Let's take a look at some of the top new dark rides, roller coasters and live shows that have premiered since July 1, 2102 at the top-attended theme parks we cover here on Theme Park Insider. These rides and shows represent popular entertainment franchises such as Sesame Street and DreamWorks' Madagascar, as well as original new characters, including Henry Mystic of Hong Kong Disneyland's Mystic Manor and Puck the Penguin from SeaWorld Orlando's Antarctica.
For each new attraction, we've included a link to its listing page here on Theme Park Insider, which includes readers' ratings and reviews for that ride or show. In addition, below each new attraction's name, we've embedded a video of that ride or show, so you can experience these new attractions for yourself online, if you've not yet had the chance to experience them in person.
But if you have seen some of these new attractions in person, please click on the names of those attractions to submit a rating (and, if you're a registered site member, a review) for those rides and shows. Our readers' ratings will determine which attraction wins the Theme Park Insider Award for the Best New Attraction of the year, to be announced on July 4, 2013.
Dark Rides
In addition to the rides listed below, we're expecting Transformers: The Ride 3D to soft-open this week at Universal Studios Florida, in advance of its official opening on June 20. The same ride debuted at Universal Studios Singapore in December 2011 and at Universal Studios Hollywood in May 2012, so we're not counting Transformers among this year's new attractions. (In fact, it won the Theme Park Insider Award for Best New Attraction in 2012.)
Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin at SeaWorld Orlando (Reviewed by Robert Niles)
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem at Universal Studios Florida (Reviewed by Domenik Jost)
Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland (Previewed by Robert Niles)
Sesame Street: Spaghetti Space Chase at Universal Studios Singapore
Roller Coasters
Six Flags Magic Mountain has not yet announced an opening date for its new coaster, Full Throttle, so we can't confirm it on the list of new attractions that will debut by June 30 of this year. But here are five other coasters that have or will have had their official opening by the start of summer.
Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars at Hong Kong Disneyland (Previewed by Robert Niles) Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm Gatekeeper at Cedar Point (Reviewed by Jim Koehl) Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City (Reviewed by James Rao) Live Shows In addition to the shows listed below, most regional amusement parks roll out new stage shows, parades and/or fireworks presentations each season. Enchanted Tales with Belle at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Fantasy Faire Royal Theatre at Disneyland (Note that the Tangled show shown below rotates in performance with a Beauty and the Beast show.) Madagascar Live! Operation Vacation at Busch Gardens Tampa (Reviewed by TH Creative) Mickey & the Magical Map at Disneyland (Reviewed by M. Ryan Traylor) Now that you've had a chance to look at these new attractions, we'd love to hear which ones most appeal to you. Which of these live shows, roller coasters and themed rides will be the ones that endure as popular theme park attractions for years to come? Cast your votes below, and please let us know your thoughts about these new attractions, in the comments.
See ya down the Middle of Main Street USA... DH
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The only thing I've had a chance to try has been both the Tangled and Beauty shows at Fantasy Faire and, while I would not book a trip around them, they are cute beyond belief. But get there early as the venue is small. However, I voted for Mickey & the Map, prolly out of nostalgia for previous shows in that theater. I actually should have been there - today, in fact - if not for an unscheduled trip to the ER. (I guess they are *all* unscheduled, aren't they?)
Of the coasters, I've ridden all of them online except Coast Rider. I've been on Wild Mice (Mouses?) before, though, and may even have been on the one at Legoland, though that visit was too long ago to remember. I voted for Outlaw Run but would like to change my vote for Big Grizzly. CanIcanIcanI?
I've also been on all of the dark rides online. Gotta go with Mystic Manor.
Oh, and Matt, I concur. Clearly a wise guy. ;-)