This weekend kicks off America's theme park summer season, and Southern California's parks are lining up a slate of new shows, parades and package deals (but precious few new attractions) to pry dollars out of recession-weary consumers.

Despite the weak economy, theme parks didn't see huge declines in attendance over the past year. But industry analysts said park visitors are spending less. So theme parks have reined in their expansion plans and very few are opening major new attractions this summer. Two exceptions are the San Diego Zoo, which will open the biggest multispecies habitat in its history on Saturday, and Six Flags Magic Mountain, which will unveil a new $10 million roller coaster, also on Saturday.

While there are no new rides this spring at parks from SeaWorld to Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood, the parks instead are unveiling new stage and fireworks shows, parades, and pricey "experience" attractions, where park-goers can pay extra to be pampered like royalty or sail over treetops on a zipline.

According to a February report by industry analyst IBISWorld Inc., American amusement and theme parks are feeling the latent effects of rising unemployment, slumping household incomes and a decline in tourism. Industry revenues fell 2.2 percent to $10.8 billion in 2008, and were forecast to fall another 3.6 percent this year. The long-term forecast is for another 2 percent decline in 2010 and then a rebound by 2011.

As bleak as that may sound, local parks are optimistic about the summer, and most have something new to tout this month, not to mention deals on tickets. Disneyland is now offering free admission to those celebrating birthdays, Six Flags Magic Mountain is offering a Coke-sponsored two-for-one deal all summer and a price cut on its Hurricane Harbor water park admission, and other parks have either reduced or held the line on their ticket prices.

Here's a snapshot of what's going on at local theme parks:

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San Diego County:

- Legoland California: The park's newest attraction is "Bob the Builder in 4D: Bob the Builder and the Roller-Coaster," which opened March 20. Based upon the children's animated TV series "Bob the Builder," the 10-minute film is called "4D" because it features interactive effects, including three-dimensional computer-generated animation (requiring 3D classes), and special effects the audience can "feel," such as spray mist on their faces. "Lego Star Wars Days" return June 13-14, with a weekend celebration of all things "Star Wars," including costumed stormtroopers, video game battles, building activities, scavenger hunts and daily costume contests.

- San Diego Zoo: The county's biggest new theme park attraction is Elephant Odyssey, which at 7.4 acres is the zoo's largest-ever multispecies habitat (see related story). There's also Nighttime Zoo, an evening program that begins June 27 and lasts through Labor Day weekend. Themed activities, from educational shows to live music and strolling entertainers, begin at 3:30 p.m. daily. And at 8:30 p.m. nightly, the new birds of prey show "Soar" will begin in the Hunte Amphitheater.

- San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park: Dino Mountain, an exhibit of 24 animatronic dinosaurs in the park's Conifer Forest , opens Saturday and continues through Sept. 7; admission to the exhibit is $4; A 47-mph zipline aerial tour opened May 1, offering riders a two-minute ride from 400 to 900 feet above the ground, over the park's rhino, giraffe and other Asian and African animal exhibits. The ride, which includes a training session and test ride, costs $70 for adults, $35 for teens and $26 for ages 3 to 11 (not including park admission fees). The park's evening-hours programs begin June 20, with nighttime exhibit tours, stage shows and children's activities.

- Sea Life Aquarium: On May 29, Legoland's separate-entry, 36,000-square-foot aquarium will unveil "Sharks Revealed," an interactive exhibit featuring a live display of sharks showing their development from eggs to adults, local shark species, a timeline showing the history of shark species, a hands-on shark lab and large-scale models.

- SeaWorld San Diego: No new rides or attractions this year, but Sea World will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Shipwreck Rapids water ride with a series of up-close animal encounters at the ride's loading stations from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday. The park also kicks off its Summer Nights program this Saturday, with evening entertainment daily through Sept. 7. Features include the "Shamu Rocks" killer whale show, "Ignight," a new dolphin show; "Sea Lions Tonight" seal and otter show; and "Shamu's SkySplash" fireworks show. A daytime show has also been added, "Cirque de la Mer," featuring acrobats performing on and over Mission Bay.

