Theme Park Insider

Rope Drop: Happy National Roller Coaster Day

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:32:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: It's National Roller Coaster Day, and Legoland Florida is celebrating by reopening Coastersaurus, the state's only fully-wooden roller coaster, after a rebuild and upgrade of its operational, electrical and braking systems.

Today also is the final day for Fast & Furious: Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida, closing one of the more disappointing attraction chapters in the park's history.

And today is the final day of the D23 event in Anaheim, as Disney welcomes its most recent class of Disney Legends, including Imagineer Kim Irvine. Congratulations to Kim!

Coming up this week, on Tuesday, it's time for Knott's Scary Farm Nightmares Revealed event, as the park tells us what its two new mazes for 2027 will be.

Keeping with the Halloween spirit, Tuesday night is also the opening night for this year's Ooogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure. The after-hours, hard-ticket party continues on select nights through October 31.

On Wednesday, Nightflight Expedition opens officially to all guests at Dollywood. You can read Jeff Elliott's Nightflight Expedition ride review here.

On Friday, Halloween Time starts at the Disneyland Resort, including the opening of Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure. The Halloween season runs through October 31, with Plaza de la Familia continuing to November 2 for D�a de los Muertos.

Planning a trip?

Here are the current refurbishment schedules from Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.

Silly Symphony Swings is closed at Disney California Adventure with no reopening date yet.
Universal's Horror Make-Up Show is closed at Universal Studios Florida. Estimated reopening in winter 2026.
Carousel of Progress is closed at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. New show debuts in 2027.
August 16: Last day ever for Fast & Furious - Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida.
August 21: Haunted Mansion reopens as Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland.
September 8: Indiana Jones Adventure closes at Disneyland, with no reopening date.
September 8-11: Mark Twain Riverboat closes at Disneyland.
September 14: Mad Tea Party and Tom Sawyer Island close at Disneyland, with no reopening dates.
September 15-20: The Untrainable Dragon closes at Universal Epic Universe.
October 26: Volcano Bay closes for the season, with a planned return on or before April 1, 2027.
November 20: Jurassic Park River Adventure reopens at Islands of Adventure.
January 4 - February 2, 2027: Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges closes at Islands of Adventure.
January 25 - February 4, 2027: Fyre Drill closes at Universal Epic Universe.
February 8-19, 2027: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey closes at Islands of Adventure.

You can find our one-page visitors guides to dozens of top theme parks around the world, including Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the Universal parks at www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews.

If you would like to get out there and support Theme Park Insider at the same time, please contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote or shop our international and U.S. attraction ticket partners.

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Now it's time for Disney to execute its theme park plans

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 16:33:00 GMT

By Jacob Sundstrom: The 2026 iteration of D23 was always going to be about filling in the gaps following the blockbuster slate of announcements delivered two years ago. And, with a couple of major exceptions, Disney followed that script. [See Here is what Disney announced Saturday at D23 .] We got attraction dates, some opening years and seasons (though fewer than I expected), and a lot of color from the ever-charming Neil Patrick Harris.

So now the real work begins � or, more accurately, finishes. Imagineering and a whole host of Disney employees are hard at work making one of the most thrilling rafts of upcoming projects in the company�s history a reality.

There is an immense amount of excitement for the projects coming down the pipe, from Villains Land to the Avengers Campus expansion to the Lion King flume to (finally) the New New New Tomorrowland. Any goodwill Disney spent by announcing and then delaying or canceling projects can be recouped if it delivers on these new lands, attractions and experiences.

Now we wait to see if the company can deliver on that promise. Galaxy�s Edge worked for me in just about every way imaginable. Its atmosphere feels perfectly Star Wars to me, and I still believe Rise of the Resistance is the best theme park attraction ever built. But it wasn�t the obvious home run many of us thought it would be. Now, how much of that was avoidable, given Star Wars� descent into culture war madness, is up for debate.

But these new projects offer the chance for a true, honest-to-god no-doubter. The kind of home runs that even opposing fans must stand for and grudgingly applaud. We now know Monstropolis (though not the ambitious Door Coaster) will open next year, finally realizing the dream of just about every Disney fan my age.

The hits come thicker and faster after that. What we�ve seen of Piston Peak looks fabulous... and it will have to be to convince those still sore about the demolition of Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America.

