BySamantha Davis-Friedman
IAAPA (International Association of Amusem*nt Parks and Attractions) has kicked off IAAPA Expo 2023 in Orlando, Fla., providing the opportunity for theme parks to share the latest news and reveal upcoming rides and attractions.
We’ve got a team of reporters at the Expo this week to find out what’s coming soon to a theme park near you, and we’ll be updating this article with each reveal, so be sure to keep checking back.
Here are all the theme park vehicles unveiled at IAAPA Expo 2023:
Top Thrill 2
Cedar Point partnered with ride manufacturer Zamperla to unveil the train for Top Thrill 2 (the former Top Thrill Dragster), the world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch roller coaster, which is set to open Spring 2024 at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
When riders board Top Thrill 2’s high-performance racing vehicles, they’ll join the CP Racing Team and take off down a straightaway at speeds reaching 74 miles per hour, thanks to an all-new linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch system.
WATCH as @cedarpoint partners with @zamperlarides to unveil the REAL Top Thrill 2 train from the @IAAPAHQ trade show floor! pic.twitter.com/e27DGC7CQi
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Comet
Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters unveiled the new custom train design for the historic Comet roller coaster coming Spring 2024 in to Hersheypark in Hershey, Penn.
Join Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. exhibiting for the 100th time at @IAAPAHQ Expo, to debut a new custom train design for the most historic roller coaster at @Hersheypark! pic.twitter.com/qJm8KwidCQ
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride
Sally Dark Rides its new interactive Mr. Krabs animatronic for SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride, which will debut this year at Circus Circus Resort on the Las Vegas strip.
During the attraction, Mr. Krabs invites riders try their luck at his collection of ride-through carnival midway games, but their fun is interrupted when Plankton hatches a plan to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula once and for all.
“Everyone’s a winner! Except for the losers.” – Mr. Krabs @SallyDarkRides pic.twitter.com/6rlMxPaMJB
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Sally also had concept artwork of the ride on display.
STOP!! look at this SpongeBob ride vehicle from @SallyDarkRides! See more ride vehicles getting revealed at @IAAPAHQ here: https://t.co/nYs50gFqO5 pic.twitter.com/GwwMdwudtu
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Penguin Trek
SeaWorld and Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) debuted the snowmobile-style ride vehicle for Penguin Trek, a new family-friendly launch coaster which will open in Spring 2024 at the Orlando park.
The new attraction takes riders on a penguin research mission in Antarctica and features two launches and a 3,020-foot track that traverses indoors and outside culminating in the heart of SeaWorld Orlando’s penguin habitat.
Watch as @seaworld thanks their loyal Pass Members and unveils the ride vehicle for #PenguinTrek at @IAAPAHQ https://t.co/nYs50gFqO5 pic.twitter.com/ObEMwD6mby
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Good Gravy
Holiday World and Vekoma unveiled the whimsical gravy boat-shaped vehicles for Good Gravy, the new family boomerang ride opening in 2024 at the in Santa Claus, Ind. park.
Riders on the ten-million-dollar Thanksgiving-themed coaster will speed up to 37 miles per hour in the giant gravy boats on cranberry-colored tracks.
The gravy boat shaped train for “Good Gravy!” at @HolidayWorld has been revealed! 🦃 https://t.co/nYs50gFqO5 pic.twitter.com/dH8yZ5kU2t
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Fire in the Hole
RMC and Silver Dollar City revealed the new Pumper Wagon vehicle for the indoor Fire in the Hole coaster coming to the Ozark Mountains park this spring – it will be the largest indoor family coaster in the Midwest.
Inspired by Silver Dollar City’s original 1972 Fire in the Hole attraction, the new ride will join other fire-themed family-friendly rides in the park’s Fire District, and will include three drops, a splash landing, a custom soundtrack, lighting effects, and enhanced special effects.
FIRE IN THE HOLE!!! A new ride vehicle has been revealed from @SDCAttractions at @IAAPAHQ read more at https://t.co/nYs50gFqO5 pic.twitter.com/PbZcJFlUac
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Falcon’s Flight
Intamin and Six Flags Qiddiya unveiled the ride vehicle for Falcon’s Flight, the signature attraction at Saudi Arabia’s first family-oriented theme park, which will be the longest, tallest, and fastest roller coaster in the world.
Next up is the reveal for Falcon’s Flight from Six Flags Qiddiya. Have you ever seen a roller coaster with a windshield before? Probably because it’s supposed to hit speeds of up to 155 mph 😳 #IAAPA2023 read more here: https://t.co/nYs50gFqO5 pic.twitter.com/6K6bGj3UU5
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Bobcat
Gravity Group revealed the ride vehicle for Bobcat, a completely new wooden roller coaster coming to Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, N.Y. in 2024.
The vehicle reveals keep on coming! Here’s what The Bobcat will look like at @SF_GreatEscape! See more train unveilings from today here: https://t.co/nYs50gFqO5 #IAAPAExpo pic.twitter.com/ySfwBAWwNG
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Transformers Axis Coaster
S&S Worldwide and Seven (Saudi Entertainment Ventures) unveiled the vehicle for the world’s first Axis coaster themed to Transformers, which will debut in 2025 at Seven Family Entertainment Center in Saudi Arabia.
One particularly notable feature of this new roller coaster vehicle is that the seats spin, thanks to the S&S patented 4D rotating vehicle technology.
And finally we have the reveal of the unnamed Transformers axis coaster vehicle that will be at Seven Family Entertainment Center (@saudi_SEVEN). Bonus points for the transforming sound effect during the unveiling. Read more here: https://t.co/nYs50gFqO5 #IAAPAExpo pic.twitter.com/vrPQQJbr8y
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Here is more info about the world’s first axis coaster! You can also see it in action! It’s truly more than meets the eye! #Transformers #IAAPAExpo pic.twitter.com/RVlVBtpZO6
— Attractions Magazine (@Attractions) November 14, 2023
Keep checking back this week as we reveal more exciting new ride vehicles from IAAPA Expo 2023.
The expo is taking place Nov. 14-17, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. Click here for more information.
