What's New at Theme Parks and Amusement Parks?

New parks, new coasters, new shows-- 2008 is shaping up to be quite a season at theme parks and amusement parks. No matter where you may live throughout North America or where your vacation travels may be taking you this year, there's bound to be some new excitement awaiting you--and all of the new rides, shows, and other attractions are listed here.

I know: It's only rock & roll. But nearly everyone likes it. And nearly everyone will get a kick out of the new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

New water parks, featuring the highly anticipated Aquatica in Orlando, new slides, new water park rides and attractions-- 2008 is shaping up to be quite a wet and wild season at both outdoor and indoor water parks. No matter where you may live throughout the U.S. or where your vacation travels may be taking you this year, there's bound to be some new, wet excitement awaiting you.

Are you thinking about planning a Florida theme park vacation? Are you curious about what new goodies the parks have in store for 2008? You've come to the right place. Includes info about The Year of a Million Dreams and the new Toy Story Mania! ride at Walt Disney World, the new themed village, Jungala, at Busch Gardens Africa, the lavish Aquatica Water Park opening at SeaWorld Orlando, and the Simpsons ride coming to Universal Orlando.

Whew! There'll be plenty of attractions debuting at California parks in 2008. Let's take a park-by-park look at all of the new fun, starting with the Disneyland Resort's The Year of a Million Dreams and the new Toy Story Mania! ride. Plus, Knott's Berry Farm is saddling up a unique launched coaster, Pony Express; Legoland will be opening an aquarium; and, Universal Studios Hollywood will be sending guests to Krusty Land in the new Simpsons Ride.

Overview of the roller coasters, rides, parades, and other goodies debuting at the Six Flags park chain in 2008.

The 2007 season was a relatively quiet one for roller coasters. While the 2008 crop of coasters will not have any record-breaking behemoths either, there will be quite a few exciting new rides to discover--including one named, "Behemoth." No matter where you may live throughout North America or where your vacation travels may be taking you in 2008, there's bound to be a wild new roller coaster awaiting you. Discover all of them in the Roller Coaster Ride Guide 2008.

The transformed park will include a new entry plaza, a new Cars Land, new attractions, a new nighttime spectacular, and more.

Fans of one of the most beloved series of books and films will be able to visit J.K. Rowling's fanciful lands and characters when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter comes to Universal Orlando in late 2009.

In summer 2009, SeaWorld will up the thrill quotient with Manta, a themed flying coaster. What's a flying coaster, you ask? Passengers will be harnessed in a near-prone position under Manta's trains as they soar through the air and skim along the water.

About.com's annual Ride Guide is jam-packed with virtually every new coaster, thrill ride, show, water ride, and other feature coming to theme parks and amusement parks throughout North America in 2007. See all the fun that awaits you in the 2007 Ride Guide.

New roller coasters, new dark rides, new drop rides, new water rides: 2006 is shaping up to be quite a season at theme parks and amusement parks. No matter where you may live throughout North America or where your vacation travels may be taking you this year, there's bound to be some new excitement awaiting you. The guide is arranged alphabetically by U.S. state.