But the two biggest opportunities for Disney are the furthest away. Villains Land has been a dream of theme park fans since before I had Internet access without parent permission. The Maleficent outdoor coaster and underworld boat ride look like sure-fire hits... as long as the rest of the land delivers.

And perhaps the biggest announcement of the night, that Disneyland's Tomorrowland will finally be updated, came with no details. That will fuel another round of speculation about how vast Disney�s ambition is. The company doesn�t have to fix Tomorrowland to continue shoveling millions of guests through the gates. But it obviously should fix it to better reflect the vision Walt Disney dreamed of, but never had the opportunity to build.

So now we look to the future and hope Disney has the creative vision, the financial backing and the will to make something special happen. Theme park fans have spent a long time dreaming about this future. Now we all hope, and wait, to see if the company�s creative arm can stick the landing.

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Disney theme park announcements keep coming

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 16:22:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Here are a couple of Disney theme park announcements that did not make the cut for last night's D23 Disney Experiences Showcase.

Disneyland Paris is getting a new daytime parade next year.

Concept image courtesy Disneyland Paris

The new parade - the first new parade in the park since 2017 - will include floats themed to Aladdin, Coco, The Princess and the Frog, and Tangled. And it will all be led by Mickey Mouse and friends.

"Parades are part of the DNA of a Disney Park, and this one raises the bar. From the float designs and costumes to the music, every element has been carefully crafted with passion and a lot of heart," Disneyland Paris Vice President Entertainment Dana Harrel said.

Hong Kong Disneyland also confirmed that its new Pixar theater show will open in the first half of next year.

Pixar show theater. Image courtesy Hong Kong Disneyland

The production, staged in a new theater extending the park's Toy Story Land, will introduce an original and park-exclusive Pixar story and character.

For a round-up of everything that was announced during the show, please see Here is what Disney announced Saturday at D23.

Here is what Disney announced Saturday at D23

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 01:46:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Dreamfinder is coming back to EPCOT, while Disneyland is revamping its Tomorrowland, again. Monstropolis is opening earlier than expected, though its scare floor roller coaster will open later. The Avengers Campus expansion at Disney California Adventure will open in 2028.

And they're fixing the Yeti.

Those were the highlights from the 2026 D23 Disney Experiences Showcase in Anaheim tonight. Beyond what I just mentioned, we did not get any new dates for attraction openings, but we did learn some details about Disney's planned new attractions, including Villains Land at the Magic Kingdom.

Let's recap the news.

Disneyland Resort

After the Coco ride opens at Disney California Adventure, Disney is pushing back the planned opening of the park's Avatar experience to make way for a new project - the New New New Tomorrowland at Disneyland.

Yes, Disney is revamping Tomorrowland, again.

This view might soon be going away, including the eternal construction wall at the left.

"We really looked back to Walt's opening day speech that he gave, and we were inspired by his vision of Tomorrowland being a vista into wondrous worlds," Portfolio Executive Creative Producer Emo O'Brien said during an advance press briefing. "We really garnered the sense of optimism that was at the core of everything that he was thinking about in Tomorrowland, and so we're using that as our basis to go forward."

Alien Pizza Planet calls back to the original Moonliner and Rocket to the Moon attraction, but little else remains from Walt's original 1955 Tomorrowland.

O'Brien oversaw the development of Tokyo DisneySea's Fantasy Springs project and now has added oversight of the Disneyland Resort to her portfolio.

We did not get an opening date for the Coco boat ride at Disney California Adventure, but did learn that it will be set a year after the original film, with an entrance depicting Miguel's great-great-grandfather H�ctor Rivera and his music. The boats will bring guests through the Land of the Dead during the ride. And it will have no height requirement.

Image courtesy Disney

As I mentioned above, the expanded Avengers Campus will open in 2028.

As for 2027, Disneyland will bring back the Remember... Dreams Come True fireworks (with refreshed projections) starting February 2027, while California Adventure gets an updated original World of Color back. And by summer, the Magic Happens parade returns.

Walt Disney World

Host Neil Patrick Harris and Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum closed the show by announcing that an animatronic Dreamfinder is coming to a new Journey Into Imagination With Figment and Dreamfinder at EPCOT. No other details on that.

