The annual IAAPA Expo is underway in Orlando and just like past years, the amusement industry convention is the place to reveal the coaster cars for 2024’s biggest new rides.
Leading off the morning was the new car for Cedar Point’s Top Thrill 2, a Zamperla-led revamp of the former Top Thrill Dragster launch coaster.
Top Thrill 2 train revealed by @cedarpoint & @zamperlarides at #IAAPAExpo 2023! #RideWithACE @TonyClarkCP pic.twitter.com/lInE8eMhAw
— American Coaster Enthusiasts (@aceonlineorg) November 14, 2023
The cars are similar to what Zamperla showed off at last year’s Expo for the Italian coaster firm’s new Lightning LSM model, restyled to fit Top Thrill 2’s drag race theme. Unlike its predecessor, Top Thrill 2 will not feature seat belts, only a lap bar.
SeaWorld Orlando showed off a new train for its 2024 addition, Penguin Trek.
Seaworld has unveiled the Penguin Trek trains pic.twitter.com/2tmyAkJZyN
— Seaworld History (@SeaworldH) November 14, 2023
This family coaster is a new model from Swiss coaster firm Bolliger & Mabillard, the same company behind more thrilling SeaWorld rides like Mako and Pipeline. In a change from other non-inverting B&M coasters, Penguin Trek will have over-the-shoulder harnesses rather than a clamshell lap bar.
Speaking of new family rides, Rocky Mountain Construction is stepping out of the extreme thrill space for Fire in the Hole, a $30 million revamp of Silver Dollar City’s classic indoor coaster that will open in the spring.
Those Baldknobbers don’t stand a chance. pic.twitter.com/DFw3Z8BlmF
— Silver Dollar City (@SDCAttractions) November 14, 2023
The coaster cars resemble other RMC creations, with the addition of speakers for the ride’s onboard audio.
Holiday World’s new-for-2024 coaster, Good Gravy, will sport trains that are anything but typical.
We were excited to unveil the Good Gravy! gravy boat-shaped coaches on the IAAPA Expo show floor today alongside Vekoma!#HolidayWorld #GoodGravy #Thanksgiving #RollerCoaster #Vekoma pic.twitter.com/6OnFHKaoAO
— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) November 14, 2023
This Thanksgiving-themed coaster is being built by Vekoma and is the first U.S. installation of its Family Boomerang model.
Another family coaster train for Bobcat at Six Flags Great Escape is on display from the Gravity Group.
Here’s the train reveal for the awesome looking @thegravitygroup Bobcat, with this “small but feisty” coaster coming to @SF_GreatEscape next year. On opening this will also be the first wooden coaster in New York State and first from Six Flags in more than two decades#IAAPAExpo pic.twitter.com/RaUs9kMmpN
— Acrobaticfrog @ IAAPA Expo (@Acrobaticfrog) November 14, 2023
The wooden coaster is the Queensbury, New York park’s first new coaster since 2005.
Beyond coasters, the first day of the IAAPA Expo also featured Sally Dark Rides revealing an animatronic for its upcoming Spongebob’s Crazy Carnival Ride.
A SpongeBob SquarePants themed dark ride is being built by Sally Dark Rides at the Circus Circus Resort in Las Vegas!
Seen below is the brand new Mr. Krabs animatronic for the attraction!
🍍🧽🦀@IAAPAHQ @SallyDarkRides pic.twitter.com/BYXACmA9Gc— Orlando Amusement (@OrlandoAmusmnt) November 14, 2023
The interactive dark ride is slated to open at the Adventuredome at Las Vegas’ Circus Circus Resort early next year.
It wasn’t just trains for new rides being shown off, either. Hersheypark gave a look at the new trains its classic woodie, Comet, which was built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters in 1946.
Hersheypark and Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters unveiled new trains for Comet, Hersheypark’s oldest continuously operating coaster. The design features a three-tone blue color scheme and a new celestial treatment for an out-of-this-world look. https://t.co/eQraXJmTut #IAAPAExpos pic.twitter.com/xAurS6XVQ6
— Hersheypark (@Hersheypark) November 14, 2023
We usually stick to theme parks and coasters in North America, but the Expo’s first day did spotlight a major international attraction: Falcon’s Flight.
Intamin and @qiddiya investment group partner to unveil the ride vehicle for Falcon’s Flight at IAAPA Expo 2023.
Coming soon to Six Flags Qiddiya!#IAAPAExpos pic.twitter.com/PD9ACjaaXh
— IAAPA (@IAAPAHQ) November 14, 2023
This Intamin-designed coaster, under construction at Six Flags Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia, is promising to be fastest and longest coaster in the world — hitting 155 mph and sporting a 519-foot-drop.