ORLANDO, Fla., US – This is an exciting year complete with many new additions and developments at amusement parks, water parks, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, and other leisure attractions around the world. Guests visiting global attractions this year will experience an array of new thrilling rides, immersive lands, spectacular stage shows, and much more.
According to the latest “IAAPA Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook Report (2018-2022),” theme and amusement parks around the world are expected to entertain more than 1.15 billion people and contribute to their local and national economies by generating $50.4 billion.1
IAAPA members around the world are debuting new rides, exhibits, and attractions this year. Below is a roundup of what’s new, what’s now, and what’s next!
NORTH AMERICA
CANADA
Alberta
Calaway Park in Calgary debuts “Bumble Blast,” a spinning coaster along a figure-eight track that seats passengers back-to-back in their own cars. calawaypark.com
Ontario
Urban Air Sudbury, a 23,000-square-foot (2,136.8-square-meter) trampoline/recreation and entertainment center opens with action-packed activities including wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, dodgeball courts, the “Runway” tumble track, the “Urban Warrior Course™,” and the “Urban Air Adventure Hub™” with exclusive attractions such as the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
CREACTIVE, a Cirque du Soleil-themed family entertainment center opens in Toronto. Guests can learn about circus skills such as juggling, circus-style activities, dance, aerial parkour, and trampolining in a premium, 2,200-square-meter (23,681-square-foot) space. Guests also have the opportunity to take a bow on a virtual Cirque du Soleil stage. cirquedusoleil.com
“Yukon Striker,” opens at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan. The ride features an initial drop of 245 feet (75 meters) and four inversions on its 3,625-foot-long (1,105-meter-long) track as it reaches top speeds of 80 mph (130 kph). canadaswonderland.com
Quebec
Montreal’s La Ronde adds giant loop coaster “Chaos.” During the ride, guests are suspended upside down at the top of the 70-foot-tall (21-meter-tall) loop. laronde.com
UNITED STATES
Alabama
Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure in Bessemer debuts “Galleon,” a 33-passenger swinging ship, and two new water slides including the “Twister” water slide that spirals through back-to-back turns and “FreeFall,” an eight-story vertical drop body slide. laronde.com
Arizona
Crayola comes to Chandler with the 20,000-square-foot (1,858-square-meter) Crayola Experience entertainment center. Activities for guests include writing their names on crayons, starring in their own coloring pages, meeting and taking pictures with Crayola mascots, and crafting spin art from melted wax. crayolaexperience.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a 35,000-square-foot (3,252-square-meter) trampoline and adventure activities center in Goodyear. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Great Wolf Lodge Arizona opens in Scottsdale as Great Wolf Resorts’ first location in Arizona. The family-focused resort will have more than 300 rooms and an 85,000-square-foot (7,896.8-square-meter) indoor water park. greatwolf.com
Arkansas
Indoor adventure facility Urban Air Benton opens with 34,500 square feet (3,205 square meters) of trampoline and adventure park attractions. The site features trampoline arenas, dodgeball courts, the Urban Warrior Course™, and Warrior Battle Beam. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The US Marshals Museum opens in Fort Smith. The 53,000-square-foot (4,924-square-meter) facility celebrates the contributions of US Marshals in five state-of-the-art galleries. The museum includes a National Learning Center, a Hall of Honor, conference rooms, general office, retail spaces, and a monument donated by the Five Tribes in the museum’s exterior. usmmuseum.org
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Little Rock. Activities at the center include trampoline pads, dodgeball courts, a children’s area, climbing walls, and virtual reality games. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
California
Anaheim’s Disney California Adventure brings guests several new experiences to Pixar Pier. “King Triton’s Carousel” becomes “Jessie’s Critter Carousel,” themed to the yodeling cowgirl from “Toy Story” and “Flik’s Flyer,” the “A Bug’s Life”-themed spinning flat ride, is rethemed to become the “‘Inside Out’ Emotional Whirlwind.” disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disney-california-adventure
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a 14-acre (5.66-hectare) Star Wars-themed land opens at Disneyland in Anaheim. In new attraction “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run,” guests control the legendary spaceship. Guests also enter an epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order as they experience “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.” Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge also features Oga’s Cantina. disneyland.disney.go.com
Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park overhauls the “Bigfoot Rapids” water ride, renaming it “Cedar River Rapids.” The ride features new animatronics and special effects as well as interactive elements that allow guests standing on the riverbank to launch water cannons at riders. knotts.com
Multiple new attractions come to LEGOLAND® California Resort in Carlsbad in celebration of the park’s 20th anniversary. New elements at the park include 4D movie “LEGO® City 4D- Officer in Pursuit,” “LEGO® Friends Live Show and Character Dance Party” stage show, and the addition of DUPLO® Playtown where the park’s youngest guests can slide and hide in an interactive play area and ride the “LEGOLAND® Express” mini train. legoland.com/california
Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles adds “West Coast Racers,” the park’s 20th roller coaster. The racing launch coaster features two side-by-side tracks with four single, high-speed launches. The coaster features two complete laps with high-banked hills, multiple airtime hills, and an immersive pit stop experience designed by California-based automobile customizer West Coast Customs. sixflags.com/magicmountain
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach opens a 29,000-square-foot (2,694-square-meter) expansion. The aquarium's new wing includes an art gallery and a members’ lounge. The space also includes 300-person-capacity 4D stadium theater with a 180-degree, curved, 32-foot-tall (9.8-meter-tall) screen that can also serve as a stage for performing arts. aquariumofpacific.org
The first phase of the renovated Splash Kingdom water park opens in Redlands. Changes include a rehabbed indoor family entertainment center with a redecorated interior and exterior, an overhauled menu at the restaurant, and the addition of esports and more games. splashkingdom.net
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a trampoline/entertainment and recreation center in Sacramento with activities including wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, dodgeball courts, a climbing hill, the “Runway” tumble track, virtual reality, and the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