Elsewhere, the official name for Villains Land will be... Villains Land. (Note that is two words, a la Cars Land, and not one, like Frontierland.)

"We always think of a wishing well as being this happy, positive thing - that people are only making good wishes, especially within the context of Magic Kingdom. But we wondered what happens if a mysterious stranger makes an evil wish in a wishing well, and what happens if that wish corrupts the well, breaks it open, and infuses the forest with this poisoned well's magic," Executive Creative Director Caroline May explained during an advance press briefing.

"Now the villains, having heard of this, have come to this place, and they have harnessed the land's curse magic and conjured the perfect lairs for themselves."

Imagineers are designing the land's architecture to reflect the personality of those villains, led by Sleeping Beauty's Maleficent, who provides the theme for the land's outdoor roller coaster.

Maleficent coaster concept art. Image courtesy Disney

And the Evil Queen from Snow White, whose palace will be the home for the land's dark ride.

Magic Mirror dark ride concept art. Image courtesy Disney

"You will go deep down into the catacombs, where you will meet the Magic Mirror, who will act as a host of sorts for your experience as he takes you into the mirror realm, and he will conjure different visions of your favorite villains," May said. "We're going to be using a lot of special effects, a lot of practical show sets. It's a very theatrical expression for that attraction."

"We know that the villains have high standards. They have impeccable tastes. They're very elegant and sophisticated, and so we wanted to make sure that the architecture reflected that as well. And so you'll see that carried not only throughout the look of the land, but also in the way that the characters present themselves and the way that their costumes look as well," May said.

That's it for attractions, by the way. Villains Land will have just those two.

Monstropolis will open in 2027, with the coaster to open later. Randy Newman has written the Welcome to Monstropolis theme song for the new show in the Glob Theater in the upcoming Disney's Hollywood Studios land. This is going to be a mix of animatronics and Pepper's Ghost-like projections. And there will be animatronic sushi chef in Harryhausen's Restaurant.

Monstropolis

We also got names for the Piston Peak National Park attractions in the Magic Kingdom: Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along...

and Cars Ridge Run Rally.

Concept art courtesy Disney

Earlier, Harrison Ford appeared on screen to announce that he will be the face model for the Indiana Jones animatronic for the Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom that is replacing Dinosaur. The ride is set in the 1950s, before the Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea rides.

"You�ll�rendezvous with�Dr. Jones, who�is�in the midst of�exploring�this�mysterious temple near�a�once water-filled underground cave,�called a cenote. Local legend says the passageway leads directly to the�Maya�Underworld, and�is protected by a�serpentine creature:�the Tsuk�n."

The Tropical Americas land also will include El Carrusel de los Animalitos with 22 hand-crafted animals. And the name of the Encanto ride will be Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto, which will feature enchanted furniture ride vehicles that will climb a staircase in the casita. There will be no height requirement on the ride. Disney previously announced that Tropical Americas will open next year, and provided no update to that tonight.

Art courtesy Disney

Thomas Mazloum paid off a Yeti joke in the show's opening musical number by announcing that they're finally fixing the Yeti on Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom. And then he brought out Gloria Gaynor to send off the "Disco Yeti" with a performance of "I Will Survive." Absolute brilliance.

Spaceship Earth finally is getting its update, too, with its story focus broadening to human connection rather than just communication. No timing on those changes, however.

Harris also shared some concept art for the updated Carousel of Progress, revealing that Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston will be voicing Mother and Father in the new show, which will open in late spring 2027.

Carousel of Progress 1980s scene. Courtesy Disney

Disney Cruise Line

The bow character on Disney Believe will be Tinker Bell, while the stern characters will be Buzz and Woody. And the Grand Hall icon will be Moana.

Image courtesy Disney

Disneyland Paris

The Lion King flume ride at Disney Adventure World will be a book report based on the original animated film and feature Disney's first animatronic Scar.

Image courtesy Disney

Space Mountain is also returning to its original look, with Hyperspace Mountain closing next year and Space Mountain de la Terre a la Lune returning, with its original soundtrack.

Shanghai Disneyland

We got some new concept art for the Spider-Man roller coaster.

