Theme Park Bits: ‘Race Through New York’ Opening Soon, Disney’s Newest Water Ride, And Star Wars Land Updates
In this edition of Theme Park Bits:
Jimmy Fallon himself has announced that Universal Studios’Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallonwill open in their Florida park on June 07, 2025. He also unveiled a bunch of new details about the ride: the story will involve Fallon challenging his guests to a go-kart race through New York City, which will involve a high speed chase through the city streets (hitting all of the various landmarks along the way) and will somehow culminate with everyone on the moon. It’s a 3D simulator attraction involving an IMAX-sized screen, with various “4D” effects (like the smell of pizza, gusts of wind, and splashes of water) also involved.
TheUniversal parks blogalso revealed that the ride will be their first to feature a new “virtual line” system, where you may wait in a digital line and enjoy the rest of the park before retuning later:
“Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon” will be the first attraction to feature a Virtual Line experience at Universal Studios Florida.
You’ll be able to access this new system through The Official Universal Orlando Resort App or at kiosks located outside the attraction entrance. This allows you to virtually wait in line while still enjoying the rest of Universal Studios. When it’s your time, just head back to the attraction, head inside, and get ready for the race of a lifetime.
Naturally, the opening of the ride will kick off with a few on-site tapings ofThe Tonight Show.
Florida’s LEGOLAND has official opened its newest land, NINJAGO WORLD and footage of its main attraction,LEGO NINJAGO: The Ridehas arrived online. LikeToy Story Midway Maniaat Disneyland and Walt Disney World, this is a family attraction where you’re able to interact with 3D screens while you ride.
Sea World San Diego has announced a new attraction coming to the park in 2018. TheElectric Eelroller coaster looks to combine stomach-churning thrillsandlessons about one of the ocean’s stranger predators in one package. Here’s how they’re describing it:
With Electric Eel, SeaWorld’s Deep Blue creative design team will fuse the visceral thrills of a contemporary coaster with a compelling interactive and educational eel experience. Using innovative state-of-the-art technologies, this interactive experience will allow guests to discover fascinating information about these mysterious animals, including their unique predation skills and diets, growth rates and sensory abilities.
Knott’s Berry Farmhas announceda new auction arriving this Spring that will give you a chance to own a piece of theme park history. Here’s the basic gist:
More than 300 one-of-a-kind items from America’s first theme park will be available at a special auction to be held in the Charles M. Schulz theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own historic artifacts from Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy, the famous Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, theme park rides, Knott’s Scary Farm, and the Walter Knott Archives. Historic signs, antiques, important theme park vehicles, player pianos, vintage coin operated machines, photographs and much more will all be part of this collection offered for the first time.
Any other questions you have can be answered at the link above.
With Universal set to open the brand new Volcano Bay waterpark this year, it makes sense that Disney has been giving a little TLC to its own waterparks. A little while back, we learned that Typhoon Lagoon would be getting a new attraction calledMiss Fortune Falls. Now, this water ridehas a new title,Miss Adventure Falls(implying a wacky event instead of possible tragedy!), will be the longest attraction at any Disney water park, and will apparently open in March.
Meanwhile, theIron Man Experiencehas officially opened its doorsover at Hong Kong Disneyland, making it the first full-fledged Disney theme park to take advantage of the Marvel comic book universe. Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Bob Chapek said the following at the ride’s official unveiling:
We are always pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation so that our guests can step into the magical worlds of their favorite stories and meet their most beloved characters. We’re thrilled to be adding the high-tech, action-packed universe of Marvel to Hong Kong Disneyland, and we’ll continue building on it as we move into the next phase of expansion.
Iron Man Experiencehas been in soft opening for a few weeks now and if you want to get a taste of what this 3D simulator attraction is like, you can watch the video below.
While the prices for season passes at Disney parks continues to skyrocket on an annual basis, pass holders at Walt Disney World now get a new perk:exclusive park entrancesthat only they can use, allowing them to skip the (surely much longer) main entrance line. And while we’re talking about updates, Walt Disney Worldis officially ending its private cabana rental program, which allowed people with lots of disposable income to rent a private tent in the middle of The Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland.
The officialDisney parks bloghas announced the return of the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, which will begin on March 10 and run through April 14:
Each day, guests are invited to celebrate some of the best of delicious California cuisine throughout Disney California Adventure park. There will be even more Festival Marketplaces to enjoy this year, plus enhanced Festival-inspired menus at existing restaurants and eateries, where guests can sip and savor delicious flavors from across the Golden State. Guests will enjoy culinary experiences created for the whole family, including a variety of food, beverage and lifestyle seminars, demonstrations and presentations.
While I haven’t attended this particular festival, its East Coast counterpart at Epcot tends to be a great way to explore the Disney parks while feeling a little too full and a little too drunk.
Disney and Morehas posted a complete list of every new ride, show, and event coming to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea over the next year, which includes special events based onFrozen,Pirates of the Caribbean, and Pixar characters. Of course, the biggest new addition is theNemo & Friends SeaRider, a simulator attraction themed around theFinding Nemocharacters. Here’s the basic gist:
Nemo & Friends SeaRideris set to open on July 06, 2025.
Speaking of Tokyo Disneyland, the “Anna and Elsa Frozen Fantasy” event has begun and footage of the park’sFrozen Forevernighttime show has arrived online.
With this year’s Star Wars Celebration taking place in Orlando, Florida, it was a given that Walt Disney World would take advantage of the number ofStar Warsfans in town with a special event. And that special event isStar Wars: Galactic Nights, which will be hosted by the Hollywood Studios park on April 14 (smack dab in the middle of theStar WarsCelebration schedule). Here’s what’s on the schedule:
Naturally, this is a separately ticketed event not included in a normal park admission and will set you back $129 per person. Tickets are on sale right now.
If you need aStar Warsfixright now, Disneyland is still all-in on the Season of the Force event (and probably will be until Star Wars Land opens in a few years).Inside the Magichas footage of new banners that have been installed in the park’s Tomorrowland section, many of which featureRogue Onecharacters like Jyn Erso, Orson Krennic, K-2SO, and Saw Gerrera (every kid’s favorite militant guerrilla terrorist).
Meanwhile, the European version of Season of the Forcehas officially kicked offat Disneyland Paris, with theStar Wars: A Galactic Celebrationnighttime show being the chief highlight. You can watch the show for yourself in the video above, which consists ofStar Warsimagery being projected on the 199-foot tallTower of Terrorattraction. For more details,Endor Expresshas a larger look at the overall event and how it came together.
Star Wars Land progress as of Friday Jan 12th. Should go vertical by summer.pic.twitter.com/a09z0aQyzC
— Attractions 360° (@SoCal360)June 02, 2025
Meanwhile, it’s full steam ahead on construction over at Disneyland’sStar WarsLand.
@slashfilmStar Wars land construction from hungry bear restaurantpic.twitter.com/MoNWxhuMGr
— Josh Ernstrom (@joshernstrom)June 14, 2025
And because Disney and Star Wars are inseparable these days,Star WarsDay at Sea is returning to the Disney cruise line in 2018. Here’s how the official park blog describes this event, which is held on board the Disney Fantasy ship:
The event features a full day ofStar Warscelebrations including a deck party spectacular with an extraordinary fireworks display, encounters with the galaxy’s most formidable and heroic characters,Star Wars-themed family and youth activities, unique food and beverage offerings and special merchandise.
A fan-organized tribute to Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, which included a trip toThe Great Movie Ride(with its depiction ofSingin' in the Rain) to honor Reynolds and a ride onStar Toursto honor Fisher, became something more official when Disney found out and made the whole thing an official tribute. you may watch it above.