SeaWorld San Diego adds “Tidal Twister.” The marine conservation-themed dueling coaster reaches top speeds of 30 mph (48 kph) as it twists and turns to a zero-G, 360-degree inversion at its center. seaworld.com/san-diego
The “Jurassic World” water ride opens at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City. Themed to the Jurassic Park film franchise, the ride features dinosaurs as big as five stories high as well as state-of-the-art animatronics ride designers developed in partnership with scientists, paleontologists, and aerospace engineers. universalstudioshollywood.com
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo debuts “Batman: The Ride.” Guests experience six thrilling inversions on the 4D wing coaster. sixflags.com/discoveykingdom
Colorado
Elitch Gardens in Denver adds the one-of-a-kind dark ride “Kaleidoscope” complete an immersive soundtrack, vibrant colors, and interactive challenges. elitchgardens.com
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs debuts the “Glenwood Gondola” — a high-speed, high-tech replacement of the former “Iron Mountain Tramway,” carrying park guests to the mountain-top theme park. glenwoodcaverns.com
Urban Air Adventure Park brings an indoor trampoline and adventure activities facility to Fort Collins. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Connecticut
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Manchester. The 53,000-square-foot (4,923.8-square-meter) trampoline and adventure activities center features trampoline pads, dodgeball courts, and multi-level climbing activities. The facility is also home to the “Urban Air Adventure Hub™” with exclusive attractions such as an intense ropes course, and the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Family ride “Bouncing Buggies” opens at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury. quassy.com
Florida
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Destin. Attractions and activities in the 42,000-square-foot (3,902-square-meter) trampoline park include the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, a zipline along a track; laser tag rooms; bumper cars; and the “Warrior Obstacle Course.” urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The 40,000-square-foot (3,716-square-meter) indoor trampoline/recreation and entertainment center Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Jacksonville. The center features trampoline arenas and attractions that challenge guests and feed their adrenaline cravings. urbanairtrampolinepark.co
A host of new shows and attractions open at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista. Lightning McQueen from “Cars” showcases his racing techniques and career highlights in the “Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.” Guests can also step inside the Star Wars universe in the 14-acre (5.66-hectare) Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Rides in the new land include “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run” and “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance,” where guests join Leia Organa’s Resistance and fight to escape a Star Destroyer controlled by the villainous First Order. disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/hollywood-studios
Epcot in Lake Buena Vista adds “Epcot Forever,” a new nighttime spectacular on the World Showcase lagoon. The show features a soundtrack of classic Epcot tunes accompanying fireworks, lighting, lasers, and special effects kites. disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot
Roller skating-anchored entertainment center Skate World opens in Leesburg. In addition to the roller rink, the center offers a miniature-golf course, bumper cars, a rock-climbing wall, laser tag arena, bowling lanes, an arcade, and a go-kart track.
Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee expands its water park, adding dump buckets, water cannons, and slides. lioncountrysafari.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Melbourne with such adrenaline-pumping activities as wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, dodgeball courts, the “Warrior Battle Beam,” virtual reality attractions, and the “Urban Air Adventure Hub™.” urbanairtrampolinepark.com
“Crystal Lagoon,” opens at Jungle Island in Miami. The man-made adventure lake features a two-acre (.81-hectare), crystal-clear lagoon for water activities such as swimming, sailing, paddle boarding, and kayaking; a lazy river; and high adventure ziplines. jungleisland.com
Aquatica Orlando water park adds the “KareKare Curl,” a two-passenger raft slide. aquatica.com/orlando
Sesame Street characters arrive at SeaWorld Orlando, moving into the new six-acre (2.4-hectare) Sesame Street Land kids' area. New rides in the area include “Elmo’s Choo Choo Train,” “Super Grover’s Box Car Derby,” “Big Bird’s Twirl,” and “Slimey’s Slider.” Guests are also able to visit recreated “Sesame Street” sets such as Mr. Hooper’s store, Abby Cadabby's garden, and Big Bird’s nest. The characters are also featured in a daily parade. seaworld.com/orlando
“Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure” opens at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando. universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/islands-of-adventure
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a trampoline-anchored premier adventure center in Port Richey. In addition to the trampoline arenas, guests enjoy dodgeball, climbing walls, the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, “Spin Zone Bumper Cars,” and more. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Urban Air Tallahassee opens with such adrenaline-pumping attractions as trampoline arenas, dodgeball courts, ropes courses, virtual reality, the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, and bumper-car-turned-laser-shooting-game “Lazer Fury.” urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay adds “Tigris,” a triple launch coaster. Guests reach top speeds exceeding 60 mph (95.6 kph) as they traverse more than 1,800 feet (584.6 meters) of track with a 150-foot (45.7-meter) skyward surge and looping twists. buschgardens.com/tampa
Indoor trampoline park/ entertainment center Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Wellington with trampolines, dodgeball courses, climbing walls, the competitive “Wipeout” game, virtual reality, the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, and more. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
LEGOLAND® in Winter Haven expands with THE LEGO® MOVIE WORLD. Three new family-friendly rides themed to “The Lego Movie” and its 2019 sequel include suspended flying theater attraction “The Lego Movie: Masters of Flight;” “Unikitty’s Disco,” a spinning, bouncing, dropping journey to Cloud Cuckoo Land and back; and interactive water ride “Battle of Bricksburg.” Guests can also meet characters from “The Lego Movie” franchise. legoland.com/florida
