This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With Memorial Day weekend approaching, theme parks from around the United States begin touting their biggest and newest rides and attractions.
According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, trends this year include virtual reality roller coasters, immersive 3-D and even 4-D attractions, interactive guest experiences and edutainment.
The organization says roller coasters across the U.S. are transforming the coaster experience. Riders are wearing specially designed virtual reality headsets that provide a fully immersive experience with 360-degree content corresponding to the ride's motion. Riders become part of a storyline that plays out as accelerometers, gyros and proximity seniors synchronize in a realistic, yet virtual worlds.
Another big trend is interactivity with parks opening rides and attractions in which the guest's actions directly impact the experience.
While the group does not list any new major attractions at Utah's Lagoon, which opened its Cannibal roller coaster last summer, much of the interest for Utah travelers occurs in southern California.
The big news is the opening of Universal Studios Hollywood's "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter." That attraction has been open for several years at Universal Studios Florida and Utah Potter fans have been anxiously awaiting the opening of the park closer to home.
The attraction features a 3-D version of "Harryk Potter and the Forbidden Journey," as well as the "flight of the Hippogriff" family coaster. According to the amusement park organization, the space is anchored by Hogwarts castle, featuring restaurants and shops. For information, log on to http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com.
It is a rare year when Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim don't add new attractions and this year is no exception with the emphasis on California Adventure. New additions this year include Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters, a new live stage show based on the film Frozen and the globally reimagined 4-D Soarin' Around the World, which changes from just California to showcasing some of the world's most distinctive landscapes.
Other southern California additions include Knott's Berry Farm's newly renovated GhostRider roller coaster, a rider-interactive Legoland attraction called "Ninjago: The Ride", and the opening of The New Revolution roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which enlists riders as copilots of their own fighter jets in a futuristic battle to save the planet from an alien invasion.
For a complete list of new attractions in the U.S. and Canada, log on to http://www.IAAPA.org/WhatsNewUSandCanada.