Top 10 Best Theme Parks in the World
The heart-pounding rush of a towering roller coaster, the whimsical charm of classic carousels, and the infectious laughter as you meet your favorite characters. Theme parks deliver pure, unadulterated fun like nothing else on Earth. The best of them are worlds unto themselves, inviting you to lose yourself in fantastical realms and thrilling adventures.The idea of an amusement park is centuries old. Early fairs and exhibitions featured simple entertainments like rides and games, setting the stage for the explosion of theme parks in the 20th century. These iconic destinations have forever changed how we experience excitement and joy.
So, what makes a theme park truly special?
Think about the rides that made your jaw drop, the immersive worlds that left you in awe, and those unexpected moments of pure delight. The greatest theme parks blend cutting-edge attractions with incredible storytelling, transporting you to places beyond your wildest imagination. Of course, delicious food, spectacular shows, and maybe a dash of nostalgia don't hurt either.
Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, located in Florida, is famed for its iconic Cinderella Castle and classic Disney attractions, offering a magical experience for visitors of all ages. It serves as the flagship of Disney's worldwide theme park empire. That crown is deserved. The happiest place on Earth is definitely the winner, and that's why it's already been voted as the best. There's no better place than this magical world where the wonderful world of Disney is brought to life in such creative ways. Everyone plays their part: Imagineers, cast members, chefs, everyone! That's just one of the things that makes this place so special.
Not only that, but the architecture brings out that childlike feeling, which is really touching. Nobody can beat the magic of this resort. The magic, the memories, and go Walt Disney World!
Cedar Point, situated in Sandusky, Ohio, is known as the roller coaster capital of the world, boasting a wide array of thrilling rides and roller coasters for adrenaline seekers. This park offers more than just rides, with water attractions and live entertainment as part of its diverse offerings. How can you not love this place? It's so beautiful, with so much stuff to do. Many of you are probably thinking it's all about roller coasters. Nope, there's way more!
You can spend the night in cabins, and Soak City, the water park, is free to enter. You're allowed to sail and swim in Lake Erie, and there are over 70 rides with many shows. Need I say more? It's the best place to take your family and groups of friends. Cedar Point all the way!
I live about an hour away and get season passes every year, and let me just say, this place is awesome! I've been to other amusement parks across the country, but nothing beats Cedar Point! It's clean, has a great setup, and most importantly, has great roller coasters!
Each and every roller coaster here has something new to offer, such as a giga coaster, winged coaster, dive coaster, etc. Every ride is different! I never get sick of this park.
Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, stands as the original Disney theme park, created under the direct supervision of Walt Disney himself. It opened in 1955 and continues to enchant millions with its eight themed lands and numerous attractions. Put this higher. This and Walt Disney World are the best theme parks in the world! Cars Land in Disney California Adventure is the best theme park land ever created, and Radiator Springs Racers is the best theme park ride ever created!
Disney parks do have thrill rides, and great ones! In addition, Disney parks are richly themed, and the rides are just like the commenter below described. No one can beat Disney parks.
Disneyland is far too often criticized for its lack of Six Flags-level thrill rides. I always respond to this type of criticism by explaining that Disney's attractions are higher quality: they are richly themed, heartwarmingly nostalgic, and open to a wider age group. Disney parks are truly amazing. Never deny it!
Universal Studios Florida, situated in Orlando, immerses guests in the worlds of their favorite movies and TV shows, featuring attractions based on popular franchises like Harry Potter and The Simpsons. This park combines cutting-edge ride technology with showbiz glamor to entertain all ages. Where is that old Hanna-Barbera/Jimmy Neutron ride? Despicable Me is the best ride of all time. I'll get to visit Curious George (the friendliest monkey) there. They have a stage show based on Pitch Perfect 2 and sell Universal Studios merchandise, including their newest American Girl movie, An American Girl: Isabelle Dances into the Spotlight, on Blu-ray Disc.