Fun Spot America debuts a new interactive water feature at its Orlando location. Designed by Aquatic Design & Engineering, the nearly 4,000-square-foot water splash experience conserves water includes more than 30 immersive features. fun-spot.com
Island H2O Live! opens in Kissimmee is Central Florida’s newest water park. The park is completely interactive and features multi-guest racer slides, a lazy river complete with caverns and lighting effects, and Live! music and entertainment. islandh2olive.com
The Crayola Experience in Orlando debuts the Scribble Scrubbies interactive experience where guests can color and customize their personal “scrubbie” toy, then scrub it clean in the attraction’s giant fountain of water so they can create all over again. crayolaexperience.com/orlando
Georgia
Swinging pendulum “Pandemonium” opens at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta. The ride measures 15 stories and reaches top speeds of 70 mph (112.7 kph). “Pandemonium” is the centerpiece of the park’s new ScreamPunk themed area, which also includes shopping and dining locations. sixflags.com/overgeorgia
Indoor trampoline park and adventure attraction Urban Air Adventure opens in Lawrenceville. In addition to the wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, the facility offers attractions such as indoor skydiving, an indoor coaster, climbing walls, and a ropes course. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The 30,000-square-foot (2,787-square-meter) trampoline center and adventure park Urban Air Adventure Park opens in McDonough. The facility is furnished with wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, dodgeball courts, and playgrounds as well as state-of-the-art attractions such as the “Urban Air Adventure Hub™,” which features the “Urban Air Sky Rider” indoor coaster. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Families get up close with the creatures that populate southern Georgia at Wild Adventures’ three-acre (1.2-hectare), alligator-themed expansion “Alligator Alley.” Experiences in the Valdosta park’s new exhibit include daily zookeeper talks, the “Gators!” show and the opportunity to feed the alligators. Guests can also test their mettle by crossing the “Gator Crossing Rope Bridge,” a netted bridge that gives overhead views of Alligator Alley’s inhabitants. Alligator Alley also includes six kid-friendly rides such as family coaster “Swampwater Snake,” the “Okefenokee Express” train, and the “Hoppin’ Gator” tower ride. wildadventures.com
Illinois
Urban Air Adventure opens in Fairview Heights. The 41,000-square-foot (3,809-square-meter) indoor trampoline and adventure activities center features trampoline arenas, the “DropZone” acrobatics space, the “Slam Dunk Zone” where guests can mimic their favorite NBA superstars, Urban Air’s exclusive “The Urban Warrior Course™,” and more. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Six Flags Great America in Gurnee adds launch coaster “Maxx Force.” Guests travel from 0-78 mph (0-125.5 km/h) in less than two seconds and experience a double inversion 175 feet (53.3 meters) above the ground in custom cars modeled after Formula 1 racing cars. sixflags.com/greatamerica
Indoor trampoline park Urban Air Naperville opens with adventurous amenities such as dodgeball and basketball on trampolines, a ropes course, rock climbing walls, virtual reality experiences, and electric go-karts. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Edutainment facility KidZania opens in Oak Brook, giving kids more than 100 hands-on opportunities to explore future careers. The site features a real 737 airplane equipped with multiple flight simulators. kidzania.com
Indiana
Two new exhibits open at the Indianapolis Zoo. Rainforest-themed “MISTery Park” features two-toned sloths, parrots, and colorful flowers. Guests also get to know venomous serpents native to Indiana and from around the world in the “Desert Dome” exhibit. The African Black Mamba, the world’s deadliest snake, and two of Asia’s largest snake species are displayed. indianapoliszoo.com
The Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center adds an aquatic playground for children between the ages of four and eight featuring multiple slides and dumping buckets. The playground is installed in a 50-foot by 40-foot (15.2-meter by 12.2-meter) pool that’s eight inches (20.3 centimeters) at its deepest point and features a zero-depth entry for ADA accessibility. cityofkokomo.org
Indiana Beach in Monticello completely rethemes Kiddieland to become Rocky’s Toy Box, adding a new train station and a storytelling train. The park also rethemes and renames its existing children’s rides. indianabeach.com
Trampoline-anchored adventure facility Urban Air Noblesville opens. The dozen-plus activities in the 34,000-square-foot (3,158.7-square-meter) center include rock climbing, dodge ball, and obstacle courses. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari brings additions and improvements to the Santa Claus park, including a track update for wooden coaster “The Voyage.” “Santa’s Merry Marketplace” is a new retail and restaurant facility that features a balcony offering greetings from Santa each morning. holidayworld.com
Laser Flash opens in Westfield. The 50,000-square-foot (4,645-square-meter) family entertainment center offers laser tag, bowling, an indoor ropes course, an arcade, ax throwing, and an outdoor miniature golf course.
Iowa
Indoor trampoline park Urban Air Adventure opens in Ankeny with an “American Ninja Warrior”-style obstacle course, a zipline, a rock-climbing wall, and more. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Kentucky
Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville adds its sixth roller coaster “Kentucky Flyer.” The wooden coaster is designed by U.S.-based The Gravity Group and features a 1,280-foot-long (390-meter-long) track with a 52-degree, 45-foot drop (13.7-meter); 54-degree banking turns; and 12 airtime elements. Guests over 40” (101.6 cm) reach top speeds of 35 mph (56.3 kph) while riding in Timberline trains. kentuckykingdom.com
African primate exhibit “Colobus Crossing” opens at the Louisville Zoo. louisvillezoo.org
Louisiana
Topgolf Baton Rouge opens as the golf-themed FEC’s 52nd franchise location. The 65,000-square-foot (6,038.7-square-meter) facility features 72 climate-controlled hitting bays that can host up to six players at a time and 1,500 square feet (139.4 square meters) of private event space. topgolf.com
Maryland
Topgolf opens at National Harbor in Oxon Hill. The facility offers more than 100 climate-controlled hitting bays, a full-service restaurant, bar, private event spaces, and meeting rooms. topgolf.com
Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro adds a new roller coaster “FIREBIRD.” The floorless coaster thrills guests with a nine-story drop, two inversions, and a figure-eight finale. sixflags.com/america
Massachusetts
Six Flags New England adds “CYBORG™,” based on the DC superhero. The dark ride features high-speed, high-tech thrills, with special effects, custom lighting, and 360-degree twists and turns. sixflags.com/newengland
Michigan
Preschool-age children in Auburn Hills enjoy 10 play areas featuring Peppa Pig and her friends in the indoor Peppa Pig World of Play entertainment center.
