Top 10 Best Amusement Parks in the World
Amusement parks... those hallowed grounds of childhood and adulthood nostalgia where screams are music to the ears and cotton candy is a food group. If you're reading this, chances are you have a thing for gravity-defying roller coasters, whimsical parades, and maybe a pirate ship or two. Whether you're a thrill-seeker always looking for that next heart-stopping drop or a fairy-tale enthusiast enamored with enchanted castles, there's probably an amusement park that's perfect for you.The beauty of this list lies in its collective wisdom - each vote brings us closer to the holy grail of amusement park rankings. Sure, the critics have their say, and travel websites spout statistics about annual visitors, but here, it's your voice that counts. Because let's be honest, what really makes an amusement park memorable is your personal experience, not some figure on a spreadsheet.
So, what do you think makes an amusement park the best? Is it the white-knuckle roller coasters that defy the laws of physics? Maybe it's the captivating shows and parades that transport you to another world. Or perhaps it's the meticulous attention to detail that goes into recreating a fantastical realm. Whatever it is that tickles your fancy, it's time for you to weigh in.
Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is renowned for its extensive collection of roller coasters. The park opened in 1870, making it the second-oldest operating amusement park in the United States. It sits on a peninsula jutting into Lake Erie, offering picturesque views to its visitors. With rides like "Steel Vengeance" and "Millennium Force," Cedar Point has earned a reputation as a must-visit destination for thrill-seekers. With two of the greatest roller coasters on the planet - Maverick and Millennium Force - as well as other great coasters like Top Thrill Dragster, Raptor, Rougarou, Valravn, and GateKeeper, it's hard to beat Cedar Point. Haven't been to Europa-Park yet, but when I do, I think I will still like Cedar Point better. By far the best park in North America.
Cedar Point has many great roller coasters, such as Top Thrill Dragster and the Maverick, that I can't stop riding.
Nothing beats the rides, environment, sights, or the park itself. Cedar Point is number 1.
Six Flags Great Adventure is situated in Jackson, New Jersey, and is known for its diverse set of attractions. One of its most famous rides is "Kingda Ka," which was the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster at the time of its unveiling in 2005. The park is also home to Safari Off-Road Adventure, a unique experience that allows guests to observe a variety of animals in a naturalistic setting. Besides the rides and the safari, the park hosts numerous seasonal events and shows.
Kings Island is located in Mason, Ohio, and is one of the largest amusement parks in the Midwest. Notable for rides like "The Beast," one of the longest wooden roller coasters in the world, and "Banshee," the world's longest inverted roller coaster, the park offers a range of thrill experiences. It also features a 33-acre water park called Soak City and family-friendly attractions like Planet Snoopy. Seasonal events such as Halloween Haunt attract a wide range of audiences to Kings Island. Kings Island because it has a cool name.
Six Flags Magic Mountain is located in Valencia, California, and is particularly well-known for its record-breaking roller coasters. At various times, it has held the record for the most roller coasters in a single amusement park. Popular attractions include "Twisted Colossus," a hybrid coaster, and "X2," a 4D coaster that adds rotational movement to the seats. The park also offers a variety of flat rides, water attractions, and seasonal events like Fright Fest. Magic Mountain is better than Cedar Point. After Millennium Force, Maverick, and Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point's lineup is just OK. Raptor is pretty good. Magnum and Rougarou are a bit rough, but they're still pretty good. Valravn and Wicked Twister are alright, but then everything else isn't too good. Gatekeeper is forceless as crap. Magic Mountain's lineup is significantly better. Twisted Colossus is better than all of Cedar Point's best three. Tatsu is America's best flying coaster. X2 is the craziest coaster ever! It's so awesome. Full Throttle is pretty awesome, even though the drop isn't great. Goliath has such high G-forces and gets a bit crazy sometimes. Superman is almost better than Top Thrill Dragster (yeah, I said it). Just give it a lap bar, and it's ahead. Scream has amazing inversions and is so fun to ride! Riddler's Revenge is the world's best stand-up, and Apocalypse is kinda cool too. Yes, it's my home park, but I still like it more than Cedar Point.
Hersheypark, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, offers a unique blend of amusement rides and chocolate-themed experiences. Founded in 1906, the park was originally created as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. It has since evolved into a full-fledged amusement park featuring rides like "Candymonium" and "Skyrush." Hersheypark also includes ZooAmerica, a zoo that focuses on North American wildlife, adding a unique dimension to the park's offerings. Snobs? Sorry, Yank, but did you know amusement parks didn't even start in America? The first one came from Denmark in 1583.
Hershey is the boss. Feel the chocolate burn.
Canada's Wonderland is the largest amusement park in Canada and is situated in Vaughan, Ontario. Opened in 1981, it features a wide variety of rides, including "Leviathan," one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world. The park also contains Splash Works, a 20-acre water park that provides a cool escape during hot summer days. Beyond thrill rides and water attractions, Canada's Wonderland offers live entertainment and dining options that make it a well-rounded family destination. There's always something new every year! Yukon Striker and Winterfest this year. I wonder what else will be added in 2020?
