The Hottest New Theme Park Rides of 2025
Get ready to scream, soar, and splash! These new rides and immersive lands are taking theme parks to the next level
Nothing says springtime quite like the thrill of a day at the amusement park. This year is shaping up to be especially exciting, with a host of new theme park rides and attractions set to debut. Strap in tight! Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated experiences arriving this season (and beyond).
Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe:
Video game lovers, level up! Super Nintendo World at Universal Orlando is set to debut alongside the rest of the highly anticipated Universal Epic Universe on May 22. If you grew up playing Donkey Kong Country and Super Mario Kart, you know the rush of racing mine carts and go-karts with your favorite Mario characters. Now it’s your chance to experience the thrill firsthand with interactive theme park rides that bring these games to life.
Mine-Cart Madness
Mine-Cart Madness is a high-energy coaster that’ll send you barreling through the jungle and leaping over gaps in broken tracks in true mine-cart style.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is an interactive dark ride that blends augmented reality with real movement, putting you behind the wheel as you race through iconic tracks while dodging banana peels and Koopa shells.
SeaWorld Orlando:
Expedition Odyssey
SeaWorld Orlando has something special planned for wildlife enthusiasts with Expedition Odyssey. This ride blends real Arctic wildlife footage with top-tier immersive motion technology to make you feel as though you’re on a true Arctic expedition. Hang on tight as you dip and slip around icebergs and race beluga whales across frigid waters.
Cedar Point:
Siren’s Curse
Billed as the tallest, longest, and fastest tilt coaster in North America, Siren’s Curse is sure to lure those brave enough to take on Cedar Point’s newest rollercoaster addition. Inspired by the legends of mysterious and haunting sounds of Lake Erie, Siren’s Curse promises to leave riders in a whirlwind of speed and weightlessness as if they were truly locked in the grasp of a seamonster.
How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk at Universal Epic Universe:
Step into the world of the beloved How to Train Your Dragon films to experience the best parts of Viking life—including ships, dragons, and adventure!
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
Soar through the skies on Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a rollercoaster that will have you flying above and around the Isle of Berk.
Fyre Drill
Gear up for a splash-filled battle with water cannons aboard the Fyre Drill water ride.
Six Flags:
Six Flags is setting the bar high with two one-of-a-kind coasters, each promising a thrill ride like no other. They debuted at their respective park’s season openings in March.
Georgia Gold Rusher
Georgia Gold Rusher, the newest coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, is inspired by 1880s Gold Rush miner William “Willy” Gibson and his imagined invention for treasure hunting. Riders sit on outward-facing spinning disks that twist, turn, and glide back and forth along a water-splashed track. No upside-down action—just pure twisting fun.
THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity
THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity, debuting at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, is a high-speed boomerang rollercoaster that hits up to 60 miles per hour and soars more than 100 feet in the air. Riders will be launched through a whirlwind of speed, drops, and loops—and then do it all again in reverse. Sounds like a perfect match for The Flash’s lightening-fast reputation.
Busch Gardens:
Beloved Busch Gardens promises two adventure attractions suitable for the whole family.
Wild Oasis
Wild Oasis is an immersive rainforest inspired attraction based in Busch Garden’s Tampa Bay location that invites visitors to take part in various adventurous activities such as the Canopy Climb and Tree Trop Drop.
The Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge
The Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge is a new treat designed after German Bavarian culture for the Busch Garden’s Williamsburg location. This inverted and surprisingly family-friendly coaster whisks riders through the German countryside and an abandoned Bavrian village at 40 miles per hour against a soundscape of screams and the echoes of a howling wolf.
Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe:
Vampires, werewolves, and Frankenstein—oh my! At Dark Universe, Universal Epic Universe’s eerily immersive land, it’s Halloween all year long. Creep through shadowy forests and haunted laboratories in two spine-tingling attractions that bring Universal’s classic monsters to life.
Curse of the Werewolf
Curse of the Werewolf puts you aboard a creaky camp wagon as you wind through a dark, fog-filled forest. Just beware, not everyone makes it out before the full moon rises. Expect sudden turns, eerie soundscapes, and an encounter with the Wolf Man himself.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
For an even more intense experience, enter Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein has captured infamous creatures such as Dracula, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy for a dangerous experiment gone wrong. This dark ride plunges you into her chaotic lab as the monsters break free—leaving you to dodge destruction in the wake of their wrath.
Mattel Adventure Park:
With locations set to open in late 2025 in Glendale, Arizona, and in 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas, Mattel Adventure Park is revving up to deliver serious childhood nostalgia. Ever dream of racing on an oversized Hot Wheels track or lounging in Barbie’s dream world? This park turns those daydreams into full-throttle fun with its signature theme park rides.
Hot Wheels Rides
Hot Wheels Bone Shaker: The Ultimate Ride is a high-speed roller coaster inspired by the iconic Bone Shaker vehicle, featuring gravity-defying loops and wild turns built for thrill-seekers.
Hot Wheel Twin Mill Racer allows riders to hop into a life-sized version of one of Hot Wheels’ legendary cars and launch down a twisted, high-octane racing track filled with dynamic acceleration and sharp curves.
Barbie Beach House
Barbie Beach House invites guests to step into Barbie’s world. This immersive walk-through attraction will feature vibrant rooms, interactive play zones, and more—ideal for fans to live their Barbie dream.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe:
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
The new Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is sure to be a must on every Harry Potter fan’s bucket list. This story-driven adventure stands out as one of the most immersive theme park rides of the year, putting you right in the middle of the action as you join Ron, Hermione, and Harry on an adventure at the Ministry of Magic.
AAA tip: Make the most of your next theme park visit with your AAA membership. AAA members receive exclusive theme park discounts to save you serious money and amp up the fun.