Universal’s Islands of Adventure – Orlando, Florida
Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, originally called Universal Studios Florida, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened to the public on May 28, 1999, and it soon became one of the most-visited theme parks in the world.
In common with other theme parks, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure has eight distinct sections which are themed to various concepts and are connected by numerous rides and attraction. These include The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel Super Hero Island, Skull Island and Jurassic Park.
Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World – Orlando, Florida
The Magic Kingdom is the most popular and beloved of the four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort. It is by far the most iconic section of the resort, in large part as it’s where you’ll find Cinderella’s Castle, long featured in the logo of Walt Disney Studios.
From Main Street, U.S.A. to Fantasyland, to Space Mountain, every part of the park makes you feel like you’re living in a storybook fantasy. Having opened in 1971, the Magic Kingdom has held its status as the most visited theme park in the world for many years.
Le Puy du Fou – Les Epesses, France
The Puy du Fou theme park in Western France is a spectacle unlike any other. Whether you choose to explore the beautiful, unspoilt countryside or experience one of the many shows, you and your family are in for an incredible time.
Le Puy de Fou has continued to be one of the most-visited theme parks in France and is home to 26 daily shows with thousands of actors. Even if you’re not staying at the Puy du Fou, you can still enjoy its wonders by purchasing a day pass or tickets to a show.
Universal Studios Hollywood – Los Angeles, California
From the moment you arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto the set of a blockbuster movie. The park has over 30 rides and attractions, including some of the most legendary theme park thrills available anywhere.
Don’t miss out on the Studio Tour – where you can get up close and personal with sets and props from your favourite movies and TV shows. And with exclusive access to Universal CityWalk, you get not just one, but two incredible experiences – all conveniently located in Los Angeles.
Universal Studios Florida – Orlando, Florida
Universal Studios Hollywood has an edge given it’s based in the city that is the heart of the US entertainment industry, but that doesn’t mean Universal Studios Florida isn’t just as popular. The Orlando park regularly attracts similar numbers of tourists.
Step right up to adventure. Hang on tight for some of the most thrilling rides in Orlando. Univeral Studios Florida was the first of the three Universal parks to open at the Universal Orlando Resort, and it is the largest Universal park in the United States.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Orlando, Florida
The Animal Kingdom is a zoological theme park. It’s located within the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, just outside of Orlando, and is accompanied by a hotel. The park is dedicated to animal conservation, and the design and theming take inspiration from countries like Tanzania and Nepal.
The Animal Kingdom differs from other theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort because it contains a wide array of live animals in addition to traditional amusement park rides and attractions. It is the second-most-visited park at Walt Disney World.
Europa-Park – Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Europe has some of the best theme parks in the world, and one of the most popular is Europa Park. The park has been operating since 1975 and is located in Rust, Germany. It is home to eighteen themed areas, several shows, and over a hundred rides.
Europa Park has retained much of its old school charm and gets high ratings from both locals and tourists alike. It remains one of the most popular theme parks in Europe, with over four million visitors flocking there every year.
Tivoli Gardens – Copenhagen, Denmark
Tivoli Gardens is a must-see for any visitor to Copenhagen. This beautiful amusement park, the world’s third oldest, opened in 1843 and has inspired everyone from Hans Christian Andersen to Walt Disney. Tivoli offers a dazzling array of attractions from its entrance at the foot of the Rundetårn (Round Tower) to its charmingly landscaped gardens and lagoon.
These days, Tivoli Gardens is more than just a fairy tale wonderland – it’s a vital part of the community. It plays host to over 50 rides and attractions, including carousels, and roller coasters, as well as restaurants and shops selling everything from candy floss to handmade dolls to handmade chocolates.
The Island in Pigeon Forge – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, The Island is a non-stop entertainment destination. Unlike many other theme parks, The Island is free to enter, making it the perfect destination for large groups or families.
With over 50 rides, shows and attractions to choose from, including the world’s tallest free-standing observation wheel and a multi-million dollar show fountain, it’s no wonder the The Island in Pigeon Forge enjoys such popularity with visitors to East Tennessee.
Walt Disney Park – Marne-la-Vallee, France
The Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris has always been a celebration of cinematic magic – and now it’s even more immersive than before. This is the second park to open at Disneyland Paris and shares similarities to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando.
The Marvel Avengers Campus and Worlds of Pixar are two of the most recent additions to the park that are shaking things up, taking guests into the imaginary worlds seen on film – and not only with rides and attractions, but with food and entertainment as well.
Disneyland Park – Anaheim, California
Disneyland Park in California was the first Disney Park constructed, and the only park built with Walt Disney’s supervision. From the moment you first set foot in this park, every detail of every corner is designed to create a magical experience unlike any other.
