What's New at Theme Parks Across North America

Image courtesy of Bioware, California's Great Adventure Facebook page

As the summer season approaches, theme parks and attractions across the country are getting ready to open their doors with a brand new line up of fascinating rides, high-speed thrills and virtual reality offerings.

According to International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook 2015-2019 report, more than 390 million people are expected to attend a theme park in the United States and Canada this year, generating a total of $22 billion in revenue.

With many theme parks celebrating significant anniversary’s this year, including Cincinnati’s Coney Island Park which commemorates 130 years this year, expect the offerings to be bigger, faster and splashier than ever before.

According to IAAPA, virtual reality roller coasters, 3-D/4-D attractions and interactive guest experiences are among the major trends guests should expect to see at many parks across the continent. At many parks across the U.S., expect guests to don specially designed VR headsets to place themselves in the midst of a storylines that call for interactive participation. Interactivity is another key, as this summer’s attractions taken on a semi-competitive nature.

In fact, several parks have teamed up with video game giant Electronic Arts to feature video game tributes to favorite titles like Plants vs. Zombies and the Mass Effect trilogy.

Following, according to IAAPA, is a list of some of the new attractions, guests can expect to see in 2016:

Alberta

Calgary’s Calaway Park: The theme park celebrates its 35th anniversary with two new stage shows and Timber Falls, a new log ride with high-velocity drops, a zig-zag river section and new interactive components. The ride’s continuous loading platform significantly reduces wait times. www.calawaypark.com

World Water Park: At the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, the World Water Park welcomes Canada’s first “Slideboarding” attraction, which combines interactive gaming with a traditional water slide experience. The flume is punctuated with lights and sounds and riders try hit colorful targets by using game controller handles. At the end, a 60-inch monitor displays each rider’s score. www.westedmontonmall.com

Ontario

Canada’s Wonderland: Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Canada’s Wonderland welcomes two new interactive rides. The 41-meter single-gondola “Skyhawk,” where guests manually control their flight and “Flying Eagles,” which emulates a similar experience for younger flyers. www.canadaswonderland.com

WildPlay Element Park: In partnership with the Niagara Parks Commission (NPC), WildPlay Element Park is opening a new zipline, the “MistRider Zipline to the Falls” with four high-speed lines that drop 670 metres into the Niagara Gorge near the base of the Falls. At the “WildPlay’s Whirlpool Adventure Course,” users can navigate dozens of ziplines, log ladders, rope swings, tightropes and monkey bars throughout the forest. www.wildplay.com

Arizona

Legoland Discovery Center: Phoenix, Arizona is home to a new 60,000 acre Legoland Discovery Center, with a Lego brick pool, a Lego ride, a 4-D cinema and, of course, building classes. This is Lego’s seventh themed entertainment center in the United States. www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/arizona

OdySea Aquarium: This all new, three-story aquarium opens in Scottsdale, Arizona as part of the larger 35-acre OdySea in the Desert entertainment complex. Featuring hammerhead sharks and a martini-shaped aquarium, the new aquarium also includes an indoor skydiving attraction and an Imax theater.  www.odyseaaquarium.com

California, Northern

California’s Great America: “Mass Effect” video game fans won’t want to miss the new 4-D holographic experience at California’s Great America in Santa Clara, where guests soar through the galaxy and face off against familiar villains. www.cagreatamerica.com

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Look for a re-imagined “The Joker,” a 3,200-foot roller coaster with zero-G barrel rolls, new inversions and maximum speed of 53 mph. www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom

California, Southern

Disney California Adventure: The Disneyland neighbor in Anaheim adds three new attractions this year, including “Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters”; a new live show based upon the film “Frozen”; and the reimagined “Soarin’ Around the World,” which emulates a glider flight over some of the world’s most renowned landscapes. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disney-california-adventure

Great Wolf Lodge Southern California: Southern California welcomes its first Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove this summer. The 105,000-square-foot indoor water park includes slides, pools, suspension bridges and indoor surf simulators. Attached is a 600-suite resort. www.greatwolf.com/southern-california

