When you are preparing a trip to a theme park you will need to purchase a park pass to enter. You will find most theme parks will sell a single day pass or up to a five or six day pass. This is because it is very difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy all of the theme park attractions in a single day. Standing in line alone will take a good portion of your day. If you can't afford a multi-day pass or you simply don't have the time, which theme park attractions rate best? Which attractions at which theme parks are considered a don't-miss sure thing?
Most Popular Theme Parks
The first thing you will need to do is decide which theme park to attend. If you or your family enjoy rides, then one of the Disney parks would be a good choice. If rides aren't your thing, you should consider any of the SeaWorld locations. Not only is SeaWorld highly entertaining, it is also educational.
Based on total attendance records for 2009, the top ten theme parks are:
- Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
- Disneyland
- Epcot
- Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Disney California Adventure
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Universal Studios Florida
- Universal's Islands of Adventure
- Universal Studios Hollywood.
The top international parks, based on 2009 attendance are:
- Disneyland Paris
- Hong Kong Disneyland
- Tokyo Disneyland
- Tokyo DisneySea
- Universal Studios Japan
- Universal Studios Singapore.
Best Theme Park Attractions
Once you select the theme park which best fits your family and budget, you will want to know which theme park attractions are the best use of your limited time. Theme Park Insider surveyed theme park visitors on their picks for the best theme rides, top roller coasters, live shows and animated shows. Many of these have height restrictions ranging from 36 inches in height up to 51 inches tall. If you are taking small children you should certainly check for these limitations before finalizing your travel plans.
Top Theme Rides
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Universal Islands of Adventure)
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man (Universal Islands of Adventure)
- Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Disney's Hollywood Studios)
- Haunted Mansion ( Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom)
- Splash Mountain (Disneyland)
Top Roller Coasters
- The Voyage (Holiday World)
- Raging Bull (Ceder Point)
- Goliath ( Six Flags Great America)
- Apollo's Chariot (Busch Gardens - Williamsburg)
- Revenge of the Mummy ( Universal Studios Florida)
Top Live Shows
- Fantasmic! (Disneyland)
- World of Color (Disney's California Adventure)
- IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth (Epcot)
- Aladdin (Disney's California Adventure)
- Festival of teh Lion King (Disney's Animal Kingdom)
Top Animated Shows
- Mickey's PhilharMagic (Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom)
- Impressions de France (Epcot)
- Walt Disney: One Man's Dream (Disney's Hollywood Studios)
- Mystery Lodge ( Knotts Berry Farm)
- MuppetVision 3D (Disney's Hollywood Studios)
Tips for an Enjoyable Theme Park Visit
There are several things you should consider when planning your theme park visit. First, always purchase your passes ahead of time. This will save time at the gate and can generally save you some money. If you intend to stay at a hotel associated with the theme park, be certain to check for added values. Some theme parks will offer line passes or special discounts for staying in one of their hotels. These hotels are generally more expensive, so be certain to take advantage of all special offers available to you.
When calculating your budget, be certain to include food and drink. Eat before you arrive at the theme park, and wait to eat your big meal after you depart from the park. You will find the food and drinks offered inside the park are above average in cost and will not always have a high nutritional value.
If you have small children it is also advisable to rent one of those strollers or wagons available when you enter most theme parks. A day in a theme park can be exhausting and carrying a tired child across a large park is not a pleasant way to end your day. A stroller also helps you keep control of the children and allows them to conserve some of their energy. Most of these also provide sun shades of some type to help with heat and sun exposure.
Be certain to use plenty of sunscreen and drink lots of liquids, preferably water to stay properly hydrated. Last tip, be careful when you select your shoes for the day. You will be on your feet a lot, so comfortable shoes are a must.