C.J. Barrymore's in Clifton Township opens new attractions including an 80-foot-tall (24.4-meter-tall) Ferris wheel; the 130-foot-tall (39.6-meter-tall) “Drop Tower;” and the high-flying “Saddle Sling,” which launches guests 120 feet (36.6 meters) in the air. cjbarrymores.com
Minnesota
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a 40,000-square-foot (3,716-square-meter) indoor trampoline/recreation and entertainment center in Plymouth with action-packed activities for guests of all ages. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Mississippi
Sky Zone Trampoline Park opens in Biloxi. The 24,000-square-foot (2,230-square-meter) trampoline park features 19 core attractions, a rock-climbing area, and dedicated play areas for toddlers and children. skyzone.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Southaven with indoor activities and entertaining recreation. The 33,000-square-foot (3,066-square-meter) center features activities for guests of every age including wall-to-wall trampolines, multi-level climbing ropes, dodgeball courts, and the “Urban Air Adventure Hub™” with exclusive activities and the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Missouri
Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson adds new live entertainment offerings, including include “Kids’ Magic” with young performers who showcased their skills on “America’s Got Talent” and “Reuben’s Swashbuckling Adventure,” which features pirate hijinks against a soundtrack of rapping monks. In the fall, the park adds the “Cirque Élioze Lumberjacks Show” as part of its new Harvest Festival and expands its hours with “Pumpkin Nights.” silverdollarcity.com
WonderWorks comes to Branson offering more than 100 hands-on exhibits for all ages. wonderworksonline.com
Seven-story-high spinning wheel “SUPERGIRL” debuts at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka. Guests enjoy open-air vehicles as they experience the massive, whirling wheel. sixflags.com/stlouis
Indoor trampoline park and recreation arena Urban Air Adventure Park comes to Kansas City. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Springfield with activities including wall-to-wall trampolines, dodgeball courts, slam dunk tracks, “ProZone” performance trampolines, and the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station opens and includes exhibits featuring thousands of aquatic animals from streams, rivers, lakes and the oceans including a 120,000-gallon shark habitat as the centerpiece. The Aquarium features state-of-the-art technology, world-class animal care, as well as a strong emphasis on education and conservation. stlouisaquarium.com
New Jersey
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a 38,000-square-foot (3,530-square-meter) indoor trampoline facility in Avenel with wall-to-wall trampoline arenas and attractions such as “Slam Dunk” tracks, “The Urban Warrior Course™,” “Warrior Battle Beam,” and dodgeball courts. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Clementon Park and Splash World adds four new attractions including “Pirate Ship,” “Scrambler,” “Tilt-A-Whirl,” and a twisting “Dragon Coaster.” clementonpark.com
ClimbZone opens at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. Using the facility’s unique auto belay system, guests of any age who exceed 40 lbs. (18 kg) can climb as high as they’d like on the center’s themed walls. climbzone.us
Children can explore as many as 100 career opportunities at the new KidZania at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. kidzania.com
Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson adds the “Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth” pendulum swing ride. Guests swing more than 170 feet (51.8 meters) in the air as they reach speeds of 75 mph (120.7 kph). sixflags.com/greatadventure
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Jackson introduces Calypso Springs, a new 100,000-gallon beach entry-style pool with an open lounge deck and a new dining location. sixflags.com/hurricaneharbornj
The beach-and-surf-themed “Tidal Wave” family spinning coaster comes to Jenkinson’s in Point Pleasant Beach. The coaster climbs 20 feet (6.1 meters) and reaches top speeds of approximately 20 mph (32.2 kph) during each two-minute ride experience. jenkinsons.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Toms River. Activities at the 29,000-square-foot (2,694.2-square-meter) indoor trampoline/recreation and entertainment center include wall-to-wall trampolines; the “Slam Dunk Zone,” where guests imitate NBA superstars; “The Urban Warrior Course™,” and “Battle Beam.” urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Morey’s Piers in Wildwood opens the family coaster “Runaway Tram.” The coaster climbs 40 feet (12.2 meters) before twisting and turning along 922 feet (281 meters) of track. moreyspiers.com
New Mexico
Indoor trampoline park/entertainment center Urban Air Adventure opens in Albuquerque. In addition to trampoline pads, the 35,000-square-foot (3,251.6-square-meter) facility offers indoor skydiving, an indoor roller coaster, a ropes course, and climbing walls. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The three-story golf facility Topgolf opens in Albuquerque. The center has 72 climate-controlled hitting bays that can accommodate six players each at a time and 1,500 square feet (139.4 square meters) of private event space. topgolf.com
New York
Six Flags Darien Lake opens the “Six Flags SkyScreamer,” a 242-foot-tall (73.8-meter-tall) swing ride that reaches maximum speeds of 35 mph (56 kph) as it rotates in a 98-foot-wide (29.9-meter-wide) circle. darienlake.com
The “Dragon’s Flight Family Coaster” opens at Fantasy Island in Grand Island. Max the Dog and Danny the Dragon also join Fantasy Island’s family-friendly cast of characters. fantasyislandny.com
Peppa Pig World of Play, an indoor family entertainment center, opens in the New York City metropolitan area with 10 activities and play areas for preschool-age children themed to the famous Peppa Pig character. peppapigworldofplay.com
Madame Tussaud’s New York debuts Kris Jenner, matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner family. It is the first location to have all six of the female family members’ mannequins on display together. Madametussauds.com
North Carolina
“Copperhead Strike,” a Mack Rides double launch coaster opens at Carowinds in Charlotte. The coaster travels a 3,255-foot-long (992-meters-long) steel track from 0 to 42 mph (0-67.6 kph) in 2.5 seconds. The coaster is located in the park’s new Blue Ridge Junction themed area and includes the new Blue Ride Country Kitchen restaurant and the Mountain Gliders family ride. carowinds.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a 36,862-square-foot (3,424.6-square-meter) indoor recreation and entertainment facility in Winston-Salem with trampolining, rock climbing, and playgrounds for children and adults. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Ohio
Coney Island Amusement Park in Cincinnati adds a new dive pool “Cannonball Cove” to its recently renovated Sunlite Water Adventure, featuring two 1-meter diving boards and one 3-meter diving board. coneyislandpark.com
Scene75 Columbus, a massive indoor family entertainment center, opens in Dublin. Activities at the 220,000-square-foot (20,438.7-square-meter) facility include laser tag, bumper cars, and go-karts and more than 200 arcade games. The location also features a full-service restaurant and three bars. Scene75 is open year-round. scene75.com