Knott’s Berry Farm: The Ghost Town section of Buena Park’s famed theme park celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2016. The popular wooden roller coast “GhostRider” re-opens with several enhancements, including speeds of up to 50 mph. www.knotts.com

Legoland California: Ninjago Land, a ninja-themed area has opened at the Carlsbad park. New interactive attractions include the “Ninjago: The Ride” dark ride. Set up with high-tech sensors on the front of each vehicle, the ride encourages guest to zap virtual fireballs at digital screens populated with animated Lego figures. www.california.legoland.com

OUE Skyspace LA: Downtown Los Angeles gets its first open-air observatory with the opening of OUE Skyspace LA. Standing nearly 1,000 feet above downtown, the deck is home to Skyspace LA and the “Skyslide” attraction, a 45-foot-long outdoor glass-bottom slide above Los Angeles. www.skyspace-la.com

Six Flags Magic Mountain; Celebrating 45 years, the Valencia-based theme park is adding new virtual reality technology to its “Revolution” steel roller coaster, which is being re-dubbed “The New Revolution.” Riders become co-pilots of their own fighter jets in a battle to save the planet from alien invasion. www.sixflags.com/magicmountain

Universal Studios Hollywood It’s all about Harry Potter this summer at Universal Studios Hollywood. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter features a new 3-D version of “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” and a “Flight of the Hippogriff” family coaster. There’s a Hogwarts castle, themed restaurants like the Three Broomsticks restaurant and new retail establishments like Ollivander’s wand shop. www.universalstudioshollywood.com

Colorado

Great Wolf Colorado Springs; Great Wolf continues its expansion with another opening in Colorado Springs. The park includes a 311-room all-suite hotel and a 65,000-square-foot indoor water park. Also on site are an arcade, miniature golf, mini-bowling, rope-climbing and a spa designed for kids. www.greatwolf.com/colorado-springs

Connecticut

Lake Compounce Amusement Park; Conquer your fears with “Phobia Phear,” a triple-launch coaster that soars through turns at up to 65 mph. Complete the spin by circling through a 150-foot-high loop. www.lakecompounce.com

Quassy Amusement & Waterpark: In Middlebury, Quassy has added the new attraction, “Reverse Time.” Themed as a giant clock, “Reverse Time” accommodates up to 24 riders seated in a circle, facing outward. The ride spins and lifts into the air at up to 20 revolutions per minute. Midway through the ride, the clock changes direction. For younger guests, the new Slide City play area has five water attractions. www.quassy.com

Florida

Busch Gardens Tampa; “Cobra’s Curse” has been added to the park’s Egypt section. Riders ascend an elevator-style vertical lift before being sent on a trek through the park’s Serengeti Plain. www.seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa

Epcot: In Orlando, guests can dive into the epic tale “Frozen,” with the opening of the new boat ride, “Frozen Ever After” in the park’s Norway section. The ride features animatronic “Frozen” characters and new songs written by Academy Award-winning songwriting team Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. In addition, Epcot takes inspiration from its California sister, with the new “Soarin’ Around the World,” an aerial tour over some of the world’s most distinctive landscapes. www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot

SeaWorld Orlando: The shark-themed roller coaster “Mako” opens at the famed Orlando park as the focal point of a new shark-themed land. The 200-foot-tall hypercoaster reaches speeds up to 73 mph and races along 7 acres on a 4,760-foot-long track. The newly themed area allows guests to experience an up-close look at sharks through a variety of underwater viewing tunnels. www.seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando

Universal’s Islands of Adventure: King Kong returns in a new adventure at “Skull Island: Reign of Kong,” a dark ride in a massive set that features animatronic figures and 3-D screens. The park also rolls out an upgraded version of its “Incredible Hulk” coaster, complete with a new track, new vehicles, and a new storyline. www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Parks/Islands-of-Adventure.aspx

