This Week In Theme Parks

This week has brought us a 100-foot water ride drop, a new flying Superman rollercoaster and the impending loss of another enormous splash attraction in the United States.

Disneyland has also made a genuinely useful change for anyone planning a visit, while one of Europe's most intriguing new family coasters is now welcoming riders in Germany.

There may not be one single story dominating the industry, but there has been plenty happening across parks in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

Here is everything you may have missed in the theme park world this week.

Superman Is Getting A New Flying Coaster

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi has announced two new Superman attractions as part of the indoor park's continuing expansion.

The biggest of the two is Superman Up and Away, a next-generation flying rollercoaster that will see riders positioned face-down as they race through the attraction alongside Superman.

The coaster is expected to complete construction in 2028, so this is very much a long-term announcement rather than something guests will be riding next summer.

Even so, it immediately becomes one of the most interesting projects in development.

Flying coasters have always suited Superman particularly well. The riding position naturally creates the feeling of flight, but this project appears to be leaning further into the character and story rather than simply placing a Superman logo on a conventional thrill ride.

Before that arrives, the park will open Kryptonite Collider on 26 July 2026. The attraction will become the first of the two new additions to welcome guests and will expand the DC presence inside Warner Bros. World.

The Abu Dhabi park already has an impressive collection of heavily themed indoor attractions, but these additions suggest it is still willing to invest in major new experiences rather than treating the original park as finished.

Carowinds Reveals A Completely Excessive Log Flume

Carowinds has officially revealed Rip Roarin' Falls, a record-breaking new water ride opening in 2027.

Calling it a log flume almost feels unfairly modest.

The six-and-a-half-minute attraction will stretch across 2,240 feet and send eight-person boats through an abandoned lumber mill storyline.

Along the way, riders will experience both forward and backward sections, including a 42-foot reverse drop and a 32-foot reverse camelback.

The finale will then send the boat down a 100-foot drop at speeds of up to 50 mph.

Carowinds says the attraction will break three world records, including the tallest log flume drop, tallest reverse drop and tallest reverse camelback on a water ride or flume.

Those statistics are impressive, but the most interesting detail may be its accessibility. Children from 35 inches tall will be able to ride when accompanied, positioning this as a genuine family attraction despite the scale of its largest elements.

That could make Rip Roarin' Falls incredibly valuable to the park. Carowinds already has major rollercoasters, but this gives families a headline attraction they can experience together.

It also arrives at a time when many parks have been removing large water rides rather than building them. Carowinds has looked at that trend and decided the answer was apparently a bigger drop, a backwards section and several world records.

We fully support this approach.

Hersheypark Is Saying Goodbye To Tidal Force

While Carowinds prepares to build an enormous new water ride, Hersheypark is preparing to retire one of its own.

The Pennsylvania park has confirmed that Tidal Force will permanently close at the end of the 2026 summer season.

The attraction's final operating day will be 7 September, giving fans one final summer to experience it.

Tidal Force opened in 1994 and has spent 32 years producing some of the biggest splashes at Hersheypark.

Riders climb a 100-foot incline before descending at speeds exceeding 50 mph, creating a wall of water large enough to soak both the boat and anyone standing nearby.

It is a simple ride experience, but that simplicity is part of the appeal. Large shoot-the-chutes attractions are loud, dramatic and easy to understand. You see the boat climb, wait for the drop and then decide whether you are standing a safe distance from the splash.

The closure feels particularly notable in the same week that Carowinds announced its own modern interpretation of the format.

One park is investing in the future of the giant water ride, while another is saying goodbye to an attraction that has delivered almost exactly that experience for more than three decades.

Hersheypark has not yet confirmed what will eventually replace Tidal Force.

Disneyland Makes Park Hopping Easier

Disneyland Resort has removed its 11am Park Hopper restriction, giving eligible guests more flexibility when moving between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.

The change came into effect on 9 June and applies to guests with Park Hopper tickets and eligible Magic Key passes.

Previously, visitors were required to wait until 11am before moving into the second park. Guests can now switch after entering their reserved starting park, subject to availability and operating conditions.

It is not the sort of announcement that comes with dramatic concept art or a record-breaking drop, but it could make a noticeable difference to an actual day at the resort.

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure sit directly opposite one another, making it possible to walk between the two entrances in a matter of minutes.

Removing the time restriction allows guests to react more easily to changing queue times, dining plans, entertainment and temporary ride closures.

It also means visitors can begin the morning with a particular attraction in one park before heading across the esplanade without waiting for an arbitrary time to arrive.

For a resort that often requires a considerable amount of advance planning, a little more freedom is very welcome.

Cornwall Coaster Is Now Open At Hansa-Park

It opened slightly before this week's news window, but Hansa-Park's new Cornwall Coaster is worth catching up on.

The Gerstlauer family coaster opened at the German park on 23 May and forms part of its Beautiful Britain themed area.

The attraction features 570 metres of track, reaches a height of 18 metres and has a top speed of 50 km/h.

More unusually, it uses repeated forward and backward launches to send the train through the course, combining family-friendly accessibility with something a little more inventive than a conventional lift hill.

The surrounding area takes inspiration from Cornwall, complete with rocky scenery, ruins and British architectural details.

There is always some risk involved when an overseas theme park attempts a British-themed area, but Hansa-Park has a strong reputation for detailed environments and attractions that are more ambitious than the park's relatively low international profile might suggest.

Cornwall Coaster is not designed to compete with Europe's largest thrill machines. Instead, it appears to occupy the increasingly popular space between a children's coaster and a full-scale thrill ride.

That makes it accessible to families while still giving enthusiasts a reason to pay attention.

Final Thoughts

There is a slightly accidental theme running through this week's biggest stories.

Theme parks are looking again at attractions that can appeal to more than one narrow group of visitors.

Carowinds is building a huge water ride with a surprisingly low height requirement. Hansa-Park has created a family coaster with multiple launches. Warner Bros. World is expanding its Superman offering with both an imminent attraction and a much larger future rollercoaster.

Even Disneyland's policy change is ultimately about giving guests more choice in how they experience the resort.

The closure of Tidal Force is the more bittersweet part of the week, particularly for anyone who grew up watching its enormous splash hit the midway.

However, seeing Carowinds invest so heavily in a new generation of water ride offers some hope that the format is not disappearing entirely.

It is simply becoming faster, taller and, for reasons we are completely on board with, capable of travelling backwards.