Kings Island in Mason reintroduces antique cars with the “Kings Mill Antique Autos.” Guests board a replica 1911 Ford Model T and take a ride around a scenic track. visitkingsisland.com
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell welcomes seven California sea lions who have been living together for years in China to their new habitat. The new exhibit showcases the sea lions’ individual personalities and enhances the zoo’s commitment to the care and rehabilitation of the species. columbuszoo.org
Urban Air Reynoldsburg opens. The 30,000-square-foot (2,787-square-meter) action/ entertainment facility offers activities for children and adults including wall-to-wall trampolines, dodgeball courts, obstacle courses, and the “Urban Air Adventure Hub™.” urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Cedar Point in Sandusky adds the “Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island” experiential attraction and the live-action experience “Monster Jam Thunder Alley.” cedarpoint.com
The 80-year-old Museum of Science at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium celebrates a complete renovation this year with exhibits that explore plants and animals native to Ohio. The museum focuses on biodiversity with new greenhouses, animal exhibits, and interactive educational features. toledozoo.org
Oklahoma
Frontier City in Oklahoma City reimagines its children’s area to create Timber Town, with new characters and four new rides. Timber Town’s new rides are mini-coaster “Frankie’s Mine Train;” “Rocky’s Ranger Planes,” a classic spinning ride; interactive jump ride “Billy’s Frog Hopper;” and the unique, whirling “Sheldon’s Sea Adventure.” frontiercity.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a new trampoline-based entertainment center in Moore. In addition to wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, Urban Air Moore features a ropes course, virtual reality, climbing walls, the “Urban Air Sky Rider Indoor Coaster,” and indoor go-karts in the 60,000-square-foot (5,574.2-square-meter) facility. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Cinergy Entertainment opens new family entertainment center Cinergy Tulsa. The 60,000-square-foot (5,574.2-square-meter) FEC features eight state-of-the-art movie theaters with luxury amenities, five escape rooms, and 14 boutique bowling lanes. The facility also has interactive games and multi-sensory attractions such as the “XD 4D Dark Ride,” which combines a motion experience with an immersive shooting game system, special effects, and 3D graphics. cinergy.com
Pennsylvania
Altoona’s Lakemont Park rebrands as a family entertainment center adding miniature golf courses, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, and state-of-the-art go-karts. lakemontparkfun.com
Urban Air Adventure Altoona, a 26,000-square-foot (2,415.5-square-meter) trampoline park with wall-to-wall trampolines, dodgeball courts, and slam dunk tracks opens. The facility also features an “Urban Warrior Course,” “TUBES Obstacle Course,” a “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, and climbing walls. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Urban Air Adventure Park brings an indoor trampoline park and adventure activities center to East Norriton. The site features dodgeball courses, a children’s area, a “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, and a “DropZone” for guests to practice their acrobatic skills. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The thrill ride “Chaos” opens at Waldameer Park & Water World in Erie as the park's first ride that goes entirely upside down. Water World water park adds a heated relaxation pool near the existing wave pool. waldameer.com
Guests of Hersheypark in Hershey help ensure the world is never deprived of Reese’s® peanut butter cups in the new dark ride gaming experience “Reese's Cupfusion℠.” hersheypark.com
Dave & Buster’s opens a 40,000-square-foot bar (3,716-square-meter) and arcade in Ross Township. daveandbusters.com
Indoor trampoline park and entertainment/recreation center Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Royersford. The 40,000-square-foot bar (3,716-square-meter) Urban Air Royersford features trampoline arenas, dodgeball courts, slam dunk tracks, “TUBES Obstacle Course,” “Urban Warrior Course™,” and “Urban Air Adventure Hub™,” along with a state-of-the-art arcade. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Urban Air Adventure Park brings an indoor trampoline park and adventure activities center to Springfield. The site features dodgeball courses, the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, the “Warrior Course,” a children’s area for guests under seven, and a “DropZone” for guests to practice their acrobatic skills. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Kennywood in West Mifflin adds a new roller coaster “Steel Curtain,” based on the American football team the Pittsburgh Steelers. Steel Curtain has 4,000 feet (1,219.2 meters) of track that has nine inversions, including a 197-foot-tall (60-meter-tall) loop with a maximum height of 220 feet (67.1 meters). The coaster, which reaches maximum speeds of 75 mph (120.7 kph), anchors the park’s new three-acre Steelers Country area that also includes Steelers-themed games and activities and a Pittsburgh Steelers-themed restaurant. kennywood.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Willow Grove. Attractions at the location include wall-to-wall trampoline arenas, a children's area, the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, a ropes course, and climbing walls. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Tennessee
Zoo Knoxville celebrates its famous river otters with an updated exhibit located closer to the zoo's main entrance and includes a larger glass-sided pool with a covered viewing space where guests can watch otters swim and play. zooknoxville.org
Indoor trampoline and adventure park Urban Air Adventure Park opens a franchise in Knoxville that includes trampolines and activities such as mini-golf, an obstacle course, and climbing walls. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Dollywood adds Wildwood Grove, the Pigeon Forge theme park’s largest expansion ever. The area features six new rides, including the suspended family coaster “The Dragonflier,” spinning ride “The Mad Mockingbird,” and the 40-foot-tall (12.2-meter-tall) “Treetop Tower;” as well as “Hidden Hollow,” a 4,000-square-foot (371.6-square-meter) indoor play space, a themed restaurant, and the 55-foot-tall (16.8-meter-tall) “Wildwood Tree,” which flourishes nightly with brightly-colored leaves and butterflies. dollywood.com
The Pirates Voyage dinner attraction opens in Pigeon Forge. Guests enjoy a four-course pirate feast as they watch Crimson and Sapphire pirates battle in a 21,000-square-foot (1,952-square-meter) arena, fighting on the decks of full-sized pirate ships staged in a 15-foot-deep (4.6-meter-deep) lagoon. The show also includes live animals, acrobatic competitions, and an original score. piratesvoyage.com
The Resort at Governor’s Crossing in Sevierville expands its outdoor water park to add the brand-new Adventure Springs area. New elements in Adventure Springs include a dual racer slide and a fully-enclosed slide that is surrounded by more than 30 interactive features as well as a 300-gallon (1,135.6-liter) dump bucket that drenches the entire play every few minutes. governorscrossing.net