Georgia

The Georgia Aquarium: California Sea Lions are heading to Atlanta, in the new “Sea Lion Gallery featuring California Sea Lions.” The park also debuts Waddle Walk, where the Aquarium’s penguins enjoy a daily excursion through the atrium. www.georgiaaquarium.org

Six Flags Over Georgia: Aliens have converged upon Austell, Georgia near in the theme park’s first virtual reality roller coaster, “Dare Devil Dive.” Guests must save the planet from alien invasion as they pilot their own fighter jets. The park has also opened a new DC Super Friends Kids’ Area, with five attractions, including the 65-foot-tall “Superman Tower of Power” and “The Joker Funhouse Coaster.” The park’s Bugs Bunny World has also undergone a transformation into Bugs Bunny Boomtown, with seven family attractions. www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia

Six Flags White Water: The new 60-foot-tall “Wahoo Racer” water slide pits riders against one another at speeds of up to 40 feet per second on six aerodynamic water slides. www.sixflags.com/whitewater

Wild Adventures Theme Park: 15 prehistoric dinosaur species and more than 25 life-size dinosaurs invade the park at the new “Dinosaur Explore” exhibition. With new special effects the dinosaurs an move and roar. www.wildadventures.com

Idaho

Silverwood Theme Park: One of the largest water slides of its kind comes to the Boulder Beach Water Park this year. At nearly 60 feet tall and more than 400 feet long, the slide features six lanes through winding tubes. www.silverwoodthemepark.com

Illinois

Navy Pier: A new 196-foot-tall Ferris wheel graces the Chicago waterfront, with a structure designed to withstand the windy city’s famed gusts, or at least winds of up to 115 miles per hour. Up to ten people can ride in one gondola, which comes complete with padded seats, TV screens and speakers. www.navypier.com

Six Flags Great America: Become a member of the Justice League Reserve Team and battle next to Batman, Wonder Woman, and other DC Comics heroes in new “Justice League: Battle for Metropolis” 4-D dark ride. Take aim at Lex Luthor, the Joker and other evil targets along the way. www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

Indiana

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari: Nostalgia reigns during the park’s 70th season with upgrades to “The Legend” wooden roller coaster as well as the return of the park’s first ride, The Freedom Train, now restored to its original color and design. The train is on display alongside other memorabilia from the park’s past seventy years. www.holidayworld.com

Indiana Beach Boardwalk Resort: Zero G, a looping-reversing coaster, debuts on Indiana’s Beach Boardwalk Funway. At five stories high, the ride can accommodate 20 people at one time. www.indianabeach.com

Iowa

Adventureland Park: Go old school with new “The Monster” roller coaster, a steel coaster with a 133-foot uphill ride, five inversions, and speeds of up to 65 mph. www.adventurelandpark.com

Kentucky

Beech Bend Park: The park has completed the largest water park expansion in its history. New rides include the 500-foot-long “Cyclone Saucers” as well as “Tidal Wave,” “Riptide,” the “Polynesian Plunge” and “Spinning Out,” a race car-themed roller coaster. www.beechbend.com

Kentucky Kingdom: The Louisville park adds its fifth roller coaster, “Storm Chaser.” The 100-foot-tall wooden/steel hybrid ride soars up to 52 mph and features multiple inversions including a corkscrew and a barrel-roll drop from a 10-story hill. www.kentuckykingdom.com

The Louisville Zoo: An expanded elephant exhibition includes 22,000 square feet of outdoor space for the elephants, more than double the old space, giving the pachyderms and their friends more opportunities to roam. www.louisvillezoo.org

Maryland

Six Flags America: Superman meets the modern age as the “Superman Ride of Steel” coaster gets a new virtual reality element as riders wear VR headsets to enter the comic-book world of Metropolis. Soar with Superman to battle Lex Luthor and the evil Lexbots. The park also welcomes Splashwater Falls to its Hurricane Harbor water park. Enjoy seven slides and hundreds of water play components, including a super-sized tipping bucket that allows you to dump gallons of water on your fellow guests. www.sixflags.com/america