Art courtesy Disney

Imagineering also is partnering local artists for multiple street art murals across the land. Which is interesting because apparently spray paint is not legal in China, so street art isn't a thing like it is in America. But the vibe is definitely welcomed in the new Spider-Man themed land at the park. No opening date yet, though.

Hong Kong Disneyland

The new Avengers Tower drop ride will travel across realms, transporting riders via Sling Ring. Here is another piece of concept art for the attraction, which is depicted in a model in the Imagineering pavilion on the D23 show floor.

Imagineering

Leslie Iwerks is filming the second season of The Imagineering Story, documenting WDI's work on several new projects around the world. The show will debut in early 2028 on Disney+.

Tokyo Disney Resort

Oriental Land Co. announced earlier this week that Tokyo Disneyland's "Wreck It Ralph" revamp of its old Buzz Lightyear ride will be called Sugar Rush: Sweet Rescue and open next spring. That will be followed by the all-new construction Space Mountain Earthrise indoor roller coaster that will open sometime in 2027.

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Walk Time: Working overtime for D23

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 17:25:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: I suspect that everyone who has worked in a theme park knows this feeling. It's almost walk time - you're about to clock out, and then your lead asks, "can you extend?"

You think about the bills you have to pay, or the concert you want to see next month but cannot afford, and reply, "sure."

In my case this weekend, it's D23 week, so there's no taking time off this Saturday. Yet the Week in Review needs its time before the Disney Experiences Showcase starts tonight. So let's get to the news.

First, you can read my preview this year's Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion on the D23 show floor here: Disney D23 shows off its largest Imagineering pavilion ever. Or watch my walking tour.

After the D23 preview, I did get to see that Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration at Disney California Adventure. You can see my one-minute highlight reel on Theme Park Insider's Instagram. Or watch the full show on Disney+ tomorrow. The show offered some nice duets, in the middle of a mosh pit of a crowd that packed every inch of Paradise Park. One influencer said it was easier to get next to the stage to see Bieber at Coachella than it was to get a view of this show.

On Friday, the biggest parks news I saw out of D23 was a remark from creators on stage at The Simpsons panel that they were working with Universal Studios Hollywood to allow Treehouse of Horror overlays and themed food and beverage in Springfield during Halloween Horror Nights. That's been a no-go from Disney in the past.

That evening Disney hosted its Entertainment Showcase at the Honda Center, revealing a bunch of new movies and TV shows. No parks news, of course - that comes tonight.

Meanwhile, on a super-busy Friday, Jeff Elliott made the trip down to Dollywood for a first ride on the new NightFlight Expedition. Dollywood did not allow on-ride videos or photos, but Jeff details what you can expect on this hybrid coaster dark ride in his NightFlight Expedition ride review.

Across the country, AJ Hummel rode the new Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress for us yesterday, as Knott's Berry Farm hosted its media day for the revamped coaster: Montezooma returns to Knott�s Berry Farm.

Also yesterday, Silver Dollar City announced its new ride for 2027, Miner's Mountain Express, a Mack Rides family coaster: Silver Dollar City unveils its largest family roller coaster.

Legoland revealed this week that it will install a Halloween overlay on its new Galacticoasters in California and Florida. The coasters will offer 356 Halloween and fall-inspired elements that riders can use when designing their Lego Halloween Spaceship in the ride's preshow, from September 19 through November 1.

Also on the family Halloween beat, SeaWorld Orlando announced this week that it has licensed Sony Pictures Animation�s "Hotel Transylvania" for character appearances and a dance party at this year's Halloween Spooktacular, starting August 29. The park also will be offering a Hotel Transylvania "Monster Dread & Breakfast" at the SeaFire Inn during event days.

Again, check the front page this evening at 7pm Pacific for my live blog (and then recap) of the Disney Experiences Showcase, with news and commentary about all the announcements we expect and at least one surprise that you probably did not. Thank you for reading!

Ride review: Dollywood's NightFlight Expedition

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 05:44:00 GMT

By Jeff Elliott: Let�s start with the most important part: NightFlight Expedition is an amazing family ride. High-tech, multi-featured, innovative, and an important addition to Dollywood for a variety of reasons.

That being said, I think it�s important to frame where the ride is in the park and what its ultimate purpose is. NightFlight Expedition extends the park's award-winning Wildwood Grove land, which is what fans get when you design a kiddie land for grown-ups, or perhaps more to the point, a grown-up land for the kids.