The sights, the sounds, and even the smells are calculated to please your senses and make you feel like a kid again. Disneyland was the second most visited theme park in the world in 2022, with only its predecessor Magic Kingdom in Orlando surpassing it.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Orlando, Florida
The glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age comes to life in Disney’s Hollywood Studios – where guests get the chance to step into the action with attractions based on blockbuster movies and top TV shows, including Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
With the vibrancy of a bustling movie set, this park features 7 sections: Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Grand Avenue, Sunset Boulevard, Commissary Lane, Toy Story Land and Animation Courtyard. It features a mix of shops, restaurants and attractions, including the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
Disney California Adventure Park – Anaheim, California
Disney California Adventure Park is the second park at the Disneyland Resort in California and opened in 2001. California Adventure Park offers more adult-oriented thrills for visitors who are looking to have an adrenaline rush while visiting the theme park.
One of the most unforgettable experiences at this park is Soarin’ Over California. This ride takes visitors over some of the most scenic parts of the state, including the Yosemite Valley and San Francisco Bay. Another popular ride is Radiator Springs Racers, which is inspired by Pixar’s Cars franchise.
Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
At Dolly Parton’s Dollywood – voted the best theme park in the United States – the line between a theme park and a resort is blurred. Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and covers 150 acres, with attractions including a water park and Wild Eagle – America’s first winged roller coaster.
Capturing the spirit of the beloved country music icon, the park combines Southern hospitality, charm and down-home traditions with all the excitement of a world-class amusement park. Families can enjoy a day on the rides, take a spin on the Carousel or hang out at one of the resorts.
Silver Dollar City – Branson, Missouri
If you’ve ever visited Branson, Missouri, you already know that it’s a truly amazing place. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, it’s home to Silver Dollar City, consistently rated Branson’s number one attraction and considered one of the world’s greatest theme parks.
There are six festivals, 30 rides and attractions, 40 live shows daily, 60 shops and a dozen restaurants—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! The park opened in 1960 and is themed to take place in the 1880s, with rides including the Time Traveler and Mystic River Falls.
Funland – Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Funland is a small amusement park located in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. It has 19 rides, family-style games and an arcade. The park has been open since 1962 and its goal has always been to provide family fun at reasonable prices.
If you’re planning a getaway to the beach any time between May and September, Funland is an excellent way to spend part of your day in Rehoboth. It is conveniently located right off the boardwalk and is open all year round.
Fun Spot America – Kissimmee, Florida
Fun Spot America Kissimmee is the largest and some say most exciting family entertainment center in the Orlando Area. It’s just a short drive from Disney World, and has something for everyone, from thrill rides and arcade games to kid-friendly attractions like the Mine Blower wooden roller coaster.
Fun Spot America has made quite a name for themselves in the amusement park industry. They have two parks throughout Florida and one in Atlanta, Georgia. The Kissimmee park is home to the world’s tallest SkyCoaster, standing at 300 feet tall.
Santa’s Village – Jefferson, New Hampshire
Located oin Jefferson, New Hampshire, Santa’s Village is the only amusement park in the world that celebrates Christmas all year round. There are 23 rides, including two roller coasters and four water rides. Some of the rides include Rudy’s Rapid Transit Coaster and The Great Humbug Adventure.
Santa’s Village offers a full day of activities for families to enjoy. In addition to the Santa’s House and Santa’s Christmas Light Show, Santa’s Village has a variety of festive holiday activities that bring more magic to your Christmas memories.
Busch Gardens Tampa – Tampa, Florida
Tampa Bay’s Busch Gardens isn’t just home to signature attractions including the 335-foot drop tower Falcon’s Fury and the Cheetah Hunt roller coaster, but also to more than 12,000 animals, including over 500 tropical birds and two prides of lions.
This combination of nature at its wildest and some of the most exciting rides around makes Busch Gardens Tampa is a major destination for thrill-seekers and animal lovers alike. No wonder it’s one of the most popular theme parks in North America.
Siam Park – Adeje, Spain
With lush tropical plants and an energetic atmosphere, Siam Park is the perfect destination for a fun day out. Located on Tenerife, the largest island in Spain, this is a unique water park offering everything from gentle rivers to free-fall slides.
The park was opened in 2007 by Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Princess of Thailand, and the park boasts impressive Thai architecture and plenty of space for visitors to choose their own level of adventure. Siam Park has been named the best water park in the world for nine years running.
Beto Carrero World – Penha, Brazil
If you’re looking to get in touch with your inner child, you could do worse than visit Beto Carrero World in Penha, Brazil. This theme park has seven different themed areas including Animal World, Old West, Pirates’ Island and Fantasy Land.