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in Gatlinburg celebrates a complete renovation and presents new hands-on interactives, artifacts, and pop-culture memorabilia. ripleys.com/gatlinburg
Texas
Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington opens the world-record-breaking, 100-foot-tall (30.48-meter-tall) looping coaster “El Diablo.” The ride begins with a pendulum-style takeoff and guides guests through several 360-degree revolutions before briefly suspending them upside down at the top. sixflags.com/overtexas
Urban Air Adventure Park brings its brand of indoor trampoline fun to a new facility in Austin. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The Perot Museum of Science and Nature in Dallas debuts “The Art of the Brick”: the world's largest display of LEGO® art. The exhibition includes a hands-on, interactive, LEGO® brick gallery featuring building challenges, games, and open play spaces. perotmuseum.org
Indoor trampoline center Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Bee Park. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Santikos Entertainment opens an 87,000-square-foot (8082.6-square-meter) entertainment center in Cibolo. The facility features a movie theater, a 16-lane bowling alley, a laser tag arena, and an outdoor concert venue. santikos.com
Schlitterbahn Riverpark Corpus Christi opens a virtual reality room, a laser tag arena, and games used to host esports tournaments. The park also adds an in-pool movie theater with state-of-the-art projection. schlitterbahn.com/corpus-christi
Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Fort Worth. The indoor trampoline facility also features indoor skydiving, “TUBES Indoor Playground,” “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, harnessed free-fall tower “Leap of Faith,” the “Warrior Obstacle Course,” and more. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Children from toddlers to young teens have the opportunity to explore as many as 100 career opportunities at the KidZania educational and entertainment center in Frisco. kidzania.com
Family entertainment center Peppa Pig World of Play opens in Grapevine and features 10 Peppa the Pig-themed play areas for preschool-age children. peppapigworldofplay.com
Urban Air Adventure Park brings an indoor trampoline arena and extreme activities facility to Katy. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Indoor trampoline center Urban Air Adventure Park opens in Laredo. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Indoor/ outdoor entertainment center Adventure Park opens in Lubbock. Activities at Adventure Park’s 20 acres (8 acres) of fun include the “Spin Zone” bumper cars; the all-ages rock wall “Spider Climber;” “Cypress Peak,” the only outdoor ropes course in West Texas; and the “Bumper Bayou” bumper boats. adventureparkfun.com
Indoor trampoline center Urban Air Adventure Park comes to McKinney. In addition to trampolines, the facility features dodgeball courts, climbing walls, a children’s area, the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, and more. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Gator Bayou Adventure Park opens at Big Rivers Waterpark in New Caney. Attractions at the water park include the children’s zipline course “Raccoon Run,” the “Vulture Dive” seven-story tethered cliff dive, a water obstacle course, and a petting zoo. bigriverswaterpark.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a trampoline and recreational adventure center in Odessa. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Aquatica water park in San Antonio adds multi-drop tower slide “Ihu’s Breakaway Falls.” aquatica.com/san-antonio/
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center opens in San Antonio. The indoor family-friendly entertainment center includes 10 LEGO® build & play zones, a 4D cinema, and two rides. sanantonio.legolanddiscoverycenter.com
Urban Air Adventure Park opens a trampoline and entertainment/ recreation center in San Antonio. Activities at the facility include the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster, “Runway” tumble track, dodgeball courts, and the “Warrior Obstacle Course.” urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Guests at SeaWorld San Antonio get an up-close experience with endangered sea turtles at the expanded Turtle Reef area, which includes attractions such as a 126,000-gallon (476,961.9-liter) coral reef and two rides: the “Riptide Rescue” flat ride and the “Sea Swinger,” a family-friendly pendulum that swings guests 180 degrees. seaworld.com/san-antonio
Swinging pendulum “Joker’s Carnival of Chaos” opens at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio as the center of the park’s newly-themed DC Universe. The ride ascends a record-breaking 17 stories as it whips riders back and forth at 75 mph (120.7 kph), giving them astounding views of the world below. Riders also find themselves in the Bermuda Triangle fighting with their fellow riders in the new “Pirates of the Deep Sea” dark ride, engaging in an epic battle between their pirate ship and an angry mob of pirates portside and tallying points by firing at hundreds of themed targets. sixflags.com/fiestatexas
Virginia
Busch Gardens Williamsburg debuts “Finnegan’s Flyer™” in the Ireland section of the park. Riders board two pendulum-like arms to soar over the Celtic coast, reaching a height exceeding 80 feet (24.4 meters) and a maximum speed of 45 mph (72 kph). buschgardens.com/williamsburg
“Cutback Water Coaster” debuts at Water Country USA in Williamsburg. The is the first RocketBLAST water coaster on the U.S. east coast. Guests navigate an 850-foot-plus (259-meter) slide in four-person rafts, jetting through tunnels at thrilling speeds and encountering heart-stopping turns and lightning-fast drops before sliding through wide-open spaces of saucer-shaped features. buschgardens.com/williamsburg/water-park-rides
Wisconsin
Urban Air Adventure comes to Appleton with wall-to-wall trampolines, go-karts, dodgeball courts, a “Slam Dunk Zone,” and obstacle courses. The 54,000-square-foot (5016.7-square-meter) facility also features indoor sky diving and the “Urban Air Adventure HubTM” with brand-exclusive attractions such as the “Sky Rider” indoor coaster and an intense ropes course. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Urban Air Adventure opens a 48,000-square-foot (4,459-square-meter) indoor trampoline adventure park in Madison with thrilling elements for every age. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
The Milwaukee County Zoo in Milwaukee opens the first phase of updates to its African Adventure area. Upgrades include a 1.6-acre (.65-hectare) outdoor space for the zoo's African elephants and a 20,000-square-foot (1,858-square-meter) Elephant Care Center, both of which feature food enrichment activities and elements that promote the animals’ natural behaviors. The zoo also offers space for two mixed species exhibits for zebras, bongos, impalas, and new-to-the-zoo yellow-backed duikers. milwaukeezoo.org
ASIA
CHINA
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Beijing opens at the Long Hu Beijing Chang Ying Tian Jie shopping mall, offering interactive and educational LEGO®-branded activities to families. Attractions at the location include LEGO® play areas, themed rides, LEGO® Master Model Builder classes, a 4D cinema, and a MINILAND.