With Big Bear Mountain, the land's triple-launch Vekoma family coaster, Dollywood kicked off the industry's current wave of story-driven family coasters. Now the park is looking to top that with another path-blazing attraction that further develops the lore of Wildwood Grove.

Map of Wildwood Grove. Nightflight Expedition is located at Hidden Hollow Aviation.

But Dollywood had another problem that it looked to solve with this new attraction. During our visit, we witnessed every ride close and the entire park shut down for at least 20 minutes after lightning struck nearby. There are a number of theaters that could remain open during a storm, but Dollywood had no indoor rides... until now.

So those were the requirements - a new attraction that could operate in inclement weather while advancing the mythology built up in the rest of Wildwood Grove.

Mack Rides stepped up to the plate with a refreshingly original ride, delivering all of the family thrills they could fit into a three-story building the size of a football field. NightFlight Expedition is the second installation of Mack Rides� Rocking Boat hybrid coaster and the first one that is fully indoors, following the outdoor installation of Mission Bermudes at France�s Parc du Futuroscope.

Hidden Hollow Aviation building">
Hidden Hollow Aviation building

How does this new ride system work? Magnetic-based controls installed between the rails of the track propel the vehicle forward or backward at a set speed and can lock it in place firmly enough to allow it to navigate an elevator. There is also a flexible connection that allows the vehicle to float and roll in the waves. I�ll be honest - I�m not certain whether the vehicle is actually floating in the waves or just simulated rocking in them; either way, the effect is pulled off well enough to be convincing.

The Rocking Boat ride vehicle

Since this ride is indoors and space-constrained, I am shocked that they were able to fit nearly a quarter of a mile of track and a five-and-a-half-minute ride time from load to unload. I can only imagine that the path of the ride looks like a spaghetti mess trying to fit something into every available inch of the ride building.

The path the vehicle takes is often tight, and the ceiling is often low, but the set design leans into these limitations, using forced perspective to make areas seem as large as possible. I sat in the front row, and because the tracks were sometimes submerged and the lights were regularly dim, if not completely dark, I often didn�t know where we were going.

There is a storyline as well. Two siblings, Cora and Jasper, have somehow rigged up a boat to fly and are using it, along with a device that can help them trace the glowing roots of the Wildwood Tree back to the hidden lake that feeds them. Is the story clear? Not really. Is the advertising with human actors playing Cora and Jasper misleading? Absolutely, since they are animated characters on the ride. What is the purpose of finding the hidden lake? I haven�t a clue, and the ride ends shortly after you find it, missing an opportunity on the final lift hill to offer a resolution and explainer of some sort.

Designing the Bioluminator

Does the onboard audio help make the story clear? Not really, but it is much better than the usual screaming and jumping to the next scene. Is the story scary? Not really; there are some lightning effects early on that could upset someone of a delicate nature, but the ride moves on from those fairly quickly. It is relatively dark through most of the ride, but there is never a sense of danger in the darkness.

Bioluminescence in the lab

The park was extremely adamant about not filming on the ride, so let me test my memory and see how much I can remember after a single ride-through. Spoilers ahead.

The ride vehicle left the station and made a right, then a quick left on the coaster tracks, going at a taxiing pace. After a bit of a long corridor, you take a left and then stop in a dead end with a wrap-around screen. You see the animated Cora and Jasper for the first time as they take off in their own boat, with your vehicle flying close behind them. The vehicle motion during this section is provided by a motion base platform connected to an elevator. Interestingly, I think the screen was connected to the elevator because we never seemed to get any closer to the top of the screen as the elevator rose.

To get out of the screen, the car rolls backward down a small dip, then back up, before hitting a turntable, quickly ending the only part of the coaster that went backward (and for a completely utilitarian reason). Once going forward again, the coaster dunks you into a rapids channel. You follow this around for a bit before exiting the water for some roller coaster sections, then back into the water for the finale. It didn�t feel like a five-minute ride, but it felt like it was enough.

So, obviously, my takeaway from the ride was the monumental and impressive Tetris-like engineering that went into it, which, in my book, makes it a must-ride for everyone. I would have loved to ride it another four or five times just to figure out how it worked in full. The story was okay for what it was, though it was confusing on my first ride. The sets were deliberately flat to mimic a storybook, but that rationale was never made clear during the ride.

