IAAPA Expo Orlando’s Attractions Ranked: 2024 Edition
The International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) holds the industry’s largest trade show annually in Orlando, Florida.
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend for the first time in November. I spent four full days speaking to manufacturers and sampling as many activities, foods, and rides as I could. But IAAPA is no conventional amusement park; on the show floor, everything is for sale. Every attendee is a potential client, and the attractions fortunate enough to be exhibited are representative of the company’s finest offerings. So how did they compare this past year?
IAAPA 2024 Rides Honorable Mentions
Moser Spring Tower
Moser’s Rides Srl (Booth #4800)
One of four drop towers present, it set itself apart with a rotating gondola and two bicycle seats where users could ride standing up. Unfortunately, the attraction was damaged during assembly overnight; Moser could have operated it with the remaining pulley but wisely kept their ride grounded during the event.
Dueling Vertical Bikes
Courtesy of The Carpetbagger
Vertical Reality (Booth #4840)
These were less of a ride and more of an activity, where two opponents are strapped into elevator-mounted bicycles and must peddle to ascend. The catch, however, is that more force is applied to your tires the higher you climb, requiring more strength to pedal. In short, it’s an absolute workout and an attraction that wouldn’t appear out of place at a carnival.
IAAPA 2024 Rides Collection Ranking
10. Roller Coaster Simulator VS-4000
MaxFlight Corporation (Booth #3065)
Whimsically old school, MaxFlight’s capsules are a time capsule to amusement park software at its most practical. Rider pods are flipped and twisted along two axes to the tune of an embedded screen, which plays a point-of-view video of either a coaster or aircraft. Their abilities are best demonstrated with directional changes as opposed to convincing imagery, which means experiencing a 50-inversion NoLimits 2 creation for maximum effect. I jokingly suggested investing in Planet Coaster 2; regardless of technological evolution, though, MaxFlight’s machines remain a popular product.
9. Drop’N Twist
SBF Visa Group (Booth #5506)
The rotating bounce tower was set up within the Spinning Coaster’s footprint, resulting in some nice interaction between the two rides. The experience is tame, and it can be enjoyed most by younger riders. In this tower’s case, it will entertain customers overseas.
8. XD Dark Ride
Triotech (Booth #1359)
Simulators are the lifeblood of Triotech, and their 3D interactive theatre is among their most recognizable offerings. Playing for us was their grotesque Carnival film, which dials the creeps up to eleven as riders romp through a hellscape midway, accumulating points by shooting targets and enemies. The system on display has been sold to PrimeTime Amusements, ironically enough a carnival itself.
7. VR Space Ride
Movie Power Technology Co,. Ltd (Booth #1837)
MoviePower had two portable simulators on display, the most noteworthy being the Space Ride. Four riders at a time straddle bikes on a motion base and are equipped with VR headsets. From there on, the experience is heavily reminiscent of Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, whisking riders through cosmic portals and lush otherworldly landscapes as they race to deliver a MacGuffin.
Your chirpy robotic guide is vocal to a fault, however, and the occasional light water effect is not equivalent to being dunked underneath a mammoth waterfall. But overall, it’s a visceral achievement hailing from another part of the world. Indeed, MoviePower’s attractions can mostly be found in Asia and are a proven amenity.
6. Hammered
Altitude Rides & Attractions, LLC (Booth #4857)
Hammered was the smaller of the two drop towers at Altitude Rides, seating just two passengers at a time. It uses a chain and seatbelt-only restraint to deliver ten different ride modes, ranging from mild to very wild, and complemented by various audio gags. In short, it’s the perfect all-ages attraction to rent out for events.
5. Twist’N Swing 360° / Dance Party
SBF Visa Group (Booth #5106)
While nowhere near as large as its brethren, the miniature pendulum still packs the midway presence and giddy hang time of any good thrill ride. Given that the majority of guests were in business attire, it was fun watching unsecured ties and lanyards flailing about in the air. Expect to find this attraction at Thrillz High Flying Adventure Park, which has locations in Danbury, Connecticut, and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
4. Mars Bounce
Altitude Rides & Attractions, LLC (Booth #4857)
The larger of the booth’s two towers, Mars Bounce utilizes a six-passenger gondola and cable pulley system but doesn’t dilute the seatbelt-only thrills and lightning-fast directional changes of its brother. If anything, I judged it to be perhaps one of the most intense smaller drop towers on the market.
3. Twist-N-Shout
SBF Visa Group (Booth #5506)
The basic figure-eight spinning coaster is a staple of small parks worldwide, even if they’ve become far too familiar for enthusiasts who count their coaster credits. Experienced on its own merits, however, Twist-N-Shout was a factory-fresh machine that span and ran like the best of them. You can expect to find it at the future Malibu Jack’s location in Denver, Colorado.
2. Hurricane
DOF Robotics (Booth #1086)
The Hurricane system delivers a thrilling virtual chase by syncing VR headsets with a highly calibrated six-axis motion base, which is capable of a wide range of motions and inversions. Two programs were being alternated, of which I experienced the Holiday special. While it’s Christmas in soundtrack and snow effects only, oh what fun it is to ride in a skyscraper-dodging sleigh!
1. Zero Gravity
SBF Visa Group (Booth #5106)
The Rotor will be familiar to any fan of classic amusement rides, where centrifugal force comfortably glues riders to the walls of a spinning barrel while lowering the floor out from underneath them. SBF Visa’s Zero Gravity offers transparent fibreglass walls for maximum spectator observation and appeal.
Although prevalent overseas until now, the first opened at Casino Pier last summer and five more have been ordered for Frankie’s Fun Park locations in the Carolinas. Expect this attraction to travel with North American Midway Entertainment, perhaps even appearing at your local fair!
As a caveat, however, many of these attractions serve different purposes and can’t be fairly compared outside of preference. Say however that I was a prospective buyer, sizing up some of the list’s drop towers and simulators to one another; suddenly the game changes. It’s a taste of just how competitive the industry really is — this is what IAAPA entails.
Did you attend the IAAPA Expo last year? What did you think of the rides? Let us know in the comments below!
Zero Gravity… i need too try