Theme park lovers, unite. There's a fresh crop of white-knuckle thrill rides, gentle family-friendly attractions and elaborately themed lands in parks across America. From giant roller coasters that'll make your head spin to entirely new parks inspired by childhood toys, these are the attractions we can't wait to try in 2023 and beyond.

Fans of famous racing brothers Mario and Luigi should hotfoot it to Universal Studios Hollywood, where Super Nintendo World is set to open in February 2023. You'll feel as though you've zipped into your favourite video game, with themed thrill rides and foodie attractions such as the Toadstool Cafe, where cute-as-a-button Chef Toad (the franchise's anthropomorphic mushroom) will greet guests upon arrival.  

A dizzying highlight will be Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. It'll be themed around the franchise's main antagonist, a fierce turtle-like creature named Bowser, and guests will be immersed in his world from the moment they step into the queue. The line weaves through a trophy-filled castle, then the dramatic dark ride rushes passengers through an augmented race course that slips underwater and shoots into the clouds.

A horde of bright yellow minions will descend on Universal Orlando Resort in summer 2023. Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast is a hi-tech attraction that'll drop visitors into 'Villain-Con', a fictional criminal convention. Visitors will don an interactive 'blaster' and sweep through a series of colourful scenes, where they'll destroy various items for points. It's guaranteed to be a hit with the kids. 

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From the nostalgic Dollywood Express steam train to hunks of sweet cinnamon bread, there's plenty to love about Dolly Parton's famous theme park. And, in spring 2023, the charming site will get its biggest and most expensive roller coaster to date. Guests will hop into a carriage and whizz through the nature-themed Wildwood Grove area on almost 4,000 feet (1,216) of track, on a mission to find the elusive 'Big Bear' character. 

There's something charming about California's Knott's Berry Farm, with its rattling wooden roller coaster and Old West-themed land. But one of its longstanding attractions is getting a makeover. Montezooma's Revenge was first opened in 1978, but it's taking on a new "forbidden fortress" theme. The facelift comes with new thrills too: the overhaul means that riders won't be able to tell which direction the train will shoot off in at the start of the ride.

On a searing summer's day in Texas, you'll be glad of the latest ride at Six Flags, set to open this year. Aquaman: Power Wave is a giant blue juggernaut dedicated to the DC Comics superhero and it culminates in a soaking finale, as riders rush through a giant finishing pool. Before that, you'll shoot for the sky on a pair of 148-foot (45m) towers and reach eye-watering speeds of 63 miles per hour (101km/h).

If you're serious about your roller coasters, then this Fun Spot ride is the one for you. There are no complicated themes or intricate set designs, but the frills are swapped for sheer thrills – among them, a drop from 146 feet (45m) at 83 degrees and a total of four inversions. You'll whizz along at speeds of 64 miles per hour (103km/h) and it claims the largest zero-G stall of any ride in America, too. 

Beloved characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Barbie are perfect fodder for a family-friendly theme park – and you'll find them at the new Mattel Adventure Park, the brainchild of the iconic toy company. A highlight will be a speedy Hot Wheels-inspired roller coaster, while Barbie will be represented with her very own beach house. There'll be a gentle Thomas the Tank Engine train for little visitors too. 

Epic thrills are paired with stellar views across Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on this soaring new ride. A pair of giant arms swoop past each other, catapulting riders up to 135 feet (41m) into the air and reaching speeds of 68 miles per hour (109km/h). It's dubbed the tallest and fastest ride of its kind on Earth. 

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Would you believe that – when it opened at Walt Disney World in 2020 – Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway was the first ride to star the mousey duo across any of the parks. It was an instant hit, of course, and now it's set to open at California's Disneyland Resort on January 27, 2023 too. The ride is one for families, offering a gentle trip with a cartoon-set backdrop. 

