Each year, the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, hosts the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo, and 2025 was no exception to the excitement of the trade show floor. This week-long convention brings together amusement industry professionals, media and enthusiasts to network, participate in development courses and explore the latest innovations in the amusement industry.

The official announcements kicked off at 10:30 a.m. with Dollywood's (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee) new attraction for 2026: the Mack Rides NightFlight Expedition. This ride is described as the world's first indoor family hybrid coaster combined with a whitewater river raft experience. With a height requirement of just 39 inches, this exhilarating adventure whisks guests on a nighttime journey through the Great Smoky Mountains in search of a secret lake.

At 11:40, SeaWorld Orlando (Florida) revealed its newest project: SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, a suspended dark ride from Vekoma. This first-of-its-kind attraction will take guests on an underwater journey aboard submersible-style vehicles that rotate 360 degrees and swing through immersive deep-sea scenes. Each vehicle features dynamic lighting, haptic effects and its own sound system to bring the adventure to life.

As morning excitement built into afternoon anticipation, Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) unveiled the lead car for Tormenta Rampaging Run at Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington), the first giga dive coaster and B&M’s third tallest coaster ever. Tormenta will be the tallest, fastest, longest and only giga dive coaster, standing 309 feet tall with a 95-degree drop. It will feature the highest Immelmann inversion at 218 feet and reach speeds of up to 87 mph in the themed land of Rancho De La Tormenta.

Morgan's Wonderland (San Antonio, Texas), in partnership with Zamperla, shocked the audience with the debut of the world's first wheelchair accessible and interactive tower ride dubbed The WingZ! Riders. By using motion caption technology to control the lift of the ride vehicle, riders of all abilities can experience the rush of soaring together. With smart, thoughtful design throughout, WingZ proves that innovation can make fun truly inclusive for everyone.

Many enthusiasts have enjoyed the classic Steeplechase, a type of roller coaster using several side-by-side tracks to simulate a racing environment, and now the next generation has arrived. S&S announced RailRyder, a family-friendly, high-capacity coaster model, featuring low-to-the-rail open seating and providing a thrilling experience for riders 39 inches tall and up. This gives parks another type of family thrill ride to choose when filling this gap in their lineup. And this unique single-rail design uses only a seatbelt as a restraint!

To the surprise of many onlookers, a new Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) single-rail coaster was announced for the charming seaside park Family Kingdom in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This custom-built coaster, set to debut in the summer of 2026, will complement the park’s 60-year-old Swamp Fox, a family-oriented wooden roller coaster. The ride will reach 100 feet in height, hit speeds up to 52 mph and span 1,920 feet of track. For the new ownership, this is an important investment for the park’s next chapter as they expand into a different demographic from that of their family-friendly wooden coaster.