Many coasters that were meant to open in 2020 and 2021 are finally seeing opening days in 2022 following major delays from the pandemic. Additionally, coasters developed to open in 2022 are getting ready to welcome guests in the coming year. 2022 is shaping up to be one of the best years for new roller coasters in a long time. Over a dozen new coasters are set to open across the country ranging from family-friendly “kiddie” coasters to steel behemoths. Here are 10 roller coasters we are most excited to ride in 2022.
Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a new roller coaster opening at Epcot in the Summer of 2022. Billed as a family-friendly story coaster, it features innovative vehicles that rotate 360 degrees. The rotating vehicles will allow guests to see all the action. It will also feature the first reverse launch and will be one of the longest indoor roller coasters in the world. The coaster will be housed within the first “other world” pavilion in the World Discovery neighborhood. This is the only coaster at Walt Disney World to have a definitive 2022 opening as no opening dates have been announced for Tron Lightcycle Run.
Aquaman: Power Wave
Over at Six Flags Over Texas, Aquaman: Power Wave is set to open in summer of 2022. The coaster was originally slated to open in 2020 but was postponed twice due to the pandemic. The coaster is the first of its kind in North America. It is a steel launched water shuttle coaster, and the first power splash coaster in North America. It features a hill that is 146 ft tall, hits speeds of 62 mph, and will send riders both forwards and backwards up and down two nearly vertical towers. You are also likely to get wet on this coaster.
Emperor
Emperor will open in March 2022 at SeaWorld San Diego. The coaster was also set to open in 2020 but faced delays due to the pandemic. This B&M dive coaster will send riders down a 153 tall, 90-degree drop to reach speeds of 60 mph. The ride will feature floorless trains and 3 inversions. It will be the smallest dive coaster in North America.
Ice Breaker
At SeaWorld Orlando, Ice Breaker will break through in February 2022. This steel launched coaster was originally announced in 2019 but was delayed due to the pandemic. It will launch riders backwards up a 93 tall tower will a 100-degree drop, and then launch forwards until the train gains enough speed to climb an 80-foot-tall top hat maneuver. There are a total of 4 launches.
Pantheon
Over at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Pantheon will launch in March 2022. It will be the worlds fastest multi-launch coaster with a top speed of 73 mph. The coaster will stand at 180 ft tall and send riders down at a 95-degree drop. Much like Ice Breaker, riders will ascend a tower backwards only to fall back down to gain speed to climb the main hill.
Iron Gwazi
Iron Gwazi is the highly anticipated coaster opening at Busch Gardens Tampa in March 2022. This record-breaking Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid steel coaster will send riders over a 206 ft tall hill and down a 91-degree drop. It will be the first hybrid coaster to feature a beyond vertical drop. It will also be the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster with the tallest beyond vertical drop. It is replacing Gwazi, a twin wooden coaster that ran from 1999-2015, and Iron Gwazi actually reuses elements from the original. With over a dozen airtime moments and three inversions, Iron Gwazi is sure to be a wild ride.
Wonder Woman: Flight of Courage
At Six Flags Magic Mountain, Wonder Woman: Flight of Courage opens in summer of 2022. The 3300 ft long track is similar to another fan favorite, Jersey Devil at Six Flags Great Adventure. When Jersey Devil opened in 2021, it held the title of being the tallest, fastest, and longest single rail coaster. However, Wonder Woman: Flight of Courage will steal the title of tallest and longest single rail coaster. The ride will also feature a 131 ft tall drop and top speeds of 58 mph.
Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger
Dr. Diabolicals’s Cliffhanger will open at Six Flags Fiesta Texas some time in 2022. This B&M dive coaster sends riders plummeting 150 feet over a 95-degree drop. It will have floorless ride vehicles, 2 inversions, a second near vertical drop, a wild-banked turn, and a high-speed spiral. It will take the title of world’s steepest dive coaster.
Defiance
While not one of the tallest coasters in the world, Defiance at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park will open as one of the highest coasters when it welcomes riders in summer 2022. Situated upon a mountain in Colorado, Defiance will hold the title of highest coaster with an inversion and the steepest freefall drop. In addition to its breathtaking views, riders can expect a 110 ft drop at 102 degrees. There will be no break before the fall as riders tumble over the peak of the hill. The ride lasts less than a minute, but the views alone make this coaster one that will make many coaster bucket lists.
ArieForce One
Finally, at Fun Spot America in Atlanta, ArieForce One will wow guests in 2022. Another Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid steel coaster, ArieForce One will feature a 154 hill and 83-degree drop. It will also have the largest zero-G stall in America, where guests will be held upside down for several seconds. It will also have 4 inversions including a first-of-its-kind Raven Truss Dive.
