Top thrills and good gravy for 2024
Cedar Point and Holiday World announce new coasters as Universal reveals more Halloween Horror Nights houses.
It's been a tough year for a lot of parks, but August kicked off with two new coaster announcements, setting a more hopeful tone for 2024. Several more announcements will follow later this month, so keep checking themeparkinsider.com/construction for our list of what's coming next to major theme parks around the world.
Cedar Point to relaunch its fastest coaster with Top Thrill 2: Cedar point announced yesterday that a Zamperla redesign of the former Top Thrill Dragster will replaces its old hydraulic launch with a multi-pass LSM launch, adding a new spike track to the Strata coaster. We've got the details, plus a concept video of the new(ish) coaster.
Holiday World adds Family Boomerang coaster for 2024: The Thanksgiving-themed Good Gravy! will be America's first Vekoma Family Boomerang coaster, opening next year at Holiday World in Indiana. Again, we've got the details and a concept POV video of the ride, which will have a height requirement of just 38 inches.
It's financial results season
And about that "tough year" comment. Theme parks are beginning to release their second quarter 2023 financial results, putting some numbers on fans' perceptions of how attendance went in the spring of this year.
New coasters fail to push attendance at SeaWorld parks: Attendance and revenue dropped at the SeaWorld theme parks in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the same period one year ago, according to preliminary numbers released by the company Tuesday.
Hollywood up, Orlando down at Universal theme parks: Attendance was down in Orlando, but strong performance in Hollywood and Asia helped drive Universal Studios’ theme parks to another quarter of record earnings.
On the discussion forum: What is the Plan at Six Flags?
On the Halloween beat
Dueling Dragons are back, for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights: A classic Islands of Adventure ride will come back to life at this year's Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida. Universal last week announced eight more haunted houses for Orlando - completing its line-up, plus three more for Hollywood. Get the details.
Six Flags brings IP to 30th Fright Fest at Magic Mountain: Two James Wan horror franchises will call Six Flags Magic Mountain home this fall for the 30th edition of the park's Six Flags Fright Fest.
Knott’s gets interactive with 2023 Scary Farm merch: Interactive lanterns will debut at this year’s Knott’s Scary Farm, which will introduce a new character, The Keeper, as well as - possibly - the return of The Hanging.
Monsters of Latin America to star at Universal Studios Hollywood's Horror Nights: Creative Director John Murdy wasted no time in announcing a new house for Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights during his presentation last weekend at Midsummer Scream. An original concept, Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America, will join the line-up for this year's event.
Why Universal should turn to Shakespeare for Halloween Horror Nights: Please, Universal, bring "the Scottish play" to Halloween Horror Nights someday!
Discover more Halloween haunts around the country: Let's round up more Halloween announcements, with new interactive haunts coming up for fans in Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Chicago and Minneapolis metro areas.
More theme park news
Disneyland to serve alcohol at more restaurants: After breaking a 64-year dry spell with the opening Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 2019, Disneyland will expand the number of restaurants where it serves alcohol, starting in September.
Princess Tiana's new home takes shape at Disneyland: Disneyland's new 'The Princess and the Frog' restaurant is one step closer to opening.
Get a whiff of what's coming next at Walt Disney World: Walt Disney World has teased the arrival of 'an all-new interactive experience' to Magic Kingdom's Storybook Circus, called 'Smellephants on Parade.'
Discussion board movie review: Disney's Haunted Mansion: Oodles of Easter Eggs but Short on Substance
And finally...
Universal Orlando sets opening date for Villain-Con Minion Blast: I will be there for a media event one day before Minion Land's official debut in August 11. Stay tuned for a full review.
How Taylor Swift will help drive theme park attendance: California's Great America took advantage of its control of the parking lot in front of the stadium where Swift played last weekend.
More good stuff for you
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