1/10 Helix At Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Helix is the biggest roller coaster to debut in Europe in 2014. The track travels up and down a mountain side, is wrapped around another roller coaster, features 2 launches and flips upside down 7 times. Helix is undoubtedly one of the best roller coasters on the planet.
More info: projekthelix.se
2/10 Chiapas The Waterride at Phantasialand, Bruhl, Germany
The mammoth log flume ride sees explorers travel through an ancient Mexican landscape of caves, mountains and temples. The six-minute long ride has incredible theming, a specially composed soundtrack and climaxes with the steepest drop on a log flume.
Already open.
More info: phantasialand.de
3/10 Cbeebies Land at Alton Towers, Staffordshire
Not just a ride, but a whole section of the park transformed into an area dedicated to the many characters of the children’s TV channel. Kids will grin from ear to ear as they climb into Postman Pat’s van for a drive through Greendale, go crazy in Justin’s House Pie-O-Matic Factory, get whisked away on a trip on In The Night Garden Magical Boat Ride, and come face to face with many more of their favourite TV characters.
Opening late May 2014.
More info: altontowers.com/cbeebiesland
4/10 Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom at Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey, Usa
Without a doubt the most terrifying new ride of the year. Attached to the side of the worlds tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, Zumanjaro is an elevator that climbs 415 feet before dropping riders straight down at 90mph for 10 heart stopping seconds.
Opening summer 2014.
More info: sixflags.com/zumanjaro-drop-doom
5/10 Firechaser Express at Dollywood, Georgia, Usa
Very much a “My First Big Coaster”, Firechaser Express is a roller coaster jam packed with fun, thrills and surprises. Telling the story of a fire crew racing off to tackle a blaze in a firework factory the ride has an explosive ending. Adults will love the experience as much as kids over 1m tall.
Already open.
More info: dollywood.com/themepark
6/10 Wonder Mountain’s Guardian at Canada’s Wonderland, Toronto, Canada
Part roller coaster and part dark ride, Wonder Mountain’s Guardian takes riders deep into the parks central mountain to do battle with mythical creatures and a giant fire breathing dragon. Armed with laser guns you must defeat the monsters and race back to safety. The ride will combine virtual reality with real fire and wind effects to bring the experience to life.
Opening this summer.
More info: canadaswonderland.com
7/10 Ratatouille: The Adventure at Walt Disney Studios Park, Marne La VallÉE, France
In the way only Disney can, guests are shrunk down to the size of a mouse before climbing onto a rodent for a crazy journey through the restaurants of Paris. Of course being so tiny has its hazards from avoiding the wheels of a waiters trolley to avoiding falling food. But don’t worry Remy will ensure you have plenty of laughs before returning to normal size.
Opening July.
More info: disneylandparis.co.uk
8/10 Verruckt at Schlitterbahn Kansas City, Kansas, Usa
Fans of water parks will be dashing to Kansas this year for a behemoth of a water slide. At over 168 feet high Verruckt is the worlds tallest water slide. Four riders at a time will go careering down the slide at up to 70mph before hurtling up second hill for a moment of weightlessness and the big splash finale. The ride certainly lives up to it German name.
Opening late May.
More info: theverruckt.com
9/10 Goliath at Six Flags Great America, Chicago, USA
Proving that wooden coasters can be as impressive as steel roller coasters, riders on Goliath will plummet 180 feet at a staggering near vertical 85 degrees reachan eye watering 72mph and loop upside down 3 times. Long gone is any thought of rickety old wooden coasters with Goliath breaking the records for being the tallest, fastest and steepest. Goliath is going to be one of the best coasters anywhere in the world.
Opens late May.
More info: sixflags.com
10/10 Walrus Splash at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Zhuhai, China
Located in China’s answer to Sea World, Walrus Splash is an elaborately themed roller coaster that guarantees riders to get wet.
With two giant walruses forming waterfalls guarding the ride you can’t fail to be impressed. Drifting peacefully through a rocky landscape and past aquariums and real sea lions it’s easy to forget the thrill ahead. The boat is pulled up out of the water, high above the park, at the top the boat rotates before diving backwards down a roller coaster drop and into some brakes. Rotating again the boat now dives forwards down a bigger drop and into the pool below, soaking everyone.
Already Open