Massachusetts

Six Flags New England: Once known as “Bizarro,” the park’s iconic ride re-emerges as “Superman the Ride,” a new virtual-reality coaster where riders visit Metropolis to help Superman battle the forces of evil. Also new is the seven-story-tall looping coaster “Fireball,” where riders sit face-to-face for the pendulum-style experience. www.sixflags.com/newengland

Michigan

The Henry Ford Museum: Retrace the steps of The Beatles at the new “The Magical History Tour: A Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition,” a new limited-time exhibition designed to show case how The Beatles influenced American culture. The exhibition runs through Sept.18. www.thehenryford.org

The Lego Discovery Center: Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills welcomes a 32,000-square-foot Lego Discovery Center, home to more than 1 million Lego bricks. Designed for kids between the ages of 3 and 10, activities include Lego building classes, a Lego-themed ride, a 4-D cinema, and Lego models of popular Detroit buildings. www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/michigan/holding

Minnesota

The Crayola Experience: With coloring books being the hottest phase right now, the new Crayola Experience in Minneapolis at the Mall of America is sure to attract guests of all ages. Here, guests can personalize their own Crayon label and create their own coloring page. www.crayolaexperience.com/minneapolis

Valleyfair: Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Valleyfair premieres the “All Wheels Extreme” sports show in its renovated outdoor amphitheater. The “Flying Eagles” swing ride has also been renovated and re-opens this season. www.valleyfair.com

Missouri

Six Flags St. Louis: Samsung partners with Six Flags to bring the park’s first-ever virtual reality ride, “Ninja.” Riders pilot their own fighter jets and fight the forces of evil. Also, the seven-story looping coaster, “Fireball,” a pendulum-style ride opens this season. www.sixflags.com/stlouis

The St. Louis Zoo: In the children’s zoo, an all-new habitat welcomes two Tasmanian devils, an endangered species. The $350,000 habitat was built in partnership with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Project. www.stlzoo.org

Worlds of Fun: In Kansas City, five new rides are opening in the park’s Planet Snoopy section, including “Snoopy Space Buggies;” “Snoopy Junction,” a railroad adventure; and the flying “Linus Launcher.” www.worldsoffun.com

Nebraska

The Omaha Children’s Museum: Watch out for pirates at the new “Pirates and Mermaids: Voyage to Creature Cove” exhibit. Here, guests can learn about giant marine animals while searching for treasure and listening to a mermaid sing. www.ocm.org

New Jersey

Action Park This Vernon-based water park features an all new looping water slide. Guests travel through enclosed capsules at up to 50 mph as they experience a 90-degree, 30-foot-tall loop. www.actionpark.com

Mount Laurel, New Jersey’s Funplex: This summer look for a refreshed Splashplex, a three-acre water park adventure. Included in the new attractions are the “Hammerhead Heat,” a five-story tower, and “The Great White” speed slides as well as a lazy river and an expanded pool. www.funplexmountlaurel.com

Playland’s Castaway Cove: The all-new, 125-foot “GaleForce” roller coaster makes its home in Ocean City. The coaster, which reaches speeds of up to 64 mph, features a 90-degree drop and multiple inversions. Also new is a 55-foot-tall family coaster and a spinning “Whirlwind Coaster.” www.oceancityfun.com

Six Flags Great Adventure: Located in Jackson, the park debuts its 14th ride, “The Joker,” a 4-D free-fly coaster that sends riders 12 stories in the air while flipping them over six times along the way.  www.sixflags.com/greatadventure

New York

Coney Island’s Luna Park: Fly 60 feet in the air on the new “Endeavor!” at Brooklyn’s iconic theme park. www.lunaparknyc.com

The Great Escape:  In Lake George, battle evil beings in the all new virtual-reality experience, “Steamin’ Demon.” Also, on tap is “Greezed Lightnin’,” a 1950s-themed thrill ride. www.sixflags.com/great escape

