SeaWorld parks will open 10 new attractions in 2022

The end of the year is quickly approaching, but SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment already has big plans for next year with 10 parks launching new rides — the company’s largest number of new attractions introduced in a single year.

In 2021, SeaWorld set out on an ambitious mission to bring something new to every theme park and water park every year. As a result, visitors can expect eleven new rides and attractions in 2022 — including the steepest, tallest, and fastest coasters of their kind in North America and the world — plus one all-new park in Southern California.

The 10 new attractions opening at SeaWorld parks in 2022 are:

Ice Breaker roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando (Feb. 18, 2022)

Ice Breaker will feature four airtime-filled launches (both backward and forward) culminating in a reverse launch into the steepest beyond-vertical drop in Florida — a 93 feet tall spike with a 100-degree angle.

Emperor roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego (March 12, 2022)

On Emperor — the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in all of California (and the state’s only floorless dive coaster) — riders will dive 90 degrees and race through loops at up to 60 miles per hour.

Reef Plunge at Aquatica Orlando (March 2022)

Guests who take on Reef Plunge will splash, twist, and turn through more than 330 feet of translucent cutouts and rings and past a new underwater habitat for Commerson’s dolphins, leopard sharks, and other cold-water fish.

Iron Gwazi roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (March 11, 2022)

As North America’s tallest hybrid coaster (and the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world), Iron Gwazi will plunge riders from a 206-foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop as they reach top speeds of 76 miles per hour.

Pantheon roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (March 25, 2022)

The record-breaking Pantheon (the world’s fastest multi-launch roller coaster) will reach a top speed of 73 miles per hour and features a 95-degree, 180-foot-tall drop, four launches, 15 air-time moments, and two inversions.

Rapids Racer and Wahoo Remix at Adventure Island Tampa (March 2022)

The all-new dueling water slide Rapids Racer features the world’s first dueling saucers, and Wahoo Remix (formerly Wahoo Run) will re-open as a new experience with exciting first-of-its-kind ride elements for the park.

Big Bird’s Tour Bus at Sesame Place Philadelphia (April 2022)

The fun, family-friendly Big Bird’s Tour Bus attraction will move around and around, and up and down in a red double-decker bus with Big Bird and his furry friends.

Aquazoid Amped at Water Country USA (May 2022)

Aquazoid Amped riders plunge through 864 feet of fully-enclosed twisting tube on this iconic attraction with new enhancements, including an all-new special effects show, pulse-pounding music, and dynamic lighting effects.

Tidal Surge screaming swing at SeaWorld San Antonio (Spring 2022)

As the biggest screaming swing in the world, Tidal Surge will feature two pendulum-like arms (seating a total of 40 riders) that will soar progressively higher with each swing until it reaches a height of 135 feet at its peak.

Riptide Race at Aquatica San Antonio (Spring 2022)

The heart-stopping Riptide Race dueling waterslide will pit teams against each other in a splash to the finish line.

“We have an ambitious goal of creating something new and meaningful in every one of our parks,” said SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment CEO Marc Swanson, “These new rides and attractions are part of that commitment, and as we look ahead to 2022, we have what we believe is our most significant and exciting lineup of new rides, attractions, events and upgrades in our history.” 

In addition to the eleven exciting rides and attractions opening at SeaWorld park across the country, a whole new park — Sesame Place San Diego —  will open on March 26, 2022, bringing an interactive Sesame Street Neighborhood to Southern California, complete with the iconic 123 Stoop. The 17-acre park will also open as a Certified Autism Center (CSA) to allow parents to plan a fun-filled theme park day that will satisfy their children’s needs and accommodations.