The Most Thrilling New Theme Park Rides and Points of interest of 2023

The theme park enterprise was again to full velocity in 2022, however 2023 will really really feel like the primary full post-pandemic 12 months for the enterprise, even when covid’s clearly not going wherever. Various new rides and points of interest that will’ve launched a 12 months or two in the past will lastly open after pandemic delays, together with the long-in-construction Tron coaster at Disney World and the Moana-themed walkthrough at Epcot. In the meantime Common’s Tremendous Nintendo World, simply probably the most anticipated new themed land since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, lastly makes its stateside debut at Common Studios Hollywood. Elsewhere a spate of thrilling new coasters might be opening at parks across the nation, and an entire new theme park dedicated to the toys of Mattel will debut in Arizona. There’s so much to maintain monitor of in theme parks this 12 months, so let’s get to it. Listed here are probably the most thrilling and most anticipated new theme park tasks of 2023.

10. Journey of Water, Impressed by Moana

Idea artwork from Disney

Location: Epcot at Walt Disney World
Opening Date: Late 2023

Epcot was scheduled to obtain a wide-scale reinvention for its fortieth anniversary however the pandemic derailed loads of these plans. One of many introduced tasks that’s being accomplished, although, is that this walkthrough exhibit themed to the film Moana. Anticipate an “interactive path” stuffed with water options that’ll be enjoyable to play with whereas additionally educating us some type of lesson about how essential water is to life and the planet. Regardless of the film tie-in, it sounds prefer it’ll attempt to dwell as much as the edutainment legacy of Epcot, one thing I’m completely on board with. There’s no opening date but, however Disney says it ought to be operating late within the 12 months.

---

9. Wildcat’s Revenge

Idea artwork from Hersheypark

Location: Hersheypark
Opening Date: TBD 2023

I’m not a serious coaster man, however so long as I can match within the restraints and have some dramamine available, I’m recreation for nearly something. Wildcat’s Revenge converts a basic Hersheypark wood coaster right into a metal hybrid, which ought to clean out among the bumpiness of the unique. Rocky Mountain Building is dealing with the job, they usually have a fantastic monitor document of constructing hybrids that protect the spirit of the unique coaster whereas making it each extra thrilling and extra comfy to experience. With 4 inversions, over 3500 ft of monitor, and a prime velocity over 60 MPH, Wildcat’s Revenge will hopefully be one other top-notch coaster from RMC and Hersheypark.

---

8. Catapult Falls

Idea artwork from SeaWorld

Location: SeaWorld San Antonio
Opening Date: TBD 2023

SeaWorld is asking Catapult Falls a “launched flume coaster,” and when you’re up in your experience jargon you in all probability have a good suggestion of what which means. In case you don’t, think about a typical flume experience (a la Disney’s Splash Mountain) however with a high-speed launch like a curler coaster, and speeds that (whereas not excessive) are nearer to what you’d discover on a coaster than a standard log flume. It’ll even have a vertical elevate, which can also be one thing you’re extra more likely to see on a coaster than a flume experience, and which might be a primary for American flume rides. I’ve to think about that you just’ll want loads of alternatives to chill off at a park in San Antonio, and jazzing up a flume with some coaster-style thrills looks like a wise technique to kill two birds with one stone.

---

7. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Mickey’s Toontown

Picture of authentic Runaway Railway experience at Disney World, courtesy of Disney

Location: Disneyland
Opening Date: Jan. 27, 2023

Disneyland’s model of the Hollywood Studios darkish experience opens subsequent week, and guess what: I’ll be there for it. Search for my ideas on the brand new model of the experience late subsequent week. I dig the original, which is a colourful, cute dash whose unpredictable movement makes it extra thrilling than you would possibly anticipate. Disneyland is already extremely wealthy in the case of rides, however this ought to be a wonderful addition to the unique Disney park, in addition to one thing that’ll drive elevated visitors to the Toontown space behind the park.

---

6. Mattel Journey Park

Idea artwork from Mattel

Location: Glendale, Arizona
Opening Date: TBD 2023

Florida and California have by no means had a monopoly on amusement parks, however they’re synonymous with theme parks as a result of excessive reputation of Disney and Common. Extra corporations are attempting to department out, although, opening smaller, regional parks in numerous states in hopes of attracting audiences who can’t make it to the coasts or are simply on the lookout for one thing completely different. Mattel Journey Park may be probably the most bold such undertaking but. The upcoming park is being constructed proper outdoors Phoenix and can characteristic points of interest based mostly on such evergreen Mattel toys as Barbie, Scorching Wheels, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Thomas the Tank Engine, and extra. Mattel is touting rides for all ages, from child-friendly experiences to a launch coaster with two loops (looks like a pure match for Scorching Wheels, huh?), together with eating places, purchasing, and different anticipated theme park choices. The placement ought to be an enormous boon—Phoenix is a prime 10 market, however simply far sufficient away from Disneyland and Common Hollywood to not be a straightforward drive. That’s untapped potential, and few corporations have extra iconic IP to capitalize on than Mattel.