North Carolina

Carowinds: Find video game inspiration in the new “Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare: A 3Z Arena,” a 3,600-square-foot indoor gaming experience. Created in partnership with Electronic Arts Inc. and PopCap Games, the arena features large screens, motion-based seats, hand-held laser devices, and surround sound. Also new this season is “Blackbeard’s Revenge,” a 70-foot water slide complex, one of the new features of the expanded and renamed Carolina Harbor water park. The new park includes a two-acre family area, two toddler water playgrounds, and a new wave pool. www.carowinds.com

Ohio

Cedar Point: The famed Sandusky park has added its 17th coaster, “Valravn.” At 223 feet high, the new coaster reaches speeds of up to 75 mph as it drops, coasts and inverts guests along the way. www.cedarpoint.com

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: The new “Tiger Passage” opens at the Cleveland zoo. With four distinctive habitats, the new $4.1 million space is four times larger than its predecessor. www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Zoo/Zoo.aspx

Coney Island Park: The Cincinnati park, which celebrates its 130th anniversary this year, is opening the largest water project in its history. The interactive, multi-level Typhoon Tower includes the 33-foot-tall “Hydro Storm” that occasionally soaks visitors with more than 1,300 gallons of water. There are also two 130-foot-long water slides and more than 70 interactive water activities. www.coneyislandpark.com

Kings Island: The Soak City water park introduces “Tropical Plunge,” a 65-foot-tall structure with six different water slides. Three of the slides feature an "Aqua-Launch," where the floor literally falls away from beneath guests, plunging them on a high-speed, near-vertical free fall. www.visitkingsisland.com

Oklahoma

Frontier City Theme Park: The new, 60-foot-tall “Gunslinger” sends up to 24 riders through flips, twists, and spins. www.frontiercity.com

Riversport Adventure Park: The park, which welcomes an all new $45.2 million whitewater rafting and kayaking center, becomes one of three facilities in the country to house a man-made whitewater venue. Inside, two channels feature an adjustable flow that can be adjusted to meet specific rafting and kayaking experience levels. The park also opens three new high-speed slides this season. www.boathousedistrict.org

White Water Bay:  This summer the park welcome an all-new family water park, “Barefootin’ Bay.” The park has also updated its kiddie area with a new water attraction containing 35 hands-on spray elements as well as two mini-slides, and a giant splash bucket. www.whitewaterbay.com

Pennsylvania

DelGrosso’s Amusement Park: In Tipton, Pennsylvania, the Tipton Waterworks and Rapids Water Park has been expanded and renamed. A brand new “Laguna Splash” features a 311,500-gallon wave pool, and a 1,178-foot lazy river. www.mydelgrossopark.com

Hershey’s Chocolate World: New cars, new sets, new technology and more animals in the barnyard scene are all among the upgrades to the “Hershey’s Chocolate Tour.” www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/

Hershey Lodge: One of the official Resorts of Hersheypark, Hershey Lodge is opening Hershey’s Water Works, a year-round indoor pool complex. New attractions include “Reese’s Water Walk,” “Twizzlers Twists” water slides, and interactive water features including a sand castle spray zone. www.hersheylodge.com/recreation/facilities.php

Knoebels Amusement Park: Celebrating its 90th season this year, the in Elysburg park has upgraded its award-winning wooden coaster, “Haunted Mansion.” There’s also an updated version of its “The Galleon” pirate ship ride, and the laser park area has doubled in size. www.knoebels.com

Kennywood: Celebrating its 80th anniversary season this year the park has completely overhauled its award-winning “Noah’s Ark.” Loyal guests may remember when visitors could enter the ride through the mouth of a large whale, and for the first time in 20 years, the feature returns. Inside, there are new scenes that honor the ride’s 1936 debut. “Noah’s Ark” was once found at amusement parks around the world, but now Kennywood has the only operational version of its kind. www.kennywood.com

