
From Greg Shilton on Oct 28, 2006
Nothing for USH I assume.
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