The scariest thing about the ride occurred to us as we waited in line on the ground floor, realizing there were over half a million gallons of water directly above us. At 7 lbs per gallon.. and some quick math... that's 1,750 tons of water suspended above our heads. Sure, that sounds super safe - no problems at all. A number of horror movies featuring people drowning in confined spaces doesn�t instantly pop into my mind. Not at all.

If there is a major complaint about the ride, it is that the vehicles do not stop in the station and remain in motion as you are trying to disembark and board. I think this will need to be fixed in the future. A wet vehicle, along with people - particularly those in the front seat who got their shoes wet - are then trying to get out of a vehicle onto a platform that does not move. When you factor in that this is a ride designed for kids, this feels like a mishap waiting to happen.

If there is a minor complaint, it is that the person in the front row on the right is the only person who is going to get wet, at least in the boat we were in, and that the shoes of the people in the front row were doused in water both times the boat was splashed into the water.

My overall thoughts are that this impressive ride is exactly what the park needed and where it needed to go. Adults need to temper their expectations that this is a thrill ride meant to thrill them, and accept that this is a super-sized family ride designed to be one thing left running during a storm. The kid I brought along really enjoyed the ride without all the baggage I brought.

And that is probably the most important thing. The kids are going to love this.

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Montezooma returns to Knott�s Berry Farm

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 03:10:00 GMT

By AJ Hummel: On May 21, 1978, Knott�s Berry Farm debuted a cutting-edge coaster named Montezooma�s Revenge. A new revision on Schwarzkopf�s popular shuttle loop design, this coaster utilized a flywheel to launch riders through a nearly circular vertical loop and up a 148 ft. tower, only for gravity to take over and bring them through the whole thing in reverse. Despite the simplicity of the design compared to more modern thrill rides, the coaster remained a fixture of the park�s Fiesta Village area for decades, but age eventually catches up to all things and in early 2022 the park announced the closure of the ride. However, it was not the end, as following a major overhaul a new version of the attraction was scheduled to debut in summer of 2023.

Well, 2023 turned into 2024, then 2025, then 2026 as the project encountered delay after delay after delay. Unlike a similar refurbishment performed by Gerstlauer on the ride�s sister coaster Turbine at Walibi Belgium, Knott�s hired KumbaK for this project, a company primarily known for refurbishing outdated Vekoma ride designs. Ultimately, the project ran up a much higher than intended budget of $20 million, but for that the ride got a portion of its original track replaced with new fabrication following the same path, a new train with a design vastly different from what Schwarzkopf had originally crafted, a new state of the art LSM system capable of being programmed with multiple launch profiles, and a variety of thematic upgrades around the coaster to reflect the ride�s new tagline: The Forbidden Fortress. Finally, after years of waiting, the new version of Montezooma opened to the public on August 6^th, and today I got the opportunity to try it out for myself.

While they didn�t have a ton of space to work with, Knott�s went all in on this refurbishment, and there isn�t a single portion of the attraction that wasn�t touched in some way. We begin by entering the queue under a new stone archway, resembling the remains of a temple that crumbled long ago.

Although the queue itself is still a basic outdoor switchback, static dioramas have been hidden in the walls depicting the fates of explorers who ventured out to the Forbidden Fortress before you. The queue also has an audio loop, but that was disabled during the media preview for the benefit of those conducting interviews just outside of the attraction.

After making your way through the queue, you ascend what used to be the exit stairs and enter an overhauled station. Structurally, this portion of the attraction hasn�t changed, but thematically it has been significantly upgraded. Props line the railings and hang from the rafters along with some of the most unique ceiling fans I�ve seen, and aged iron and wood adorned with cargo rope make up the loading gates and operator stations.

The new train features 12 individual cars, each seating a pair of guests side by side, and riders are restrained via an overhead lap bar and seatbelt-like shoulder straps. These are not the comfort collars of much ire and instead form part of the restraining device like the vest components of the RMC raptor model. Once seated and secured, we face the stone carving of Montezooma, a very nice set piece let down by the decision not to enclose the entire platform. After the train is checked and the �all clear!� is given, a short show scene begins with lights, smoke, and the angry voice of Monte (who is still seeking Revenge), then we�re on our way!

