Taking the Kids: Heading to see what's new at theme parks

Got a change of clothes in your backpack? "Otherwise you are going to be wet all day after the water rides," explained KateLynn Schlenker during a recent visit to Disneyland. The 13-year-old Arizonian added, "Throw in some flip-flops, too, so your shoes don't get wet either."

"And be brave and try everything because you don't know which ride you'll like -- or when you will be back," said Emily Benoit, 14, also from Arizona, who was visiting Disney's California parks with her family.

You'll have your pick of thrills -- wet and dry -- this summer when nearly 200 new rides and attractions open at more than 80 theme parks, water parks, family fun centers, zoos, aquariums and museums in the United States and Canada, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (www.iaapa.org).

There are life-sized animatronic dinosaurs (Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pa., https://www.dorneypark.com/) water coasters ("River Rush," Tennessee's first and only water coaster, debuts this year at Dollywood's Splash Country Water Adventure Park, www.dollywood.com/waterpark.aspx) and plenty of thrill rides ("Gatekeeper" at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, is a new winged coaster, www.cedarpoint.com).

Whether you're hitting a smaller local park or Orlando's giants, get ready for crowds! IAPPA says more than 300 million people will visit U.S. amusement parks and attractions this summer. That's why it's a good idea for kids to always have an iPod in their pocket to play games online, suggested one 10-year-old theme park visitor. It's always smart to have snacks in your backpack too, another 12 year old from Los Angeles suggested.

These last months, I've been talking to a lot of kids at theme parks in Orlando, Anaheim and Los Angeles, while researching my kid's guides to Orlando and to Los Angeles, scheduled for release this fall. If you think it's better to work up to the scary rides, think again, suggests Marie Claire Wike, 13, from Bentonville, Ark. "Starting out on a scary ride welcomes you to the park ... intensely!" she said.

This summer, that might mean a new-style wooden roller coaster. Wooden coasters have been entertaining park goers for more than 125 years but now, with new technologies and designs, several new ones will give riders the ambiance of a wood coaster while providing inversions, twists and turns only previously experienced on steel roller coasters. For example, there's Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo., (www.silverdollarcity.com) with the steepest drop -- more than 16 stories -- and the ability to twist you upside down -- three times. Did I mention the 720-degree double-barrel roll? Gulp!

There's also "Iron Rattler" at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas (www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas/index.aspx). Where you race down a 171-foot drop at 70 mph shooting through four over-banked turns.

Let's not forget the littlest park goers. Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colo., (www.elitchgardens.com) opens a new family roller coaster, "Blazin' Buckaroo, with a top speed of 15 mph, Holiday World in Indiana (www.holidayworld.com) touts Kitty's Tea Party," a new teacup ride and Busch Gardens Tampa (www.seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-tampa) debuts "Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation," a 20-minute live music show based on the characters from the hit movies.

If you prefer your summer theme park fun in and around water, you're in luck with new water slides and water playgrounds across the country. Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa., (www.hersheypark.com) introduces "Shoreline Sprayground," a 7,000-square-foot water play area, complete with 12 play structures and 16 dancing fountains, as well as two new water slides.

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