Leviathan, Behemoth, Vortex, Flight Deck, Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Dragon Fyre, Time Warp, Backlot Stunt Coaster, Thunder Run, Wild Beast, The Bat, and more. Truly the best amusement park and the best in Canada.
This park is awesome! At my old school, you could see Leviathan!
Best wooden coaster ever and best value ever, plus the new insane Thunderbird! Love this park!
Awesome park, lots of coasters. Ride Bizzrio, the 2nd best roller coaster in the world.
Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, was the first amusement park created under the Disney brand. It opened its doors on July 17, 1955, and quickly set a new standard for themed amusement parks. Attractions like "Space Mountain," "The Haunted Mansion," and "Pirates of the Caribbean" have become cultural icons in their own right. The park is divided into several themed "lands," each offering a distinct experience, and it attracts millions of visitors from around the world each year. This place is the best place ever. My favorite ride is Tower of Terror. This place should be number 1. It is so awesome. I am sad when I leave Disneyland.
Why the heck isn't this number one?
My local park, and I love it. I live only about 25 minutes from it.
Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and is co-owned by country music legend Dolly Parton. The park is themed around Southern culture and the Smoky Mountains, offering rides, shows, and various other attractions. Dollywood is famous for its unique blend of roller coasters and live entertainment, including country music performances and crafts demonstrations. The park also has an adjoining water park called Dollywood's Splash Country. I love Dollywood. Friendly workers and fun rides. My sister has been on Mystery Mine there when she was barely tall enough. That drop ride where you pull yourself up with a rope is fun.
I love how it's shaded. They give out free water when it's hot, and the people are nice. Not as many rides as other amusement parks, but it seems nice and laid back and just classic.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is set in Williamsburg, Virginia, and offers a European-themed experience. The park features a variety of roller coasters, including Griffon and Alpengeist, alongside animal exhibits and live entertainment shows. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is also known for its lush landscaping and elaborate seasonal events such as Howl-O-Scream and Christmas Town. It offers a blend of thrill rides and educational attractions, making it suitable for all age groups.This might not be the most beautiful amusement park in the world, but it has a lot of attractions. It's a good park as a Nordic one.
One of the oldest amusement parks in Europe.
Guys, I once went there and rode every single roller coaster. In my opinion, Smiler and Oblivion are the best roller coasters on Earth.
Big Lagoon in Farmington, Utah? Nice. I'm sure glad this made the list. Dracula's Castle is the best ride on Earth. Should be #1!
Kings Dominion is located in Doswell, Virginia, and offers a wide array of rides and attractions. The park is known for its iconic roller coaster, Intimidator 305, as well as for its family-friendly Planet Snoopy area. Kings Dominion also has a water park called Soak City, which features slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers. Various seasonal events such as Halloween Haunt and WinterFest are also part of the park's yearly offerings.Why the heck isn't this on here yet? It has great theming, rides, and includes well-known coasters such as Dragon Challenge (Dueling Dragons) and Incredible Hulk. Great water rides, great food (especially at Three Broomsticks), it has a great atmosphere. It is simply the best.
This park is awesome! Best park in Illinois! They have over like 15 different roller coasters, like Raging Bull. Well, why do people only care about the Disney Parks? Are they too scared for big roller coasters or something? Plus, Six Flags is getting the Maxx Force next year, and it's going to be awesome! It could be the best roller coaster in all of the United States!
SeaWorld Orlando is located in Orlando, Florida, and is particularly known for its marine-life-based attractions, shows, and educational exhibits. The park combines theme park elements with zoological park features, including roller coasters like Mako and animal encounters with dolphins, orcas, and sea lions. SeaWorld also hosts seasonal events such as Halloween Spooktacular and Christmas Celebration. Additionally, the park focuses on conservation efforts, aiming to educate visitors about marine wildlife and their habitats.
Magic Kingdom is one of the four major theme parks that make up the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The park is home to Cinderella Castle, one of the most recognized landmarks in the world of theme parks. Magic Kingdom offers a variety of attractions, from classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion to newer additions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The park is known for its nightly fireworks displays and parades, as well as seasonal events like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Carowinds is an amusement park straddling the border between North and South Carolina near Charlotte. The park offers a variety of roller coasters, including Fury 325, one of the tallest and fastest giga coasters in the world. Carowinds also has a water park called Carolina Harbor, which is included with admission to the main park. Seasonal events like SCarowinds and WinterFest provide additional entertainment opportunities for guests. Should be higher. Fury is amazing.
So are all the Gulliver's theme parks: Gulliver's Kingdom, Gulliver's World, Gulliver's Land. Kingdom is for kids aged 3-13, World is for kids aged 2-13, and Land is for kids aged 2-13.
Now that they have a GG woodie, this place will be worth the trip.