It’s always exciting to ride new attractions at your favorite theme park, and nothing gets the heart racing more than a new roller coaster. Last year, Cedar Point added GateKeeper - a winged roller coaster that totally transformed the front of America’s roller coast. Want to know what the hot new coaster will be this year? Then keep reading for our top 5 most anticipated 2014 roller coaster additions.
Cedar Point’s GateKeeper winged roller coaster, the top new coaster in 2013.
Thunderbolt - Coney Island, New York City, NY
You have to pay attention to the first new roller coaster built in New York City in over 80 years. The Thunderbolt marks a triumphant return of a classic coaster of the same name that first emerged on the site in 1925. The new Thunderbolt will be a modern out and back steel coaster built by Zamperla with a 125 foot lift hill, inversions, and speeds up to 65 mph. Click here for more details on Coney Island’s Thunderbolt.
Coney Island THUNDERBOLT © 2013 New York City Economic Development Corporation
Goliath - Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, IL
A wooden roller coaster with an 85 degree 180 foot drop (both records) and an inversion?!? That’s insane! No, that’s Goliath, coming to Six Flags Great America just outside Chicago, IL. In addition to being the tallest and steepest wooden roller coaster, Goliath will be the fastest as well reaching speeds of 70 mph. For more details on Goliath, follow this link.
Goliath at Six Flags Great America © 2013 Six Flags. All rights reserved.
Goliath at Six Flags Great America © 2013 Six Flags. All rights reserved.
Banshee - Kings Island, Mason, OH
Just what exactly is a female-inspired theme park ride? I have no idea, but when a Cedar Fair Park announces a new coaster, my ears perk up. Banshee will be Kings Island 15th roller coaster, and will be the longest inverted coaster in the world. The B&M attraction will feature seven inversions, reach speeds of 68 mph, and has a fantastic color scheme (was that the women’s inspiration?). More details on Kings Island’s Banshee can be found here.
Banshee © 2013 CFEC Cedar Fair Parks
Banshee © 2013 CFEC Cedar Fair Parks
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL
After many long years of construction, the largest expansion in the history of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is complete with the opening of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This centerpiece of New Fantasyland will be a family-style coaster that takes guests into the mine via cars that swing back and forth during the ride.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train © Disney. All Rights Reserved
Gringotts Bank - Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, FL
The MOST anticipated new roller coaster for 2014 is probably the one we know the least about. Last May, Universal Orlando Resort announced an expansion for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal Studios Florida will be home to Diagon Alley, and include an “innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts Bank.” That’s all we know. From the Harry Potter films, everyone expects the Gringotts Bank attraction to house a roller coaster, and that suspicion was confirmed in Universal’s recently released teaser video. We should know more details on January 23, 2014 via the Universal Orlando live webcast.
So those are my picks for the top 2013 roller coaster additions, what do you think? Did I miss anything? What roller coasters are you most looking forward to in 2014? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. I’ll see you in the parks? For more family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.
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