I love Islands of Adventure! It has so many cool and exciting rides. I went to both Universal Studios and Disney World last summer. I think Disney World is more for kids, while Universal Studios is more for teens.
Six Flags Magic Mountain, located near Los Angeles, California, offers an impressive lineup of roller coasters and is recognized for setting world records in thrill ride innovation. The park caters to thrill-seekers with some of the most extreme roller coasters in the United States. Where to start here? Twisted Colossus, X2, Superman: Escape From Krypton, Goliath, Tatsu, Full Throttle, Riddler's Revenge, Scream!, Batman: The Ride, Viper, Ninja, Revolution, Gold Rusher, Apocalypse, Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom, Justice League: Battle for Metropolis, CraZanity, Tidal Wave, Roaring Rapids, Jet Stream. This park has it all for thrills.
With 19 coasters, 3 water rides, 2 thrilling flat rides, and a dark ride, it's a thrill-seeker's paradise.
Yeah, Disneyland and Disney World are really good if you're looking to experience and walk through your favorite franchises, like Star Wars and Harry Potter. But Six Flags is for those who are looking for thrilling and suspenseful rides.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, located in Florida, combines exotic animal encounters with high-thrill rides and entertainment, offering a unique blend of zoo and theme park. It is renowned for its African-themed environments and some of the fastest roller coasters in North America. This is a great theme park, and I've been to them all! It integrates animals and water and is great for families and children. It's such a great place. The admission is competitive, and it has awesome rides throughout.
Busch Gardens can't be beat. It has roller coasters that can make you scream your head off, water rides that can get you soaked, and animals you've never even imagined. Busch Gardens is everything: a zoo mixed with water rides, roller coasters, and other fun attractions.
I know this park like the back of my hand!
SeaWorld Orlando, in Florida, focuses on marine life, offering live shows, attractions, and exhibits that aim to educate and entertain visitors about the ocean's inhabitants. It's well-known for its vast tanks and enclosures housing dolphins, whales, and other sea creatures.
Hersheypark, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, was originally created as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. Today, it offers a wide range of attractions for families, including roller coasters, water rides, and a chocolate-themed experience. I think that Hersheypark is so much fun, especially rides like Fahrenheit, Sky Rush, etc. Plus, I love Hershey's chocolate.
I love this place, and I love the cute mascots!
Universal Studios Hollywood, based in Los Angeles, is both a theme park and an operating film studio, offering guests the unique opportunity to experience behind-the-scenes tours as well as rides based on movie blockbusters. It's known for attractions that blend immersive experiences with live-action stunts. I love this place! The Nick Hotel is so stupid. Why do so many people like it?
Universal's Islands of Adventure, located in Orlando, Florida, is known for its immersive theme park experience, featuring several islands, each themed around a different adventure, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The park offers cutting-edge rides and attractions, bringing stories and characters to life in an expansive and interactive setting. This isn't the best theme park in the world. It may not have the most insane coasters or thrill rides, but everybody can enjoy Islands of Adventure. They have the Incredible Hulk, Dragon Challenge, and the little Harry Potter coaster that's nice for the little ones. Like I said, these aren't the best coasters, but the way they interact with the "island" is just incredible.
This park also has the best simulators and water rides ever created. Ripsaw Falls is the best log flume, and Jurassic Park River Adventure is beautiful! This park also has the Spider-Man and Harry Potter simulators that will be one of the best experiences you've ever had. Not to mention, the food in Universal's CityWalk is outstanding. This park just sends such a different vibe than all of the Disney, Six Flags, and Cedar Fair parks. Therefore, it is my favorite theme park.
Alton Towers, situated in Stoke-on-Trent, England, is famous for its history-rich grounds featuring a variety of thrill rides and family attractions set around a gothic country estate. The park offers a mix of modern roller coasters and water rides alongside interactive experiences for all ages. This is such a great park! The food is amazing, the water park is on point, and all the rides are just phenomenal. I stayed there for two nights, and the accommodations were spot-on. All the staff were friendly, and the nighttime entertainment was splendid.