Though it may have been a small venture at first, the Beto Carrero World theme park has grown into the largest theme park in Latin America. Today it spans fourteen square kilometers and boasts more than 100 rides, shows, and many other exciting attractions.
The Milky Way Adventure Park – Clovelly, United Kingdom
The Milky Way Adventure Park in North Devon has been named one of the top ten theme parks in all of England, and it is certainly one of the most child-friendly. With its array of entertaining activities, you and your kids will never tire of this top spot.
Located in Bideford on England’s south west coast, Milky Way Adventure Park is a playground full of fun for little ones, boasting large indoor play areas as well as roller coasters and other thrilling rides for the slightly bigger kids among your party.
Hot Park – Rio Quente, Brazil
Whether you’re a family looking for some fun or a group of thrill-seekers ready for an adventure, the Hot Park has it all. With the 35-meter-high Xpirado water slide and a water zip-line, there’s plenty of thrills to be had.
For the little ones, there are mini slides for kids and a lazy river. There’s also a tree-top walkway, mini golf, a fishing lake, and a surf school. If that’s not enough, you can join classes for scuba diving, kayaking and rappelling.
Waterbom Bali – Kuta, Indonesia
Waterbom is a beloved Bali institution, and it’s easy to see why. Not only is the park home to three massive swimming areas, complete with waterfalls, pools, and streams – but it’s also home to an astounding array of water slides.
There are plenty of rides for the little ones, but the slides here are world-class enough that even adults will have a blast on them. These include some of the world’s longest waterslides, as well as the Climax, said to be the steepest waterslide in Asia.
Parque Terra Magica Florybal – Canela, Brazil
Florybal Magic Park Land (Parque Terra Magica Florybal) is a whimsical theme park located in Canela, Brazil, only about an hour from Porto Alegre. It boasts international rides, local snacks, and some of the most breathtaking views in the world.
With a name like Florybal Magic Park Land, it’s no surprise that this amusement park has a child-friendly vibe. In addition to the usual rides, games, and snacks, Florybal Magic Park Land is also home to a 7D cinema and live shows.
Beach Park – Aquiraz, Brazil
Beach Park is the largest water park in Brazil. Its central attractions are a series of swimming pools, and a variety of saunas, along with an artificial river known as the Ribeirão, with rapids that brave visitors can float down.
There’s also an area for ecological walks, with exotic plants from all over the world. Plus there are several slides, including one that drops the alarming height of 14 floors! In 2014, Beach Park was elected the second-best beach park in the world.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
If you are a fan of all things Ferrari, then you will definitely want to pay a visit to Ferrari World at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Like all the best theme parks, it offers fun and excitement for families with children and adults alike.
It is the illustrious sports car manufacturer’s very first theme park, so you can be sure that you will find it hard to find anything that compares. In 2019, Ferarri World was named the ‘World’s Leading Theme Park’ at the World Travel Awards.
Futuroscope – Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, France
Originally opened in 1987 under the name Planète Futuroscope, French theme park Futuroscope was built originally around unique audio-visual spectacles, but has since developed into a larger scale attraction with rides, shows and other such fun for all the family.
The park adopts a futuristic theme and even includes several 3D and 4D cinemas, as well as rollercoasters and live shows. Open from February until December, it is estimated that over 50 million people have visited the park since it opened.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach – Blackpool, United Kingdom
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is an amusement park in Blackpool – a city in Northwest England. Upon the theme park construction in 1994, it was home to the world’s tallest and steepest roller coaster; however, this was usurped in 1996 by Fujiyama in Japan.
A long-standing British institution, the park was founded in 1896 and now offers 38 rides, including the largest collection of wooden roller coasters in the UK. These are spread across three separate theme areas: Nickelodeon Land, North Park and South Park.
Yas Waterworld – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The UAE’s answer to American waterparks, Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi is a mega-waterpark that has something for everyone. While the large and impressive wave pool and the thrilling rides draw eyes to their picturesque setting, it’s the smaller and more intimate spaces that will make you fall in love with this fun destination.
The aquatic theme park offers 4 categories of attractions: Adrenaline Rush, Exciting Adventures, Moving & Grooving and Young Fun. With 45 rides, slides and attractions, it’s an adventure for all the family that will have your heart pumping while your eyes light up.
Aquafollie – Caorle, Italy
Aquafollie is a water park located in the picturesque town of Caorle, not far from Venice on the Adriatic coast. This park is one of the many great things to do in the Venice area that are both fun and cheap.
The park offers a space for relaxation and fun that can be enjoyed by all ages. It is spread out over 20,000 square meters, which includes shaded green areas as well as spaces for activities like swimming, playing, and exercising.