The first treehouse at Disneyland Park was built way back in 1961, as a celebration of adventure film Swiss Family Robinson. It's returning anew for February 2023, with detailed interiors that are every bit as magical as the original. Expect wood rope stairways guiding you into the bolthole, which is filled with treasures from musical instruments and books to astronomy devices. Everything is made from found objects, so it's ultra-sustainable too.

Hit movie Moana follows the adventures of a Polynesian chief's daughter on an ocean quest – and visitors can immerse themselves in her world at this new Epcot attraction. Journey of Water will be a leafy, kid-friendly trail punctured by striking water features and tropical shrubs. It's hoped that the attraction will open sometime in late 2023. 

Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is big news too. The 'storytelling coaster' opened in summer 2022, plunging riders into the Guardians' world and featuring a thrilling backward launch and 360-degree movement. There's also a mammoth pavilion focused on the Marvel superhero films and comics, with planetarium-style exhibitions on fictional world Xandar.

There are hotels, and then there's Disney's Galactic Starcruiser, billed as an "all-immersive vacation experience" that plunges guests into a galaxy far, far away. The experience lasts for two nights with themed cabin accommodation, live performances at dinner, appearances from the franchise's favourite characters and even a special excursion to the planet of Batuu. Guests can explore the ship, drink in galaxy views from outside the window and absorb themselves in the otherworldly story as it unfolds around them. "Voyages" started in March 2022. 

Thrill-seekers can already ride the TRON Lightcycle/Run at Shanghai Disneyland and it's coming soon to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on 4 April 2023. The USP of the twisting, twirling coaster will be a 'curved wave' canopy that will soar over riders' heads, as they're whisked in and out of the striking building at stellar speeds.

Head to Six Flags Magic Mountain to ride a mammoth roller coaster that pays homage to DC Comics superhero Wonder Woman. Opened in summer 2022, it's hailed as the tallest and longest single-rail coaster in the world, with a track that wiggles out for 3,300 feet (1,006m). Hear the story of Wonder Woman as you wait to climb on board.

Aquatica Orlando – a cheerful, family-friendly waterpark – is the perfect antidote to Florida's heat. Opened in spring 2022, the park's newest attraction is Reef Plunge: it consists of translucent, fibreglass slides, which twirl over 330 feet (101m) and plunge visitors into a fish-filled pool.

What's new in Orlando's theme parks?

In what's tipped as a world first, an entire theme park dedicated to the famous little pink pig and her gang opened at LEGOLAND Florida in February 2022. The colourful site is packed out with rides and attractions geared towards little ones, such as the mellow Peppa Pig's Balloon Ride, plus a splash area and themed play zones. There's a colourful diner serving comfort food and live shows too. 

An entire new LEGOLAND resort opened in New York in the summer of 2021. And with the brand new resort (entrance pictured) came a brand new place to stay: New York's LEGOLAND Hotel. The rooms are decked out with LEGO themes (everything from pirates to ninjas) and there are in-room scavenger hunts, plus a complimentary breakfast. The lovely resort-style pool is a little something for the adults too.

Another recently-opened juggernaut is Iron Gwazi, a hybrid coaster that's hyped as the fastest and steepest ride of its kind in the world. You'll need a head for heights for this one: the twisty-turny ride begins with a 206-foot (63m) drop at an eye-watering 91 degrees and it ultimately reaches speeds of 76 miles per hour (122km/h). It opened in March 2022.

This super-speedy coaster launched at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in March 2022. The ride is themed around mystical Roman gods like Neptune and Jupiter, and its dizzying delights include four launches, a stomach-flipping 95-degree drop and speeds of 73 miles per hour (117km/h). 

Sesame Place theme park, dedicated to the colourful world of beloved kids' TV show Sesame Street, opened in San Diego in March 2022. It's the second park of its kind in the country (the first is in Philadelphia) and it'll feature 18 themed rides, with a family-friendly roller coaster, plus watery attractions including a mammoth wave pool and twirling slides. There'll also be character meet-and-greets and parades, so visitors can fully immerse themselves in the fun.

Now discover 50 photos that show why Florida's attractions are unmissable