I have nothing bad to say about it because it is just perfect! The rides vary from adult ones like Nemesis and Oblivion to kids' ones like the Runaway Mine Train and CBeebies Land! If you are going, have a great time! You won't regret it!
It's had dangerous accidents like Action Park, but never closed and is older.
Epcot, part of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is dedicated to celebrating international culture and technological innovation. The park is divided into two main sections: World Showcase, which explores the culture, cuisine, and traditions of 11 countries, and Future World, focusing on technological advancements and the future. The Epcot ball is the eighth wonder of the world.
Kings Dominion, located in Doswell, Virginia, features over 60 rides and attractions, including thrilling roller coasters, a water park, and family-friendly areas. The park is known for its 300-foot-tall Eiffel Tower replica and diverse entertainment offerings.
Kings Island, located near Cincinnati, Ohio, is home to a diverse collection of roller coasters, including some world-record holders, family-friendly rides, and a water park. The park is also known for its iconic Eiffel Tower replica and Peanuts-themed children's area. Number 28? It should be higher. It has the longest wooden roller coaster in the world and is owned by Cedar Point. It also had the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, and it was the only wooden roller coaster with a loop. Plus, it has a new ride called WindSeeker that many parks have.
It really should be higher because they have one of the best rides on Earth! I am just furious.
Number 28 is way too high. Let's take back Knott's Berry Farm and Canada's Wonderland for Kings Island.
Legoland California, located in Carlsbad, offers a creative and interactive experience focused on the imaginative world of LEGO. This family-friendly park includes rides, shows, and detailed LEGO models, catering primarily to children between the ages of 2 and 12. If I could, I would totally build a Legoland for all ages, kids and adults alike. When I was a kid, Lego was for ages 4-99. However, the Legolands we have now - for example, Legoland Denmark opened in 1968, Legoland Windsor in 1996, and Legoland California in 1999 - are geared toward little kids, much like Gulliver's theme parks, which are okay.
Awesome and great for kids. The only negative is that the lines are kind of long. It's good for both girls and boys, with cool rides that kids will enjoy. We had lots of fun there.
California's Great America, located in Santa Clara, is renowned for its diverse collection of roller coasters, water rides, and family attractions, alongside a water park. The park also features a variety of live entertainment and has a Halloween event that attracts visitors from across the region. I love this place. Ever since it opened, I've loved going here every year.
California Adventure, part of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, offers a celebration of California's rich history and culture through imaginative lands and attractions. The park features Pixar-themed rides, Marvel superheroes experiences, and the popular World of Color nighttime show. DCA underwent a huge billion-dollar facelift from 2007-2012, transforming the park from a bad one to an amazing one! Cars Land is the best theme park land ever created. The theming of the rockwork and mountains, along with the lush waterfalls, is superb. Radiator Springs Racers is the best theme park ride ever created!
In addition to Cars Land, there's the masterpiece World of Color, and many other awesome rides like Silly Symphony Swings, Soarin' Over California, Goofy's Sky School, California Screamin', Toy Story Mania, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, Ladybug Boogie, and more!
SeaWorld San Diego, situated along the city's waterfront, focuses on marine life preservation and education while offering rides, shows, and animal exhibits. The park is renowned for its efforts in animal rehabilitation and ocean health initiatives alongside entertainment. Ok, guys, stop it. SeaWorld isn't that bad. Sure, it makes orcas do tricks for money, but if you just remove some of the shows, the place is still an amazing theme park. They have two roller coasters, Manta and Journey to Atlantis, and they are building a new roller coaster for people who want more thrills.
So yeah, maybe SeaWorld is forcing orcas to do tricks, but just take out the animal shows and add some new rides, and you've got a good theme park that PETA won't go crazy about.
