AMUSEMENT PARKS + THEME PARKS
New Southern California amusement park rides
Pony Express, Simpsons Ride, X2 and Toy Story Mania debut for thrill seekers.
California theme parks preview for summer 2008
Theme park rides in Southern California
Disneyland's new feature "Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries"
Walt Disney World for grownups
Nothing signals the start of summer like the shrieks and screams of thrill-seekers riding the latest pulse-spiking attractions. This year, four Southern California amusement parks deliver $140 million in new diversions designed to terrify or tantalize.
[1] Pony Express, Knott's Berry Farm
Who'll love it: Soccer moms and NASCAR dads
First ride: May 22
The tab: $9 million
Lowdown: Ride astride one of 16 roller-horses on an elongated figure-eight track featuring hairpin manuevers, whoop-de-dos and 60-degree turns.
Fun factor: Launch accelerates from 0 to 38 mph in three seconds.
[2] Simpsons Ride,
Who'll love it: Fanboys
First ride: May 17
The tab: $40 million
Lowdown: On this motion- simulator ride, visitors join the Springfield clan as the first guests of Krustyland, the cantankerous clown's low-budget theme park complete with the dreaded Tooth Chipper roller coaster.
Fun factor: Visitors enter the attraction through Krusty's mouth, walking along his squishy, unfurled tongue.
[3] X2, Six Flags Magic Mountain
Who'll love it: Adrenaline junkies
First ride: May 24
The tab: $10 million
Lowdown: The oft-troubled X coaster, with rotating 360-degree seats, gets special effects and lighter cars in a much-anticipated rehab.
Fun factor: Military-spec parts and fighter-plane paint promise to make the 75 mph coaster fiercer than X.
[4] Toy Story Mania, Disney's California Adventure
Who'll love it: Gamers
First ride: June 17
The tab: $80 million
Lowdown: "Shrunk" to the size of toys, riders sit in carnival trams and travel through a 3-D video game while firing virtual darts, eggs and pies at carnival midway games displayed on giant screens.
Fun factor: Spring-action shooters fire up to six rounds a second.
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