Tennessee

Dollywood: “Lightning Rod,” a new wooden coaster opens at the famed Pigeon Forge theme park. With a hot rod theme, the coaster gives riders up to 20 seconds of airtime and reaches speeds of up to 73 mph. www.dollywood.com

Graceland: For a hotel fit for a king, head to the all new Guest House at Graceland resort hotel, which opens at the famed theme park this year. Inspired by Elvis Presley’s iconic home, the guest house features numerous specialty suites, many with designs supervised by Priscilla Presley. On site, there are two full-service restaurants, a large outdoor pool and a 464-seat theater. www.graceland.com

Texas

NRH2O Family Water Park: In North Richland Hills, the water park welcomes three new attractions, including a Champagne Bowl, two new body slides, and “Flatline Loop,” which drops guests through a trap door into a 60-foot free fall, then shoots them into a looping water ride. www.nrh2o.com

Schlitterbahn Water Park: Galveston’s famed water park opens “Massiv,” where guests must climb 123 steps before reaching the top of the slide. The ride includes four uphill sections, six blaster jets, a translucent section and a triple-drop ending into a landing pool. www.schlitterbahn.com/galveston

SeaWorld San Antonio: Enjoy all new animal interactions at the parks new “Discovery Point.” Visit “Beluga Bay,” “Sea Lion Shallows,” and the newly-renovated “Dolphin Lagoon,” which features underwater viewing areas and a swim-with-the-dolphins experience. With more than 600,000 gallons of salt water, the park has doubled the volume of its dolphin pools which also include brand new, large viewing panes below the water’s surface. www.seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sanantonio

Six Flags Fiesta Texas: In San Antonio, the new “Superman Krypton Coaster” immerses guests in the world of Metropolis. The park also welcomes the Fiesta Bay Boardwalk with three new thrill rides, including “Fireball,” which suspends riders 72 feet in the air; the “Hurricane Force 5,” a five-story-tall half-pipe track; and “Spinsanity.” www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas

Six Flags Over Texas: Six Flags brings space fighting to Arlington, Texas, with the new “Shock Wave” virtual-reality roller coaster. The park is also expanding its Gotham City themed area, with three new thrill rides: “The Riddler’s Revenge” swing ride, the “Catwoman Whip” spin-and-tilt ride and “Harley Quinn Spinsanity,” which spins and twirls riders up to 30 feet in the air. www.sixflags.com/overtexas

Space Center Houston: Relive the era of the space shuttle in Houston this summer at Independence Plaza. The new, eight-story museum is anchored by a replica of the Space Shuttle Independence and the NASA 905 jet, which is the famed 747 that piggy backed space shuttles for transport across the country. www.spacecenter.org

Typhoon Texas: In Katy, the all new 25-acre water park features more than 13 rides and attractions, including the 50-foot “Open AquaDrop.” Defining “Don’t Mess with Texas,” the “Family 6 Boomerango” raft ride sends guests gliding along a 60-foot wall with a painting of the Texas flag. www.typhoontexas.com

Virginia

Busch Gardens Williamsburg The park welcomes a new show, a contemporary spin on the story of the three musketeers. This audience-participation program asks guests to join the trio on their quest and new technology has been designed to light up the sky at night.  The park also welcomes a new craft beer tasting room in its Germany section and a new restaurant in the Italy area. www.seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg

Kings Dominion: A new 115-foot-tall pendulum ride, “Delirium” opens this season at the Doswell park. Up to 40 riders in outward-facing seats swing through a 120-degree arc. www.kingsdominion.com

Sky Zone Virginia Beach: Bounce your way through this all new, 18,500-square-foot indoor trampoline park in Virginia Beach. Try your hand at trampoline-powered dodgeball courts or “Sky Slam,” a trampoline with basketball nets. www.skyzone.com/virginiabeach

For more information on this season’s openings, visit the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions at www.iaapa.org.

Follow @MonicaPoling