I remember my first time watching Blackfish. Thankfully, I watched it after I saw orcas doing backflips in what seemed like a bathtub to them. I guess orcas like swimming a lot. But that really is the only bad thing about SeaWorld San Diego. Everything else is pretty good.
I mean, they have sharks there and other things like sea turtles. Overall, it's pretty nice. They plan to release their orcas to someplace for retired orcas this year.
Six Flags Great Adventure, in Jackson, New Jersey, is the largest theme park in the world and offers a wide range of attractions, including record-breaking roller coasters, a drive-thru safari, and a water park. It's a premier destination for thrill-seekers and families alike. Super underrated theme park. It has such an interesting atmosphere. Log flumes and roller coasters dangle menacingly over reservoirs and lakes to provide an experience like no other. Parks in Eastern PA and NJ like Dorney Park and the Morey's Piers have nothing in comparison to the Six Flags empire.
Roller Coasters (El Toro, Kingda Ka, Saw Mill Log Flume, Skull Mountain, etc.) - 9/10
Rides/Themes (Superman, Twister, Skyway, Green Lantern, The Joker, etc.) - 8/10
Food/Shops - 7.5/10
Location - 7/10
Carowinds, straddling the border between North and South Carolina, offers an exciting mix of roller coasters, water rides, and live entertainment. The park is celebrated for its intense thrill rides and a large water park, appealing to guests seeking variety and adventure. While I love Disney World, I have to say that Carowinds is good too. Carowinds has shorter wait times, more coasters, and nowhere near as many people. Nighthawk and The Intimidator are amazing. I can't wait for the new ride to be up and running. It's going to be exciting.
I have been to Carowinds several times and really enjoyed it! The roller coasters there are so fun, and they also have stuff for smaller kids. I always look forward to going there.
This should make the top 10! This park is amazing! I had an amazing experience! Please vote for this park!
Europa-Park, situated in Rust, Germany, stands as Europe's second most popular theme park, offering a journey through themed areas based on European countries. The park is celebrated for its attention to detail, innovative attractions, and hosting a variety of seasonal festivals. Probably the best park out there. Great theming, amazing rides, and brilliant atmosphere.
Silver Dollar City, nestled in the Ozark Mountains near Branson, Missouri, combines the charm of an 1880s craft village with modern thrill rides, live shows, and festivals. The park is also known for its unique demonstrations of traditional crafts and its annual Christmas festival. This is my home park. It needs to be way higher on the list. It's a fantastic park with great coasters like Wildfire, Powderkeg, Outlaw Run, Time Traveler, etc.
Canada's Wonderland, situated just outside Toronto, Ontario, is the largest theme park in Canada and boasts a wide array of rides, including some of the country's tallest and fastest roller coasters. The park also features a large water park and seasonal events, offering fun for the whole family. Canada's Wonderland is my favorite theme park! With giant roller coasters like Leviathan and Behemoth, and a huge water park, you might see why. Lots of theme parks have fewer rides but larger areas. However, Canada's Wonderland is the second-biggest theme park by the number of rides, and there is literally one ride every 20 meters.
Luckily, I live close to this theme park and have a season's pass, so I can go every day! I can ride my favorite ride, Leviathan, so many times.
Possibly the greatest theme park in the world, and not only because I'm Canadian.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, located in Virginia, is themed around the concept of an old-world European tour, featuring highly detailed thematic areas representing various European countries. It's known for its beautiful landscaping, seasonal events, and a mix of thrilling and family-friendly rides. The most beautiful park, and one of the best in the country. It is so much better than going to a theme park that's just gross-looking.
Knott's Berry Farm, in Buena Park, California, combines a rich history as a berry farm with a modern theme park featuring thrilling rides, water attractions, and live entertainment. It's known for its boysenberry-themed foods and annual events like Knott's Scary Farm. This place has cool roller coasters. Not as many big ones as Six Flags or Cedar Point, but still pretty big rides and a lot of variety!