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Orange County:

- Disneyland: No new rides, but a host of new evening attractions will be presented June 12-Aug. 23. A new fireworks show, "Magical," will feature Tinkerbell, a flying animatronic Dumbo and highlights from "Mary Poppins," "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty." The ever-popular MainStreet Electrical Parade returns with new floats and high-tech lighting (but the same iconic music). "Fantasmic," the special effects-laden nighttime stage show on the Rivers of America will have an all-new fire-breathing 40-foot dragon, new high-definition video effects and huge swimming eels. In Tomorrowland, the new TLT Dance Club party stage for teens and tweens will feature live music and lighting effects. Several new daytime attractions debuted in March and April, including the Celebration Roundup and Barbecue in Big Thunder Ranch. "Toy Story" characters Woody and Jessie host this family-style barbecue lunch/dinner service with live country entertainment, priced at $29 for adults and $13 for children. The new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique near Sleeping Beauty's Castle lets girls be "princess for a day" (boys can be knights) with makeover treatments that include hair, makeup, costumes and glamour portrait (priced from $13 to $196). And "Celebrate! A Street Party" is a new interactive dance-themed parade with floats, 48 dancers, 12 stilt walkers, and two dozen costumed Disney characters and the goal of getting the audience to shake a leg with the cast.

- Disney's California Adventure: The newly refurbished Boardwalk arcade games opened in April and the refreshed sea-themed carousel is set to reopen on Thursday. Disneyland's 8-year-old sister park is in the midst of a $1.1 billion, multiyear expansion that will bring many new rides, shows and attractions to the park in 2010-2012. Visitors will notice a lot of construction zones, particularly the once-scenic lake that has been drained to build the infrastructure for "World of Color," a water and fireworks show debuting next spring. The park is tweaking the look of some rides, which opened with a California history theme in 2001 and are being rebranded with Disney characters instead. The Coney Island-style Ferris wheel is reopening as Mickey's Fun Wheel, the California orange swing ride will be revamped as Mickey's "Silly Symphony" swing ride, the "Mulholland Madness" Wild Mouse-style roller coaster is being refitted into Goofy's Sky School, and a big-budget, ride-through "Little Mermaid" attraction is scheduled in the Paradise Pier area. Finally, the park's entry gates will take on a 1920s look (to commemorate when Disney first arrived in Hollywood as a young artist/animator). The biggest new attraction (arriving in 2012) will be Cars Land. Based on the Disney/PIXAR film "Cars," the 12-acre land (taking up much of the old Disneyland parking lot) will have three rides, including bumper cars, a racing ride, a car-themed restaurant and more.

- Knott's Berry Farm: The only new attraction at Knott's this year is an "Everybody Loves Snoopy" ice show. June 13 marks the 75th anniversary of the Chicken Pie diner, the restaurant that preceded the park. And on June 21, high-wire artist Nick Wallenda will perform on a cable suspended 150 feet above the ground. The 160-acre park markets itself as family-friendly, with lower ticket prices than most of its competitors. And for a limited time, steep ticket discounts are available with advance purchase through the park's Web site at www.knotts.com.

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Los Angeles area:

- Six Flags Magic Mountain: "Terminator: Salvation," the Valencia theme park's 16th roller coaster, opens Saturday. The $10 million ride, which replaces the old PsyClone, combines the vibration and thrills of an old-fashioned wooden coaster with the state-of-the-art, light, sound and motion technology of a high-tech steel coaster. The park is offering a summer discount program where visitors who bring a Coke product to the ticket booth can get buy-one-get-one-free admission.

- Universal Studios Hollywood: The movie/television theme park is still recovering from a devastating fire that scorched four acres of its backlot, studio sets and tram tour area last June (including its New York street scene and "King Kong" ride-through attraction). The rebuilt sets and full-length tram tour are scheduled to reopen mid-summer with a new New York streetscape, gas station, firehouse, London street and access to the soundstage for "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," where the talk show will begin taping on June 1. On May 28, the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club will open outside the park in the University CityWalk shopping center. And on July 1, the park opens "Creature from the Black Lagoon: A Raging Rockin' Show," a live, special-effects, song- and dance-filled, 25-minute musical based on the campy horror film.