Peppa Pig World of Play locations open in Beijing and Shanghai. Each entertainment center features 10 interactive attractions that bring the world of Peppa Pig to life for preschool-aged guests. peppapigworldofplay.com
Cirque du Soleil adds a 1.8-million-square-meter (1.9-million-square-foot) permanent theater in Hangzhou. Unique Cirque-du-Soleil-produced shows will be staged two or three times each day, six days a week. cirquedusoleil.com
The "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Nano Battle" dark ride debuts at Hong Kong Disneyland. Guests visit the Science and Technology Pavilion at the Stark Expo and ride in a S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicle before fighting alongside Ant-Man and the Wasp against Zola and an army of Hydra swamp-bots. hongkongdisneyland.com
Madame Tussauds Hong Kong unveils a statue of Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015. This is the first likeness of a person of Filipino descent to be featured at the Hong Kong wax museum. madametussauds.com/hong-kong/en/
INDIA
Madame Tussauds Delhi in New Delhi adds a life-sized depiction of acclaimed Indian actress Deepika Padukone. madametussauds.com/delhi
JAPAN
Universal Studios Japan in Osaka opens two new attractions themed to popular anime character Lupin III. The new rides are the latest installment in the park’s ongoing Universal Cool Japan series, which creates theme park experiences from iconic Japanese-created anime and video game franchises. In addition to the rides, the park also opens a Lupin III-themed restaurant. usj.co.jp
Guests of Tokyo Disneyland enjoy simulated flights over the world’s famous landscapes on “Soaring: Fantastic Flight.” As guests experience the ride, they feel the wind blowing in their faces and smell the scents that match the various scenes. tokyodisneyresort.jp
AUSTRALIA
Queensland
“Sky Voyager” opens at Dreamworld in Coomera. Guests board 10-seat gondolas to sail above the Australian landscape, experiencing such destination highlights as Surfers Paradise and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Special effects of the ride include wind, light, sounds, and scents. dreamworld.com.au
Warner Bros. Movie World in Oxenford introduces the “Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster: Next Generation.” The newly-renovated wild mouse features new improved special effects such as projection mapping, mist, and sound effects. The park also opens an Aquaman exhibition with costumes, props, and set pieces from the new movie from Warner Bros. Pictures. movieworld.com.au
Sydney
Luna Park Sydney launches a new family thrill ride “Volare,” a magical wave swinger overlooking Sydney Harbour and spinning at speeds of up to 65 kph. The ride displays more than 3,500 LED lights and features artwork designed after Luna Park’s heritage. lunaparksydney.com
EUROPE
Plopsaland in De Panne rethemes the “De Boomstammtjes” flume ride into “Dinosplash,” a thrilling experience that includes animatronic dinosaurs and volcanoes amongst its special effects. plopsalanddepanne.be
A new Gerstlauer-developed triple-launch roller coaster comes to Bobbejaanland in Lichtaart. The new ride is part of a new two-hectare (4.94-acre) expansion that will also incorporate existing rides “Typhoon” and “Frisbee Sledge Hammer.” bobbejaanland.be
Walibi Belgium in Wavre updates the theming in the park’s two children’s areas as part of a multi-year expansion project. The project includes a children’s roller coaster “Fun Pilot” and “Popcorn Revenge” an interactive trackless dark ride for families. walibi.com/belgium
Bellewaerde Aquapark, a new indoor water park, opens at Bellewaerde in Ypres. Attractions at the park include a children’s play area, a paddling pool, a lazy river, and various water slides and equipment. bellewaerde.be
DENMARK
LEGOLAND® Shlotshotel, a castle-themed hotel comes to LEGOLAND® Billund in Billund. The 142-room complex is divided into two buildings and features rooms themed to wizards, princesses, and dragon warriors. The hotel also features a large outdoor play area and an indoor play area within its restaurant. legoland.dk
Djurs Sommerland in Djursland adds Intamin gyro swing “Tigeren.” The rotating gondola swings 45 meters (147.6 feet) in the air, reaches maximum speeds of 100 kph (62 mph). djurssommerland.dk
THE UNITED KINGDOM
The 146-year-old SEA LIFE Brighton aquarium in Brighton continues its massive, multiyear expansion. The fourth phase of the expansion, which began in 2012, brings a remodeled ocean display and new quarantine tanks to the world’s oldest aquarium. visitsealife.com/brighton
Indoor trampoline park and adventure arena Urban Air Adventure opens in Bristol. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Madame Tussauds London debuts a life-sized likeness of acclaimed Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone. madametussauds.com/london
Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire adds the laugh-inducing, scream-inducing “Alton Towers Dungeon,” an interactive, multi-room attraction. The park also adds 102 stargazing pod accommodations to its on-site campground. altontowers.com
Families attend a rollicking monster party on the new dark ride “Haunted House Monster Party” at LEGOLAND® Windsor. Joke-telling LEGO gargoyles and talking statues greet the party guests as they step inside the mansion filled with furniture and décor crafted from LEGO® bricks. legoland.co.uk/
SCOTLAND
Urban Air Adventure indoor trampoline park opens in Dundee with dodgeball courts, a children’s area, and Urban Air’s branded attractions such as the “Urban Warrior Course™,” “Warrior Battle Beam,” and “The TUBES Obstacle Course.” urbanairtrampolinepark.com
FRANCE
A new immersive show, “Le Premier Royaume,” focusing on sixth-century French King Clovis I, opens at Puy du Fou in Les Epesses. puydufou.com/fr
Guests watch their favorite characters from “The Lion King” come to life in a new stage show at Disneyland Paris staged in the newly-renovated Chaparral Theater. disneylandparis.com
A space-themed roller coaster opens at Futuroscope in Poitou-Charentes. The ride takes guests indoors and outside during the experience and includes a 4.5-meter (14.8-foot) drop. futuroscope.com
Family entertainment brand Koezio opens a new franchise in Saint-Priest. The 22,000-square-meter (236,806-square-foot) indoor adventure park is the fifth Koezio location in France and the first to open south of Paris. koezio.co
GERMANY
Fort Fun Abenteuerland in Bestwig adds the Zamperla flying thrill ride “Thunderbirds.” The ride features eight armed gondolas that reach up to a 3G acceleration. The park also expands to include a Native American-themed area. fortfun.de
Adventure Bay, a new section themed to the Nickelodeon series PAW Patrol debuts at Nickland at Movie Park Germany in Bottrop-Kirchhellen. The beach-themed space features an interactive playground where children can climb aboard the character’s vehicles, and the family ride “PAW Patrol Adventure Tour.” The park’s popular attraction “Swiper‘s Sweeper” is rethemed, becoming “Zuma’s Zoomer,” a hovercraft adventure. movieparkgermany.de