So how was that ride? I think the best way to describe it is �not quite as thrilling as the original, but still quite fun.�

The LSMs unfortunately don�t have the same punch of the original flywheel launch system, but it�s replaced with a bit of a ramp up effect as you accelerate faster and faster toward the loop.

Speaking of that element, it�s just as strong as ever, and the reported 5.5G felt at the ends of the train may very well be the reason for those shoulder straps. That said, it will force the restraints down a bit, so best be prepared for Montezooma to give you a squeeze.

Those restraints do also kill most of the airtime, though the thrill of the spikes is just as good as ever and it felt like this train goes slightly higher than the old ride. As someone who rode the original countless times, though, the last trick of The Forbidden Fortress caught me off guard, as instead of coming to a hard stop you now fly through the station once again, stop beyond it, then launch backward into the temple as if some unknown force is dragging you in.

I�ve been on more than 700 coasters, and I�d say the original Montezooma�s Revenge was a very solid 7/10 coaster despite its simplistically. I probably need a couple more rides on this new version before finalizing my score (I only rode twice today as shuttle coasters get to me when ridden repeatedly), but I�m inclined to say this one is probably about the same. The overall attraction is an improvement, with enhanced thematic presentation and more modern technology, but unfortunately I�d say the coaster experience itself isn�t quite as good as before due to the weaker launch and more restrictive restraints even though it still remains a very smooth and forceful ride.

Was it worth the $20 million spent to refurbish this ride? That is the real question, and I believe only time will give an answer. In a park where all the other thrill coasters would be at least an 8/10 if not 9/10 for me, I can see the public not connecting with this one as much, particularly if the single train nature of the coaster results in extended queue times. At the same time, however, this has truly become a one-of-a-kind creation, and I think it would be fair to call it the most unique coaster offering at the park. If the randomized launch sequences previously teased for the attraction are added later, I could very well see this becoming quite popular for the high re-ride value. As it currently stands, though, it�s a coaster I�d likely try to ride every visit but would be okay passing up if the line were more than a half-hour or so.

In addition to the coaster, Knott�s also gave us a preview of merchandise will be released with the ride.

Yes, that is a section of the coaster�s original rail on that plaque, only 350 of which were made, so if you�ve got $400 to burn and want a piece of history, get on those quick when they go on sale next weekend.

Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress is NOW OPEN at Knott�s Berry Farm. If you not from the area I�m not sure I�d encourage a special trip just for this, but if you venture out west for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood, next year�s to-be-announced coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, or anything Disney�s unveiling this weekend at D23, it�s well worth stopping by the park to ride this piece of history.

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Silver Dollar City unveils its largest family roller coaster

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:44:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Silver Dollar City will tell the next chapter in the story of its real-life Marvel Cave with Miner's Mountain Express, a new Mack Rides family coaster.

Located in the park's Daredevil Pass, the coaster will be marked by a 120-foot headframe tower from a 150-year working mine in Missouri. The coaster will feature 3,553 feet of track, making it the longest family coaster in the Midwest.

Here is the park's official POV.

Miner's Mountain Express invites riders to board mine cars on a trip to discover the lost entrance to Marvel Cave, which was known Marble Cave when actual miners first started working it 145 years ago. They did not find any marble, just a lot of bat guano. Turns out, though, that stuff is rich in nitrogen, which is essential in making TNT. Yet when the guano was gone, so was the mine's business... until it became a tourist attraction, renamed Marvel Cave for the visual marvels within.

Silver Dollar City has been "mining" (sorry) the cave's backstory for more than a generation, using it as inspiration for many of the park's thrill rides. Miner's Mountain Express continues that tradition.

Concept art courtesy Silver Dollar City

Miner's Mountain Express will feature two lift hills, a station fly-through and a tunnel, as well as 15 airtime moments, which Silver Dollar City said is the most for any ride in the park. The coaster's minimum rider height will be 39 inches, and it opens next spring.

Park President Brad Thomas said that Miner's Mountain Express and the upcoming Silver Dollar City Resort hotel together represent a $150 million investment - part of the $500 million in improvements over the next decade that the park promised two years ago when the new Fire In The Hole opened.

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