Everything that has happened in the Theme Park world this week!

It has been another busy week across the theme park world, with a major new UK thrill ride opening, a summer ticket price shake-up announced, and Disney getting ready to launch one of its most talked-about rethemes of the year. From Blackpool Pleasure Beach to Walt Disney World, here are the stories worth catching up on this week.

Aviktas officially opens at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has officially opened Aviktas, its huge new gyro swing ride and one of the biggest UK thrill openings of 2026. The ride opened to the public on 21 May, bringing a dramatic new skyline feature to the famous seaside park. Billed as the UK’s tallest gyro swing, Aviktas sends riders facing outwards as the giant pendulum swings and spins high above the resort.

It is a big moment for Pleasure Beach, not just because of the ride itself, but because Aviktas gives the park a fresh headline attraction after years of fans wondering what might come next. With its height, movement and seafront location, this feels like exactly the sort of ride that should get people talking from the promenade.

UK theme park tickets could get cheaper this summer

One of the biggest wider stories this week was the UK Government’s announcement of a temporary VAT cut for family attractions over the summer. From 25 June to 1 September 2026, VAT on admission to certain family attractions, including theme parks, zoos and museums, will be reduced from 20% to 5%.

What this means for guests will depend on how individual attractions choose to handle pricing, but in theory it could help reduce the cost of summer days out during the school holidays. For theme parks, this lands at a very useful time, with families already weighing up ticket prices, travel costs, food and extras before booking a visit.

Valgard settles into its first full week at Paultons Park

Valgard: Realm of the Vikings has now completed its first full week at Paultons Park, following its opening on 16 May. The new Viking-themed land is the park’s largest investment to date and includes Drakon, Paultons Park’s first inverting rollercoaster, alongside Vild Swing, Raven, a themed playground and a new Feasting Hall.

What makes Valgard interesting is that it feels like another step in Paultons Park’s gradual evolution. The park is still hugely important for younger families, but additions like Tornado Springs, Ghostly Manor and now Valgard show that it is clearly building more reasons for older children, teenagers and theme park fans to visit too.

The Muppets are ready to rock at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Over in Florida, Disney is preparing to open Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on 26 May 2026. The retheme replaces the former Aerosmith version of the indoor launch coaster, with The Electric Mayhem taking over the attraction’s story, soundtrack and surrounding area.

Disney has already revealed plenty of details, including Scooter’s first Audio-Animatronics figure, celebrity cameos, a new Electric Mayhem set list and a refreshed courtyard. It is one of those rethemes that makes a lot of sense on paper: a chaotic rock band, a recording studio, a concert dash and a high-speed coaster all fit together surprisingly neatly.

Soarin’ Across America also opens this week

Disney also has another notable opening this coming week, with Soarin’ Across America set to debut at EPCOT on 26 May 2026. The new film updates the long-running flight simulator experience with a journey across American landscapes, giving the attraction a refreshed focus while keeping the familiar Soarin’ format.

It may not have the same loud fan reaction as the Muppets coaster, but it is still a meaningful update for EPCOT. Soarin’ remains one of Disney’s most accessible and widely loved attraction formats, so a new film gives regular visitors a clear reason to return.

Sinners joins Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights line-up

Universal has confirmed that Sinners will be part of Halloween Horror Nights 2026, with a haunted house coming to both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. The house will bring guests into the world of Club Juke, with vampires, music and the film’s Southern gothic atmosphere forming the basis for the scare experience.

It is a strong pick for Halloween Horror Nights, especially because Sinners has a very specific visual style and sound. Universal is at its best when a house does not just recreate scenes from a film, but builds a full atmosphere around them, and this feels like a property with plenty of room for that.

Universal Orlando kicks off its summer season

Universal Orlando has also been leaning into its summer line-up, with returning entertainment such as the Universal Mega Movie Parade and CineSational sitting alongside new Minions & Monsters experiences. Those include character photo opportunities, themed food and merchandise tied to the upcoming Illumination film.

For Universal, this is about keeping the parks feeling active beyond the big ride openings. Seasonal entertainment, food, parades and limited-time experiences can make a summer visit feel more event-like, especially for guests who have already done the major attractions.

Thorpe Park’s Launch Pad continues to take shape

Back in the UK, Thorpe Park’s replacement for Amity Beach continues to be one to watch. The Launch Pad is set to turn the former water play area into a new recharge-style space, with seating, food and drink options and a more modern layout for guests taking a break between rides.

It is not a thrill ride, but it could still be a useful addition. Thorpe Park has one of the strongest coaster collections in the UK, especially after Hyperia, but the park has often needed better places to pause, eat and reset. If done well, Launch Pad could make a busy day at Thorpe feel a little easier.

Final thoughts

This week has been a good reminder that theme park news is not only about brand-new rollercoasters. Aviktas gives the UK a major new thrill ride, Valgard shows Paultons Park continuing to grow, Disney is about to reopen a familiar coaster with a very different personality, and the UK summer VAT cut could have a real impact on family days out.

With May half-term now here and summer getting closer, the pace is starting to pick up. Whether you are watching Blackpool, Paultons, Thorpe Park, Disney or Universal, there is plenty happening - and plenty more still to come.