A 14,000-square-meter (150,696-square-foot) playground opens at Erlebnispark Tripsdrill in Cleebronn with 250 activities such as climbing and water play in nine distinct areas. tripsdrill.de
Freizeitpark Plohn in Lengenfeld adds “Dynamite,” its sixth coaster. The coaster is developed by Mack Rides. freizeitpark-plohn.de
Rulantica opens at Europa-Park in Rust. The 32,600-square-meter (350,903-square-foot) Nordic-themed indoor water park features 25 attractions such as 17 water slides, the “Mystery River” wave pool, and “Trøll Valley” children’s area. Rulantica also features an 8,000-square-meter (86,111-square-foot) outdoor sun-bathing area that can accommodate 1,700 guests. Additionally, Europa-Park opens Krønasår, a 276-room, 28-suite hotel with a natural history museum theme. europapark.de
“Highlander,” a record-breaking 120-meter-tall (393.7-foot-tall) drop tower opens at Hansa-Park in Sierksdorf. The ride’s seats tilt 30 degrees before beginning a 103-meter (338-foot) drop, reaching top speeds of 120 kph (74.6 mph). hansapark.de
Heide Park in Soltau reopens the “Colossos” wooden roller coaster following a renovation. RCS Company managed construction of the renovated ride with Fa. Cordes, which was involved in the ride’s initial development in 2000, handling wood-engineering responsibilities. The renewed track measures 1.5 km (4,921 feet). heide-park.de
Tropical Islands Resort near Brandenburg, Germany, welcomes a new interactive, multi-level water play structure, created by Polin Waterparks. A custom-designed entrance arch welcomes guests as they approach the 15-meter-tall aquatic attraction. tropical-islands.de/en/tropical-world
ITALY
Gardaland in Castelnuovo del Garda opens the Gardaland Magic Hotel. The four-star, €20 million ($22.8 million) resort is themed to the “Enchanted Forest,” “Great Wizard,” and “Magic Crystal” environments featuring wizards, elves, magical creatures, and talking trees. gardaland.it
Motorcycle-themed attractions roar to life at the Ducati World themed area at Mirabilandia in Savio. The new, 35,000-square-meter (376,737-square-foot) space features a roller coaster, simulators, virtual reality attractions, and children’s rides. mirabilandia.it
NETHERLANDS
Walibi Holland in Biddinghuizen opens “Untamed,” a totally-redesigned wooden/ steel hybrid coaster. The area surrounding the ride has been renamed Wilderness. walibi.nl
“DE ZES ZWANEN,” a family ride launches at Efteling in Kaatsheuvel. Located in the park’s Fairytale Forest, the ride is based on the Brothers Grimm “Six Swans” fairytale and features six swan-shaped boats. efteling.com
SPAIN
Aqualandia in Benidorm adds the “Cyclón Slide.” The semi-covered funnel slide is 36 meters (118 feet) high with a path that exceeds 200 meters (656 feet) in length. Features of the slide include high speeds and multiple slides before guests are dumped into a 20-meter (65.6-foot) diameter funnel with a 45-degree incline. aqualandia.net
A family dark ride opens in the SésamoAventura section of PortAventura World in Tarragona. Guests help Detective Grover while on the immersive experiential ride “Sesame Street: Street Mission” starring the Sesame Street characters. portaventuraworld.com
The first phase of Puy du Fou España launches in Les Epesses. The park showcases the history of Spain through nighttime shows. puydufou.com/en
SWEDEN
Liseberg in Gothenburg opens Hamnområdet, a new entertainment area.liseberg.com
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
KidZania Costa Rica opens in Dec. 2018 at the new Oxígeno shopping and entertainment complex in San Francisco de Heredia. The edutainment venue for young children through pre-teens showcases 34 career scenarios and more than 70 different role-playing activities in a 4,000-square-meter (43,055.6-square-foot) space. kidzania.com
JAMAICA
Grupo Dolphin debuts its fourth habitat in Jamaica inside the beach club Puerto Seco Beach called “Dolphin Cove Puerto Seco,” with four bottlenose dolphins. dolphindiscovery.com
MEXICO
The first phase of the Mayan-themed Amikoo Park opens. The park, which is developed by Grupo Gala Resorts & Entertainment and Grupo IUSA, celebrates Mayan heritage with the Maya Anthropology and Archeology Museum, 24 attractions such as the “Fly Over Mexico” flying theater, the “Mares de Mexico” scientific submarine simulator, and the “Amikoo Surf Spot” combined wave pool and artificial beach. Amikoo Park is also home to Amikoo Downtown, which offers 340 hotel rooms and a shopping and entertainment district.
Six Flags Mexico brings imaginative family experiences to life with two new children’s sections and six brand-new rides and attractions. Three new rides in the DC SUPERFRIENDS area include the “Superman Krypton Coaster” and “Batman Baticopteros.” Bugs Bunny Boomtown brings eight themed rides and attractions together, including three all-new experiences featuring the Looney Tunes characters. sixflags.com/mexico
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1The IAAPA Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook is an overview of the global theme and amusement park industry based on data collected in 2017 and 2018. It also provides an outlook forecast for the years 2018 -2022.
The report contains historical information on attendance and average spending per patron. It presents information on the North America, Europe, Middle East/Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions.
The report is produced by Wilkofsky Gruen Associates (WGA), an internationally-known consultancy that specializes in the entertainment, media, and telecommunications industries, and is funded by IAAPA.
About IAAPA
IAAPA is a diverse and dynamic community of global attractions professionals. As the largest international trade association for permanently located attractions, IAAPA unifies the attractions community, connects people to learn and grow together, and strives to promote the highest professional standards for excellence and safety around the world.
Founded in 1918, IAAPA represents more than 6,000 attraction, supplier, and individual members from more than 100 countries. Members include professionals from amusement parks, theme parks, attractions, water parks, resorts, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, museums, manufacturers, and suppliers.
The association's global headquarters is in Orlando, Florida, US. IAAPA also maintains offices in Brussels, Belgium; Hong Kong, China; Shanghai, China; Mexico City, Mexico; and Alexandria, Virginia, US. To learn more, visit www.IAAPA.org or connect through social media channels: @IAAPAHQ #IAAPA.
Media Contacts:
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Susan Storey: [email protected] or +1 321/319-7615
Lesley Harris: [email protected] or +1 321/319-7616