Alton Towers Resort – Alton, United Kingdom
If you’re looking to get away from it all, there’s no place like Alton Towers Resort. Located in the UK, this 500-acre amusement park is the perfect family vacation destination. With more than 100 rides and attractions, including water rides and a hotel, you’ll stay busy for days on end here.
The park is divided into several themed areas: Towers Street, Mutiny Bay, Katanga Canyon, Gloomy Wood, Forbidden Valley, Dark Forest, The Towers & Gardens, The World of David Walliams, X-Sector, Adventure Land and CBeebies Land. For those who’d like to get their adrenaline pumping, try the Rita or TH13TEEN roller coasters.
Drayton Manor Theme Park – Tamworth, United Kingdom
Drayton Manor has been operating for over sixty years, making it the oldest theme park in Birmingham. The park originally opened its doors in 1950, opening on the grounds of an eighteenth-century stately home. Since its inception, Drayton Manor has grown to become a major UK attraction, with over 1.5 million visits a year.
Drayton Manor Park has been a favorite family attraction for generations of Brits, offering more than just a day out in the English countryside. The sprawling park has undergone several expansions, adding on a zoo and a resort that includes accommodation as well as amenities like restaurants and swimming pools.
Sindbad Aqua Park – Hurghada, Egypt
Looking for a memorable getaway this summer? Sindbad Aqua Park in Egypt is your answer. With its stunning location on the Red Sea, this state-of-the-art aqua park has everything you could possibly want in a beach resort, including an exciting array of water-based attractions.
When it comes to the perfect day out with your family, you’ll find everything you need at Sindbad Aqua Park. With fourteen water slides, a spa and a resort, you can treat your entire family to this truly unforgettable experience they won’t soon forget.
Heide Park – Soltau, Germany
Heide Park Resort is a theme park, amusement park and waterpark in the German town of Soltau, Lower Saxony. The whole area spans over 850,000 square meters, making it the largest theme park in Northern Germany. It offers visitors the opportunity to explore its numerous areas and attractions, which include 40 rides, a waterpark and a hotel.
The park is divided into various themed areas that each have a different atmosphere, from the pirate-themed world in Bucht der Piraten, to the medieval Transilvanien. Heide Park has something for everyone and is one of the most popular amusement parks in Germany for people of all ages.
LEGOLAND California – Carlsbard, California
Traveling to LEGOLAND California Resort is an experience within an experience. The resort is home to the ultimate LEGO playground and there are more than 60 rides, shows and attractions for fun-loving families to enjoy, and not just enthusiasts of the popular building brick toys.
The ultimate way to immerse yourself in the LEGO world is by visiting Miniland USA. From the iconic San Francisco Bay Bridge to the Las Vegas Strip, Miniland USA is a miniature city filled with more than 40 elaborate LEGO structures.
Universal Studios Singapore – Sentosa Island, Singapore
Since its opening in 2011, Universal Studios Singapore has consistently been one of the top-visited theme parks worldwide. The park has a total of nine themed zones that offer rides and attractions based on movies and television series ranging from Jurassic Park to The Simpsons to Despicable Me.
Universal Studios Singapore is a sight to behold, with 24 rides and attractions, including a pair of duelling roller coasters, that are sure to excite and thrill visitors of all ages with its unparalleled combination of real-world experiences and Hollywood-style entertainment.
Universal Studios Japan – Osaka, Japan
Universal Studios Japan is a must-see destination for tourists visiting or living in Japan. It opened in 2001 and has jumped to become the third most-visited theme park worldwide, with only Disneyland Anaheim and Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World attracting more visitors.
With the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2014 and Super Nintendo World in 2021, the theme park has transformed into a world-class entertainment facility that offers everything from authentic attractions and shows based on Hollywood blockbusters to seasonal events.
Tokyo Disneyland – Maihama, Japan
Tokyo Disneyland offers something for everyone – there are rides and attractions for children of all ages and adults can enjoy shopping or enjoy a quiet walk through one of the many little nooks and crannies that are tucked away throughout the park.
This world-famous theme park was first opened in 1983 and has since expanded to include numerous exciting attractions, themed restaurants and shops, and an entertainment schedule that will make you feel like you’ve stepped right into the world of Disney films.
Hong Kong Disneyland – Hong Kong, China
The Hong Kong Disneyland theme park is the sixth addition to The Walt Disney Company’s family of theme parks, and it was built on an old island off the coast of Lantau Island, just a short ferry ride away from Hong Kong.
The park opened in 2005 as part of a larger effort to revitalize tourism in Hong Kong, and since its opening, it has been one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. A marvel of design, it’s easy to tell that Disney spared no expense in creating this fantasy world.