---

5. ArieForce One

Location: Enjoyable Spot Atlanta
Opening Date: TBD 2023

ArieForce One was initially scheduled for 2022, however the greatest funding in Enjoyable Spot’s historical past is now a 2023 premiere. The huge coaster from Rocky Mountain Building will boast a prime peak simply over 150 ft, with its largest drop registering at 146 ft. Anticipate 3400 ft of monitor, a prime velocity slightly below 65 mph, 4 inversions, and a most of G-force of three.75. In different phrases, this can be a critical rattling curler coaster. It’s a little bit of a shock that it’s coming to Enjoyable Spot Atlanta, the third and latest Enjoyable Spot park, and the one one which isn’t within the Orlando space. We’ll take it, in fact: Paste’s hometown of Atlanta wants all the joys rides it might probably get, and ArieForce One ought to immediately make Enjoyable Spot is a real competitor for Six Flags over Georgia. (Enjoyable Spot apparently negotiated with the Atlanta Hawks for a licensing deal for this coaster, that means we may’ve gotten the world’s solely Trae Younger curler coaster. Bummer.)

---

4. Pipeline: The Surf Coaster

Idea artwork from SeaWorld

Location: SeaWorld Orlando
Opening Date: Spring 2023

SeaWorld Orlando’s transformation from an animal-based to a authentic thrill park continues with Pipeline, a brand new coaster ridden in a reasonably unusual means. As an alternative of sitting, mendacity down, or dangling from an overhead monitor, visitors will stand upright on a automobile made to appear like a surfboard. Though it’s not technically categorised as a “stand-up coaster”—it presents a wider vary of movement to the rider than a standard stand-up—it’s nonetheless the primary standing coaster constructed wherever for the reason that extra conventional Georgia Scorcher opened up at Six Flags over Georgia in 1999. Pipeline goals to mix a sensation of browsing with the thrills of a coaster, and to that finish riders can anticipate an inversion, a prime velocity of 60 mph, and a peak of 110 ft. (They will additionally in all probability anticipate an interminable variety of “surf’s up” and “hold 10” references within the Pipeline’s advert marketing campaign.) You may hit the waves your self when The Pipeline opens this spring.

---

3. Large Bear Mountain

Location: Dollywood
Opening Date: TBD 2023

Dollywood’s standing as a legit world-class coaster park all the time appears a bit incongruous with Dolly Parton’s picture. After I first visited years in the past, I anticipated her namesake theme park to have a greater stability between hardcore thrills and all-ages points of interest—one thing a bit extra like Disney and rather less like Cedar Level. Wildwood Grove helped so much when it opened in 2019 with a wide range of family-friendly rides, and now the world is about to get its greatest attraction but with Large Bear Mountain, a coaster that appears roughly equal to Disney coasters like Large Thunder Railroad or Area Mountain in the case of thrills. It stays below 50 mph and tops out at 66 ft tall, with no inversions and a minimal peak of solely 39 inches. A number of youngsters who can’t experience a few of Dollywood’s different coasters will have the ability to experience this one, making it right into a type of intro level for teenagers simply entering into coasters. It’ll have a narrative about searching the legendary Large Bear, and the experience automobile will appear like Jeeps and have on-board audio to assist inform a narrative. All instructed Large Bear Mountain appears like loads of enjoyable, and may fill a worthwhile slot in Dollywood’s lengthy checklist of curler coasters. For extra info, take a look at my piece on Big Bear Mountain after seeing the experience automobile and interviewing Dollywood president Eugene Naughton at 2022’s IAAPA Expo.

---

2. Tron: Lightcycle Run

Picture courtesy of Disney

Location: Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
Opening Date: April 4, 2023

Initially developed for Shanghai Disneyland, Disney’s motorcycle coaster based mostly on the Tron films will make its stateside debut on the Magic Kingdom in April. In case you’ve been to Disney World within the final couple of years, you’ve little question seen the huge new constructing subsequent to Area Mountain in Tomorrowland. That’s the place you’ll have the ability to strap your self into the brand new experience’s motorcycle-style automobile and blast off right into a recreation of the favored lightcycle races from the Tron films and video games. That is Disney, so don’t anticipate some record-setting beast of a coaster; do anticipate a fantastically designed multimedia expertise that isn’t targeted solely on how briskly or excessive it takes you.

---

1. Tremendous Nintendo World

Picture courtesy of Common

Location: Common Studios Hollywood
Opening Date: Feb. 17, 2023

This shouldn’t be a shock. Common’s collaboration with Nintendo was first introduced in 2015, and America’s been ready for an opportunity to go to Tremendous Mario’s Mushroom Kingdom ever since. The pandemic pushed again each model of it throughout the globe, although. The Japanese authentic opened nearly two years in the past, however as a result of journey restrictions it was arduous to fly over for it till late final 12 months. YouTube movies that confirmed the land’s wonderful stage of element and interactivity solely made the wait really feel even longer. Fortuitously Tremendous Nintendo World will make its official U.S. debut in slightly below a month, with its personal model of the AR-augmented Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem experience and a wide range of interactive video games all through the land. I haven’t had an opportunity to test it out but myself—I’m actually counting the times down till I get a preview in February—nevertheless it sounds wonderful, based mostly on previews and early critiques from writers who’ve already made a visit to Hollywood to test it out. A bigger model with two extra rides ought to be opening in Orlando in 2025 as a part of Common’s Epic Universe, however till then all Nintendo and Mario followers should journey to California for a style of the Mushroom Kingdom.

---

Senior editor Garrett Martin writes about videogames, comedy, music, journey, theme parks, wrestling, and anything that will get in his means. He’s on Twitter @grmartin.