USA TODAY International Edition
New thrills to fill theme parks
You may as well start screaming now. There will be lots of new thrill rides and other attractions opening at theme parks and water parks in the first year of the new decade. We’ve already run down the 10 most anticipated roller coasters. And there are so many new things making their debut in 2020 at the Disney parks in Florida and California, we called them out in a separate article. There’s still a ton of other goodies to share that are on the way:
Legoland New York
There will be a whole new theme park on the block when Legoland New York opens its gates July 4. Located in Goshen, about 60 miles outside of New York City, it will be geared to families with children and tweens and will include rides, attractions and shows based on the popular toy brand.
Among the highlights at the 150- acre park, which will be the world’s largest Legoland, will be two ( relatively tame) dragon- themed roller coasters, a 4D theater and Miniland, a collection of dioramas depicting U. S. landmarks fashioned entirely out of Lego bricks.
Legoland California
The existing Legoland California will welcome The Lego Movie World in the spring. Based on the sly, hilarious Lego movies, the new land will feature Emmet’s Flying Adventure, a flying theater attraction ( think: Disney’s Soarin’) that will send passengers airborne for a giddy ride through a brick- filled alternaverse.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Have you wondered what your pets do when you’re not home ( other than drink out of the toilet)? That’s the premise of “The Secret Life of Pets” animated movies. Visitors at Universal Studios Hollywood might be able to answer the question as they take on the roles of stray puppies hoping to be adopted in The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash opening this year. The dark ride will merge actual sets and animatronic characters with projected media to take passengers into the secret world.
Universal Studios Orlando
Audiences at Universal Studios Florida will thrill to The Bourne Stuntacular, a new show opening in the spring that promises to deliver the kind of ampedup action that is the hallmark of the “Bourne” films. It will be presented in the theater that housed the ( now terminated) Terminator 2: 3D., It will blend live actors, high- octane effects and screened footage for a dumbfounding movie- live performance mashup.
Knott’s Berry Farm
As part of the 100th anniversary of Knott’s Berry Farm, the Southern California park will draw inspiration from one of its gone- but- not- forgotten attractions with the new 4D interactive dark ride, Knott’s Bear- y Tales: Return to the Fair. Set to open in the summer, passengers armed with “jelly blasters” will try to outscore one another as they travel through whimsical scenes.
American Dream Mall
American Dream in New Jersey will welcome DreamWorks Water Park, which is being billed as North America’s largest indoor water park. Packed with more than 40 water slides themed to animated films such as “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda,” the climate- controlled park will include a massive wave pool and a 142- foot- tall body slide that will be among the tallest in the world.
Also opening in 2020 at the megacomplex will be a 300- foot- tall observation wheel with views of the Manhattan skyline, a Sea Life Aquarium, a Legoland Discovery Center and KidZania, a center that will invite children to roleplay and learn about careers. They'll all join the Nickelodeon Universe theme park that opened in October 2019.
Silver Dollar City
You also could get wet at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, when Mystic River Falls opens in the summer. It will include an 82- foot- tall elevator lift and the world’s tallest ( and possibly wettest?) river raft ride drop. As part of its 60th- anniversary celebration, the park, which is renowned for its food, will also debut a new smokehouse restaurant.
Six Flags Great America
At 86 feet, Tsunami Surge at Six Flags Great America’s Hurricane Harbor water park in Illinois will be the world‘ s tallest water coaster. It will use blasts of water to propel its rafts uphill and include five drops.
Cedar Point
One of the country’s oldest amusement parks, Sandusky, Ohio’s Cedar Point, will celebrate its 150th anniversary with Snake River Expedition, a boat ride that will include live actors and special effects. It’s set to open May 9. The park will also present Celebrate 150 Spectacular, a nighttime parade that will feature colorful floats, performers and pyrotechnics.